LAUREN RICHARDS
Principal, Pollin8

Lauren Richards heads up an independent media consultancy, helping North American clients navigate the changing mediascape. Prior to launching her own company, she served as CEO at several of Canada's leading media agencies, and led the Canadian operations of Starcom MediaVest Group and Cossette Media through periods of tremendous growth. Richards also helped increase the Global awards achievement at SMG while leading the Global product group.

A multiple Lion winner and two-time judge, Richards served as the first Canadian judge for the Cannes Media Lions and has been recognized as Media Director of the Year by strategy Magazine and a Global Innovator of the Year by the Internationalist Magazine. Lauren also helped introduce the Media Innovation Awards with Marketing Magazine and was first to chair the event. Read More

IAN MACKENZIE
CCO & co-founder, Memory

Ian is a platform-oriented creative leader with a passion for pushing big creative ideas into complex technological ecosystems. His systems-oriented approach to ideas has helped clients build long tail platforms that continue to return value to their brands years after inception. He’s led some of the most innovative and high-performing creative departments in Canada, including co-founding FCB/SIX, Performance Art and serving as the CCO of McCann Worldgroup Canada and as its Global Creative AI Lead. Ian’s work has earned more than 500 awards for creativity and effectiveness, including the Global Grand Effie, the D&AD Black Pencil, Clios, Webby, 40 One Show Pencils and 31 Cannes Lions, including the Grand Prix in Creative Data. Brands he’s worked with include CIBC, BMW, Honda, Cadbury, Black & Abroad, Grupo Bimbo, CFL and McDonald’s. In 2025, Ian co-founded the independent brand performance agency Memory. Read More

SABAA QUAO
President, PlusCo Venture Studio

Sabaa Quao is the founding President of PlusCo Venture Studio, the AI and fintech innovation spinoff from Cossette and Plus Company Canada. Sabaa previously occupied the role of Chief Creative and Innovation Officer at Cossette, Canada's largest integrated marketing and advertising agency. He is a creative leader, career entrepreneur, and business strategist. As a digital media veteran, he has built and grown several platforms and companies across content, tech, and culture spaces. He now advises and accelerates the growth of 7 companies in the venture studio's first cohort.

He is a frequent keynote speaker and an industry advisor to business and creative schools, specializing in creativity, entrepreneurship, and business model innovation. Sabaa has led, co-chaired, and been a member of over 20 national and international marketing and short film juries. For Canada, Sabaa sits on the Cannes Lions Advisory Board with the Globe and Mail, and was the Digital Young Lions co-chair for 2025. Sabaa holds degrees in Marketing (Concordia), Communication and Design (OCADU), and an MBA from University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. Read More

JONELLE RICKETTS
Head of marketing, IKEA

Jonelle Ricketts is head of Marketing for IKEA Canada, a world’s leading home furnishing retailer. For nearly 50 years, Canadians have welcomed IKEA into their homes and they have been strong supporters of the IKEA brand, product range and its vision "to create a better everyday life for the many people".

Jonelle started her IKEA journey in 2011 in Canada in the role of Marketing & Advertising Specialist, supporting with campaign creative development and media planning across all owned and paid channels.

In 2016, she was promoted into the position of Media Manager where she led paid media planning and execution, for IKEA Canada and for IKEA Netherlands a couple of years later. Jonelle went on to join the Ingka Global Communication team in Leiden, Netherlands where she gained valuable experience working as the Global Communication Knowledge & Development Leader, focusing on the development of communications teams across Ingka and leading the global Communication matrix.

Most recently, Jonelle has held the position of Global Marketing Communication/Network Leader as part of the Marketing Communications team at Inter IKEA Systems in Delft, Netherlands, where she supported the global marketing transformation project and developed a global marketing matrix for retailers outside of Ingka Group.

Jonelle also brings with her several years of experience in Marketing and Communications supporting other organizations such as BlackBerry and Sephora Canada.

She resides in Kitchener with her husband and 2 of her 3 children. Her favourite IKEA product is the PAX closet system with KOMPLEMENT interior solutions. As someone who is obsessed with organization, PAX has been a game-changer for Jonelle with its versatility, flexibility, and unbeatable price.Read More

DANIEL MEKINDA
EVP, head of sports + entertainment, WPP

Daniel Mekinda is Executive Vice President at WPP Media Canada, where he leads both the Sports + Entertainment division and the entertainment investment business called ‘Motion’. Through Motion he works in areas of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Financing. With Sports + Entertainment there is a focus on Branded Content, Media Partnerships, and Sponsorship Marketing and Consulting.

Most recently Daniel was at dentsu Canada, leading Global Sales and Partnerships after 6 years of leading their content agency. Prior to this was an early start in the major record label world focusing on areas of artist development and publicity. After a decade of various entertainment roles, with a significant focus on music publishing acquisition and exploitation, he began his career in media and advertising.

In his current role at WPP Media, Daniel oversees all areas of media partnerships, talent and influencers, sponsorship consulting, experiential marketing and branded content. He also works with advertisers, broadcasters, platforms, and production companies to identify, create and distribute IP that brings value to all stakeholders. WPP Media is the world’s leading media investment company.

Daniel holds an undergraduate degree in Law and an M.B.A. from The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Read More

MARK BISHOP
Co-CEO and Executive Producer, marblemedia

Mark Bishop is co-founder and executive producer at Canada's leading production company, marblemedia, and serves on the board of directors for the CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association) and the Canadian Association of Content Exporters.

For twenty years, Mark and his business partner, Matt Hornburg, have been trailblazing the future of entertainment across marblemedia’s premium content divisions - Primetime Scripted, Unscripted, and Kids & Family. The pair have diversified marblemedia’s content slate into becoming one of the country's leading and highly-respected independent production, distribution and digital media companies.

Recent scripted series include the hit family comedy Overlord and the Underwoods (Hulu, Nickelodeon, CBC, BYUtv), interconnected family comedies The Parker Andersons / Amelia Parker (SuperChannel) and teen series Open Heart (Teen Nick).  marblemedia’s unrivalled unscripted series includes Netflix Original series Blown Away, Netflix Original series Restaurants on the Edge, All-Round Champion (BYUtv, TVO, Knowledge Kids), Race Against the Tide (CBC), Best in Miniature (CBC, Discovery), and A Cut Above (Discovery).

Mark and Matt were recently named one of the “Titans of Unscripted T.V.” in Variety’s Reality Impact Report 2022. The company continues to rack up accolades including being named “Next Gen Content Producer” by the Hollywood Reporter, winning record-setting three Canadian Screen Awards with ten nominations, charting RealScreen’s Global 100 for the third consecutive year, and placing in the top 10 of this year’s Playback Indie List in Canada. Read More

LAUREN RICHARDS
Principal, Pollin8 Communication Consulting

Lauren Richards heads up an independent media consultancy, helping North American clients navigate the changing mediascape. Prior to launching her own company, she served as CEO at several of Canada's leading media agencies, and led the Canadian operations of Starcom MediaVest Group and Cossette Media through periods of tremendous growth. Richards also helped increase the Global awards achievement at SMG while leading the Global product group.

A multiple Lion winner and two-time judge, Richards served as the first Canadian judge for the Cannes Media Lions and has been recognized as Media Director of the Year by strategy Magazine and a Global Innovator of the Year by the Internationalist Magazine. Lauren also helped introduce the Media Innovation Awards with Marketing Magazine and was first to chair the event. Read More

MARK CHILDS
CMO, Metrolinx

An inspiring marketer with a passion for breakthrough innovation and business growth, Mark Childs has a proven track record of building vital brands that resonate with consumers. Prior to his current role at Metrolinx, Childs was CMO at Samsung Canada, and has lead marketing at Campbell Company of Canada and Kellogg Company in Canada, the UK and the US.

Childs actively cultivates marketing talent and ‘best practice’ within the industry. His industry involvement has included contributing professionally tothe Association of Canadian Advertisers board, the Canada Young Lions Marketers initiative, Advertising Standards Canada, Enactus Canada and wasCreative Chair at Concerned Children's Advertisers. Childs was recognized with the Marketing Hall of Fame Impact Award in 2012.

A role model in the LGBTQ community, Mark pioneered the launch of PFLAG Canada’s 2012 awareness campaign while volunteering for the organization, winning a Cannes Lions award. Read More

NICK BARBUTO
Managing Director, Ignition Factory at OMD Canada

As the strategic lead of interactive media product, Barbuto works on brands such as Nike Canada, Telus, PlayStation, General Mills and Bank of Montreal. A seasoned online marketer, Barbuto and his team innovate in the in-game, mobile and interactive out-of-home spaces. Outside of work, Barbuto has launched and grown numerous online properties. Read More

SHARON MACLEOD
Board Director, Senior Advisor, CMO

Sharon MacLeod is known for her expertise in consumer behaviour, and creativity and passion for the power of cause-related marketing. In her decades of marketing leadership at Unilever, she was the driving force behind flagship brands such as Dove, Tresemme, Becel, Hellmann's and Magnum. After leaving Unilever, MacLeod has shared her global marketing and M&A experience as a senior advisor and Board Director for several companies.

A true visionary in her field, MacLeod challenges traditional marketing and business practices, believing that brands can positively impact the lives of people everywhere. Accolades include two Grand Prix awards at Cannes for Dove's digital film Evolution and the title of Brand of the Decade for Dove by strategy Magazine.

MacLeod has never lost sight of the need to give something back. She became founder of Chocolate Villa, a women's leadership program exploring and contributing to the advancement of women. Read More

STEPHEN JURISIC
Creative Dean, Miami Ad School Toronto

Stephen is the Dean of the Miami Ad School Canada.

Stephen's career began as an Art Director 28 years ago. Along his journey, he was fortunate to work at some of the best agencies in Canada winning numerous awards in pretty much every show in the world before co- founding john st. (with Angus Tucker) in 2001.

He fostered a entrepreneurial spirit that john st. called the GRRR. Creating a culture where anyone can thrive as long as they do it as a team and keep their ego in check. The work john st. did to promote their agency: “Catvertising," “Buyral," and “Pink Ponies a Case Video” became the viral buzz of the ad industry and quickly attracted new clients and helping john st. grow to become one of the pre-eminent brand agencies in Canada. After 17 years of mentoring people within the agency, Stephen felt it was time to coach the next generation moving on to become the Dean of the Miami Ad School Toronto and spread the GRRR Read More

GRAHAM MOYSEY
CEO, IPG Mediabrands

Graham Moysey is a media leader with decades of experience in both traditional and digital media. Prior to taking the IPG reins, Moysey headed upAOL, where he was responsible for working with global execs and the Canadian leadership team.

Before joining AOL, Moysey served as SVP/GM of digital media at Canwest Global, and as VP of sales and business development for Sympatico and MSN. Read More

BARBARA SMITH
Partner, Aprais

Barbara Smith has more than 30 years of wide-ranging advertising agency and client-side experience. She has led accounts across all industry sectors, and most recently was a partner in Aprais Worldwide; prior to that, Smith was Director, Brand Engagement at The Globe and Mail.

Barbara’s industry involvement has included being a Mentor with the American Marketing Association and member of their Mentor Advisory Board,the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity Canadian advisory board, and was formerly the Interim President of the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada. Read More