Thought Leaders
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
BRIDGITTE ANDERSON
ICD.D, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE
Bridgitte Anderson ICD.D became the first female President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade in the 132-year history of the organization in 2019. Her career spans multiple disciplines ranging from business consulting to public policy and communications to journalism. The long-term viability of companies increasingly depends on...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
ANDREW BATEY
FOUNDER AND CO-CEO, BEATDAPP
Vancouver has the potential – and opportunity – to become a significant player in the global tech ecosystem. For emerging tech hubs like Vancouver, companies must prioritize collaboration and cross-functional effort to compete with established cities like Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, and Miami. Beatdapp highlights this opportunity and...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
KALE NEEDHAM
CEO, SPIRAL DATA
From a research scientist to an analyst, my career journey instilled in me a deep-rooted passion for solving complex problems through data driven insights. It became clear to me that academia wasn’t the path for me to make a tangible difference – I wanted to add significant ‘business changing’ value....
INNOVATE™ Montréal
Lidia Divry
Chief Executive Director, CPA-CMA, MBA - TechnoMontréal
English: Greater Montréal, Québec’s economic heartland, definitely beats in tune with digital innovation. We have one of the richest tech ecosystems in terms of knowledge, know-how, and creativity. A source of great pride for Québec and Canada. We stand out on the global scene with our world-class academic institutions and...
INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®
DR. GER BROPHY
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTOF BIOPHARMA PRODUCTION, AVANTOR
Bioproduction has taken a remarkable journey over the last several decades. In recent years, the demand for specific and powerful biologic therapies has continued to increase, underpinned by the ongoing development of monoclonal antibodies therapies (mAbs) and augmented by new platforms such as Cell and Gene Therapy and also nucleic...
INNOVATE® Minnesota
Amy Fisher
Vice president - Padilla
BUILDING THOUGHT LEADERS, ONE BRAND AT A TIME Innovation has been described as a business strategy, a brand value, even an organizational characteristic. It implies continuous ideation, creativity, and execution based on an ability to understand and meet the needs of customers, employees, investors, and other key stakeholders. Innovation is...
Global Innovation Spotlight
MICHAEL CLINTON
CEO ROAR
Many of us spend our lives identifying ourselves in what I call the 3 P’s… Partner, Parent, and Profession. There’s no question that these three identifiers take up a lot of our lives. There’s only one challenge with letting these roles dominate life however, especially as we live longer, healthier...
INNOVATE® Georgia
LEVI PERKINS
CEO, HANNIBAL AI
When in the shadows of giants, we assume the path to success is to stand on their shoulders. But in the world of technology, I’ve found that it’s not enough to just stand tall; we must also be nimble, ready to jump to the next giant as the ground shifts...
INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®
ROBERT SALCEDO
FOUNDER AND CEO, OCYONBIO GENE AND CELL THERAPY
Robert Salcedo was born in the Dominican Republic on August 26,1964. When he was ten years old, his family decided to immigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities. At an early age Robert understood the need of medicine accessibility for everyone regardless of social status or race....
INNOVATION Quebec
SOPHIE D’AMOURS
RECTRICE, UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL
Le mot innovation est utilisé à plusieurs sauces. Il est toutefois clairement défini par le Larousse comme l’« ensemble du processus qui se déroule depuis la naissance d’une idée jusqu’à sa matérialisation ». Au-delà de l’idée, une solution nouvelle doit être utilisée, commercialisée, achetée ou déployée pour être innovante. Dans...
VOICES of the Future
DR. CORRIE BLOCK
COACHING SUCCESS
In a world yearning for guidance, Dr. Corrie Block emerges as a lighthouse of hope and transformation. Our conversation, steeped in the urgency of our era, unveils a brilliant mind and a visionary heart. As we delve into his insights, it becomes clear that Dr. Block doesn’t just see the...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
JASON VANDEBOOM
FOUNDER AND CEO, ACTIVECAMPAIGN
Building and investing in a differentiated customer experience used to be thought of as a nice to have but not a critical item. When it made it into the business plan or the balance sheet it did so as a necessary cost of sale – a cost you’d look to...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
JESSICA POWELL
OWNER OF SOCIAL BALANCES
I’ve always believed that the most successful people—whether founders, investors, or community leaders—aren’t the ones who know the most or have the most. They’re the ones who give first. They show up, offer help, make introductions, and invest in others long before expecting anything in return. And over time, the...
INNOVATE® Nashville
ROD MCDANIEL
CEO OF S3 RECYCLING SOLUTIONS
My goal as a leader is to create a company culture that is focused on people first. While it has been an incredible honor to be nationally recognized as an executive (for instance, winning the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Southeast Award), I find that I have true fulfillment when...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
DAVID MALLETT
FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, YANUN PROJECT SERVICES
My people have been innovating on South Australian Country for more than 60,000 years. As a proud Ngarrindjeri man from South Australia’s South-East, my ancestors developed smart solutions to support their day to-day survival within the harsh Australian environment. For example, we would salvage small intricate bird bones to make...
VOICES of the Future
CARA DE LANGE
THE FUTURE IS SOFTER
In the evolving corporate world, Cara de Lange stands out as a change-maker, TEDx speaker, author of ‘Softer Success,’ host of the Work Reset Revolution podcast, and a burnout researcher, advocating a shift from traditional corporate success to prioritizing employee well being. As the founder of Softer Success, Cara developed...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
DIRK REYN
CHAIRMAN, FLANDERS BIO
As the chairman of flanders.bio, an ex-CEO of four (4) start-up companies and an investor in the biotech scene in Europe, my heart and soul lie with Biotech. I have seen the Biotech landscape in Flanders grow to the absolute top in Europe. It is not without reason that the...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
YIN OEI
LIVING TOMORROW GROUP - CEO
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, our greatest responsibility as leaders is to ensure that the advancements we champion do more than just enhance efficiency—they must also contribute to a sustainable and equitable world. My vision for the industry is centered around the seamless integration of technology into...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
DR. SIZAKELE MARUTLULLE
CMO-SIZAKELE MARUTLULLE
I think it was the mighty Einstein who said ‘imagination is more important than knowledge’. Whilst he was not deriding education per se – I think he was advocating for an explosion of ideas – which (in my view) is the fuel that drives innovation. The ubiquity of the term...
INNOVATION Quebec
GRAHAM CARR
PRESIDENT & VICE-CHANCELLOR, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Montreal is the city with the largest concentration of university students per capita in North America. It has a completely unique mix of French and English and attracts students from more than 155 countries worldwide. Montreal is not just Canada’s leading centre for university research, it’s a world leader in...
INNOVATE® South Carolina
DartPoints
Brad Alexander, CTO
Unlocking South Carolina’s Tech Potential Growing up surrounded by South Carolina’s rolling hills and vibrant communities, I always believed this state had untapped potential—a potential that extends beyond our scenic beauty and rich history into the dynamic, opportunity-filled world of technology. As someone who has dedicated their career to fostering...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
PROFESSOR SIMON LUCEY
DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR MACHINE LEARNING (AIML), THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
Not only does Adelaide offer a great lifestyle and work-life balance for families, but in my field—artificial intelligence (AI)— the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) helps position the city as a global leader in research and innovation excellence. I’ve had the privilege of visiting many of the leading AI...
INNOVATION Quebec
PIERRE FITZGIBBON
MINISTER OF ECONOMY, INNOVATION AND ENERGY, MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,AND MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE METROPOLIS AND THE MONTRÉAL REGION
By launching the 2022-2027 Québec Research and Innovation Investment Strategy (QRIIS2) and creating the role of chief innovator, our government has committed to putting innovation front and centre in Québec’s economic development in the coming years. More than ever, we want to support all those who have the desire to...
BRIDGITTE ANDERSON
ICD.D, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE
Bridgitte Anderson ICD.D became the first female President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade in the 132-year history of the organization in 2019. Her career spans multiple disciplines ranging from business consulting to public policy and communications to journalism. The long-term viability of companies increasingly depends on...
ANDREW BATEY
FOUNDER AND CO-CEO, BEATDAPP
Vancouver has the potential – and opportunity – to become a significant player in the global tech ecosystem. For emerging tech hubs like Vancouver, companies must prioritize collaboration and cross-functional effort to compete with established cities like Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, and Miami. Beatdapp highlights this opportunity and...
KALE NEEDHAM
CEO, SPIRAL DATA
From a research scientist to an analyst, my career journey instilled in me a deep-rooted passion for solving complex problems through data driven insights. It became clear to me that academia wasn’t the path for me to make a tangible difference – I wanted to add significant ‘business changing’ value....
Lidia Divry
Chief Executive Director, CPA-CMA, MBA - TechnoMontréal
English: Greater Montréal, Québec’s economic heartland, definitely beats in tune with digital innovation. We have one of the richest tech ecosystems in terms of knowledge, know-how, and creativity. A source of great pride for Québec and Canada. We stand out on the global scene with our world-class academic institutions and...
DR. GER BROPHY
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTOF BIOPHARMA PRODUCTION, AVANTOR
Bioproduction has taken a remarkable journey over the last several decades. In recent years, the demand for specific and powerful biologic therapies has continued to increase, underpinned by the ongoing development of monoclonal antibodies therapies (mAbs) and augmented by new platforms such as Cell and Gene Therapy and also nucleic...
Amy Fisher
Vice president - Padilla
BUILDING THOUGHT LEADERS, ONE BRAND AT A TIME Innovation has been described as a business strategy, a brand value, even an organizational characteristic. It implies continuous ideation, creativity, and execution based on an ability to understand and meet the needs of customers, employees, investors, and other key stakeholders. Innovation is...
MICHAEL CLINTON
CEO ROAR
Many of us spend our lives identifying ourselves in what I call the 3 P’s… Partner, Parent, and Profession. There’s no question that these three identifiers take up a lot of our lives. There’s only one challenge with letting these roles dominate life however, especially as we live longer, healthier...
ROBERT SALCEDO
FOUNDER AND CEO, OCYONBIO GENE AND CELL THERAPY
Robert Salcedo was born in the Dominican Republic on August 26,1964. When he was ten years old, his family decided to immigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities. At an early age Robert understood the need of medicine accessibility for everyone regardless of social status or race....
SOPHIE D’AMOURS
RECTRICE, UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL
Le mot innovation est utilisé à plusieurs sauces. Il est toutefois clairement défini par le Larousse comme l’« ensemble du processus qui se déroule depuis la naissance d’une idée jusqu’à sa matérialisation ». Au-delà de l’idée, une solution nouvelle doit être utilisée, commercialisée, achetée ou déployée pour être innovante. Dans...
DR. CORRIE BLOCK
COACHING SUCCESS
In a world yearning for guidance, Dr. Corrie Block emerges as a lighthouse of hope and transformation. Our conversation, steeped in the urgency of our era, unveils a brilliant mind and a visionary heart. As we delve into his insights, it becomes clear that Dr. Block doesn’t just see the...
JESSICA POWELL
OWNER OF SOCIAL BALANCES
I’ve always believed that the most successful people—whether founders, investors, or community leaders—aren’t the ones who know the most or have the most. They’re the ones who give first. They show up, offer help, make introductions, and invest in others long before expecting anything in return. And over time, the...
ROD MCDANIEL
CEO OF S3 RECYCLING SOLUTIONS
My goal as a leader is to create a company culture that is focused on people first. While it has been an incredible honor to be nationally recognized as an executive (for instance, winning the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Southeast Award), I find that I have true fulfillment when...
DAVID MALLETT
FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, YANUN PROJECT SERVICES
My people have been innovating on South Australian Country for more than 60,000 years. As a proud Ngarrindjeri man from South Australia’s South-East, my ancestors developed smart solutions to support their day to-day survival within the harsh Australian environment. For example, we would salvage small intricate bird bones to make...
CARA DE LANGE
THE FUTURE IS SOFTER
In the evolving corporate world, Cara de Lange stands out as a change-maker, TEDx speaker, author of ‘Softer Success,’ host of the Work Reset Revolution podcast, and a burnout researcher, advocating a shift from traditional corporate success to prioritizing employee well being. As the founder of Softer Success, Cara developed...
DIRK REYN
CHAIRMAN, FLANDERS BIO
As the chairman of flanders.bio, an ex-CEO of four (4) start-up companies and an investor in the biotech scene in Europe, my heart and soul lie with Biotech. I have seen the Biotech landscape in Flanders grow to the absolute top in Europe. It is not without reason that the...
YIN OEI
LIVING TOMORROW GROUP - CEO
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, our greatest responsibility as leaders is to ensure that the advancements we champion do more than just enhance efficiency—they must also contribute to a sustainable and equitable world. My vision for the industry is centered around the seamless integration of technology into...
DR. SIZAKELE MARUTLULLE
CMO-SIZAKELE MARUTLULLE
I think it was the mighty Einstein who said ‘imagination is more important than knowledge’. Whilst he was not deriding education per se – I think he was advocating for an explosion of ideas – which (in my view) is the fuel that drives innovation. The ubiquity of the term...
GRAHAM CARR
PRESIDENT & VICE-CHANCELLOR, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Montreal is the city with the largest concentration of university students per capita in North America. It has a completely unique mix of French and English and attracts students from more than 155 countries worldwide. Montreal is not just Canada’s leading centre for university research, it’s a world leader in...
DartPoints
Brad Alexander, CTO
Unlocking South Carolina’s Tech Potential Growing up surrounded by South Carolina’s rolling hills and vibrant communities, I always believed this state had untapped potential—a potential that extends beyond our scenic beauty and rich history into the dynamic, opportunity-filled world of technology. As someone who has dedicated their career to fostering...
PROFESSOR SIMON LUCEY
DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR MACHINE LEARNING (AIML), THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
Not only does Adelaide offer a great lifestyle and work-life balance for families, but in my field—artificial intelligence (AI)— the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) helps position the city as a global leader in research and innovation excellence. I’ve had the privilege of visiting many of the leading AI...
PIERRE FITZGIBBON
MINISTER OF ECONOMY, INNOVATION AND ENERGY, MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,AND MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE METROPOLIS AND THE MONTRÉAL REGION
By launching the 2022-2027 Québec Research and Innovation Investment Strategy (QRIIS2) and creating the role of chief innovator, our government has committed to putting innovation front and centre in Québec’s economic development in the coming years. More than ever, we want to support all those who have the desire to...