Thought Leaders
INNOVATE™ Montréal
Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President And Vice-Chancellor - Carleton University
Benoit-Antoine Bacon is President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University, an innovative and socially minded institution that is at the forefront of technological and social change for a better future. A Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, he previously served as Vice-President, Academic, at Queen’s University and at Concordia University in his...
INNOVATE® Northern Virginia
TODD STOTTLEMYER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ACENTRA HEALTH
Curiosity has shaped every meaningful stage of my career, pushing me to challenge assumptions and keep searching for better ways to serve people. Real progress tends to come from teams willing to challenge old assumptions and look at problems differently. Curiosity creates space for stronger ideas and fresh approaches to...
INNOVATE® Gainesville
Chad Paris
CEO - Parisleaf
Chad Paris Ceo – Parisleaf I can vividly recall the moment I realized how special Gainesville is. I was in Mexico for my sister’s wedding and feeling homesick for a place I’d only called home for a short time. Beyond the confusion of feeling such a strong connection to a...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
THE HON. DR. SUSAN CLOSE
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AND SPACE INDUSTRIES
South Australia is an innovative, collaborative and forward-thinking state with defence and space manufacturing at the heart of our emerging high-tech economy. Home to a critical mass of defence industry, cutting-edge research and education institutions as well as world-class infrastructure, precincts and advanced manufacturing capability, South Australia is firmly established...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
SAMANTHA MATHEWS
FOUNDER @LEARNBYLOCI
The technology industry is so broad-reaching and established that “innovation” has become the status quo. The problem that comes along with this entrenched approach to technological development is that we’ve also codified what the people who innovate look like; where they went to school, who they know, and what kind...
VOICES of the Future
DORIE CLARK
PURPOSE IN THE TUNNEL
In the heart of America’s corporate hustle, where ambition beats faster than a Wall Street trader’s pulse, Dorie Clark is a beacon of foresight and inspiration. This moment isn’t just a conversation; it is a masterclass in future-flung vision, delivered by a woman who’s cracked the code on thriving in...
INNOVATE® South Florida
BETH WAGMEISTER
CEO, WAG - WORKPLACE ACCESSIBILITY GROUP
BREAKING BARRIERS: HOW THE WAG EMPOWERS BUSINESSES TO CREATE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS Accessibility as a Catalyst for Innovation In the United States, the employment disparity between deaf and hearing individuals highlights a significant accessibility gap. According to the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC), only 48% of deaf individuals aged...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
SOFIA M. WESTIN
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, FLÖDE
I grew up in the north of Sweden dreaming of becoming a fashion designer. Like many young creatives, I believed in the magic of making clothes, their power to express, connect, and transform. I worked hard to realize that dream and eventually found myself inside the industry I had once...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
MICHAEL ROSE
FOUNDER OF VIGNETIC, PERMEVO AND TKTKONNECT
The global talent market is a pressing concern that affects organizations and economies worldwide. According to a survey conducted by ManpowerGroup, 69% of employers reported difficulty in finding skilled workers in 2022. This shortage has been attributed to various factors, including demographic shifts, skills gaps, and the rapid pace of...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
MATTHEW PEARLSON
INTRNLS - CEO & FOUNDER
My journey has always been driven by one relentless pursuit: redefining the boundaries of sustainable energy systems. As the CEO of Intrnls Inc., I am on a mission to rewrite the playbook for carbon capture efficiency, pioneering a future where sustainability and efficiency are not just goals but standards. Starting...
INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®
PEDRO MOURA
GENERAL MANAGER, MERCK PORTUGAL
I have looked at this quote for many years in a row. It was on a board as part of my office decor when I worked in a regional position. And I always felt it reflects my thinking. To be results driven has helped me navigate different roles and different...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
VICTOR HOSKINS
PRESIDENT & CEO, FAIRFAX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Embracing the fast-paced technological transformation before us, we know that innovation is not just about having the brightest ideas or the most advanced technology. It is about cultivating an ecosystem where transformative ideas can flourish and where technology meets skilled hands and minds prepared to wield it. Fairfax County is...
INNOVATE™ Ottawa
Why do we pursue innovation in health care? The population is aging, and patients are entering the health-care system with more complex health needs. As a leader in world-first health-care research and as a part of the Ottawa community, The Ottawa Hospital pursues health-care innovation to support healthier populations while...
INNOVATE® Northern Virginia
JENNIFER TAYLOR, PRESIDENT & CEO, NORTHERN VIRGINIA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL (NVTC)
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of watching extraordinary ideas become reality. I’ve seen entrepreneurs build companies from sketches on whiteboards, researchers solve problems once thought impossible, and technologies transform industries in ways few could have imagined. Those experiences have shaped how I think about innovation. Innovation Begins with...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
Rob Fry
CTO - JASK (Now Sumo Logic)
I started in the technology field back in 1996 doing computer and network setups for regional city governments who could not afford or did not know what to ask for when needing help. I ended up riding the “Internet Revolution” shortly after and found myself in Silicon Valley in 2005...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
JESSICA MEDEIROS & SUZANNE DUNCAN
FEMME GAMING
As women representing a mosaic of cultural diversity in the esports and the traditional sport industry, both Jessica Medeiros & Suzanne Duncan are no strangers to the heavy lifts asked of female leadership at executive tables in the gaming space. As the founders of Femme Gaming, we are both passionate...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
SHADMAN HOSSAIN
MANAGER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES PRACTICE, CGI FEDERAL
At its core, blockchain technology is about giving people control over their own data and assets, and enabling them to transact with one another in a transparent and secure way. By giving people control over their own data, we can create a more fair and just society where individuals have...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
KATARINA GOSPIC
CO-FOUNDER, EDSVÄRD
FROM STRAWBERRIES TO THE STATES One of my first memories from when I was about 4-years old is about strawberries. I used to close my eyes and imagined one, then another. This little thought experiment was something I became obsessed with. I wanted to be like Lucky Luke, faster than...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
LORNE SUGARMAN
CEO, METAVERSE GROUP
Responses were mixed. While many applauded, others ridiculed our purchase. One well-known financier tweeted that our purchase made the tulip bubble of the 17th century look like investing in Berkshire Hathaway. The Metaverse isn’t a new concept. The term was first coined in Neal Stephenson’s 1992 book, Snow Crash. A...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
SOFIA STOLBERG
CEO PILOTO 151
THE GENESIS AND EVOLUTION OF PUERTO RICO’S ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM AND WHAT’S NEEDED TO CHARGE AHEADFew people know that in 2010 Puerto Rico pioneered the first multistakeholder entrepreneurship ecosystem project in the world. Led by the Island’s most successful entrepreneurs in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, the Puerto Rico...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
COL (RET) STU BRADIN
GLOBAL SOF FOUNDATION
As I approached my retirement from U.S. Special Operations Command in 2014, I decided to keep serving my nation and the wider Special Operations community through the formation of a new professional SOF association – the Global SOF Foundation (GSF). Since 9/11 U.S. special operations forces (SOF) had over doubled...
INNOVATION Quebec
JESSE VINCENT HERSCOVICI
PDG, AXELYS
No matter how big or small, they face strong competition in an unstable environment. In this context, the development of an IP strategy is essential to establish a path to the market. Although IP is a current topic in the business world, it is still too often misunderstood. According to...
INNOVATE® Northern Virginia
BRUCE CASWELL, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MAXIMUS
BRUCE CASWELL, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MAXIMUS That belief has been a common thread throughout my career. I feel it more now than ever because the gap between what’s possible and what is often delivered is still too wide. Today’s expectations are shaped by the commercial world – instant,...
Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President And Vice-Chancellor - Carleton University
Benoit-Antoine Bacon is President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University, an innovative and socially minded institution that is at the forefront of technological and social change for a better future. A Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, he previously served as Vice-President, Academic, at Queen’s University and at Concordia University in his...
TODD STOTTLEMYER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ACENTRA HEALTH
Curiosity has shaped every meaningful stage of my career, pushing me to challenge assumptions and keep searching for better ways to serve people. Real progress tends to come from teams willing to challenge old assumptions and look at problems differently. Curiosity creates space for stronger ideas and fresh approaches to...
Chad Paris
CEO - Parisleaf
Chad Paris Ceo – Parisleaf I can vividly recall the moment I realized how special Gainesville is. I was in Mexico for my sister’s wedding and feeling homesick for a place I’d only called home for a short time. Beyond the confusion of feeling such a strong connection to a...
THE HON. DR. SUSAN CLOSE
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AND SPACE INDUSTRIES
South Australia is an innovative, collaborative and forward-thinking state with defence and space manufacturing at the heart of our emerging high-tech economy. Home to a critical mass of defence industry, cutting-edge research and education institutions as well as world-class infrastructure, precincts and advanced manufacturing capability, South Australia is firmly established...
SAMANTHA MATHEWS
FOUNDER @LEARNBYLOCI
The technology industry is so broad-reaching and established that “innovation” has become the status quo. The problem that comes along with this entrenched approach to technological development is that we’ve also codified what the people who innovate look like; where they went to school, who they know, and what kind...
DORIE CLARK
PURPOSE IN THE TUNNEL
In the heart of America’s corporate hustle, where ambition beats faster than a Wall Street trader’s pulse, Dorie Clark is a beacon of foresight and inspiration. This moment isn’t just a conversation; it is a masterclass in future-flung vision, delivered by a woman who’s cracked the code on thriving in...
BETH WAGMEISTER
CEO, WAG - WORKPLACE ACCESSIBILITY GROUP
BREAKING BARRIERS: HOW THE WAG EMPOWERS BUSINESSES TO CREATE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS Accessibility as a Catalyst for Innovation In the United States, the employment disparity between deaf and hearing individuals highlights a significant accessibility gap. According to the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC), only 48% of deaf individuals aged...
SOFIA M. WESTIN
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, FLÖDE
I grew up in the north of Sweden dreaming of becoming a fashion designer. Like many young creatives, I believed in the magic of making clothes, their power to express, connect, and transform. I worked hard to realize that dream and eventually found myself inside the industry I had once...
MICHAEL ROSE
FOUNDER OF VIGNETIC, PERMEVO AND TKTKONNECT
The global talent market is a pressing concern that affects organizations and economies worldwide. According to a survey conducted by ManpowerGroup, 69% of employers reported difficulty in finding skilled workers in 2022. This shortage has been attributed to various factors, including demographic shifts, skills gaps, and the rapid pace of...
MATTHEW PEARLSON
INTRNLS - CEO & FOUNDER
My journey has always been driven by one relentless pursuit: redefining the boundaries of sustainable energy systems. As the CEO of Intrnls Inc., I am on a mission to rewrite the playbook for carbon capture efficiency, pioneering a future where sustainability and efficiency are not just goals but standards. Starting...
VICTOR HOSKINS
PRESIDENT & CEO, FAIRFAX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Embracing the fast-paced technological transformation before us, we know that innovation is not just about having the brightest ideas or the most advanced technology. It is about cultivating an ecosystem where transformative ideas can flourish and where technology meets skilled hands and minds prepared to wield it. Fairfax County is...
Why do we pursue innovation in health care? The population is aging, and patients are entering the health-care system with more complex health needs. As a leader in world-first health-care research and as a part of the Ottawa community, The Ottawa Hospital pursues health-care innovation to support healthier populations while...
JENNIFER TAYLOR, PRESIDENT & CEO, NORTHERN VIRGINIA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL (NVTC)
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of watching extraordinary ideas become reality. I’ve seen entrepreneurs build companies from sketches on whiteboards, researchers solve problems once thought impossible, and technologies transform industries in ways few could have imagined. Those experiences have shaped how I think about innovation. Innovation Begins with...
Rob Fry
CTO - JASK (Now Sumo Logic)
I started in the technology field back in 1996 doing computer and network setups for regional city governments who could not afford or did not know what to ask for when needing help. I ended up riding the “Internet Revolution” shortly after and found myself in Silicon Valley in 2005...
JESSICA MEDEIROS & SUZANNE DUNCAN
FEMME GAMING
As women representing a mosaic of cultural diversity in the esports and the traditional sport industry, both Jessica Medeiros & Suzanne Duncan are no strangers to the heavy lifts asked of female leadership at executive tables in the gaming space. As the founders of Femme Gaming, we are both passionate...
SHADMAN HOSSAIN
MANAGER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES PRACTICE, CGI FEDERAL
At its core, blockchain technology is about giving people control over their own data and assets, and enabling them to transact with one another in a transparent and secure way. By giving people control over their own data, we can create a more fair and just society where individuals have...
KATARINA GOSPIC
CO-FOUNDER, EDSVÄRD
FROM STRAWBERRIES TO THE STATES One of my first memories from when I was about 4-years old is about strawberries. I used to close my eyes and imagined one, then another. This little thought experiment was something I became obsessed with. I wanted to be like Lucky Luke, faster than...
LORNE SUGARMAN
CEO, METAVERSE GROUP
Responses were mixed. While many applauded, others ridiculed our purchase. One well-known financier tweeted that our purchase made the tulip bubble of the 17th century look like investing in Berkshire Hathaway. The Metaverse isn’t a new concept. The term was first coined in Neal Stephenson’s 1992 book, Snow Crash. A...
SOFIA STOLBERG
CEO PILOTO 151
THE GENESIS AND EVOLUTION OF PUERTO RICO’S ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM AND WHAT’S NEEDED TO CHARGE AHEADFew people know that in 2010 Puerto Rico pioneered the first multistakeholder entrepreneurship ecosystem project in the world. Led by the Island’s most successful entrepreneurs in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, the Puerto Rico...
COL (RET) STU BRADIN
GLOBAL SOF FOUNDATION
As I approached my retirement from U.S. Special Operations Command in 2014, I decided to keep serving my nation and the wider Special Operations community through the formation of a new professional SOF association – the Global SOF Foundation (GSF). Since 9/11 U.S. special operations forces (SOF) had over doubled...
JESSE VINCENT HERSCOVICI
PDG, AXELYS
No matter how big or small, they face strong competition in an unstable environment. In this context, the development of an IP strategy is essential to establish a path to the market. Although IP is a current topic in the business world, it is still too often misunderstood. According to...
BRUCE CASWELL, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MAXIMUS
BRUCE CASWELL, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MAXIMUS That belief has been a common thread throughout my career. I feel it more now than ever because the gap between what’s possible and what is often delivered is still too wide. Today’s expectations are shaped by the commercial world – instant,...