Thought Leaders
INNOVATE™ Alberta
SINMI ADEOYE-ESENE
FOUNDER, CEO, DANIOLA & CO-FOUNDER, BIPOC FOUNDATION
As an entrepreneur and innovator, I have embarked on a transformative journey to reshape the mining and tech industry with a bold vision and unwavering determination. It is my firm belief that we have the power to create a future that goes beyond profit margins and embraces the principles of...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
KUBA KABACINSKI
OWNER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF CONSUNET.
My parents brought me to Adelaide from Poland at age 12, attracted by the Australian national values of freedom, respect, equality and a fair go. At age 21, while completing my Information Technology studies at Flinders University, a friend and I bought a fledgling web development business for $200. Nearly...
INNOVATE® Utah
Blake Modersitzki
Managing Partner - Pelion Venture Partners
Blake Modersitzki Managing Partner – Pelion Venture Partners Nobody is born an entrepreneur. Different people take different paths to achieving their definition of success. Just know: The entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions is vast and deep. No Matter the Generation, the Lessons Ring True I’ve had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship...
VOICES of the Future
ALLAN PEASE
MEET MR. BODY LANGUAGE
Hon. Professor Allan Pease, acclaimed as ‘Mr. Body Language,’ is an international best-selling author and body language expert. His expertise, spanning advising executives to authoring bestsellers, provides valuable insights into human interactions. He is a distinguished speaker, coach, entrepreneur, and one of the world’s leading authors with 18 Top 10...
INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®
DR. AJIT SHETTY
FORMER CHAIRMAN, JANSSEN BEERSE
DR. AJIT SHETTY FORMER CHAIRMAN, JANSSEN BEERSE My name is Dr. Ajit Shetty and I served as Chairman of Janssen Beerse from 2002 to 2012. I was very fortunate to have been part of Janssen under the leadership of Dr. Paul Janssen. We were the most productive pharmaceutical research lab...
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...
INNOVATE® Nashville
DAVID BUTTREY
CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT AT MANGROVE
I’ve spent years at the intersection of technology and human experience—building festivals that draw tens of thousands into shared, electric moments under the stars, while simultaneously harnessing AI and automation to make those moments possible. Through it all, I’ve come to believe that the defining skill of our era isn’t...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
NICOLAS GILOT
FOUNDER & CEO, ULTRA
Taking gaming and flipping it on its head with the use of blockchain technology was no small feat. Luckily, Nicolas Gilot and David Hanson, CO-CEOs of Ultra, have a strong background in the games industry and the innovative spark that made dreams come true for gamers and game developers around...
INNOVATION Quebec
RÉMI QUIRION
SCIENTIFIQUE EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC
RÉMI QUIRION, SCIENTIFIQUE EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC, LUC SIROIS, INNOVATEUR EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC, SYLVIE PINSONNAULT, PREMIÈRE VICE-PRÉSIDENTE, STRATÉGIES, INNOVATION ET DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE. En ouverture du Sommet des accélérateurs, organisé par le Mouvement des accélérateurs d’innovation du Québec, Rémi Quirion, scientifique en chef du Québec, Luc Sirois, Innovateur en chef...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
DR THIERRY VANELSLANDER
PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL ECONOMICS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP
When I started working at TPR in 1998, transport and logistics was mostly a phenomenon split up according to the modes, not featuring that much public attention, and not that innovative. All that has changed a lot over the past two decades. Multimodality has changed into intermodality and more recently...
INNOVATE® Nashville
MARIA F. MCLENDON
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AT FIRST SOUTH FINANCIAL
Every day, I’m reminded that the world of financial services is both exciting and challenging. We live in a time when consumers are flooded with options, yet too often, they’re still unsure where to turn for real guidance and personal connection. In my experience, the three biggest challenges facing our...
INNOVATION Quebec
PREFACE BY MURIELLE LABERGE
RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF QUÉBEC EN OUTAOUAIS
Innovation is intrinsically linked to the constant quest for improvement. It requires a creative and agile mindset to come to fruition. It is this mindset that drives individuals seeking to improve well-being and create a better world to dedicate themselves to social innovations based on human values such as solidarity,...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
STEFAN MORITZ
HEAD OF INNOVATION AT MAX MATTHIESSEN, KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PROFESSOR
Having worked around the globe, I choose Stockholm every time. Close to nature, stunning water all around, super digital, wellbeing and family focused. Also, I believe Stockholm is best placed to lead a united Europe in human-centric innovation. In a world grappling with profound shifts — from volatile stocks, climate,...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
Pedro Rodrigues
Director-General, Desafio Global – Events And Activation Experience And Go Live – Digital Events
This “Life of Events” that I chose and am very proud of is in no way a normal life. A professional in this area is not just a service provider. I sincerely believe that most of us view each event as nothing less than a mission that transcends schedules, other...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
Chris Carrillo
CEO of MetroMLS
Milwaukee is rapidly emerging as a technology hub, with real estate tech playing a key role. Leading the way is Metro Multiple Listing Service,which has transformed from a traditional listing database into a tech-driven powerhouse, reshaping how homes are bought and sold in Wisconsin. Founded in 1962 as a printed...
INNOVATION Quebec
RICHARD CHÉNIER
CENTECH CEO
The next decade will offer several strategic opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly technological. Several scientific advances, once considered fundamental, are now transiting at lightning speed to real applications. These new applications must act as a catalyst for concrete solutions to meet our climate challenges and improve the quality of...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
DENNIS SCHMITT
NUROTECH CORP - FOUNDER & CEO
It is hard for me to accept being a visionary leader, as it is difficult for me to reconcile where I am now, with where I was 15 years ago. I didn’t envision a future where I’m the CEO/Founder of a multi-million dollar Biotech company on the precipice to lead...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
ROBERT MACKIE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BIOLYTICAL
The Changing Diagnostics LandscapeWith almost twenty years in the medical diagnostics industry, undoubtedly, one of the biggest impacts we’ve experienced has been COVID-19. From upending business models and shutting down the globe to forcing the world to rethink how we conduct business and even what products we make and how,...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
Carole Lamarque
CEO, Founding Partner Of Duval Union Innovative Marketing
Strategic Marketing, launching innovations and new technologies are my passions. I worked as a marketing leader for various companies in competitive markets. It was a privilege to work in these sectors. I look back on my very pleasant and extremely smart colleagues. Many of them supported me and made me...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
JEFF REID
FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF GEORGETOWN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
As the founding director of Georgetown Entrepreneurship, Jeff Reid is passionate about educating, mentoring, and infl uencing the next generation of entrepreneurs to use their new business ventures to serve the common good. “Common good entrepreneurship involves creating and operating businesses that not only aim for fi nancial success but...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
JEVAN FOX
CRO, AGENCY ENTERPRISE
The rate of technological innovation has increased exponentially since the industrial revolution. A 12-second flight along a North Carolina beach led to a moon landing only 66 years later. That staggering pace of development pales in comparison to what has occurred with digital technology in the past decades. That pace...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
ALEXANDER SAVERYS
CEO, CMB
My name is Alexander Saverys, I’m the CEO of CMB, a diversified shipping company owning 135 ships active in dry bulk shipping, container transport, chemical tankers and offshore wind support. Our cleantech division, CMB.TECH, is a market leader in the development of hydrogen applications for the marine and other industries....
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...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
SEBASTIAN FUCHS
CEO, STARTUP PEOPLE
Stockholm’s startup scene – and ecosystems everywhere – love to celebrate the one percent: the global successes, the polished founders, the big exits. But that’s not the story that matters most. What really defines an ecosystem are the founders you don’t see. The ones grinding at kitchen tables. The ones...
SINMI ADEOYE-ESENE
FOUNDER, CEO, DANIOLA & CO-FOUNDER, BIPOC FOUNDATION
As an entrepreneur and innovator, I have embarked on a transformative journey to reshape the mining and tech industry with a bold vision and unwavering determination. It is my firm belief that we have the power to create a future that goes beyond profit margins and embraces the principles of...
KUBA KABACINSKI
OWNER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF CONSUNET.
My parents brought me to Adelaide from Poland at age 12, attracted by the Australian national values of freedom, respect, equality and a fair go. At age 21, while completing my Information Technology studies at Flinders University, a friend and I bought a fledgling web development business for $200. Nearly...
Blake Modersitzki
Managing Partner - Pelion Venture Partners
Blake Modersitzki Managing Partner – Pelion Venture Partners Nobody is born an entrepreneur. Different people take different paths to achieving their definition of success. Just know: The entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions is vast and deep. No Matter the Generation, the Lessons Ring True I’ve had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship...
ALLAN PEASE
MEET MR. BODY LANGUAGE
Hon. Professor Allan Pease, acclaimed as ‘Mr. Body Language,’ is an international best-selling author and body language expert. His expertise, spanning advising executives to authoring bestsellers, provides valuable insights into human interactions. He is a distinguished speaker, coach, entrepreneur, and one of the world’s leading authors with 18 Top 10...
DR. AJIT SHETTY
FORMER CHAIRMAN, JANSSEN BEERSE
DR. AJIT SHETTY FORMER CHAIRMAN, JANSSEN BEERSE My name is Dr. Ajit Shetty and I served as Chairman of Janssen Beerse from 2002 to 2012. I was very fortunate to have been part of Janssen under the leadership of Dr. Paul Janssen. We were the most productive pharmaceutical research lab...
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...
DAVID BUTTREY
CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT AT MANGROVE
I’ve spent years at the intersection of technology and human experience—building festivals that draw tens of thousands into shared, electric moments under the stars, while simultaneously harnessing AI and automation to make those moments possible. Through it all, I’ve come to believe that the defining skill of our era isn’t...
NICOLAS GILOT
FOUNDER & CEO, ULTRA
Taking gaming and flipping it on its head with the use of blockchain technology was no small feat. Luckily, Nicolas Gilot and David Hanson, CO-CEOs of Ultra, have a strong background in the games industry and the innovative spark that made dreams come true for gamers and game developers around...
RÉMI QUIRION
SCIENTIFIQUE EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC
RÉMI QUIRION, SCIENTIFIQUE EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC, LUC SIROIS, INNOVATEUR EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC, SYLVIE PINSONNAULT, PREMIÈRE VICE-PRÉSIDENTE, STRATÉGIES, INNOVATION ET DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE. En ouverture du Sommet des accélérateurs, organisé par le Mouvement des accélérateurs d’innovation du Québec, Rémi Quirion, scientifique en chef du Québec, Luc Sirois, Innovateur en chef...
DR THIERRY VANELSLANDER
PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL ECONOMICS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP
When I started working at TPR in 1998, transport and logistics was mostly a phenomenon split up according to the modes, not featuring that much public attention, and not that innovative. All that has changed a lot over the past two decades. Multimodality has changed into intermodality and more recently...
MARIA F. MCLENDON
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AT FIRST SOUTH FINANCIAL
Every day, I’m reminded that the world of financial services is both exciting and challenging. We live in a time when consumers are flooded with options, yet too often, they’re still unsure where to turn for real guidance and personal connection. In my experience, the three biggest challenges facing our...
PREFACE BY MURIELLE LABERGE
RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF QUÉBEC EN OUTAOUAIS
Innovation is intrinsically linked to the constant quest for improvement. It requires a creative and agile mindset to come to fruition. It is this mindset that drives individuals seeking to improve well-being and create a better world to dedicate themselves to social innovations based on human values such as solidarity,...
STEFAN MORITZ
HEAD OF INNOVATION AT MAX MATTHIESSEN, KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PROFESSOR
Having worked around the globe, I choose Stockholm every time. Close to nature, stunning water all around, super digital, wellbeing and family focused. Also, I believe Stockholm is best placed to lead a united Europe in human-centric innovation. In a world grappling with profound shifts — from volatile stocks, climate,...
Pedro Rodrigues
Director-General, Desafio Global – Events And Activation Experience And Go Live – Digital Events
This “Life of Events” that I chose and am very proud of is in no way a normal life. A professional in this area is not just a service provider. I sincerely believe that most of us view each event as nothing less than a mission that transcends schedules, other...
Chris Carrillo
CEO of MetroMLS
Milwaukee is rapidly emerging as a technology hub, with real estate tech playing a key role. Leading the way is Metro Multiple Listing Service,which has transformed from a traditional listing database into a tech-driven powerhouse, reshaping how homes are bought and sold in Wisconsin. Founded in 1962 as a printed...
RICHARD CHÉNIER
CENTECH CEO
The next decade will offer several strategic opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly technological. Several scientific advances, once considered fundamental, are now transiting at lightning speed to real applications. These new applications must act as a catalyst for concrete solutions to meet our climate challenges and improve the quality of...
DENNIS SCHMITT
NUROTECH CORP - FOUNDER & CEO
It is hard for me to accept being a visionary leader, as it is difficult for me to reconcile where I am now, with where I was 15 years ago. I didn’t envision a future where I’m the CEO/Founder of a multi-million dollar Biotech company on the precipice to lead...
ROBERT MACKIE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BIOLYTICAL
The Changing Diagnostics LandscapeWith almost twenty years in the medical diagnostics industry, undoubtedly, one of the biggest impacts we’ve experienced has been COVID-19. From upending business models and shutting down the globe to forcing the world to rethink how we conduct business and even what products we make and how,...
Carole Lamarque
CEO, Founding Partner Of Duval Union Innovative Marketing
Strategic Marketing, launching innovations and new technologies are my passions. I worked as a marketing leader for various companies in competitive markets. It was a privilege to work in these sectors. I look back on my very pleasant and extremely smart colleagues. Many of them supported me and made me...
JEFF REID
FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF GEORGETOWN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
As the founding director of Georgetown Entrepreneurship, Jeff Reid is passionate about educating, mentoring, and infl uencing the next generation of entrepreneurs to use their new business ventures to serve the common good. “Common good entrepreneurship involves creating and operating businesses that not only aim for fi nancial success but...
JEVAN FOX
CRO, AGENCY ENTERPRISE
The rate of technological innovation has increased exponentially since the industrial revolution. A 12-second flight along a North Carolina beach led to a moon landing only 66 years later. That staggering pace of development pales in comparison to what has occurred with digital technology in the past decades. That pace...
ALEXANDER SAVERYS
CEO, CMB
My name is Alexander Saverys, I’m the CEO of CMB, a diversified shipping company owning 135 ships active in dry bulk shipping, container transport, chemical tankers and offshore wind support. Our cleantech division, CMB.TECH, is a market leader in the development of hydrogen applications for the marine and other industries....
SEBASTIAN FUCHS
CEO, STARTUP PEOPLE
Stockholm’s startup scene – and ecosystems everywhere – love to celebrate the one percent: the global successes, the polished founders, the big exits. But that’s not the story that matters most. What really defines an ecosystem are the founders you don’t see. The ones grinding at kitchen tables. The ones...