Speakers

​

Co-Founder and Co-Director, DemocracyXChange Summit; Ana is an award-winning visionary leader with more than 25 years of experience...

​

​

Birthe Piontek is a visual artist whose practice involves photography, installation, sculpture, and drawing, focusing on the interconnections between photographic images, objects, history, and personal and collective memory.

Dr. Charlotte Yates (PhD) recently retired from her role as the first woman President & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guelph...

​

Emily Jin (she/her) is a Consultant at MASS LBP in Toronto...

​

Harrison Lowman is the Managing Editor of The Hub, one of Canada's fastest growing digital news and commentary sites.

​

​

Kayona Karunakumar is Project Assistant, Circle for Democratic Solidarity.

​

Leslie Woo CRE® is a respected city leader with over 25 years of experience building sustainable communities and shaping urban development...

Elizabeth (Liz) Osawamick is an Anishinaabe Midewiwin-kwe community leader, Water Walker/activist, jingle dress dancer...

Marla Boltman is a trusted and passionate leader in the Canadian media sector ...

Murad Hemmadi covers artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing and other deep technologies...

Nam Kiwanuka is an award winning journalist who has covered sports, entertainment and was ...

Olivia Chow is the 66th Mayor of Toronto, the first person of Asian descent to serve as Mayor, and the first woman since the six municipalities of Metro Toronto...

ReAct ReCreate ReVision is a research creation and co-mentorship collective for diverse emerging socially-engaged artists

Since 1998, Sabine has been a Principal at StrategyCorp, which serves clients across Canada...

Sara is an award-winning urban and cultural planner with 15 years of experience...

Seher is a national civic leader with 10+ years of experience working on Canada's most pressing civic challenges. Seher is also...

Artist-Researcher-in-Residence, University of Toronto’s School of Cities

​

The Honourable Lisa Raitt joined CIBC Capital Markets in January 2020...

Vass Bednar focuses on the intersection(s) between public policy and technology. She contributes to policy discussions in Canada...

Wynnie Zhao is a practitioner and researcher passionate about exploring the role of business...

Ailin Dong (b. 2001, Chongqing) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice investigates the intersections of textile, technology, and identity.

Andrew Parkin is the Executive Director of the Environics Institute for Survey Research, a not-for-profit agency...

Aretha Phillip is an accomplished public servant with more than 25 years of experience ...

​

Since 2011, Choir! Choir! Choir! directors Daveed Goldman + Nobu Adilman have blurred the lines between performer and audience, traveling the world to create harmony with strangers and friends alike.

​

Eden Fineday is an award-winning nêhiyaw (Cree) journalist from the Sweetgrass First Nation in Treaty 6 territory, and the publisher of IndigiNews.

Emma Cochrane is a consultant, creative strategist, and urban thinker with a decade of ...

​

​

Jennifer Hollett is the executive director at The Walrus, Canada’s Conversation.

Before joining the City Clerk's Office in 2007, John held posts in Toronto's City Manager's ...

​

Lara has over 20 years of senior leadership experience in politics, public policy...

Liam is an entrepreneur, advisor, and educator with a passion for bringing people together ...

Dr. Lydia Miljan is Professor of Political Science at the University of Windsor.

Martin Regg Cohn writes on domestic and international issues for the Toronto Star and founded the TMU Democracy Forum. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Dais and...

Musa al-Gharbi is a sociologist and assistant professor in the School of Communication and Journalism at Stony Brook University. His research primarily focuses on...

Neil Desai is a corporate director and executive with extensive experience in the public and private sector.

Pat Tobin has spent 25 years in government and the not-for-profit sector working on cultural policy, newcomer integration, economic development and Indigenous issues.

Renee is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of GoodBot which advances proactive ...

Saman Tabasinejad is the Executive Director at Progress Toronto.

Sarah is a Director at MASS LBP in Toronto, Canada...

​

Skaidra (sky-dra) serves as the Director of Ontario Relations at the Council of Canadian...

Tehreem is a civic innovator, and impact strategist often found at the intersection of political ...

​

Victoria is an established public policy, and engagement professional focused on social impact.

​

Alicia Hrvatin is an artist and educator currently based in Brampton, Ontario who teaches visual arts at multiple centres throughout the community.

Dr. Andrew Zitcer is director of the Urban Strategy graduate program...

Ariella is Executive Director of ABC Toronto and President of Winston Wilmont.

Bennett Jensen (he/him) is the Director of Legal at Egale Canada, the country’s leading 2SGLBTQI rights organization...

Carol Off is the award-winning author of At a Loss for Words: Conversation in an Age of Rage...

Cristine de Clercy is the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, and Professor of Political Studies at Trent University...

Elamin Abdelmahmoud (he/him) is the host of CBC's daily arts, entertainment and pop culture ...

Erin is the CEO & Co-founder of Indiegraf. She’s a journalist and entrepreneur who founded The Discourse where she led an award-winning...

Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours is a well-known Quebec based journalist and the co-founder of...

Jason Thorne is the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning at the City of Toronto...

​

​

Kroplya is a Belarus-born multidisciplinary artist and curator currently based in Tallinn, Estonia.

Laura (she/her) is the co-founder and COO of Ecologicca, and the founder of What in the Tech.

Dr. Lisa Schirch is Richard G. Starmann Sr. Endowed Chair and Professor of the Practice of...

Madalina Botan is a senior researcher and Associate Professor...

Matthew is a Canadian public policy leader.

Award-winning Journalist (CBC Ideas)

New Mineral Collective (NMC) is the collaborative practice of Canadian artist Tanya Busse and Lithuanian artist Emilija Škarnulytė.

Calgary Arts Development President & CEO Patti Pon is a veteran community and arts champion...

Roula Said is a multi-faceted artist, facilitator and maker of ceremonies.

Sanjay Ruparelia is an Associate Professor of Politics at Toronto Metropolitan University...

Sean Carleton is Associate Professor in the Departments of History and of Indigenous...

Shachi Kurl is President of the Angus Reid Institute, Canada’s non-profit foundation committed to independent research.

Taki Sarantakis has been President of the Canada School of Public Service since July 2018...

Teresa Marques is the President and CEO of the Rideau Hall Foundation.

Uche Amaechi was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario...

Vladimir Kanic is a transdisciplinary artist whose living algae installations transform spectators’ breath into oxygen, creating participatory ecosystems that embody the possibilities of interspecies collaboration.