DAY 1 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Helen Papagiannis
World-Leading Expert on Augmented Reality | Author of Augmented Human
A pioneer in the world of augmented reality (AR), Dr. Helen Papagiannis is a globally recognized authority on immersive technologies and spatial computing. She has dedicated nearly two decades of her life towards these ever-evolving technologies, exploring their potential to expand human intelligence and amplify human possibility. With great gusto, Papagiannis offers a fascinating and cutting-edge look at the future of AR, extended reality (XR), and artificial intelligence (AI), framing it within the needs of a diverse range of industries and objectives.
The bestselling author of Augmented Human: How Technology is Shaping the New Reality, Papagiannis is the founder of XR GOES POP, a consulting firm focused on AR, XR, and immersive technologies across retail and popular culture. She is also a member of The World Economic Forum’s invite-only Global Future Council on Augmented and Virtual Reality, and a Metaverse Initiative Partner.
Prior to this, Papagiannis was the Chief Innovation Officer at Infinity Augmented Reality Inc. (acquired by Alibaba) and a senior research associate at York University’s Augmented Reality Lab. She also worked for the internationally acclaimed Bruce Mau Design studio, where she was the project lead on “Massive Change: The Future of Global Design”. This 20,000 square foot touring exhibition and bestselling book examined the inventions and technologies reshaping our world.
With clients such as Louis Vuitton and Adobe, and features in The New York Times, WIRED, and Harvard Business Review, Papagiannis has presented at such renowned events as TEDx, SXSW, ISMAR (International Society for Mixed and Augmented Reality), AWE (Augmented World Expo), and ISEA (International Symposium for Electronic Art). Her TEDx talk was named one of the top 10 on augmented reality and gamified life.
DAY 2 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dan Pontefract
Leadership and Work Culture Expert | Bestselling Author
Your people are your most valuable asset, and if you want them to excel ― and profits to soar — you need to abandon traditional management styles and adopt a more collaborative, open leadership approach; one that engages and empowers your staff. Dan Pontefract, bestselling author of Flat Army: Creating a Connected and Engaged Organization, The Purpose Effect, Open to Think, and Lead. Care. Win, shares leadership tools that push the boundaries of organizational change to create workplace cultures that shine.
Pontefract is currently the founder and CEO of The Pontefract Group, a consultant firm focused on leadership and organizational culture, as well as an adjunct professor at University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business. Prior to this, he spent 10 years as the Head of Learning and Collaboration at TELUS, where he was responsible for the overarching learning, collaboration, and leadership development strategy for the company.
While at Telus, Pontefract championed the introduction of the TELUS Leadership Philosophy (TLP), a collaborative-based leadership framework for 50,000+ team members. In parallel to these actions, he drove a philosophical and cultural shift in the way TELUS views and experiences learning and further championed the use and deployment of collaborative technologies to complement both the leadership and learning frameworks. Between 2008 and 2018, employee engagement at TELUS soared from 53% to nearly 90%.
Pontefract’s innovation also led to the introduction of the TELUS MBA — run in partnership with the University of Victoria — which allows TELUS team members the opportunity to earn an MBA over two years. The program has won three international awards and delivered new revenues and savings in excess of $300m. As Chief Envisioner, he also founded the Transformation Office, an external consulting arm that helped TELUS clients improve their internal culture and leadership practices.
In 2010, Pontefract received the "Vanguard Award" from Chief Learning Officer (CLO) magazine and was a two-time winner of the “Leader of the Year” award from Corporate University Best in Class Awards in both 2010 and 2011. He was also named the “Learning Leader of the Year” for his work at Telus by SkillSoft in 2012 and was awarded CLO magazine’s "Learning in Practice Innovation Award". Pontefract is also the recipient of the Brandon-Hall "Gold Award in Strategy & Governance," and in 2015, his team became a ten-time winner of the prestigious "ATD BEST" award and was the first recipient of the ATD Hall of Fame distinction. In 2013 and 2014, TELUS also placed in the top ten of the Learning! 100 Awards.
Prior to TELUS, Pontefract held senior positions over twelve years with SAP, Business Objects, Crystal Decisions, and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). He is a renowned speaker who has delivered over 100 external keynotes and presentations since 2009, including a TEDx Talk.