Peter Mansbridge is best known for his five decades of work at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, where he was Chief Correspondent of CBC News and Anchor of The National for thirty years. He has won dozens of awards for outstanding journalism, has fourteen honorary doctorates from universities in Canada and the United States, and received Canada’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada, in 2008.

He is the former two-term Chancellor of Mount Allison University, now its Chancellor Emeritus, a Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and is a member of numerous boards and committees. Peter believes strongly in the future of Canadian journalism and has personally funded major new programs at three different Canadian universities: King’s University College, Carleton University, and the University of British Columbia.

Peter is involved with several projects and initiatives alongside his charitable work. He is the President of Manscorp Media Services, where his work includes documentary film production. In addition, he hosts one of Canada's leading political podcasts, "The Bridge". Peter also writes the weekly newsletter “The Buzz” for NationalNewswatch.com. Peter is the author of four national bestsellers: Off The Record (2021), Extraordinary Canadians (2020), One on One (2009) and How Canada Works (2023). He is Senior Counsel at spark*advocacy.

In 1993, Séan McCann joined forces with Darrell Power, Alan Doyle, and Bob Hallett to form Great Big Sea, a band that would revolutionize traditional Newfoundland music and captivate audiences worldwide. Great Big Sea's meteoric rise to fame saw them become one of Canada's most beloved musical exports, with a string of platinum-selling albums and countless memorable live shows. Séan's songwriting and powerful vocals were integral to the band's success, earning them legions of dedicated fans and critical international acclaim. Despite the band's immense success, Séan faced personal struggles with addiction, ultimately leading him to confront his demons and embark on a journey of recovery. In 2013, after over two decades with Great Big Sea, Séan made the courageous decision to leave the party band culture behind and pursue an independent solo career, driven by a newfound commitment to sobriety and personal growth. Since then, Séan has continued to make waves in the music world as a solo artist, channeling his passion for storytelling and social activism into his music. His solo albums, including "Help Your Self" and "You Know I Love You," showcase his introspective songwriting and soulful performances, earning him acclaim as a solo artist in his own right. His latest effort “Shantyman” is a rollicking return to his traditional Newfoundland roots, filled with singalong songs of the sea to help bring people together in this time of great division. Beyond his musical pursuits, Séan is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and addiction recovery, using his own experiences to inspire others and break the stigma surrounding these issues. In 2020 he was awarded the Order of Canada for his efforts.Through his music and activism, Séan McCann continues to uplift and inspire audiences across the country, leaving an enduring legacy as both a musician and a beacon of hope

Stephen Murgatroyd, PhD is the former Dean of Athabasca University’s Faculty of Business and founder of the world's first fully online MBA. He has been an innovative pioneer of technology-enabled, flexible learning since he began his career at The Open University UK. Since he left full-time work at the university, Stephen has worked extensively in the private sector as CEO of a large UK human resource consultancy and then, back in Canada, as an entrepreneur leading consulting, technology and publishing companies. He has consulted for governments across Canada and worldwide on technology innovation, higher education, organizational change, and transformation. He is the CEO of the Collaborative Media Group Inc and an in-demand keynote speaker. He has published over forty books, four hundred papers, articles and chapters.

Todd Thibodeaux is the President and Chief Executive Officer of CompTIA, the leading non-profit trade association for the global technology industry and workforce. CompTIA represents 2,000 member companies and 3,800 business partners spanning the industry. Millions of current and aspiring technology workers around the world rely on CompTIA for the training, education and professional certifications that give them the confidence and skills to work in tech.

Since 2008 Todd has led the expansion of CompTIA’s commitment to advancing industry growth and workforce opportunities through education and training programs, market intelligence and research, networking events, professional certifications and more. Under his leadership, CompTIA has made several strategic investments, including the 2023 acquisition of TestOut, a market leader in career training, courseware, labs and other resources to build “career-ready IT skills.” CompTIA’s impact on workforce development was recognized by the American National Standards Institute, which selected CompTIA as the recipient of its 2023 Stephen Crawford Workforce Development and Innovation Medal. CompTIA was also inducted into the National Cyber Security Hall of Fame in 2023.

Todd is a frequent commentator and speakers on topics related to the tech workforce and industry. He has been quoted in in news coverage by the Associated Press, Bloomberg News, CNBC, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fortune, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

Before joining CompTIA, Todd spent more than 17 years with the Consumer Electronics Association, where he served in a range of roles culminating as Senior Vice President, Industry Relations. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (Bachelor of Science, Economics, 1988) and George Mason University (Master of Arts, Economics, 1997)

Zachary Martin is a multi-talented live performer, singer, and songwriter based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He started playing guitar at the young age of 12 and has loved it ever since. He brings high energy, charisma, and a nostalgic charm to weddings, corporate events, and private parties. He performs solo with vocals, guitar, and loop pedal to create a full sound that livens up any crowd, and with his band.

Currently Bonnie is the Vice President of Student Enrolment and Financial Services, allowing her to ensure the student journey from start to finish is based on success and outcomes. Using the same philosophy for in person or online students shouldn't be hard, it should be a focus and outcomes will follow.Bonnie has 20 years in the education field and has been an instructor, Healthcare Faculty Head, and Campus Director.  She is a strong believer in student engagement and the philosophy of teaching it, seeing it, doing it, even in an online setting

Chamara Perera boasts an illustrious career spanning two decades within the realm of post-secondary education, marked by dynamic collaborations with esteemed American and Canadian universities and colleges. Possessing a wealth of experience, Chamara has honed his expertise in project coordination and management, navigating the intricate landscape of policies, procedures, and processes to adeptly support both external stakeholders and internal constituents. A cornerstone of Chamara's professional ethos lies in his unwavering commitment to student and staff support, deriving immense satisfaction from guiding and assisting individuals towards their academic and professional goals. His penchant for teamwork is evident in his adeptness at fostering collaborative environments, where collective synergy propels initiatives towards success. One of Chamara's standout proficiencies resides in his comprehensive understanding and mastery of Learning Management Systems (LMS), which serve as the backbone of modern educational ecosystems. His adeptness in ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks underscores his dedication to upholding the highest standards of educational integrity. Chamara's academic credentials from American institutions speak volumes about his dedication to continuous learning and professional growth. Armed with an Associate of Science Degree in Business, a bachelor’s degree in business management, and an MBA in Human Resource Management, Chamara combines theoretical knowledge with practical acumen, positioning himself as a dynamic leader and catalyst for positive change within the educational landscape.

Craig Tucker is a senior executive specializing in the area of corporate communications, market development and strategy. Craig is the former Managing Partner of Group M5 where he helped to guide the organization and its employees through tremendous growth and development for fifteen years. Craig currently owns numerous business ventures including Crossbeam Education which owns a portfolio of companies including the franchise system of Keyin College, Learning Labs, and IDI.

Craig is extremely active in the Atlantic Canadian Business community where he lends considerable time guiding the Atlantic Canadian innovation Eco-System.

Nadine Baladi is Senior Vice President at Oxford International Education Group, a global higher education organization that is headquartered in the UK, with vocational colleges, Pathway partnerships, Language schools and degree granting universities in Canada, the USA, the UK and Australia. In her role, Nadine drives strategy, growth, innovation and execution for Oxford International’s Canadian and American Career Colleges, English Language, Juniors, and IELTS testing centers. Nadine started her career teaching overseas as an ESL instructor and has spent over 20 years in senior roles in the international education and the higher education spaces, both in Canada and in the USA. Most recently, Nadine sat on the board of the National Association of Career Colleges, and on the board of Career Colleges Ontario, and has served on various Accreditation Commissions in the USA, including CEA and ACCET. Nadine has earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from McGill University and the University of Toronto. 

CEO of Discovery Community College. With 27 years of experience supporting students with specific skill training for gainful employment, you might say she grew up in the regulated career college sector. Krista has been delivering Financial Aid Officer Training in conjunction with Student Aid BC and the BC Career Colleges for the past 14 years and has trained 1000’s of Financial Aid Officers.  

Lisa Lovelady is Vice-President Academic of Academy Canada and Eastern Academy. Based in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), these colleges have helped tens of thousands of graduates launch successful careers in diverse occupational areas since the 1980’s.

Prior to joining the Canadian regulated career college sector, Lisa began her professional life teaching at Passmores Academy, a secondary school in the United Kingdom. Her work grew to encompass challenging leadership roles that helped disaffected learners reengage with education.

Today, Lisa and her team of professionals are developing a world-class workforce, nurtured by a diverse, inclusive and energetic community of applied learning. They create, develop and refine innovative ways to connect with, educate and inspire students to dream big and excel in their chosen fields.

Lisa is actively involved with industry and community organizations. She is President of the NL Association of Career Colleges, Vice-Chair of the NL Provincial Libraries Board and is a Public Representative of the Chartered Professional Accountants NL (CPA NL) Board.  She volunteers with Girl Guides of Canada as a local unit leader to help girls develop self-confidence and practice leadership skills.