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Join 400+ campaigners, advocates, elected officials, and innovators in Toronto’s landmark venue, The Carlu.
Expect one day of inspiring speakers, impactful networking, and the latest insights at the intersection of politics, advocacy, and technology — with a special focus on the fast-approaching 2026 Ontario municipal elections, where data, AI, and innovation will define the winning edge.
Thu, Jan 15, 2026 | The Carlu, Yonge St, Toronto, ON
Plan your visit — explore venue details, travel, and accommodation options using the link below.
Looking for information on how to get to the Carlu? Click here.
Founder & CEO of Rubicon Strategy and Campaign Manager for the Ontario PCs (2018-2025 Elections)
Kory Teneycke is the co-founder and CEO of Rubicon Strategy. With over 30 years of experience in politics, lobbying, public relations and media, he has advised federal and provincial governments, led multiple winning election campaigns and co-founded the Sun News Network. Kory is a highly sought-after political analyst, providing razor-sharp insights on current political events and strategy in podcasts, radio and television outlets across Canada.
Deputy Premier of Manitoba and the Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care
The Honourable Uzoma Asagwara was first elected as the MLA for Union Station in 2019, when they became the first non-binary MLA in the Manitoba legislature and one of the first black MLAs elected in Manitoba’s history. They served as the official opposition critic for health from 2019- 2023. Asagwara is a registered psychiatric nurse and addictions specialist. Before becoming an MLA, they practiced frontline nursing in acute adult psychiatry, co-occurring disorders initiatives, and specialized treatment services. They also spent over a decade working with youth and families in mental health, addictions and stabilization care. They were an active entrepreneur and community health and equity advocate. They served on the Board of the Women’s Health Clinic and advanced economic opportunity for equity deserving groups across Manitoba. They are a former member of the Canadian National Basketball team and mentor to young athletes. They have served as the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care since 2023.
Member of Parliament for Burlington
Ontario's Minister of Transportation & MPP for Brampton South
Prabmeet Sarkaria is a Member of the Provincial Parliament for Brampton South and Ontario's Transportation Minister.
Prabmeet worked as a corporate and commercial Associate at Miller Thomson LLP before being elected. He has a law degree from the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University where he majored in Finance. Before going into law, he worked at TD Securities.
Vice President, McMillan Vantage and Former Deputy National Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party of Canada
Laura brings substantial experience in public affairs, campaigns, and advocacy. She supports clients in a wide range of industries including financial services, transportation, labour, healthcare, energy, and clean technology.
Prior to joining McMillan Vantage, Laura served in a senior role at another Ottawa-based public affairs firm. She has held several roles with federal and provincial Conservative parties, including at Conservative Party headquarters and as an Issues Manager in the Prime Minister’s Office. Most recently she was Principal Secretary to former Conservative Party Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition, Hon. Erin O’Toole, and served as Deputy National Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2021 federal election.
In her spare time, Laura serves on Laurentian University’s board of governors. From 2018-2022, she served as an elected member of the Ontario PC Party Executive as 8th Vice President. In 2017, she was named one of PR in Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.
Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Political Management from Carleton University.
Founder & President, Westbridge Strategies and long-time TV Personality
Travis Dhanraj leads Westbridge Strategies with more than two decades of front-line experience in Canadian media and communications. Having held senior roles at CBC, CTV, Global News, and CP24, he has reported on and anchored coverage of the most significant political, economic, and public interest stories of the last 20 years—most recently as CBC’s Senior Parliamentary Correspondent in Ottawa and host of Canada Tonight. He is also the co-host to the new podcast, Can't Be Censored, delivering unfiltered conversations on politics, culture and technology.
Political Commentator on CBC’s Power & Politics, (Past) Director of Operations, Outreach, and Planning, PMO
With over 15 years of experience in politics and advocacy, Vandana Kattar has been at the forefront of driving meaningful change in Canada’s political landscape.
A key leader in rebuilding the Liberal Party of Canada, Vandana played a pivotal role in Justin Trudeau’s successful leadership bid and the party’s historic victory in the 2015 federal election. Most recently, Vandana served as a senior strategist on Mark Carney’s 2025 campaign, further solidifying her reputation as a powerhouse political strategist.
Beyond campaign work, Vandana is a respected political commentator, offering insightful analysis on CBC’s Power and Politics every week.
After years in politics, she found fulfillment in returning to TD, bringing her leadership and strategic acumen full circle. Vandana currently serves as Head, Global Diversity, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Corporate Citizenship.
Outside of professional endeavors, Vandana is deeply committed to community engagement, volunteering with organizations such as the Tamil Community Centre and the Canadian Muslim Vote. She is passionate about her engagement in the grassroots advocacy space, consistently championing policies and initiatives that drive equity and representation.
Research & Strategy Partner, One Persuades and Former National Campaign Manager, Conservative Party of Canada
Hamish is one of Canada’s best-known political strategists. He has designed and implemented campaigns at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Marshall has been working as a public opinion researcher since 2006. Working for the Government of Canada he was the liaison between the central agencies of government and the Prime Minister's Office on all matters relating to public opinion research. He later served as Research Director for Angus Reid Public Opinion before founding Abingdon Research in 2010. Since 2010 he has built the research business to work with companies across Canada and as part of ONE to help our clients make better decisions. He has been the project lead on all the projects described above. Marshall has been analyzing and interpreting data from online panels since 2009. This includes testing and calibrating new panels in jurisdictions like the United Kingdom as well as ensuring that panel growth is appropriate and balanced across Canada. He has conducted many large-scale projects on panels and understands their assets and strengths to ensure the most accurate results for government decision making. Marshall has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. His highest mark was achieved on the quantitative methods course. He has an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto in International Relations.
Partner, Westbridge Strategies and long-time TV Host and Political Communications Advisor
Karman Wong has more than 20 years of experience as a communications professional, with the unique perspective of being on both sides of the camera.
Karman worked as a television reporter and anchor for Toronto’s 24-hour news channel, CP24. Previously, Karman spent over ten years as a senior communication advisor to the Premier of Ontario, several cabinet ministers and on federal, provincial and municipal campaigns.
As a communications consultant, Karman has led strategic communications initiatives across sectors including education, energy, policing, and non-profits. She has advised organizations of all sizes—from grassroots cultural groups to multinational corporations—on media and communications strategy, issues and reputation management. She is also the co-host of Can't Be Censored, a podcast profiling high-profile interviews and topics. With Westbridge Strategies, she's developing content for campaigns, organizations and individuals, while continuing to consult on strategic communications.
Former MP for Eglington-Lawrence (2015-2025), Federal Minister (2019-2023) & Chief of Staff to the PM (2025)
Marco Mendicino is a Canadian lawyer, former Member of Parliament for Eglinton—Lawrence (2015–2025), and seasoned political leader. Over the course of his career, he served as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (2019–2021), Minister of Public Safety (2021–2023), and most recently as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney. A former federal prosecutor, Mendicino has been at the forefront of Canadian politics and public service, shaping policy on immigration, national security, and government leadership at the highest levels.
Director of Sales, Canada, at StackAdapt and an expert at helping political campaigns reach target audiences with advertising.
Brandon Langevin is the Director of Sales for Canada and LATAM at StackAdapt, where he focuses on client services. StackAdapt provides programmatic advertising solutions for political campaigns, enabling candidates, advocacy groups, and political organizations to reach targeted audiences across multiple digital channels with speed and scale.
Former Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Current Founding Partner at Nexus Strategic Consultants.
Brett Thalmann is a founding partner of Nexus Strategic Consultants with over 20 years of experience as a leading political advisor, strategist, and community organizer in Canada. He brings over seven years of experience in the Prime Minister's Office in his senior leadership role as Executive Director of Planning, Administration and People. In the 2015, 2019 and 2021 elections, Brett led national campaign efforts to target key communications to specific audiences in swing ridings through digital advertising, earned media and direct voter contact by phone, mail, and door-to-door.
Former Chief of Staff to two Ontario Ministers and the Mayor of Brampton. Current CEO at Armer Consulting.
Haz Punia is an astute leader with over a decade of extensive senior management experience serving as Chief of Staff to both a provincial Minister and Mayor of a large urban Canadian municipality. Haz has served as a senior advisor and mentor for numerous campaigns across Ontario and has been instrumental in leveraging modern technology for voter contact, GOTV and ethnic reach.
Digital Strategist for over 100 political campaigns across Canada and Managing Principal, EOK Consults.
Harneet is a seasoned political strategist with over 15 years of digital marketing experience. He is the Managing Principal at EOK Consults - one of Canada's leading political digital marketing agencies with over 100 successful political and advocacy campaigns across all levels of government.
Widely recognized for his expertise, Harneet has been featured in national and local media outlets for his insights on political marketing and digital advertising. He is a pioneer in using high-precision online advertising to win elections and influence grassroots campaigns.
Principal & Founder at Wright Strategies
If a major issue has reached a city council meeting in the last 20 years, Kim has most likely been part of the discussion. Throughout her career, she has developed a well respected, pan-partisan approach to government relations that allows her and her clients to achieve a trusted advisor status.
Kim started in politics in 1990 (yes, she was that kid!) Since 2005, she has provided senior public affairs counsel to national and international clients across multiple industries. Kim has engaged in public affairs campaigns across Canada at all three orders of government. Leveraging her deep knowledge of politics and public affairs, she founded Wright Strategies in 2018.
Can’t quite place where you’ve seen her before? Everywhere. Kim is a fixture as a political commentator on every major television news network, numerous AM, FM and satellite radio shows, YouTube, podcasts, and print.
Executive Director at Youth Without Shelter
Steve Doherty has over 30 years of experience in the fields of children and family mental health, developmental services, youth addiction treatment, and youth shelter operations. Steve is currently the Executive Director of Youth Without Shelter (YWS) in Etobicoke.
YWS has a long history of supporting youth experiencing homelessness. YWS’s one-of-a-kind Stay in School (SIS) program allows youth in high school, post-secondary, or apprenticeship programs to advance their education while living in a safe and supportive environment. YWS strongly embraces and personifies the idea of equality of opportunity through targeted supports, including tuition support, mental health and addictions treatment services, wrap-around case management, housing supports, and employment and life skills services.
Steve has guided YWS through unprecedented growth over his 6 years as Executive Director.
Mayor of the City of Barrie, former MP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro Medonte.
Alex Nuttall climbed the political ladder, becoming the 47th mayor of Barrie, Ontario. At the age of 21, Alex began his political journey on Barrie city council and in 2015, he shifted gears to federal politics. He successfully ran for the Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte riding and served his constituents until 2019. He returned to municipal government three years later, winning the Barrie mayoral race.
Mayor Nuttall is dedicated to fostering a city where everyone can thrive, regardless of their background or beliefs. He says, “having grown up in government housing I learned the value of service and the importance of inclusivity. My faith is my guiding light and inspires me to lead with empathy.”
Mayor Nuttall was a leader even in high school, where he served as student mayor before graduating in 2004. Mr. Nuttall furthered his education in Political Science at two universities - Redeemer and Laurentian.
Mayor Nuttall sat on the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority's Executive Board from 2006 to 2010 and helped formulate the Lake Simcoe Protection Act in 2008.
A notable community contributor, Mayor Nuttall co-launched the PIE Education program in 2010 with the support of local business owners. The initiative has since provided over 17,500 backpacks with school supplies to students living in government housing in Simcoe County. Last year, Mayor Nuttall partnered with Maple Leafs Captain John Tavares and the John Tavares Foundation to deliver backpacks to underprivileged youth in the GTA.
In 2018, he took the reins of the Boots and Hearts Barn Burner Charity Hockey Game. The annual charity game attracts celebrity players and raises significant funds for local charities. Donations included a noteworthy $275,000 in 2023 for the RVH Foundation, Rotary, the John Tavares Foundation, and PIE Education.
President, Data, Digital & Design at Earnscliffe Strategies
Megan leads Earnscliffe’s data-driven digital, research, and creative services, translating complex policy and brand narratives into high-impact campaigns across paid and organic media. With deep experience in government relations, election strategy, and commercial-sector advocacy, she integrates strategic research, advanced audience targeting, and emerging technology to deliver measurable results.
Earlier in her career, Megan worked for several federal Cabinet Ministers, and more recently has provided digital and research expertise to provincial and federal election campaigns
Principal at Burton Strategy Group and Campaign Director, Alberta’s New Democrats
Mike Burton is the Principal at Burton Strategy Group, and is bringing his understanding of strategic organizing and people-powered politics with him as he returns to Alberta, as the Campaign Director for Alberta’s New Democrats.
Known for his ability to mobilize for growth, Mike prioritizes empowering volunteers as the foundation for electoral success. He has worked with progressive parties in non-progressive places. And he wins.
He is a veteran campaign strategist and organizer with over 20 years of experience with winning campaigns at the riding, regional, and national levels. During the Trudeau era, he held several key political roles, including as Director of Policy to Minister Sohi and as Chief of Staff to Minister Marc Miller.
Earlier in 2025, he served as the National Field Director for the Mark Carney Leadership Campaign, overseeing grassroots engagement and national outreach for Mark Carney’s landslide victory.
Chief Development Officer at Rainbow Railroad and Democratic Fundraiser and Strategist
Anthony Mercurio is the Chief Development Officer of Rainbow Railroad, where he leads the organization’s global fundraising and engagement strategy to expand pathways to safety for LGBTQI+ people. With more than a decade of experience in fundraising and philanthropy, he has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for political, social justice, and humanitarian causes.
Before joining Rainbow Railroad, Anthony advised national campaigns, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations through his consultancy, specializing in major donor cultivation, strategic growth, and high-impact events. He previously served in senior fundraising roles on dozens of U.S. political campaigns, including leading Pete Buttigieg’s groundbreaking presidential fundraising effort in 2020. His previous work includes fundraising and organizing for President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mike Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety, and dozens of barrier breaking candidates across the United States.
Former Producer and Director at CTV News. Current Director of Communications at Social Capital Partners.
A seasoned media and communications strategist, Katherine spent over two decades advancing high-profile brands and issues within the scientific, health and social impact sectors before joining SCP in 2024. A former investigative journalist at CTV News, Katherine’s work has been recognized with several journalism and cause marketing awards. A self-professed word nerd, she writes, edits and develops award-winning PR, communications and marketing campaigns that are rooted in evidence and tell meaningful stories. She consistently delivers messages that cut through the noise, resonate with diverse audiences and inspire community action. Katherine holds a degree in English from Queen’s University and a Master of Arts in Journalism from Western University.
Mayor of the City of Richmond Hill and OBCM Treasurer.
David West has a deep and longstanding interest in the City of Richmond Hill. His commitment to the
community has been demonstrated throughout his more than three decades as a resident, during which
time he has been a local business owner, has demonstrated leadership through various volunteer
community positions, and has served the residents of Richmond Hill as an elected official, from 2013-
2022 as Ward 4 Councillor from 2013 until 2022 at which time he was elected as Mayor, first in a by-
election and subsequently re-elected in October 2022
As Mayor, during his 2022-2026 term David represents Richmond Hill Council on numerous committees
including Chair of the Affordable Housing Strategy Implementation Committee (AHSIC), Vice-Chair of the
Budget Committee of the Whole (BCW), member of the Audit Committee, Economic Development
Committee (EDC) and Heritage Centre Advisory Committee (HCAC).
As a member of the York Region Council, he is Chair of the Committee for Public Works – Environmental
Services and sits on the York Region Housing Affordability Task Force, York Region Rapid Transit
Corporation, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and TRCA’s Partners in Project Green
Executive Management Steering Committee.
In February 2025, David was happy to receive the support of his Ontario Big City Mayor colleagues and
assume the position of Treasurer on the OBCM Executive Committee.
A husband and father, David has called Richmond Hill home for more than 30 years. He is a passionate
patron of the visual arts and a dedicated naturalist. As lifelong learner, David enjoys reading on a wide
range of topics and he appreciates any opportunity to be in the outdoors. Watch for him at community
events where he loves to meet and speak with Richmond Hill constituents.
Greg specializes in geodemographics and advanced analytics, working with municipalities to tackle complex challenges—from pandemic recovery and community resilience to commercial revitalization and modernizing data processes. His expertise in mobile movement data and emerging analytics tools has helped cities better understand shifting population dynamics and optimize decision-making.
A trusted consultant and speaker, Greg is passionate about applying data to improve communities, ensuring campaign managers, policymakers, and business leaders can make informed, high-impact decisions.
President and CEO, Spark Advocacy, a boutique public affairs, advocacy communications and advertising agency.
Perry Tsergas has worked in the world of Canadian politics, advocacy and communications for over two decades. He is the co-founder, President & CEO of spark*advocacy, an Ottawa-based public affairs marketing and communications firm. Perry has partnered with hundreds of start-ups, corporations, associations, unions, charities, NGOs and coalitions on communications initiatives of all shapes and sizes.
Mobilization Expert and Key Account Manager at Qomon.
Helen Sabatine is a Key Account Manager at Qomon, where she helps leading campaigns, political parties, and advocacy organizations modernize their field operations through data-driven grassroots organizing and supporter activation tools. She specializes in guiding large teams through digital transformation - turning complex mobilization challenges into scalable, actionable strategies.
Helen’s background spans both research and real-world implementation. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island and the London School of Economics, she focused on economic relief programs and women’s empowerment, later contributing to ODI’s Humanitarian Policy Group on the “digital divide” and emerging technologies in crisis response.
Political Commentator and Social Media Influencer
Frank is a progressive political content creator and commentator who focuses on Ontario and Canada as a whole, looking at issues such as democratic rights, housing, education, and healthcare.
In the last year he has generated almost 40 million impressions on social media talking about news and politics, reaching almost every single Canadian TikTok user during the recent Canadian election, and also having been featured as a panelist on CBC
Executive Director of the Broadbent Institute
Chief Operating Officer at Data Sciences
Sean Wiltshire is Chief Operating Officer at Data Sciences, where he leads the firm’s services, operations, and strategic enablement functions.
Since joining the company in 2016, Sean has helped shape its evolution and its culture first by leading analytics, then by founding its research practice, and later by overseeing all products and services as SVP of Solutions. In May 2025, he stepped into the COO role, where he now focuses on building systems that help teams succeed and scale.
Sean has served in senior leadership roles on four Canadian federal election campaigns, including as Deputy Campaign Director for the successful 2025 campaign of Mark Carney. He has also contributed to numerous provincial and international campaigns, as well as work with non-profits and corporate clients across North America and Europe. A scientist by training, Sean holds a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from McGill University and brings a systems-thinking approach to politics, organizational growth, and everything else he does.
CEO & Partner at Paskwâw Strategies and Social Media Influencer
Jennifer, a proud member of George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, is a seasoned policy analyst and government relations expert. As a University of Saskatchewan alumni, Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree in Political Studies from the University of Saskatchewan, enhancing her expertise with a proficiency in Indigenous Governance and Politics. After completing her undergrad, she then enrolled in Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, furthering her academic pursuits. During her tenure at the University of Saskatchewan, Jennifer proudly sat as a founding member of the anti-racism and anti-oppression committee, dedicated to fostering a more inclusive learning environment.
With over six years in federal politics, Jennifer acquired profound insights into Canada’s parliamentary system while serving a Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan. This background uniquely positions her to support clients and Indigenous nations in navigating complex government relations landscapes.
Beyond her professional roles, Jennifer is a recognized political force advocating for self-determination and Indigenous policy on a national scale. Diagnosed with a neurological disability in 2019, she has used her personal experiences to fuel a broader mission: breaking down barriers for Indigenous people living with disabilities. Her influential voice has resonated through national news, published opinion pieces, television, podcasts, radio, and public speaking engagements. Known for her natural communication skills, Jennifer is dedicated to creating meaningful dialogues around disability and addiction, two issues that are deeply personal to her.
Passionate about developing effective strategies and solutions, Jennifer strives to advance inclusive policy initiatives and foster a more equitable society for all. Through authentic engagement and a proven track record of impactful advocacy, she continues to drive change and build significant platforms for her causes. Proudly descended from both First Nations and a strong Métis family, Jennifer takes great pride in her cultural and prairie roots. She is committed to empowering communities, advocating for their growth, and working towards their prosperity.
Engineer, Lawyer, and French-language Québécois content creator
Farnell Morisset is an engineer, lawyer, and French-language Québécois content creator who covers economic, political, legal, and social topics in Québec's current events. He has over 220 000 followers across his various social media platforms and is often called upon to comment on current events and explain their social underpinnings on Canadian radio and television.
Former Director of Research, Advertising & Correspondence for PM Justin Trudeau. Current Chief Strategy Officer at Pollara.
Dan oversaw the Trudeau Liberals’ research program during their 2015, 2019, and 2021 election victories. He moderated focus groups, led the nightly tracking, and used his seat projection model to map the path to government.
In between these campaigns, Dan served as Director of Research, Advertising, & Correspondence in the Prime Minister’s Office. In 2022, Dan rejoined one of Canada’s leading polling firms, Pollara, as Chief Strategy Officer. There, he uses quantitative and qualitative research to provide strategic advice to clients from a range of sectors.
Since leaving the federal government, he has conducted polling for political parties in 6 different provinces, and on many municipal and local level campaigns.
CEO at Point Blank and Strategist for Labour & Progressive Campaigns
Nat is an award-winning political campaigner, trainer and speaker, specializing in data-driven campaign strategies for labour and progressive candidates. Her team at Point Blank has led research, messaging, creative and multi-channel ad buys for some of the largest and most impactful campaigns across Canada, including the Air Canada Flight Attendant strike (Unfair Canada), Ontario NDP's 2025 election, Olivia Chow's successful campaign for Mayor of Toronto, Alberta NDP's record-breaking digital fundraising and engagement, plus heavy-hitting–and hilarious–campaigns against Doug Ford for OPSEU, OSSTF, OFL, and many more.
Nat is a fellow of Higher Ground Labs, the tech and infrastructure incubator for the Democratic Party, former VP at New/Mode, Senior Advisor to Warren Democrats, Digital Director at cStreet, and National Campaigns Director at Canadian Women’s Foundation.
Founder and CEO of Pallas Data
Dr. Joseph Angolano is the Founder and CEO of Pallas Data, a leading Canadian market research and polling firm specializing in public affairs research, consumer insights, and predictive analytics. His work regularly informs national conversations on politics and policy, with Pallas Data & polling featured in major Canadian media outlets.
Dr. Angolano holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and a Master's in Political Science from the University of Toronto. His academic work focused on democratic empowerment and political theory.
Through Pallas Data, Dr. Angolano empowers clients with data-driven insights that inform strategic decision-making across election campaigns, feasibility studies, market analysis, and public opinion research.
Senior Account Manager and Digital Campaign Strategist at Data Sciences
Gabe is a Senior Account Manager and digital campaign strategist at Data Sciences. He’s spent much of his career in federal politics, at the Liberal Party of Canada and at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At DS, Gabe helps political, nonprofit, and corporate clients use campaign strategies to achieve their goals — with full-funnel campaigns and integrated research strategies.
Mayor of Burlington and Chair of the Ontario’s Big City Mayors Caucus.
Marianne Meed Ward is currently serving her second term as Mayor of Burlington. She is the longest-serving female mayor of the city. A passionate advocate for smart, balanced development, Mayor Meed Ward is focused on ensuring Burlington remains a great place to live, work, and play while maintaining its natural beauty. Her leadership is marked by a dedication to listening to residents, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing transparency in municipal decision-making. A key priority of Mayor Meed Ward is promoting public transit in Burlington, where buses are now free for seniors and children, as well as for youth on the evenings and weekends. Mayor Meed Ward is the Chair of the Ontario’s Big City Mayors Caucus, which launched the Solve the Crisis campaign calling on the provincial government to act on the homelessness, mental health, and addiction crisis. She is also a board member of AMO, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, where she has been active in advocating for a new deal for municipalities with the provincial and federal governments. Mayor Meed Ward also launched the Elect Respect pledge, a nation-wide campaign to foster respect, inclusivity, and safety in public life. Elect Respect started as a conversation between a small group of women in Halton, founded by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward called the Halton Elected Representatives (HER), who came together to share their experiences with harassment and abuse in public life and to stand up for a better way forward. In 2025, Mayor Meed Ward was named “Mayor of the Year” by the Municipal World editorial board, in part due to taking a stand for civility in local government through the Elect Respect campaign. Prior to being Mayor, she served as a Burlington City Councillor from 2010 to 2018. Mayor Meed Ward has a degree in Journalism from Carleton University and worked for more than twenty years in journalism as a writer, editor, and broadcaster.
EVP, West at Pollara Strategic Insights and Former Chief of Staff to BC Premier David Eby
Matt Smith is Executive Vice President, West, at Pollara Strategic Insights and brings over 20 years of experience in research, communications, and political strategy.
He recently served two years as Chief of Staff to BC Premier David Eby, leading government-wide policy and communications initiatives.
Previously, Matt was President of Stratcom, where he was in the leadership team of major campaigns including Toronto’s VaxTO and Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver’s three election wins.
Matt holds an M.A. in Electoral Geography from the University of Toronto and has been featured in Maclean’s New Power List and Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50.
Mayor of Town of Caledon
Mayor Annette Groves has been a proud resident of Caledon for over 30 years. Her vision is to foster a safe, inclusive, and unified community while preserving the Caledon residents know and love.
She is committed to working with residents, business owners and community organizations to create an improvement plan that will help aid in Caledon’s projected growth in the coming years.
Mayor Groves was first elected to public office in 2000 as the Regional Councillor for Ward 5. On November 15, 2022, she was sworn in as the eighth Mayor of the Town of Caledon and is currently serving her first term.
President of Creative Currency and Former Advertising Manager for Stephen Harper
Author of POLICORNER
For more than four years, Ahmad Elbayoumi has covered the politics, policies and personalities at Queen’s Park. Known for his candid, inside-the-room reporting, he’s quickly built POLICORNER into a weekly must-read for Ontario’s political crowd, delivering big scoops, insider’s analysis and original reporting on governance, policy, power and the political climate. Today, the newsletter is read, trusted and talked about by the province’s most powerful political players. Ahmad’s work has been featured in The Trillium, on 640 Toronto and mentioned by CBC News, POLITICO, the National Post and Toronto Star. He has moderated major, headline-making conversations, including a leadership debate for the Ontario Liberal Party and a mayoral debate in the province’s third-largest city. He’s also a frequent commentator on Newstalk 1010 and CBC Radio. Beyond the daily churn, Ahmad is an enterprising media entrepreneur building the company’s brand from the ground up — spinning up new products, growing the shop’s reach and driving the editorial and business strategy. His goal: a modern, insider-first political publication built to drive the conversation — not chase it.
Former Director of Mobilizing at the Green Party of Ontario
Jackie DaSilva, former Director of Mobilizing with the Ontario Green Party, is a campaign strategist with expertise in digital campaigns, grassroots movements, and progressive political campaigns. Jackie holds a degree in Political Management from Carleton University's Riddell Program. Her track record includes managing several political campaigns at all three levels of government, including the historic winning campaigns of federal and provincial Greens in Kitchener Centre (MP Mike Morrice - 2021; MPP Aislinn Clancy - 2023).
She has experience implementing campaign tech infrastructure from her previous roles at NationBuilder and New/Mode; and experience training old school sales teams to implement new digital tools when she worked at LinkedIn. Currently, she’s a strategist on a climate campaign working alongside several environmental groups and Indigenous land defenders.
Former Deputy Premier and Minister, Newfoundland and Labrador.
President/CEO of Indigenous Community Engagement (ICE)
Michael is from Weenusk First Nation and is the President/CEO of Indigenous Community Engagement (ICE) – one of Canada’s leading national Indigenous firms specializing in community consultation, facilitation/negotiations, capacity building, & social research. He brings a wealth of experience in structuring projects and financing for both industry and Indigenous clients. He obtained an honours degree in Political Science with a focus on Aboriginal Law & Resource Development and has an MBA with a specialization in Social Enterprise.
Executive Director at Progress Toronto
Saman Tabasinejad is the Executive Director at Progress Toronto. She has degrees in Political Science and Anthropology. She is particularly interested in how large policy decisions affect everyday lives. Saman knows that meaningful change cannot be achieved unless actions that address and remove systemic barriers are taken.
In 2018, Saman ran for office in North York. She worked at the DUKE Heights BIA, at the Downsview Advocate, and has served on the board of the Iranian Canadian Congress. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Platform, a civic leadership platform for Black, Indigenous, and racialized young women and gender-diverse youth. Saman has also served on the executive of Roofs for Refugees, pairing newly arrived refugees with homes, and has spent time organizing with immigrant communities.
Saman is dedicated to building a progressive city and making room for women, especially young racialized women, to take space, influence policy-making and run for office.
Toronto City Councillor for Scarborough North (Ward 23)
Jamaal Myers was elected as the councillor for Ward 23, Scarborough North on October 24th, 2022. Jamaal was born and raised in Scarborough and regularly takes the TTC to get around his community. Having grown up in Toronto Community Housing, from a young age he understood education as a key to upward mobility and the importance of properly funded public services. With the love and support of his family, access to strong public schools, loans, scholarships and summer jobs, including three summers cleaning trains at the TTC, he earned degrees from the University of Western Ontario, the London School of Economics and New York University School of Law. After graduating from NYU, he worked in New York City as a corporate lawyer at two global law firms before returning to Scarborough in 2018. For over a year, he volunteered as a community organizer and worked with residents and community groups to improve access to health care, transit, affordable housing and good jobs. Prior to being elected, Jamaal served as a senior lawyer at the Toronto-Dominion Bank where he worked on challenging Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters including preparing for a changing climate, protecting human rights and corporate governance. He also served as Vice Chair of TAIBU Community Health Center, a director with the Scarborough Business Association and a member of the Community Police Liaison Committee for 42 Division. Jamaal was appointed as Chair of the TTC in August 2023 and is the second black TTC Chair in its history. He is also the first TTC Chair to simultaneously be appointed as Chair of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee. He also serves on other city boards and committees including Planning and Housing and Audit. His work as a city councillor is focused on improving the quality of life, safety and affordability of neighbourhoods for residents in his beloved community of Scarborough North.
Former Senior Director, Fundraising for the Liberal Party of Canada, Current VP at Sunnybrook Foundation
Christina has more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit and political sectors, working at the intersection of fundraising, marketing, and community engagement. Her work has focused on building strong fundraising programs, supporting organizational renewal, and engaging supporters through clear storytelling and trusted brands. She played a key role in rebuilding the Liberal Party of Canada’s fundraising infrastructure, discipline, and team capacity leading into the successful 2015 federal election. Most recently, she led fundraising for Mark Carney’s successful leadership campaign and was an advisor on the 2025 election campaign. In her current role as Vice President, Marketing & Community Engagement at Sunnybrook Foundation, Christina is responsible for building a broad base of support through brand building, storytelling, community engagement, and fundraising for one of Canada’s leading academic health sciences centres. She leads the marketing and communications, events, and community giving portfolios, working with teams to strengthen relationships and encourage sustained engagement and giving. Previously, Christina served as Vice President, Marketing & Communications at WWF-Canada, where she led national marketing, communications and advocacy efforts in support of the organization’s mission. Outside of work, Christina looks for opportunities to contribute her time and expertise, most recently as a board member for Fred Victor and for Shelter Movers. She holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph.
Founder and President at Voter Phones / BobbAi
Travis Worl is a seasoned political campaign consultant specializing in leveraging AI for direct voter engagement. His 25 years of experience in campaigns have made him a trailblazer and now in utilizing cutting-edge AI technology to optimize campaign strategy and operations and enhance messaging strategies and cohesion. As the founder and President at Voter Phones / BobbAi, he leads efforts in employing effective AI solutions to connect with voters and constituents across multifaceted platforms. He resides in Asheville, North Carolina.
Former Advisor to Kathleen Wynne and Current Director of Policy and GR at the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence
James Janeiro is a public policy and advocacy professional with over a decade of experience in politics, policy and government relations. As director of policy and government relations at the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, James leads an ambitious national and pan-Canadian advocacy and policy development agenda focused on substantive and practical reform. He began his career in the Ontario Public Service working on disability legislation. He then transitioned to the political policy space and served two successive Ontario ministers of community and social services as senior policy advisor on social assistance, poverty, disability, and veterans’ issues. In 2014, James assumed a new role serving Premier Kathleen Wynne as her social policy advisor. In this position, he was responsible for a diverse array of policy areas, including poverty reduction, housing, the Basic Income Pilot, disability issues, autism services and municipal affairs. In 2018, James left government for a senior role in the not-for-profit sector. He was director of community engagement and policy at Community Living Toronto from 2018 to 2022. In this role, James developed and executed advocacy strategies focused on housing, income security, and service improvement. He holds an honours BA in political science, history, and languages and a master’s in public policy from the University of Toronto. James lives in Toronto with his wife and two cats.
Chief Executive Officer of Wyloo
Interim Executive Director of Equal Voice
Lindsay Brumwell is the Interim Executive Director of Equal Voice, a national, multi-partisan charity dedicated to increasing the representation of women and gender-diverse individuals in Canadian politics. A seasoned strategist with a deep personal commitment to advancing gender equity in political leadership, Lindsay brings extensive experience in public affairs, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement.
Throughout her career, Lindsay has worked at the intersection of politics, policy, and community engagement, advising organizations and industry leaders on navigating complex environments. She has a proven track record in building strategic partnerships, designing impactful advocacy campaigns, and fostering mutually beneficial solutions.
Director of Policy & Advocacy at Movember Canada
Catherine Corriveau is Movember Canada’s Director of Policy & Advocacy, leading a national push to put men’s health on the political agenda and driving momentum toward Canada’s first-ever men’s health strategy. She turns bold ideas into action and isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo when systems fall short. For Catherine, good policy isn’t just technically sound — it has to reflect real people’s lives.
With 8+ years at the intersection of public policy, advocacy, and coalition-building, Catherine has mobilized partners, unlocked resources, and brought tough conversations into Canada’s most senior political and corporate rooms where decisions get made. From securing multi-million-dollar commitments to accelerating nonprofit growth and advising senior government leaders, she’s known for her sharp strategic instinct, comfort with complexity, and ability to get things done. Before joining Movember, Catherine led strategic growth, partnerships, fundraising, and policy advocacy across several nonprofits, including the Public Policy Forum and the Democratic Engagement Exchange. In her spare time, she’s active in Toronto’s running community, serves as a Council Chair with the Lifesaving Society of Ontario, and is an aspiring amateur stand-up comedian.Journalist and Host of Forum Focus and The Wyatt Sharpe Show
Wyatt Sharpe is an accomplished teen journalist and the charismatic host of “The Wyatt Sharpe Show.” Recognized as the youngest on-air TV news host in North America, Wyatt has gained notable attention for his incisive interviews with high-profile leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. His journalistic prowess extends to discussions with influential figures like thought leader Vivek Ramaswamy and environmental advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wyatt’s engaging style and mature insight have earned him a significant platform across major cable networks including CBC News, CTV News, NewsNation, Fox News, Scripps News, and Global News in both Canada and the U.S. His ability to handle complex topics with ease and his dedication to factual reporting have made him a respected figure in the field of journalism.
Founder and Lead Consultant at Wilkinson Data & Strategy
Nadya Wilkinson is Founder and Lead Consultant at Wilkinson Data & Strategy, where she helps organizations navigate high-stakes technological and organizational change, with a particular focus on political technology. Nadya has worked on campaigns across Canada and internationally, including implementing predictive models that reached millions of voters, launching text-messaging tools for a pandemic election, and increasing door-to-door engagement by 400%. Over 15 years in politics and technology, Nadya has held nearly every conceivable local campaign role, managed data and field operations for provincial campaigns, and served on four federal election campaigns with the Liberal Party of Canada. Nadya was a driving force on the team that developed, deployed, and scaled the Liberal Party of Canada's national data system - a transformative platform that made history in the 2015 election. Today, she works with startups developing AI tools and other emerging campaign technologies. As a PROSCI-certified change management practitioner and trained product manager, she brings a pragmatic, user-centered approach to her work.
Director of Education at CIVIX
Ken Boyd is the Director of Education at CIVIX, a national charity dedicated to building the skills and habits of citizenship among Canadians. Ken researches and develops educational programs on the themes of digital media literacy, constructive discussions, and civic participation, and has worked with thousands of educators and students from every province and territory. Ken holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto and has written extensively on ethics, polarization, and social epistemology, and has worked and taught at institutions across Canada and Denmark
Founder and CEO of LogiVote
Mr. Yair Chen is the founder and CEO of LogiVote, a software engineer with over 20 years of experience developing advanced technologies for election management and voter engagement. Recognized as an international pioneer in the digitization of political campaigns, he led the development of LogiVote’s VRM platform – the first holistic solution designed to strengthen and deepen the ongoing relationship between parties or candidates and their supporters. The platform is actively used across Europe, Africa, and Israel.
CEO at CMA and CMA Group of Companies
Mr. Munter joined the CMA in December 2024, building on decades of experience in the health and social sector. From 2011 to 2024, he served as president and chief executive officer of CHEO, one of Canada’s few stand-alone, full-service tertiary pediatric health and research centres. During his tenure, CHEO improved access to care by becoming a national leader in digital health, developing innovative new models of care and more than doubling in size. The hospital was twice named the best place to work in Canadian health care by Forbes and twice as having one of Canada’s most admired corporate cultures by Waterstone Human Capital, and it was ranked as one of the world’s best children’s hospitals by Newsweek. Before his work at CHEO, Mr. Munter served as chief executive officer of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network and as executive director of the Youth Services Bureau, one of Ontario’s largest accredited children's mental health agencies. As a city and regional councillor in Ottawa from 1991 to 2003, he headed council committees responsible for municipally delivered services like public health, ambulances, long-term care centres and a host of health-related social services. Mr. Munter has been a member of the boards of the Ontario Hospital Association, Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Kids Health Alliance, the Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada, the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa, the Community Foundation of Ottawa and the Ottawa-Carleton District Health Council. He has been appointed to government advisory committees on topics including health funding reform, health information renewal, public health capacity and wider system efficiency and alignment. Mr. Munter is the national capital region's first openly gay elected official. In 1994, Munter led the Ottawa branch of Campaign for Equal Families, a grassroots coalition to support the Ontario government’s same-sex spousal legislation. He served as National Co-ordinator for Canadians for Equal Marriage, a group that campaigned supporting the federal legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada. Munter was Grand Marshall of the Capital Pride Parade three times in recognition of his leadership in the LGBTQ+ community, in 1993, 2003 and 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc) from the University of Ottawa, a master of science (MSc) in behavioural science from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a professional designation as a certified health executive (CHE) from the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Executive Director of The Enchanté Network
Executive Director of Apathy is Boring
Sam Reusch is the Executive Director of Apathy is Boring, one of Canada’s leading non-partisan democracy organizations, best known for its bold civic engagement and election campaigns that mobilize young people across the country. Since 2020, she has led the organization’s growth and transformation, scaling national programs, driving record youth turnout efforts, and advancing the conversation democratic reform. Her work focuses on participation, elections, and building a democracy that actually works for the next generation.
Director of Learning at Egale Canada
Mackenzie Kolton (she/her) is passionate about working in 2SLGBTQI advocacy and education. Her previous role was as the Manager of Program Innovation at Big Brothers Big Sisters, co-developing Manitoba’s first Queer Lens Mental Health Training and overseeing their 2SLGBTQI department and staff. In addition, Mackenzie worked with The Get REAL Movement for six years as their Manitoba Program Founder and as a Team Lead Speaker, reaching over 150,000 students, educators, parents/guardians, and corporate businesses across the country. As a coach for senior leaders, Mackenzie has worked with over 100 school boards across the country, empowering leaders to implement innovative strategies for fostering inclusion. Mackenzie is in the final stages of becoming a Certified Executive Coach through the Rotman School of Management.
CEO Rainbow Railroad
Ilana Landsberg-Lewis is an impact-driven feminist leader with more than three decades of experience advancing justice and dignity across movements, geographies, and sectors. She challenges norms, stretches boundaries, and is deeply motivated by disrupting conventional notions of how powerful change happens. A lifelong advocate for LGBTQI+, women’s, girls’, and children’s rights, Ilana has dedicated her career to supporting grassroots activists, creating forums, funding streams, and global platforms where affected communities speak as experts on the solutions that best serve them. A labour and human rights lawyer by training, she is recognized for building organizations rooted in justice, partnership, and anti-colonial practice. As co-founder and former Executive Director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Ilana led one of Canada’s most respected international solidarity organizations, directing over $150 million to frontline partners addressing the HIV pandemic across sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to that, she spent a decade at the United Nations driving change for women and LGBTQI+ people. Ilana recently assumed her role as CEO of Rainbow Railroad, an international human rights organization that creates pathways to safety for at-risk LGBTQI+ people.
Executive Director of New Majority
Amanda Munday the Executive Director of New Majority, a national non-partisan NGO advancing youth civic engagement and voter turnout among Canadians under 30. She is also the founder of The Workaround, an innovative coworking and childcare centre in Toronto, and a TEDxToronto speaker advocating for universal childcare, mental health and equity. Amanda is a best selling author whose work has been featured in The Globe and Mail, Forbes, Fast Company, CBC, and many more. With a background in Education Technology, organizing best practices and social enterprises, Amanda is a queer parent of two and a lifelong advocate for inclusive policy, social innovation and impact.
President and Co-Founder at 966 Advisors
Emmanuel is a 25‑year communications analytics veteran who has helped Fortune 500 organizations adopt data‑driven strategies. He has built multiple analytics functions from the ground up, including launching Weber Shandwick’s Asia Pacific analytics unit and scaling it into a profitable business. His global experience spans in‑house, agency, and analytics leadership, with expertise in operations, business development, methodology design, and innovation.
Founder and CEO of PredictEdge
Sumi Shanmuganathan is the Founder and CEO of PredictEdge, an AI-powered engagement intelligence platform helping campaigns, nonprofits, and purpose-driven organizations understand why people engage — not just what they click. PredictEdge combines ethical intelligence, predictive analytics, and compliance-first AI to build trust and drive meaningful action. With 20+ years of experience across marketing, communications, public affairs, and organizational change, Sumi has led work spanning startups, global nonprofits, and complex institutions. She previously served as Associate Vice-President of Marketing and Communications at George Brown College and has worked with organizations including Microsoft, the Government of Ontario, UNHCR, Arthritis Society of Canada, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Sumi is also the Founder and Principal of Niche Strategies and Co-Founder of Dunya Habitats. An award-winning strategist, she is a passionate advocate for responsible AI, women and BIPOC leadership, and building technology that aligns innovation with purpose.
CEO and Co-Founder at 966 Advisors
Laurel is a global communications leader known for shaping purpose‑driven brand narratives. She has built communications teams at organizations including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Capital One Canada, and has led brand campaigns across Asia, North America, and Europe. Laurel specializes in crisis management, media strategy, internal communications, stakeholder engagement, and ESG storytelling.
Co-Founder of Progressive Nation
VP of Marketing & Customer Experience at NationBuilder
Sorcha is the VP of Customer Experience & Marketing at NationBuilder where she leads the brand, go to market and customer experience teams with a deep commitment on providing access to the tools of Democracy to more political, advocacy, and non-profit organizations around the globe. She is a political strategy leader, committed to building community in an effort to develop more effective leaders from all walks of life. Sorcha currently lives and works in Boston, MA. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science and History at the University of Portsmouth in England before relocating to Boston, Massachusetts. At 22 she became the youngest member of her graduating class to receive a Master’s in Political Science from Suffolk University. Prior to joining NationBuilder, Sorcha worked as a Senior Associate of Dewey Square Group where she developed and managed grassroots organizations for a variety of candidates, ballot initiatives, businesses, and non-profits. Sorcha has also served as a political advisor on a number of federal, state and municipal campaigns across New England. Currently, Sorcha serves her communities in the following capacities. US Ambassador for the British and Irish Trading Alliance, as a board member for Suffolk University Alumni and the Boston & New England Rose of Tralee. She is also the co-host of the Unapologetic Women podcast.
MP for Mississauga Centre
Fares Al Soud is the Member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre. At 25 years old, he is the first Palestinian of origin and one of the first four Gen Z members of Canada’s Parliament. He is focused on youth engagement, Canada’s role on the international stage, and the importance of culture, arts, and heritage. Fares proudly represents the diverse voices of Mississauga Centre and works to build a stronger, more inclusive Canada, ensuring that policies reflect the needs and aspirations of all Canadians.
Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Ontario and the MPP for Kitchener Centre
Aislinn Clancy is the Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Ontario and the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Kitchener Centre. Her commitment to public service began from her days as a social worker, where she supported refugee youth and family settlement and provided mental health support to vulnerable students. Motivated by the need for systemic change, Aislinn entered politics at the municipal level as a city councillor before being elected to Queen’s Park. As an MPP, she has introduced legislation focused on housing affordability, improved supports for people with disabilities, and the expansion of renewable, affordable energy. In her riding, Aislinn maintains an open-door policy for constituents and embraces creative advocacy, from direct engagement on social media to participating in demonstrations. Ultimately, she is driven by a vision of Ontario that is more affordable, more accessible, and is committed to a livable planet for everyone.
MP for Don Valley North
President of the Canadian Medical Association
Currently president of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Margot Burnell is a medical oncologist who has served the patients of New Brunswick for over three decades. She is an associate professor of medicine at Dalhousie University and was the head of the department of oncology for eight years. She also previously served as chief of staff for Zone 2 of the Horizon Health Network in the province.
She has participated in and chaired multiple committees associated with the health authority, the Saint John and New Brunswick medical societies, CMA, pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review and Hospice Greater Saint John. She has participated in many clinical trials. She is co-chair of the supportive care committee for the Canadian Cancer Trials Group.
Dr. Burnell has dedicated herself to caring for patients, making a difference in their lives, helping them on an individual basis, participating in system administration and now advancing solutions to patient and physician concerns at decision-making tables.
She feels being a physician is a calling, is eager to share her passion for medicine with coworkers and learners and believes in giving back to her community to make it a stronger, healthier one.
A unique gathering where tech innovators, advocates, and changemakers meet the strategists and leaders shaping Canada’s political and advocacy campaigns.
1Gain insights from leading voices across politics, technology, and data — experts driving innovation in political campaigning, policy, and the nonprofit sector.
2Build meaningful connections with peers, partners, and potential collaborators to advance your impact in the political and advocacy space.
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Some of our esteemed guests include:
