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Jairek Robbins – Keynote Speaker
Jairek Robbins was born in Santa Monica, California. He is a decorated performance coach and lifestyle entrepreneur who has applied his innovative methods to living a life of adventure, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. At the age of twenty-three, Robbins was awarded the Congressional Award Gold Medal from the United States Congress. By twenty-five, he gained international renown as the creator of a revolutionary approach to maximizing personal performance that accelerated organizational success for a wide range of businesses. He has a psychology degree from the University of San Diego.
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Shawn Kanungo – Keynote Speaker
Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized strategist, keynote speaker, and partner at Queen & Rook, where he advises organizations and executives on disruptive trends. He previously spent 12 years at Deloitte working closely with leaders on strategy and innovation. In 2021, Forbes called him the "Best Virtual Keynote Speaker I've Ever Seen." He was named "Top 40 Under 40" by Edify magazine. Kanungo's stories on innovation have garnered millions of views across LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook.
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Emmanuel Pacheco – Keynote Speaker
Emmanuel Pacheco has crafted a stellar career in sales, leading him to his current role as Head of Central Greenfield Acquisitions at Google Cloud in Toronto. With over two decades of experience, he has excelled in various industries, from financial services to hospitality. Emmanuel’s journey to Google began with groundbreaking roles at companies like SAP, Xerox, Flybits and SAS Institute, where he honed his skills in sales management, business planning, and problem-solving. At Google, he continues to drive customer success and innovation in the cloud space. When he's not transforming businesses with cutting-edge solutions, Emmanuel enjoys exploring new tech trends, mentoring aspiring sales professionals, and solving extremely challenging problems using unique methods like cube solving.
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Michael Wekerle – Panel Judge
Michael Wekerle is a rock star in the world of Canadian finance, known for his shrewd value spotting in the fields of tech, biotech and media. As the founder and Chairman of the merchant bank Difference Capital Financial Inc., he oversees a fund that includes such successful growth companies as Hootsuite, Vision Critical, BuildDirect and Blue Ant Media. He also holds significant real estate assets, including an impressive portfolio of high-tech commercial properties in Waterloo, Ontario, as well as the historic Toronto entertainment venue the El Mocambo. And he is a partner in the Canadian franchise of Wahlburgers—Paul, Donnie and Mark Wahlberg’s Boston-based burger chain.
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Dr. Shyra Barberstock – Panel Judge
Dr. Shyra Barberstock is the President and CEO of Okwaho Equal Source, a boutique Indigenous entrepreneurship and business development consultancy, and Kebaonish Inc., a tea and coffee company. She has over a decade of experience as a professional Indigenous researcher and is well-versed in Indigenous entrepreneurship, economic development, and business relations. Dr. Barberstock received formal training from the Rotman School of Management in Design Thinking and the Playing to Win framework used by Fortune 500 companies worldwide. She was the first Indigenous Innovator-in-Residence at the former Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Lab in Ottawa. She is recognized as a practitioner of Indigenous social innovation and Indigenous business development by the Government of Canada. She has championed critical initiatives as a business leader, including the Indigenous Climate Hub and the successful WES Ecosystem-funded Queen's University Kwe-Biz program for Indigenous women entrepreneurs and SMEs. Dr. Barberstock completed her Ph.D. in geography and planning at Queen's University, with a research focus on Indigenous business, supply chain, and procurement. She is Anishinaabe on her maternal side, of French descent on her paternal side, and a member of the Kebaowek First Nation in Kipawa, Quebec.
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Roger Rai – Panel Judge
Roger Rai serves as the Vice Chairman of the Toronto Blue Jays and Senior Vice President at Macquarie Group, where he leads business development in the financial services sector. With a wealth of experience in both the sports and entertainment industries, he is widely recognized for his contributions to these fields. Roger is also actively involved in various charitable initiatives and community engagement projects, reflecting his commitment to giving back and making a positive impact.
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Linda Debassige – Panel Judge
Born and raised in M’Chigeeng First Nation, Linda Debassige currently serves as the Grand Council Chief of the Anishinaabek Nation. She is a mother to two children and grandmother to one. Linda graduated with honours from Civil Engineering Technology in Thunder Bay and she holds a Certificate in Negotiations from Osgoode Hall Law School. First elected to M’Chigeeng First Nation Council in 2013, Debassige was Chief from 2015-2023. During her tenure within the governance of M’Chigeeng, she participated in numerous portfolios, committees and boards locally, regionally and nationally and across many sectors including but not limited to treaty, infrastructure, water, housing, environment, policing, mental health and addictions, community safety, economic development, education, health, emergency management and community development. She was elected Grand Council Chief of the Anishinabek Nation in 2024.
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Irving Leblanc – Panel Judge
Irving Leblanc, P. Eng., serves as the current Chair of the Board for Community Circle and is the former Director of Infrastructure at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). He has been actively involved in RESEAU governance since 2008, where he also holds the roles of Chair of the Board and Co-director. Irving earned his civil engineering degree from the University of Waterloo in 1971 and is a registered member of Professional Engineers Ontario. As an Odawa of the Three Fires Confederacy and a member of the Wiikwemikoong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Northern Ontario, he is fluent in his Odawa language.
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Vijay Kanwar – Panel Judge
Vijay Kanwar is a seasoned entrepreneur with a distinguished career in healthcare innovation. As the co-founder of KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres, he has played a pivotal role in advancing healthcare services. Additionally, Vijay serves as a member of the board of the Business Development Bank of Canada, where he contributes his extensive business acumen and leadership to foster economic growth and innovation in Canada.
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John Carlan – Panel Judge
John Carlan is an active angel investor and private equity enthusiast. Known for his keen eye for high-growth startups and his experience with business development, John has built a reputation for identifying and nurturing transformative ventures across various industries. His investments in over 30 Canadian companies reflects a diverse range of sectors, including technology, AI, healthcare, and cleantech. Passionate about fostering innovation and supporting visionary entrepreneurs, John is dedicated to driving growth and creating value in the investment landscape while mentoring emerging leaders. John has also founded three companies and has completed two exits with those companies.
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Karen Jones-Gibbons – Panel Judge
Karen Jones-Gibbons, CEO of Karen Jones Consulting Inc. operates a boutique consulting firm that provides business and economic development services to small businesses, non-profit organizations, and municipalities across Northern Ontario. Karen specializes in business and strategic planning, funding application development, and marketing communication strategies. Karen is passionate about entrepreneurship and helping businesses and organizations foster new ways of thinking to achieve their full potential and maximize their growth opportunities. With two decades of experience running her own business and coaching businesses of all sizes and sectors, Karen is committed to developing individual strategies to help her clients excel.
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Donna Backer – Panel Judge
A lifelong resident of North Bay with experience in both the private and public sectors, Donna Backer is currently the President and CEO of the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce (NBDCC). Prior to her time at the NBDCC, Donna was a senior account manager with TWG Communications and Executive Assistant to MPPs Mike Harris and Al McDonald. As a member-driven organization that represents the interests of business, NBDCC helps build a strong business climate through advocacy, networking, information sharing and member programs. NBDCC is the only organization that serves ALL business types, sectors and sizes and is the voice that can effectively speak louder than one business alone. Donna is dedicated to advancing the organization’s growth by forging strong partnerships, collaborating with key stakeholders and community leaders, and advocating for business interests at all levels of government.
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Jennifer Nickerson – Panel Judge
Jennifer Nickerson is the current manager of The Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound, a provincially funded, not for profit organization that provides programs, training, connections and resources to entrepreneurs, start up and expanding businesses. She also sits as a director on the Small Business Centre’s of Ontario Association, as a representative of the North. For the past 6 years, Jennifer has sat on the Board of Directors for NECO Community Futures Development Corporation holding the positions of Director, Vice-Chairperson and Chair of the HR committee. Prior to joining TBC, Jennifer was the owner of a retail apparel and corporate wear company that had 6 locations across Muskoka and the Halliburton’s, as well as being a professional figure skating coach. Jennifer received her Business Diploma from Canadore College and has completed business certification courses through Acadia University.
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Harry Stinson – Panel Judge
President, Stinson Properties, Inc. Harry Stinson's life has been a fascinating blend of architecture and the entertainment industry. His entrepreneurial spirit first emerged selling homemade bread in Muskoka and later evolved through ventures such as Toronto's iconic Groaning Board, the city’s first non-smoking, healthy food restaurant, and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a restaurant dedicated solely to children's birthday parties. Stinson transitioned into real estate, focusing on condominiums, and went on to create landmark projects like the Candy Factory Lofts and 1 King West. His innovative approach continues to shape his career, with more stories likely to unfold in the future.
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Harry James – Panel Judge
Harry James is a serial entrepreneur, he built one of Canada’s premier independent financial planning boutiques and sold it for an unprecedented price. Along with his real estate investment & development company, Harry James Enterprises Inc, he is a partner in a robust employee benefits company, HJ Group. Harry’s business journey includes restaurants, a stone quarry, a sports franchise, cloud services and to date orchestrating in excess of $150 million worth of real estate deals.
