Mary-Ellen Anderson
Executive Producer
MSN Canada

Mary-Ellen Anderson is the Executive Producer for MSN Canada where she is part of a global media team, striving to make MSN's portals the number one destination for users around the world.

Mary-Ellen comes to Sympatico/ MSN from CTV.ca where she was a Senior Producer leading news and entertainment teams in the creation of daily and special content across multiple platforms including Web, Broadband and Mobile. As well, she produced CTV.ca's inaugural Enhanced TV offerings for the Oscar and Juno Awards. Mary-Ellen began her online career as one of the original writers/producers for CBC.ca. Prior to that she worked on a variety of programs in both television and radio for private and public broadcasters.

Andrew Ayre
Executive Director
Foundation 9 Entertainment

Andrew Ayre co-founded and currently serves as Executive Director of Foundation 9 Entertainment, with 11 studios and 750 employees, the largest independent video game developer in North America. Andrew has played a key role in M&A and corporate development for Foundation 9 and is also responsible for a number of key relationships and strategic projects. His previous roles included responsibility for business development across the entire company. He also co-founded and served as President of Backbone Entertainment. In 1992, he co-founded Digital Eclipse, where he served as President from January 1995 until it's merger with Backbone Entertainment in 2003. Andrew grew up in Newfoundland and has a B.A. degree in Government from Harvard University.

Barbara Bailie
Director of Interactive
Astral Media

As Director, Interactive for Astral Television Networks, Barbara Bailie is responsible for the strategic direction and production of interactive properties for seven television networks - Family, The Movie Network, Mpix, Super Écran, Viewers Choice, Canal Indigo and Cinépop. These networks serve a variety of audiences ranging from children to adults in both the English and French markets in Canada.

Ms. Bailie was responsible for launching Astral Media’s first website, family.ca, in May 1997. Under her guidance, family.ca has now grown to become one of the most popular Canadian kids’ online destinations. All of the websites under her direction have won numerous awards over the years which include five Gold and seven Silver BDA Awards in a variety of categories such as best consumer site, best game, best micro-site and best viral marketing campaign. Aside from the online initiatives for each network, Ms. Bailie has recently developed and launched numerous SMS promotions and campaigns, as well as the launch of video podcasts for Family. She has also been one of the driving forces behind a number of innovative online projects which include two seasons of the ReGenesis Extended Reality Game, as well as streaming online the first full episode of a Canadian television live-action series, Life with Derek, in March 2006.

York Baur
Executive VP of Business Development
Zango

York Baur is responsible for developing strategic partnerships among popular Internet content providers and implementing programs intended to increase Zango's distribution base. York's previous experience in sales and marketing include rebuilding the search and directory business at InfoSpace to its position as one of the largest independent search networks, and leading the company's acquisition of Excite. He also spearheaded acquisition strategies, channel development and product management at InterVu and Netpodium. York has played key management roles at Microsoft and held executive positions at Attachmate for more than 10 years, developing technical marketing strategies. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

Steve Billinger
Executive Director, Digital Programming & Business
cbc.ca

Steve has experience at the executive level in both traditional and new media, and extensive media experience in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Steve oversees the growth and development of the CBC's digital programming and services, while fostering business development opportunities on all CBC platforms. He is also responsible for the strategic planning, production and delivery of all CBC’s online presence, as well as managing digital partnerships and the international sales of all programming and archival material.

Steve has worked with such leading corporations as Microsoft, Bell Expressvu and News Corp International (BSkyB). He has also provided strategic planning consultation to BCE, PBS, CBC, the BBC and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Steve has launched and run content services on every current digital platform, including digital specialty networks, enhanced television, VBI text services, gaming, CD-ROM, broadband, SMS, wireless, narrowband and walled garden "virtual channel" services.

Most recently, Steve was senior vice president of Cookie Jar Broadcast, where he was responsible for developing and launching new edutainment "channels" for all platform distribution. He has also won a number of awards, both for his work as a director, producer and writer of television series, and as an innovator in animated production for television.

In addition, Steve has provided master classes on digital production to the American Film Institute, PBS, the BBC and the Director's Guild of Canada. He also wrote a regular column on the future of television for New Media Age in the United Kingdom and Variety, as well as features on technology for children for Today's Parent magazine.

Kevin Bracken
Newmindspace

Kevin Bracken is originally from Long Island, New York and moved to Toronto, Canada in September of 2004 to study political science at the University of Toronto. Involved in such projects as The TRIP! Project and the Toronto Public Space Committee, Kevin has clearly defined his role as devoted to the fun and freedom of the public.

He delights in late-night techno dance parties, blowing large volumes of bubbles with brightly-colored machines, website design and technology, public infrastructure and transit, tall buildings, big cities, boardwalks, jungle music, the earth, beauty, and adventures of all kinds.

Aaron Brown
Director Product Management
Services Product Marketing
Research In Motion

Aaron leads the global Product Management and Product Marketing efforts for the Services element of RIM’s product portfolio. His team is focused on crafting market, product and pricing strategy for BlackBerry, focused on individual customer (ie prosumer) and SMB/SOHO segments. The team is responsible for all life-cycle phases, including product strategy, development, launch, and in-market management. It also drives product revenue and P+L targets, defines core market segments, and leads product-marketing responsibilities for the offer. He is also responsible for developing RIM’s strategy for partnering with consumer application and content developers.

Previous to this position, Aaron held several Product Management and marketing roles at RIM, including Product Management of multiple BlackBerry handhelds, including 6710, 6230, and 7230. Prior to working at RIM, Aaron was Director of Marketing/Product Management for a Canadian Educational Software Development company. He grew up in Eastern Canada.

Sara Bustoz
Member
girlz 0f destruction

Sara Bustoz is a current member of the PC gaming team girlz 0f destruction. She started her video gaming ventures back in 1999 when a boyfriend she had at the time was into PC video games. After becoming involved with the 'g0d' team, life has never been the same. Sara, also known as 'RocketQueen' has since attended numerous events throughout the years with her team, including 2 'Quakecons' in Dallas, Texas, 'Dreamhack' in Jonkoping, Sweden, World Cyber Games in San Francisco, and multiple E3's in Los Angeles just to name a few. Even tho she works a full time job, she always finds the time to play on the PC and commmunicate with her teammates and friends.
www.myspace.com/rq_sara

Didi Cardoso
Managing Editor & PR of Grrlgamer.com

Michael Carter
President and CEO
MyThumb Interactive

In his leadership role at MyThum, Michael draws on more than a decade of wireless, e-commerce, interactive entertainment and management consulting experience. With direct connections to all Canadian wireless operators and access to all major US carriers, MyThum enables brands and media companies to build relationships with more than 220 million consumers through their mobile phones. Since 2002, Michael and his team have launched hundreds of initiatives, many being the first of their kind in North America. MyThum powers the direct-to-consumer mobile content storefronts for Warner Music Canada, Universal Music Canada and Best Buy USA and interactive television solutions for broadcasters such as MuchMusic, MTV Canada, Global Television and Rogers Sportsnet. MyThum is also the mobile marketing partner for leading brands such as Molson, Nike, Nissan and Shoppers Drug Mart.

Sebastien Chorney
Co-founder
Podzapper Inc.

Sebastien is a seasoned interactive media strategist with an ahead-of-the-curve knowledge of digital distribution strategies, web applications, and a long history in the production and development of best-of-class digital media.
 
Sebastien runs Podzapper inc., an interactive media consultancy, with business partner Ron Proulx, where he helps content owners promote and extend their properties onto different platforms. In addition to his work promoting television programming through mobile and online content, he has also helped develop and produce branded digital media projects in sectors as diverse as B2B event promotion and ecotourism.
 
He is also responsible for exploring strategic partnerships with content and marketing partners, particularly in the areas of branded interactive content development and innovative distribution strategies.Previously, Sebastien operated his own recording studio, where he produced and developed a variety of musical projects, as well as corporate and instructional material.
 
Sebastien plays guitar and bass, and holds a degree in translation from Concordia University.

Tony Chapman
Founder & CEO
Capital C

How they Wigged Out the World in Six Days

How did a $3,000 viral campaign titled 'Bride has a Massive Wig Out' became one of Youtube's most popular and shared videos, and in turn become the talk and focus of mass media across the world?

Tony Chapman, the Founder and CEO of Capital C, Marketing Magazines 2006 Agency of the Year, will share their story that includes a cast of characters, including a phenomenal client in Unilever, Capital C's Big Ideas Group, and an eclectic team including a Director, Producer, and four talented but under-employed actresses.

A great case study on the intersection between new media and mass media, and the lessons we need to learn.

Wayne Clarkson
Executive Director
Telefilm Canada

Wayne Clarkson has dedicated his career to increasing the profile of Canadian filmmakers and their films. After graduating from Carleton University (where he later taught film), Clarkson worked for the Canadian Film Institute in Ottawa. In 1974, he completed graduate studies in film at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, England and returned to Ottawa to serve as director of the National Film Theatre.

In 1978, he was appointed Director of Toronto's two-year-old Festival of Festivals (now the Toronto International Film Festival). Under his directorship, the Festival developed into one of the most successful in the world. Clarkson accepted the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the newly created Ontario Film Development Corporation in 1986. Under his stewardship, the OFDC came to play an integral role in the development and production of quality, Canadian film and television.

In 1988, Clarkson took a leave of absence to join his wife in Bogotá, Columbia, travelling throughout South and Central America. Prior to joining Telefilm Canada as Executive Director in January 2005, he was the Executive Director of the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) since 1991. Under his leadership, the Film Centre became the country's premier training and production centre for film, television and new media with 16 feature films produced, 115 short films, 30 new media prototypes and more than 700 graduate.

Neil Closner
President
Cascada Mobile

As President of Cascada Mobile, Neil Closner guides the company's strategic direction and is responsible for identifying new opportunities and markets for Cascada Mobile's technologies.

Neil joined Cascada Mobile following his role as a principal of GSI Advisors, a strategic management consultancy firm. At GSI he applied his extensive expertise in new media, entertainment, financial services, software and technology. Prior to founding GSI, Neil was Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of Baby Universe, Inc., (NASDAQ: POSH) an industry leading online retailer of juvenile products. Neil previously worked in New York City as an associate with a private equity investment boutique and as an investment banker at Citigroup/Salomon Smith Barney.

Neil holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. with Distinction in Economics and Commerce from McGill University and The London School of Economics and Political Science.

Jennifer Cristani
VP, New Business
Splashworks

Jennifer Crisanti has been working in the interactive media industry since 1992. She is a founding partner of Splashworks.com and has been instrumental in growing the company from a small Toronto developer into a top-level game developer in the international marketplace.

Splashworks.com is Canada's leading advergame developer; it has been delivering top-quality, cutting edge online games since 1997.

A key component of Splashwork.com's business strategy is an extensive library of games that are both Splashworks created and owned. Currently this library includes over eighty titles that clients can license and brand to suit a particular campaign. The games incorporate the same elements found in commercial stand alone products; intelligent gameplay, intuitive interface, graphically immersive environments, tension and competition.

Since 1997, the company has launched over 300 games for over 55 leading consumer based companies and ad agencies. Client's include: Atom Entertainment, Arnold Interactive, Time Warner, MacLaren McCann, Coor's Brewing Company, CHUM, Mattel, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Nestle USA, Proctor and Gamble, LG Electronics and CanWest media Works.

In 2004, Splashworks launched it's first downloadable product, Pipsoh! that targeted consumers. This was followed by Bang On Blitz in 2005. Downloadable games are an important part of the company's future. Splashworks is about to launch it's third title on Real Arcade, Mariposa. Splashworks now has over 100 game titles in it's library.

Claudette Critchley
Studio Manager
Big Blue Bubble

Claudette graduated at the top of her class in university and obtained both her Computer Science and Education degrees. After university, she taught Computer Science at a private college and quickly advanced to the position of Regional Education Manager. Although she had a great passion for education, she found that she was missing the extra challenge that programming gave her. In 2000, she left her teaching career to pursue a career in video game development at Sandbox Studios ( now a division of Electronic Arts ). During her time at Sandbox, her knowledge of gaming and the industry grew as she took on the role of programmer/lead programmer on several hit titles ( including: Disney's Emperor's New Groove for GameBoy, Shrek for Xbox, Pryzm for PS2, and The Land Before Time for PC/PS1 ). Her versatility and continued drive for excellence led her to co-found Big Blue Bubble in 2004. As Studio Manager, she has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of the company.

Stéphane D'Astous
General Manager
Eidos Montreal



With over 15 years in the technology sector. Stéphane D’Astous has made a name for himself in the gaming industry with his expertise in strategic and operational management, recruitment and mentoring. His management skills have contributed to the growth of several companies. Stéphane began his career in project management in the aeronautics industry, working for companies like Bombardier and CAE. Over the last few years, he held important positions at Montreal video game companies, allowing him to combine his passion for video games with his career.

Alex DeBold
Co-Founder
ChickAdvisor.com

Alex is a serial entrepreneur who has been building online communities since 1995. His first, ProfessorJones was Canada's most successful online student portal.

Alex has continued building online communities and integrated CRM solutions for leading North American companies such as Labatt (beer.com) and, Butterfield & Robinson.

Recently, he co-founded and launched ChickAdvisor.com, a social shopping website for women. He also enjoys helping startups. Some have included RedFlagDeals, Bubbleshare and AmbientVector.

Kevin DeWalt
CEO
Canadian-based Minds Eye Entertainment

Kevin DeWalt is CEO of Canadian-based Minds Eye Entertainment, which he founded in 1986. Minds Eye is an internationally-recognized, vertically-integrated organization which includes subsidiaries in new media and distribution. Kevin has produced over 40 film, television and web-based projects that have been sold to over 200 territories around the world. His recent production, Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, was recently (Jan. 2007) purchased by The Hallmark Channel and will be broadcast in 146 territories in 18 languages. His current production, The Englishman’s Boy, a four-hour TV event mini-series starring Bob Hoskins and Nick Campbell, will air on CBC Television in September 2007 and be released internationally as both a mini-series and feature film. Kevin is a board member of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA). He is currently President of the International Quorum of Film and Television Producers (IQ). Kevin is married with three teenagers aged 16, 14 and 12 and makes his home in Regina, Canada.

Scott Dyer
Executive VP, General Manager
Corus Kids

Scott Dyer is Executive Vice President, General Manager, Corus Kids for the Canadian-based media and entertainment company Corus Entertainment Inc. In this role, Dyer is responsible for overseeing the specialty services YTV, Treehouse and Discovery Kids Canada as well as Nelvana Studios.
Prior to this position, Dyer was Executive Vice President, Production and Development, Nelvana, which produces globally renowned and award-winning children’s animated content such as Babar and Franklin. In this role, Dyer was responsible for guiding the creative vision and technological development of Nelvana’s high-calibre team of animators, developers and producers. Dyer joined Nelvana in 1997, after the studio acquired the Dyer-produced pilot of Emmy Award-winning CGI series Rolie Polie Olie. 

Trained as a mathematician at Carnegie Mellon University, Dyer entered the animation business after spending three years in Utah working on visual systems for flight simulators. His first industry career saw him producing commercial effects for television at Cranston/Csuri Productions--one of the original computer animation companies.

Expertise in that field led Dyer to a professorship at Ohio State University, where he spent four years running a research group that applied computer animation to the science at The Ohio Supercomputer Center. Dyer hung his own production shingle with a group of partners in 1993, serving as president of Windlight Studios.

Trevor Doerksen
CEO & Co-Founder
MoboVivo

Trevor has been at the intersection of media and technology for nearly 20 years. He has investigated and developed large-scale implementations of streaming video and Internet TV for government and industry. His graduate research into flexible e-content and content repurposing has lead to a $2 million research project, a chapter in the 2002 Handbook on Information Technologies for Education and Training, and the creation of MoboVivo. MoboVivo is the first company in Canada to sell television programming online. He earned a B.Ed and M.Sc from the University of Calgary. On participating in ICE 2007: "It may be obvious that the media, new media, web, mobile, and gaming industries are colliding, but which direction, at what speed, and what vehicle will take off is not so obvious. The ICE conference brings various industries together to reflect and contemplate where we go from here and this is key for our company."

Stuart Duncan
CEO
Bight Games

As C.E.O. of Bight Games, Stuart Duncan utilizes his decade long experience in advanced multimedia production to oversee operations for one of the industries' most innovative mobile game developers. Under his direction Bight's strong R&D focus has propelled them into a leadership position in 3D mobile game development. Spearheading the bightCode^TM game engine and the bightSize^TM personalization platform, Duncan has significantly expanded Bights' technological IP while maintaining a strong commitment to the creation and development of world class mobile games. Bight Interactive's Games are being distributed worldwide through its agreements with aggregators and master publishers such as THQ Wireless, Skyzone Entertainment and Telcogames.

Prior to founding Bight Interactive, Duncan was the President and C.E.O of Smashplay inc., a pioneering producer of advanced Flash based B2B Solutions for the Enterprise. With a roster of clients such as Xerox, Smashplay provided cutting edge creative applications maximally utilizing automation and production efficiencies.

Daniel Eayrs
42media.ca

Daniel Eayrs has worked for such companies as Electronic Arts, BBC Media Arc & lotusmedia during his international career.  Mr. Eayrs has worked in motion capture, digital animation, Synthespian development, avid “Mac Head”, software developer, shipped in over 30 video game titles and worked in over a dozen film and television projects throughout his ~ 20 year career.

Jeffrey Elliott
Founder, President & CEO
BiteTV

Jeffrey Elliott brings twenty-five years of strategic and creative experience in broadcasting, production, Internet, radio and print to his latest venture, Bite TV, the 2006 Canadian New Media Award winner for Excellence in Cross-Platform.

BITE is a cross-platform entertainment universe and television network designed specifically for the techno- generation and media hungry 18-34 year old demographic. BITE offers short, edgy and comedic programming delivered in a unique, fast-paced style across all media markets.

A visionary in the industry, Jeffrey was Senior Vice President of Alliance Atlantis and Managing Director at TSN.ca and Discoverychannel.ca where he established a unique internet programming philosophy that maximized interactive/convergent opportunities between the network and its audience.

A highly sought after public speaker and member of the Interactive Peer Group for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Jeffrey has his finger on the pulse of the multi-media industry.

Mark Evans
VP Operations
b5media

Mark Evans is VP, Operations with Toronto-based b5media Inc., the world's third-largest blog network. Before joining b5media, Mark was a technology reporter - most recently at the National Post where he wrote about the Internet and the telecom sector. In 2001, Mark co-founded Blanketware Corp., which developed natural language navigation technology for online services. His technology blog can be found at markevanstech.com

Faustine Faubert
3D Media Designer and Producer

Faustine Faubert is a 3d media designer and producer based out of Toronto. Trained as a 3d computer animator and video artist, she started loneLocust.tv, freelancing high end still, motion and interactive graphics for use in web, print, film and broadcast. Her interest in combining and using different genres and media to implement imagination brought her to the Canadian Film Centre's New Media Lab where she co-produced Shanghai Gallery. This episodic interactive pilot involved Faustine using a video game as a production tool to animate and film virtual marionette puppets in real time. Her current preoccupation is in real time interactive 3d graphics for web.

Chris Feges
Co-Founder
Vegas Wireless Entertainment

Chris Feges is the co-founder of Vegas Wireless Entertainment which commenced operations in 2004. With more than 10 years of industry experience, Feges has a diverse background in design, manufacturing, operations and business strategy.

Prior to founding Vegas Wireless Entertainment, Feges was Director of Business Development for TruCash Rewards, a loyalty rewards and payment processing program. He was responsible for not only developing key accounts for the firm, but was instrumental in securing funding for the company.

In the late 90s, Feges was in charge of business development for Allusion, a subsidiary of Cymat Corp., which distributed specialty building products to designers and architects. His leadership contributed to the growth of Cymat which achieved a market capitalization of $150 million dollars. During his tenure, Feges played an integral part in the marketing and business strategy of the product.

Luigi Ferrara OAA, MRAIC, Hon. ACID O,
President ICSID,
Director, School of Design,
George Brown College, Toronto

Luigi Ferrara is an architect designer and urban planner and has served as President of ICSID the International Council of the Societies of Industrial Design. He was Vice President of Design Exchange, Canada’s center for Design and innovation and President of DxNet Canada’s Broadband network for design. Currently he is the Director of the School of Design at George Brown College and academic leader of Institute without Boundaries program. Luigi lectures on topics as diverse as design and sustainability, design management, urban planning, information technology, digital media, telecommunications and the network society.

Dan Fill
Head of Development, New Media & Digital Services
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Dan oversees ABC's web presence, broadband content, video on demand, audio/video podcasting, interactive television, emerging platforms, virtual world development and mobile development. In addition, Dan is responsible for original programming for ABC's Digital Free to air network ABC2. Dan is based in Melbourne Australia.

Angus Frame
Site Editor
Globe and Mail

Angus Frame has been with The Globe and Mail since 1996 in various capacities in the news and Report on Business sections. He moved to globeandmail.com in 2000 as Deputy Editor in charge of business coverage and became the site's editor on Sept. 10, 2001.

He has an honours BA in Political Science from McMaster University and a Journalism degree from Ryerson University. He lives in Toronto's High Park neighbourhood with his wife, two daughters and dog.

Jonathan Freedman
Manager, Business Development
TELUS TV

Jonathan Freedman is currently the Manager of Business Development at TELUS who started by managing the TELUS mobile deals with the Music Labels before moving into the IPTV world of TELUS TV. In his current role he manages the business relationships and secures the deals with the various networks and content providers for VOD & Linear programming. In his current role he highlights new business and revenue opportunities as well as harvesting existing relationships that can add value to one or more of TELUS's many screens.

Prior to TELUS he was Director of 1st Party Relations & Acquisitions at videogame publisher/distributor Hip Games. From 1996 to 2001 he was Studio Director at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe where his studio won a BAFTA award for their title WIPEOUT 3. His professional roots started in 1988 in the world of traditional film and television as an Assistant Director with Degrsssi Junior High after which he moved to YTV in 1990 as their Floor Director on such programs as, Rock 'n Talk and Hit List.

It was at YTV that his love for videogames led him to the role of Producer on YTV's successful show, Video & Arcade Top Ten.

Tom Frencel
President
Capybara Games

Tom Frencel is the President of Capybara Games Inc. (www.capybaragames.com), a mobile game developer based in Toronto, Ontario. As head of the company, Tom has been responsible for guiding the fast growth of Capybara and positioning it as a provider of premium mobile games with a growing international reputation for quality. Overseeing the development of over fourteen projects in just 3 years has given Tom a unique perspective on a burgeoning industry.

Tom has been involved on both AAA licensed games, including Cars for Disney/Pixar, Happy Feet for Warner Brothers, and successful original IP titles, including Pillow Fight with I-play and Super Shove It! with Starwave.

Earlier in his career, Tom established a strong technical background through his work at EMC and Nortel Networks. He holds a BSc. in Computer Science and Economics from the University of Toronto.

Claude Galipeau
Senior Vice President-Digital Media
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc

Claude Galipeau is Senior Vice President, Digital Media, Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. Claude is responsible for new media business strategy, programming and operations for all Alliance Atlantis properties. Claude previously was Executive Director, Digital Programming and Business Development, at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Claude’s background includes working for Alliance Atlantis Communications, as Vice-President, Broadcasting, and heading business development at Salter Street Films. Claude has a PhD from the University of Toronto, an MA from Queen’s University and a BA from Bishop’s University. He is the author of Isaiah Berlin’s Liberalism (Oxford, 1994), as well as numerous articles on political theory and Canadian politics and public policy.

Paula Gignac
President
Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada (IAB) 

Paula is the former Vice President of Rogers Women’s Group of Websites, and is recognized throughout the industry -- not only as a pioneering Web publisher -- but also as an award-winning Interactive marketer and author of digital marketing programs for clients as diverse as AirMiles, GlaxoSmithKline, Ford, Proctor + Gamble, Hershey, etc. With more than 15 years of experience in the medium, and an unmatched record of helping clients achieve success in the Online arena, she is also chief instructor for the IAB Canada Intensive, One-Day Course in Interactive Marketing + Online Advertising.

Brady Gilchrist
Executive Vice President of Strategy & Head of BlueScience
Fuel Industries



As Executive Vice President of Strategy & Head of BlueScience, Fuel Industries’ crea-tive strategy and research division, Brady is responsible for helping clients navigate the branded entertainment landscape with solid consumer insight and research. Headquar-tered in Fuel’s Toronto office, BlueScience is built on the philosophy that as branded entertainment evolves even further, the campaigns that work will be as a result of strat-egy, media and technology converged.

In the early 1990s, Brady founded one of the first online agencies in Canada, and has since helped many major brands discover the possibilities of the web. Since then, he has developed and implemented online strategies for clients including Motorola, Shell,, Covad, Cincinnati Bell, Ford, Acura. Most recently, he built the online practice at GJP Advertising as Senior Vice President of Digital. Since moving over to Fuel he has worked interactive strategies with clients such as Fox, SciFi Channel, Hit Entertainment, Microsoft, Wrigley’s and many other leading brands.

Brady began his career as a commercial pilot with a love of science and an appetite for knowledge about technology. His first venture into the realm of communications tech-nology was the creation of software that would allow pilots to receive wireless email in-flight. When the internet began to emerge as a new medium, he made the jump from the skies into the world of advertising to explore the limitless potential that it possessed.

Brady’s love of exploration is not just limited to the world of marketing. In 2000, he wired up a sailboat to the internet and started one of the first blogs about living life en-tirely on the grid. Later that year he became a crew member aboard the Microsoft, Sony and Stern-sponsored Starship Millennium Project – a ship making a record of the planet at the turn of the new millennium.

Matt Gillis
VP of Business Development
Capcom Interactive Inc.

Matt Gillis is currently the Vice President of Business Development with Capcom Interactive Inc., the mobile games division of the originator of top selling games such as Street Fighter, Resident Evil, and Megaman to name a few. With Capcom Interactive, Matt is responsible for wireless carrier relationships, OEM relationships, and brand licensing.

Prior employment includes more than 10 years working for wireless carriers in North America, spending 2003-2005 looking after wireless entertainment content at Verizon Wireless including ringtones/ring back tones, V CAST Video on Demand, and mobile games. Matt holds a degree in Communication Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Originally hailing from Toronto, Canada, Matt now resides in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Matt Golden
SVP Corporate Development and Co-founder
Tira Wireless

Since co-founding Tira Wireless in 2001, Matt Golden has been a driving force behind the company's visionary approach to mobile content deployment. As SVP Corporate Development, Matt heads the team responsible for building and maintaining strategic relationships with all participants in the mobile content value chain, and leads corporate merger and acquisition activity.

Matt came to Tira from Brightspark Ventures LP, where he was Director of New Ventures. In this role, Matt was charged with building financial networks, raising capital, striking alliances and forming partnerships for the Brightspark group of companies. Previously, Matt practiced law at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. Matt is a graduate of the University of Ottawa's LLB/MBA program.

Michael Girgis
President and CEO
Fourth Wall Media

Michael is the President and CEO of Fourth Wall Media a Toronto-based interactive marketing and creative agency and ONESTOP Media Group, the Out-of-home Digital Network operators of Canada’s largest digital network installed on the TTC.  Michael leads a dynamic and award-winning group that have gained international acclaim as producers of innovation and leaders in digital media.  Michael is a founding member and acting chair of the CDSA (Canadian Digital Signage Association) designed to educate and create industry leading research and best practice.  

The Hollywood Reporter’s (November 2003) 10th Anniversary Edition included Michael in their annual “World View Search” for the Top 35 under 35 – “poised to be industry leaders.”

Jonathan Graff
President
Kaboose

Mr. Graff joined Kaboose as President in 2003. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Graff was Director of Business Development with Homestore.com (NASDAQ:HOMS), an online real estate provider of listings in North America. Mr. Graff also managed Homestore’s Canadian national sales force from 2000 to 2001. Mr. Graff holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

Jim Griffin
Managing Director
OneHouse LLC

In addition to serving as an agent for constructive change in media and technology, he is an author, serving as a columnist for magazines, and is on the boards of companies and associations. He started and ran for five years the technology department at Geffen Records. Prior to Geffen he was an International Representative for The Newspaper Guild in Washington, D.C.

While at Geffen, Jim led a team that in June of 1994 distributed the first full-length commercial song on-line, by Aerosmith. Geffen was the first entertainment company to install a web server, and Geffen World was one of the first corporate intranet sites. Geffen was named by Network World in 1996 as one of the world's top 25 technology companies, and one of only seven in the United States.

Jim is co-founder of the Pho group. Named after a bowl of Vietnamese soup, Pho is an organization that meets for discussion-oriented meals in cities around the world, electronically linked by the Pho mailing list. Pho's many thousands of readers enjoy dialogue on the digital delivery of art and the new economy in music, movies, books and all media.

Nathon Gunn
President, CEO, Co-Founder
Bitcasters

Bitcasters CEO Nathon Gunn began in new media in 1983, programming and animating while living in India. In Malaysia in 1986 he developed new digital morphing techniques. He followed this by presenting one of South East Asia’s first touch-screen kiosks at a trade conference in Australia. At 16, after founding a profitable video production business and releasing a shareware game in B.C., Nathon moved to Toronto to earn a degree in Computer Animation and Film from Ryerson University while simultaneously working full-time at Chum Ltd. producing, directing, shooting and editing for Citytv, MuchMusic, Bravo, Fashion Television etc.

Nathon has been an advisor to the OMDC, Canada Council for Arts, Charles Bronfman Foundation/Historica, has created web initiatives in support of the campaigns of Al Gore, John Kerry, the Premier of Ontario and has run the technology strategy for the Prime Minister of Canada’s successful leadership bid and general election campaign. Clients include AOL/TW, Family, Disney, Universal, Miramax, the Governments of British Columbia, Ontario and Canada, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Craig Broadcast Ltd., Chum Ltd., BMG, Sony Music and others.

Laura Jo Gunter
Dean, Information Arts & Technology
Seneca College

Laura Jo Gunter has 15 years in the high technology and entertainment industries. She is currently Seneca College's Dean of Information Arts & Technology, and is a co-founder and C.E.O of Condition30 Inc., an interactive software and content company. Ms. Gunter's previous positions include Vice- President, Creative, Technical and Community for User Friendly Media, Vice-President, Programming, Special Projects and Industry Partnerships for the Vancouver Film School, Executive Director and former Board member of New Media BC, and Director, Applied Sciences Continuing Education at Simon Fraser University. Ms. Gunter has an MBA from Queen's University and a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University.