"What Elections Can Teach Us About Raising More Online"
Gabriel Helfant
Senior Account Manager

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.

"Targeting in a Privacy First World"
Navah Hopkins
Product Liaison

Navah Hopkins is the Product Liaison for Microsoft Advertising, international speaker, and has contributed to the digital marketing industry for almost two decades. When she's not being an advocate for marketers or sharing content through industry publications and speaking engagements, she enjoys gaming, playing with her three rescue pups, and rocking out to metal.

Conversations Drive Decisions: How Reddit Drives Discovery and Action in the Public Sector
Tara Landon
Manager, Mid-Market Sales

"The New Reality of Email for Public and Nonprofit Organizations"
Geoffrey Blanc
General Manager

Panel: "The Future of Online Communities in Canada"
Speaker Bio: Jesse Luimes
Director of Marketing

Jesse Luimes is the Director of Marketing at HeyOrca, a Canadian social media management platform. She began her career in classical music—first as a musician, then moving into arts administration and marketing. Outside of her 9–5, you’ll find her travelling, often planning trips around the opportunity to see a musical.

Marketing with Meta: Best Practices for Governments and Nonprofits.
Speaker Bio: Lauren Jutai
Partner Manager - Government, Politics, Advocacy & Compliance

Lauren has been with Meta for 8 years, and has been in this role, supporting Canadian and American government partners, for the past 6. She has over a decade of experience in marketing and market research.

"Designing Digital Platforms That Reflect Community Values"
Ben Waldman
Founder + CEO

Benjamin Waldman is the Founder and CEO of Gander Social.
He's a Digital Product leader with 25+ years experience in creative and digital strategy. Ben has led Gander from concept to traction, with 35,000+ early signups, media coverage and a product-led vision. Gander is currently in closed beta, with a public launch set for Q1 2026.

"How Do Newsrooms Work, and How Do I Get Your Attention?"
Anouk Bertner
Executive Director

Do Less With More: "How AI and Automation Are Supercharging Nonprofit Marketing"
Tom Mulhern
Client Communications Manager

A creative marketing leader with 15+ years of experience helping nonprofits and brands grow through digital strategy and storytelling. He’s currently leading the client communications strategy at Benevity, a global social impact platform empowering purpose-driven brands.

The Social Media Support Group
Kevin Parent
Team Lead, Digital Communications

Kevin leads the Digital Communications Team with the Canadian Institute for Health Information. He previously led the social media team for Ottawa Public Health, where his team's pandemic comms were celebrated by the likes of The World Health Organization, The Rockefeller Foundation, Macleans magazine, CBS Sports, Arlene Dickinson, and Ryan Reynolds...to name a few. Kevin is an old ginger dad, so please be patient with him.

The Art of the Unboring: How to make educational and informative based content brilliant.
Melissa Pateras
Content Creator

By day, Melissa Pateras works in the not-for-profit sector as a social worker. By night, she’s an author, brand ambassador, and viral content creator with over two million followers who come for the cleaning tips and stay for the laughs. Known for her wit and authenticity, Melissa blends heart, humour, and experience to prove that education can be anything but boring.

Beyond the Logo: What Brands Are Really Buying
Speaker Bio: Carolyn Shaw

Co-Founder, President and Chief Creative Officer

Carolyn Shaw is Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Humanity, a purpose-driven agency that helps Changemakers bring bold ideas to life.
She’s spent over 20 years shaping brands across Canada through the power of strategy, creativity, and behavioural insight.
Passionate about meaningful connection, Carolyn believes great brands don’t just communicate—they inspire action and belonging.

"Build Trust & Get Found: Brand-Building for Social Impact in the AI Era"
Speaker Bio: Daniel Francavilla
Brand & Content Strategist

Daniel Francavilla is a brand and content strategist, educator, and founder of The Good Growth Company, helping nonprofits and public-sector teams build brand-first, human-centred marketing. He teaches at OCAD University and George Brown College, and regularly leads training for Canadian organizations. Daniel consults on thought leadership, branding and strategies to grow trust, community, and impact.

Your AI Sounds Like AI: The Human Voice Principles Missing From Every Prompt
Jason Hunt
Co-founder

Jason Hunt is co-founder of Merged Media and creator of Chatello.ai. As fractional CMO for Kokomo Resort, he increased room rates 25% in one year. International speaker, George Brown College professor, and host of the "Drop The Mic" podcast. Former Japanese rock band frontman turned 7-figure agency owner.

"Reputation Reset: Leading Through Challenge and Change"
Anat Cohn
Manager, Corporate Communications

Anat has always been fascinated with communications – the messaging, its audience, the measurement, and the psychology behind it all. She completed her undergrad in Mass Communications from Carleton University and a Masters in Communication Management with the University of Southern California. Anat has almost 20 years of experience in various fields from tourism to policing to health and social services. She has been with the Ottawa Police Service since 2008 and is currently their Manager of Corporate Communications.

"Measuring and Building Trust"
Speaker Bio: Erin Brandt Filliter
Public Relations Leader

Erin leads the public relations team at Porter O'Brien, a boutique agency based in Fredericton, NB. She has two decades of experience as a communications strategist, conflict resolver, and professional relationship-builder from Parliament Hill to Banff Centre, political offices to national Indigenous organizations. With a Masters in International Diplomacy, training in social enterprise development and mediation, and as a current APR candidate, she brings strategic thinking and practical wisdom to the most complex communications challenges—and believes the best PR happens when you listen first, act fearlessly, and never promise results you can't deliver.

Building Tools for Solidarity
Terra Gillespie
Director

A strategist equally at home in Toronto’s digital spaces and Newfoundland’s cliffs, Terra Loire Gillespie (they/them) helps organizations worldwide grow their communities and mobilize change. Terra runs their own consultancy, Terra Etc, where they employ research, narrative, and marketing expertise to build out comprehensive strategies. From working with everyone from small grassroots campaigns, large international nonprofits, political parties, unions, and a part-time Professorship they bring a range of knowledge that benefits any mission driven organization.

"Panel: "The Future of Online Communities in Canada"
Jesse Luimes
Director of Marketing

Jesse Luimes is the Director of Marketing at HeyOrca, a Canadian social media management platform. She began her career in classical music—first as a musician, then moving into arts administration and marketing. Outside of her 9–5, you’ll find her travelling, often planning trips around the opportunity to see a musical.

"Panel: "The Future of Online Communities in Canada"
Haley Wells
Social Media Team Lead

Social Media Team Lead at seoplus+ with 3 years of experience creating content for diverse brands.
Passionate about building online communities that actually connect. Reader, pop-culture nerd, and chronically online (for research).