Keynote Speakers

Alison Burns & James Taylor

The Ethical Futurists
United Kingdom
Alison Burns and James Taylor are The Ethical Futurist™, award-winning experts, keynote speakers, and corporate advisors on a mission to help people and organizations think and act more ethically and sustainably. Alison Burns LL.B Dip LP NP FRSA, is an award-winning performer, keynote speaker, and expert in business ethics, sustainability, and ethical leadership. For over 30 years, she has been a trailblazer in the fields of engineering, entertainment, technology, and the law. Today as an Ethical Futurist™ she helps organizations and individuals think and act more ethically through her entertaining and inspiring keynote speeches on sustainability, environment, future trends, diversity, inclusion, and the ethical implications of technology. James Taylor MBA FRSA - who started his career managing high-profile rock stars - is now an in-demand keynote speaker and internationally recognized leader in business creativity, innovation, and artificial intelligence. For over 20 years, he has been advising CEOs, entrepreneurs, educators, governments, leaders, writers, and rockstars on how to build innovative organizations, unlock creative potential and increase productivity.
Ethical Futurism: Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Business
Date
Monday, 24 July

Kim Lear

Inlay Insights
Founder
USA

Lear is a writer and researcher who explores how emerging trends impact the future of our workforce and marketplace. As the founder and content director of Inlay Insights, Kim is at the forefront of cutting-edge research to uncover cultural shifts that revolutionize how organizations engage employees and consumers. She is known for her ability to use a mix of data, storytelling, humor, and actionable takeaways to discuss the trends that most impact the bottom line of organizations. Previously, Kim was the content director at a research firm dedicated to generational and Millennials trends. Her undergrad research is around Baby Boomers and longevity. Her post-grad work is around Millennials and social media networks.

Kim has keynoted for some of the most renowned companies in the world. She has received rave reviews from clients such as American Express, Cisco Systems, Deloitte, Disney, General Mills, Linked In, Mastercard, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Wells Fargo, and more. In addition to speaking, Kim has written whitepapers on the topics of generational wealth transfer in the finance sector, retirement trends in the hospitality industry, Gen Z’s impact on higher education, and the generational implications of Covid-19. 

A researcher to the very core, Kim employs eye-opening statistics to accentuate her points and mixes them with stories and case studies to make her message come alive.  She is a sought-after expert and has been featured on NPR as well as national publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, USA Today, TIME Magazine and more. She was the head of research on a new book published by Harper Collins about Gen Z, the teenage demographic. Kim is currently in her ninth year of a longitudinal study on leadership. 

She is an advisor to The Tuesday Company, a political tech startup focused on the Millennial and Gen Z vote and she is a volunteer for The 78 Cents Project where she helps young women develop strong presentation skills. 

Building Standout Experiences for Every Generation
Date
Tuesday, 25 July

Riaz Meghji

Human Connection Expert
Canada

Riaz Meghji is a human connection keynote speaker and author of the book Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships. He is also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television experience, interviewing experts on current affairs, sports, entertainment, politics and business. Along the way, he not only learned the power of a candid conversation, but also how to put it into practice.

 

Meghji has hosted for Citytv's Breakfast Television, TEDxVancouver, MTV Canada, CTV News, and the Toronto International Film Festival. He is a natural storyteller with a proven ability to conduct engaging, in-depth conversations across various disciplines, making him a highly sought-after keynote speaker and moderator. Meghji is also the founder of Every Conversation Counts: a platform that shares insights from leaders, celebrities, athletes, and philanthropists all with one common thread—memorable conversations that forever altered the course of their life.

 

Off camera, Riaz dedicates himself to philanthropy and causes he cares about including Canuck Place Children's Hospice and Covenant House. He holds a degree in business from Simon Fraser University and studied Leadership Communication at Harvard's Extension School and the Canadian Management Centre.

Every Conversation Counts - Human Connection
Date
Wednesday, 26 July