Conference and Lecture Engagements

Merging Media 2011 - Coming Up!
October 27-28, 2011 - SFU Woodwards Goldcorp Centre, Vancouver, Canada.

Panelist - Celebrated Canucks Share Their Playbook

Merging Media is a unique opportunity to connect with thought leaders from conventional and interactive media, and engage in the latest discussion on transmedia, financing, gamification, social media + convergent technologies. The panel will feature some of the top Canadian companies producing cross-media, and showcase their award winning projects.

Fellow Panelists:
- Evan Jones, Partner/Creative Director, Stitch Media
- Michael Fergusson, CEO, Ayogo
- David Gratton, CEO, Work-at-Play
- Sandy Fleischer, Senior VP, Dare
- Lynda Brown Ganzert, CEO, zulume (Moderator)

MultiPlatforum 2011
April 14-15, 2011 - Ramada Hotel and Convention Centre, Regina, Canada.

Keynote Speaker - Think Big (and Get Smart) with your Digital Strategy

This full day event, sponsored by SMPIA, focused on case studies in digital content creation for cross-platform projects and featured a number of creative and business leaders from Canada's interactive industry. My keynote focused filmmakers on the importance of cross-platform strategy and planning.

Fellow Speakers:
- James Milward, President/Executive Producer, Secret Location
- Pablo Vio, Creative Director, Jam3media
- Thomas Wallner, President, Xenophile Media

University of British Columbia
Spring and Fall Sessions, 2010 - UBC Robson Square Campus, Vancouver, Canada.

Guest Lecturer - Digital Media for Entertainment

The role of digital media and technology is having a significant impact on how we create, produce and distribute entertainment. This course provides an overview of the digital media industry and convergence of film and TV with the Internet. Topics include digital content development for online delivery, social media for entertainment, and revenue models for cross-platform entertainment.

Fellow Lecturers:
- Earl Hong Tai, Regional Director, Telefilm Canada
- Rochelle Grayson, Vice Chair, BC Board of Directors at Canadian Women in Communications
- Danika Dinsmore, Writer / Story Editor, Script Creative

Pitch Market 2010
March 6-7, 2010 - Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, Canada.

Panelist - Pitching for Multiple Platforms

A vital discussion on how to pitch for new platforms and what to be aware of when selling within the social networks and new media environments. We also discussed multi-platform planning and how to pitch to traditional studios/networks while keeping web-based versions of your material in mind.

Fellow Panelists:
- Laurie Scheer, Professor, Film Faculty at Flashpoint Academy in Chicago (Moderator)
- Catherine Warren, President, FanTrust Entertainment Strategies
- Phillip Djwa, President, Agentic Communications

Whistler Film Festival 09
December 3-6, 2009 - Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler, Canada.

Panelist - The Forum at Whistler

The Forum is an industry conference organized to address issues of concern to the film, digital media and television production industry in Western Canada. This year we are embracing the changing landscape of content creation by exploring new technological developments, trends and opportunities. The Forum continues to provide content producers with the tools and knowledge required to compete in an international marketplace and promotes business opportunities by bringing together industry executives, producers and creators in screen-based entertainment, the results of which have generated over 50 million dollars in production, sales and distribution revenue.

Canadian New Media Awards
December 1, 2009 - Design Exchange, Toronto, Canada

Judge

Nine years strong! The Canadian New Media Awards recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and companies in the Canadian digital media industry, in 19 prestigious award categories.

Next Media - Future of Digital Media Conference
June 7-10, 2009 - Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Canada.

Panelist - Branded Entertainment: In The Trenches With The Experts

Everyone is pointing to branded entertainment as the future. But how does it work in the digital space? We’ve brought in the experts at bringing brands together with digital content to share the lessons that they’ve learned the hard way. How do you create a concept that engages the audience? What all is involved in piecing together a branded entertainment proposition? What steps are needed to sell the brand on your creative idea? What does it take to put the content out there where viewers can engage with it? This session will showcase examples of branded entertainment that has triumphed. Then, take you into the trenches to explore and discuss the often complex trade-offs that must happen between brand, agency, content producer and talent to get branded entertainment to its audience.

Fellow Panelists:
- Andrew Lane, Consultant, Nitch* (Moderator)
- Jesse Albert, New Media & Digital Strategy Agent, ICM Talent
- Matt Di Paola, Vice President Interactive, Proximity/BBDO
- Jeffrey Dickstein, Digital Advertising Sales Director, Ubisoft
- Darren Pereira, Co-Founder/President, Indusblue

Convergence 09
May 11, 2009 - Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada.

Speaker - What Inspires Creativity?

Stop thinking about limitations and start thinking about possibilities. Join two award winning creatives in a discussion about how our individual experiences and history can help shape the culture and environment around us. Convergence is a forum for digital marketing thought leadership hosted each year by Cossette.

Fellow Panelists:
- Garnet McElree, VP Creative Director, Blitz Direct/Cossette

Fellow Speakers:
- David Plouffe, Campaign Manager, Obama For America
- Michael Tippet, Founder, Now Public
- Susan Ormiston, Co-Anchor/Correspondent, CBC News - The National

Consumer Protection BC's "Film Rating" Film Competition
April 15, 2009 - Vancouver, Canada

Judge

Student filmmakers pitch 30 second PSAs promoting the BC government's film rating system. Five winners get a $10,000 development deal and a chance to have their work shown in theatres around BC.

CBC Digital Development Lab 2
March 25-27, 2009 - Centre for Digital Media, Vancouver, Canada

Judge

The Digital Development Lab hosted by CBC, BC Film and New Media BC, is designed to support the creation of new internet activities and original interactive entertainment. Five teams have been chosen from the 50 applicant pitches received in January. These teams will take part in a Digital Development Lab where they will work with experienced industry professionals to expand and refine their proposals – and ultimately compete for one $10,000 development award.

Vancouver Public Library – "Speak Up 2008: My Virtual World"
March 4 and 6, 2008 – Central Library, Vancouver, Canada

Speaker: Information Online: What’s Out There?

Part of a discussion of current trends in online content.

Other Speakers include:
- David Beers, Editor-in-Chief, The Tyee and Instructor, University of BC School of Journalism
- Brian Owen, Librarian/Administrator, Simon Fraser University, Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing

New Media BC and BC Film - "Multiplatform Incubator for Digital Entertainment"
January 17-18, 2008 - Vancity Theatre, Vancouver, Canada.

Facilitator/Speaker

Two days of hands on educational training, networking and business development for delegates and invited guests.

Other Speakers include:
- Dan'l Hewitt from Bebo UK, London
- Brent Friedman from Electric Farm Entertainment, Los Angeles
- Nathan Mayfield from Hoodlum, London
- Peter Ignacio from Atom Film, New York
- Thomas Wallner from Xenophile Media, Toronto
- John Kalangis from CBC Television, Toronto
- Brian Krueckl from Stage 3 Media, Vancouver

Vancouver International Digital Festival and International Partnering Forum
September 22-25, 2007 - International Film Centre, Vancouver, Canada.

Panelist: Macro - MyFace, YourSpace: Maximizing Your Online Identity

Utilize social networking sites to your advantage. From Facebook, to Myspace to Second Life, which community offers you the best tools to market yourself or your product online? If you're developing games, tools or applications for social networking, understanding the social and cultural world of these sites is key to getting the most out of them and realizing how you and your projects might benefit from them. What do these sites tell us about our social habits and needs? Join this session to find out what's going on behind the scenes of some of the biggest social networking organizations.|

Speakers included:
- Jeremiah Owyang, Web Strategist, Podtech
- Sean Embury, Senior Producer, CBC Television
- Douglas Gayeton, Chief Creative Officer, Millions of Us

Emily Carr College of Art and Design
September 14, 2007 - Emily Carr, Vancouver, Canada.

Guest Lecturer - Professional Practices Class

Spoke to senior classes about career path and skills, outside of art, they'll need to make successful commercial projects.

Refreshing the Page - Evolving Approaches in Digital Journalism
May 21, 2005 - University of Washington, Seattle, USA

Speaker/Panelist

The University of Washington Master of Communication in Digital Media program hosted a one-day seminar that brought together a group of acknowledged media experts, leading regional media professionals, academicians and top students.

The speaker list includes:
- Jody Brannon, Executive Producer for News at USATODAY.com and online news process expert..
- Sean Embury, producer of CBCRadio3, one the Canada's most award winning and innovative online offerings.
- Andrew Locke, a leader of MSNBC.com's groundbreaking multimedia production team.
- T.Y. Lau, Director of the U of W's Master of Communication Digital Media program and expert in international media management.
- Elizabeth Osder, online journalism pioneer with the New York Times current Vice-President of Product Development at Yahoo!.
- Robert Picard Director of the Media Management and Transformation Centre, Jšnkšping International Business School, Sweden.