Board of Directors
President and Academic Co-chair: Dr. Sara Diamond, President, OCAD University
Dr. Sara Diamond is the President of the OCAD University, Canada’s “university of the imagination”. She holds a PhD in Computer Science and degrees in new media theory and practice, social history and communications. While retaining OCAD University's traditional strengths in art and design, she has led her university to become a leader in digital media and design research and curriculum through the Digital Futures Initiative, towards new research in Inclusive Design and health and design, as well as in sustainable technologies and design. She has also led OCAD University to begin the unique Aboriginal Visual Culture Program.
She is founding Chair of the Mobile Experience Innovation Centre and current co-chair (with RBC).She is a visualization, wearable technology and mobile media researcher, artist and designer. She is co-principle investigator on the Centre for Information Visualization/Data Driven Design, an OCADU/York University major initiative. Diamond was the Artistic Director of Media and Visual Art and Director of Research at the Banff Centre, where she created the Banff New Media Institute (BNMI) in 1995 and led it until 2005. She developed www.codezebra.net, a performance and media art, fashion and software collaboration environment.
Diamond continues to write about digital media history, digital media and design strategy for peer reviewed journals and curates for festivals and galleries.
Industry Co-chair Industry: Avi Pollock, Head, Applied Innovation and Strategic Planning, RBC Royal Bank
As Head, Innovation & Strategic Planning, Avi leads strategic planning for RBC's Technology & Operations organization. His innovation team has an enterprise-wide mandate to stimulate innovative activity. He is a member of the senior executive team that operates Technology and Operations (T&O) and is a frequent speaker on Innovation as well as mobile and social media strategies.
Avi is a member of the Faculty for the Masters Certificate in Innovation Management program at the SchulichExecutive Education Program and Adjunct Faculty for the Masters of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation at Ontario College of Art. Avi currently serves as Industry Chair on the Board of the Mobile Experience Innovation Centre, a non-profit focused on developing Ontario's role in the mobile economy. He is on the Advisory Board for Change Inc. a collaboration between United Way of York Region and York University to incubate and invest in promising innovations to tackle complex social issues in York Region.
Secretary: Renee Szuhai, Product Manager, Huawei Devices
Renee Szuhai is a veteran in the mobile communications industry with many years experience within both device manufacturers and wireless service providers. She is currently employed by Huawei Devices as Product manager.
Her well-rounded mobile communications experience has included direct interaction with mobile device manufactures, 3rd party developers, and industry standards bodies. Her inquisitive nature and strong interpersonal skills have allowed her to hold a variety of roles, including working with accessibility teams at both Nokia and Bell. At Nokia, she also worked with global teams to research and communicate wireless technology and convergence developments back into the Canadian marketplace within a variety of technologies including accessibility. At Bell she concentrated on Inclusive Design Research and worked on the development of their Accessibility program.
Her strong communication and presentation skills has allowed her such roles as, the media spokesperson for Nokia Canada, where she represented Nokia at industry conferences, trade shows, events, as well as providing technology interviews for TV and print media journalists.
Treasurer: Stephen Perelgut, University Relations Manager, IBM
Stephen Perelgut is IBM Canada's University Relations Manager working out of the IBM Centre for Advanced Studies in Markham. He graduated from the University of Toronto's Department of Computer Science with his MSc in 1984. Since then, he has helped start a software company, Holt Software Associates, which he ran as vice-president before leaving to join IBM.
Stephen is currently in charge of IBM's University Relations within Canada and works with universities across Canada as well as linking to other academic and research institutions around the world. He has been the Chair of the Consortium for Software Engineering Research, the leading software engineering research group in the world.
Within IBM, Perelgut provides oversight for all linkages between the company and academia including research collaborations, recruiting, sales and technical skills exchange. As well, he manages research projects relating to Services Sciences, Management and Engineering and mobile and social computing.
Founding Director: Michele Perras, Mobile Strategist, Transcontinental Media
Michele Perrasis a designer and researcher focusing on digital strategy, collaborative innovation and human-centredforesight.
In her role as the MEIC's Founding Director, Michele Perrasdeveloped the initial strategies, programs and partnership framework for MEIC, including management of Innovation and Insight: Mapping Ontario's Mobile Industry, leading MEIC's Applied Research and Prototyping Program and founding the MEIC Design Incubator. Michele currently sits on the MEIC Board of Directors and is an MEIC Advisory.
Over the past decade, Michele has worked with a wide range of organizations in academia, the non-profit and private sectors. She has spoken at international conferences on mobile and locative media, entrepreneurialism and design. Michele is a co-founder of the Toronto chapter of the acclaimed Ignite! speaker series, and has produced conferences across North America.
David Crow, Co-Founder, StartupNorth
Jamie Barron, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Jamie has over 20 years of experience in the professional services field, and has served a wide range of companies in the TMT industry during that time. Jamie has experience in many sub-sectors of the TMT eco-system, such as wireless, wireline, satellite, advanced network equipment, internet, multi-media, clean-tech, software, advanced electronics, and mobile applications. Jamie has also worked with offices in Canada, the United States, Germany, Singapore, Australia, Russia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and many other countries to support the servicing of Deloitte TMT clients.
Jamie has worked with TMT companies at various stages of their evolution, from start-up, through high-growth, and ultimately the IPO and public company stages. Jamie’s work in the TMT space has entailed direct linkages to innovation, prosperity, job creation and economic development, which by extension has involved working with leading innovation centres and technology associations in Canada.
Gladstone Grant, Vice-President Developer and Platform Group, Microsoft Canada Inc
Software is an “innovate or die” business. It’s the kind of business that attracts restless, positive people like Gladstone Grant. As VP of Microsoft’s Developer and Platform Group, Gladstone has the enviable job of being focused on the future, on what’s next, on the things most of us haven’t even dreamt of yet.
Gladstone’s organization builds relationships with the people creating Canada’s next wave of innovation using the Microsoft platform – Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), partners, customers and educational institutions. Gladstone works with his highly motivated team to educate developers, IT Professionals, students and start-up within these audiences on the value of the Microsoft platform and encourage the adoption of Microsoft technologies. His group also makes significant investments in growing the skills of Canada’s IT professionals through training and other engagement programs, and helps them build solutions for the PC, mobile phone, web and Cloud.
After nearly 20 years in the technology industry and more than 12 years with Microsoft Canada, Gladstone’s passion for technology, for learning, for new challenges and for competition are stronger than ever. When Gladstone turns his attention to the present, rather than the future, he indulges his passions for sport and home renovation.
Krista Napier, Senior Analyst, Canadian Digital Media & Emerging Technology, IDC Canada
As a Senior Analyst, Krista leads IDC Canada's Digital Media practice, with a focus on media tablets, such as the iPad, eReaders, as well as digital content. In this role she forecasts the size of the market in Canada, following trends, new products, and vendor strategies. Krista conducts primary research with businesses and consumers, and speaks regularly with vendors, end users, and the channel to better understand the uniquely Canadian trends and issues at hand as it relates to digital media. Krista delivers this guidance to customers, which include ICT companies, service providers, investors, and government. Krista is a source of commentary on Canadian tech news and trends to the mass media including BNN, 680 News, The Toronto Star, The Globe & Mail, The Financial Post, and she is a frequent speaker at events across the Country. Krista holds an MBA from the SchulichSchool of Business at York University, and an Honors Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfred Laurier University. She graduated from both her MBA and BBA with distinction.
Kunal Gupta, CEO, Polar Mobile
Kunalunderstands the transformative potential that smartphones present in enabling the mobile lifestyle for consumers. He has been a market-leader in launching innovative mobile applications with major media publishers for millions of their consumers in the rapidly changing communications landscape.
As CEO of Polar Mobile, a leading mobile content solutions enabler for large media companies, Kunalleads a fast-growing team in building a next generation mobile software platform so businesses can quickly and efficiently bring to market intuitive and engaging mobile products & services that grow audiences, open new revenue streams and extend brands to the mobile marketplace.
Hossein Rahnama, PhD, Associate Director, Department of Computer Science, DMZ, Ryerson University
Dr. HosseinRahnamaconducts research that combines context-aware computing, ambient intelligence, and computer mediated social networks. With special interests in social driven computation, Hossein’sFlybitsResearch team specializes in mobile software solutions that respond to situational factors and personal information. Their goal is to use mobile devices to enhance interpersonal communications while conserving privacy and energy.
Hosseinis appointed as an Ambassador of "Privacy by Design", a program initiated by Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner. Hosseinis leading a project at Ryerson focused on building a “Privacy Rule Engine” for preserving users privacy in ubiquitous software applications. Utilizing this rule engine, location-based and Context-Aware applications can maintain their functionality without putting users private information at risk.
Hosseinis the recipient of an OCE International Scholarship, Ryerson NSERC Innovation Challenge Award, Apple Inc. student scholarship, and in 2008, he was a semi-finalist for the business plan competition at Harvard Business School. Hosseinhas several publications and patents on Ubiquitous and Pervasive Computing focused on Context Aware Computing and Ambient Intelligence.
Mark Greenspan, COO, Achilles Media Ltd.
Mark Greenspan has over a decade’s worth of international experience in all things digital. From consulting to production to education he has worked with various corporations, academic institutions, privately held organizations and non-for-profits to explore the commerical, cultural and theoretical sides of digital technologies and their impact on our businesses and our lives.
Currently, Mark Greenspan is Chief Operating Officer at Achilles Media (http://www.achillesmedia.com) where he oversees the day-to-day operations of a company that contributes to the success of business community members by providing platforms for the formation of professional relationships and knowledge share. Achilles Media's portfolio includes the organization of international events as well as digitally-based products and services.
Mark sits on various advisory boards including the Documentary Association of Canada's DocSHIFTinitiative and the Inside Disaster project. He has also completed a Masters of Education at the University of Toronto and is passionate about community, connectivity and creativity.
Dragan Nerandzic, Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson Canada Inc.
DraganNerandzicjoined Ericsson in 2001 and since 2006 has held the role of Chief Technology Officer for Ericsson in Canada. Mr. Nerandzicpreviously held the roles of VP, Network Systems and Director of Technical Strategy.
Prior to joining Ericsson, Mr. Nerandzicwas responsible for wireless technology planning and strategy for an operators network. He actively participated in standardization and industry organizations including 3GPP2, TIA and CDG. Mr. Nerandzicalso had responsibilities for engineering design of analog and digital mobile networks. Mr. Nerandzic’spast experience includes working at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Belgrade where he held various teaching and research roles in areas of fixed and mobile networks.
Mr. Nerandzicis a member of the MET Advisory Board at the University of Toronto, the Editorial Advisory Board of Backbone Magazine and Member of the Technical Panel at the Terrestrial Wireless Systems Branch of Communication Research Centre Canada.
Mr. Nerandzicholds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications and Computer Networks, Protocols and Switching, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Belgrade.
Josh Sookman, Founder & CEO, Guardly
Josh is the visionary behind Guardly. He founded the company in 2010 to empower people during emergencies by connecting them to their personalized safety networks with a single tap. Prior to Guardly, Josh worked at the BlackBerry Partners Fund and RBC Venture Partners where he supported ten investment transactions and developed expertise in location-aware applications, mobile business models, game mechanics and viral distribution strategies.
Josh was a Board Observer at SocialDeck(acquired by Google). He is a huge supporter of innovation, youth entrepreneurship and the startup community, and is the co-curator at Toronto [StartupDigest]. He completed his Masters degree at the University of Toronto and his Undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario.
Robert Luke, PhD, Assistant VP Research and Innovation, George Brown College
Robert Luke is Assistant Vice President of Research and Innovation for George Brown College. He leads the College’s applied research and innovation activities that focus on engaging college faculty and students with industry development needs and productivity challenges. He is also responsible for institutional research focusing on strategic planning, reporting and overall educational quality measurement and improvement.
Dr. Luke maintains an active research program that focuses on participatory innovation design and the application of innovative technologies in healthcare and education. He is chair of the Polytechnics Canada Research Committee, and a member of the Toronto Community Foundation Toronto Vital Signs Advisory Group. In 2011 he was appointed to the Programs and Quality Committee of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Angus Frame, VP Digital Media, The Globe and Mail
Angus Frame has been with The Globe and Mail since 1996 in various capacities. He began his career in the editorial department, working as an editor in the news and then Report on Business sections of the newspaper. He moved to globeandmail.comin 2000 as Deputy Editor in charge of business coverage and became the site's editor on Sept.10, 2001. Frame served as editor for seven years, helping establish globeandmail.comas one of Canada's leading news sites and directing The Globe's online coverage of major national and international events that ranged from federal elections to SARS to the aftermath of the Asian tsunami.
In 2008, he moved to the role of Group Director, Digital Media and successfully executed a major strategic revitalization of Globeinvestor.comas well as overseeing a site-wide redesign and implementation of a new CMS. In June, 2009 he moved to the role of Vice President, Digital Media and assumed executive responsibility for The Globe digital business, including mobile.
Frame has an honoursBA in Political Science from McMaster University and a Journalism degree from Ryerson University. He lives in Toronto's High Park neighbourhoodwith his wife, two daughters and dog.
Ian Kelso, CEO and President, Interactive Ontario
Ian is a 18-year veteran advocate, entrepreneur, and producer in the interactive digital media industry and is currently the President & CEO of Interactive Ontario (io), a member-based industry trade association representing 300 companies working in interactive media in such areas as video game development, mobile innovation and online content creation. At io, Ian founded three major events: GameON: Finance, a financial forum for the video games industry, IN: the Interactive Exchange, Canada’s largest annual cross-platform business event and INplayfocusing on kids and interactivity. Ian is also President, Chair, and a founding Director of the Canadian Interactive Alliance / l’Allianceinteractive canadienne, the voice of Canada’s interactive media trade associations representing over 1000 companies from coast to coast.
Michael J O'Farrell, Co-Founder, The Mobile Institute; Chair, Mobile Innovation Week
Michael is Founder of The Mobile Institute; Research Fellow at Moxie Insight; Board Member of the Mobile Experience Innovation Centre; Founder of MOBILEINNOVATIONWEEK; and Co-Author of Mobile Internet For Dummies.
Over the last 15 years, Michael has played a key strategic role in the launch of innovative new products and services globally with: Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson, TD Waterhouse, National Bank of Canada, RBC Financial, Carlson Marketing, Whirlpool, Ford, VeriSign, RSA Security, the dotMobicompany, the Mobile Marketing Association, Yellow Pages Group and mobile network operators globally including TelefónicaO2 (Eurotel), Orange, Telecom Italia, Rogers Wireless, Fido, Bell Mobility and many more.
As a global subject matter expert on mobile industry initiatives, Michael has been a featured speaker, published author, mobile technology evangelist and considered a leading mobile industry futurist. In addition to shaping the early marketing practices of the Open Mobile Alliance, he was a co-founder of the dotMobiAdvisory Group & Policy Advisory Board, the Wireless Advertising Industry Association (now operating as the Mobile Marketing Association) and the WAP Forum's Developers Expert Group (now operating under the Open Mobile Alliance).
Vincent John Vincent, President, GestureTek
Vincent John Vincent is the co-founder & creative force behind GestureTekInc., the inventors, pioneers and world leaders for over 24 years in video gesture control computing devices. Vincent has been instrumental in running the company, finding new markets, and the creation applications for the technology. Thousands of systems have been used in public video games, entertainment & education environments, as well as rehabilitation (IREX).
Today there are well over 50 Million mobile phones around the world that use GestureTek’sgesture technology and hundreds of apps. In 2000 they invented GestPoint,with 2D & 3D depth cameras, the point and control technology, the inspiration for the movie “Minority Report”. In 2001 they invented the GestureFXsystem that turned any surface(floors, walls, tables, windows) into interactive gesture controlled displays for entertainment & digital signage around the world, which included interaction via mobile phones. From this IlluminateSystemevolved, the first multi touch system for tables and vertical panels. Today’s leading edge innovations are with the 3D depth camera gesture control technology they invented in 2001.
Vincent who holds a BA in Psychology from the U of Waterloo, was honored in 2003 with a Lifetime Achievement Awardfrom The Canadian New MediaAwards
Gary Schwartz, President, Impact Mobile
Gary began his career as a columnist in Japan and later became an anchor on Asahi Television. He ran number of technology startups before founding Impact Mobile, a mobile technology company specialized in retail and brand solutions, in 2002.
Since then Gary has played a leadership role in the mobile industry. He is also a pioneer in mobile marketing and managed the first cross-carrier short code mobile campaign in North America.
In 2006 Gary founded the mobile committee for the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). During this period Gary also worked with the Media Rating Council (MRC) to establish a joint task force between the IAB and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) to develop global, auditable mobile measurement standards.
In 2010, the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) - a global mobile content and commerce advocacy organization - re-elected Gary as Chairman of the Board in North America, charging him with the task of developing a mobile commerce practice to service brands, retailers and content owners. MEF also awarded Gary an award for Industry Excellence in recognition of his dedication and success. In 2011, in partnership with MEF and a number of industry groups including the X9 security standards body, Gary is working to develop m-commerce security and privacy guidelines.
Patrick Lauzon, President, Mediative/Yellow Pages Group
Patrick Lauzonwas appointed president of Mediative, a Yellow Pages Group company, in October 2010. He brings to his position several years of experience in the Canadian media and internet sector.
Patrick has distinguished himself in the Canadian media and Internet sector. Notably, Patrick was one of the early players in the online industry in Canada and his involvement on the IAB Canada board as member and chair since 1998 shows his commitment and dedication to growing this industry in Canada. He also started Founders & Funders in 2007, an event series which helps match entrepreneurs with investors.
Mr. Lauzonhas an extensive background in developing media companies and in working with prominent Canadian advertisers. In addition, he has been active in the start-up industry as an investor in Montreal Start Up, provider of seed-level financing for entrepreneurs, and other initiatives. He was recognized by Marketing Magazine as one of Canada’s Top 100 future opinion leaders, and has been named a member of Canada's Top 40 Under 40™
Patrick Lauzon is a graduate of Northwestern University and Concordia University in Montreal. He also attended Harvard Law School and MIT’s Sloan School of Management.