Check back frequently for our updated list of excellent speakers.
Senior Technical Advisor | Trace Associates Inc.
Bruno Cornejo, AMBCI is a Project Manager and Senior Technical Advisor at Trace Associates Inc. and is responsible for the project management and/or technical support of emergency and business continuity management projects. Bruno has over 20 years of emergency management and business continuity experience in the energy, industrial, mining, government, health care, and transportation sectors, both nationally and internationally. His expertise is in developing and implementing effective risk and emergency management programs including deep knowledge of planning, developing, and conducting emergency response exercises and related training.
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WORKSHOP 1
Designing and Running Powerful Exercises (Emergency Response & Business Continuity)
How do you get the most out of your emergency management exercises? In this workshop we will review the keys to exercise success and how to ensure you get the most value from your next exercise. Participants will gain advanced knowledge on what makes exercises effective and successful.
Senior Vice President, Reputation Risk and Corporate Training | Argyle
Kim Blanchette is an accredited Public Relations professional and a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society College of Fellows. Canada's first PR professional to become Chartered by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK), Kim has 30 years of media relations experience, including providing presentation, spokesperson, media and crisis communications training to public officials, federal and provincial Ministers and Deputy Ministers, subject matter experts and company representatives. Kim has won awards for her work in media relations for the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy, the 2013 Calgary Flood, the 2016 Alberta Wildfires and the Alberta Energy Regulator and has served as spokesperson for Canada as the Consul, Public Affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle.
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WORKSHOP 2 | Co-Trainer (with Vasie Papadopoulos)
Managing Reputational Risk with Effective Communication During a Crisis
When it comes to crisis and disaster response, the systems and plans in place are only as effective as the people called on to respond. While no amount of textbook or classroom training can prepare you for a live response, simulated training exercises offer the next best thing. This training session will be built around a realistic disaster scenario that will unfold through a series of sudden developments and simulated events that require on-the-spot action. Throughout the workshop, participants will be asked to step into various roles within the ICS and consider disaster response protocols as they assess new facts, key developments, stakeholder communications, the media and social media landscape, operational impacts and reputational risks. Under guidance and direction of a team of expert facilitators, participants may be asked to complete simulated tasks such as drafting communications, training spokespersons, engaging subject matter experts, media interviews and other tactics.
Vice President, Corporate Communications | Argyle
Vasie has extensive experience both in the public and private sectors developing strategic communication plans, data-driven business strategies and campaigns and creating unique company initiatives. She has led, guided and trained organizations and executive leaders on thought leadership, media training, public outreach and crisis communications in some of the toughest industries at companies such as the Government of Canada, Metrolinx, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario and Philip Morris International. In 2018, she was nominated for a YWCA Woman of the Year Award and in 2020 was nominated for a Diversity and Inclusion Award with the CCDI. In 2020, she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women through the Women’s Executive Network.
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WORKSHOP 2 | Co-Trainer (with Kim Blanchette)
Managing Reputational Risk with Effective Communication During a Crisis
Owner and Connector | 9Zero Solutions Ltd.
Former Chief of Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA)
Tom has 40 years of experience in Public Safety Agencies, starting as a Park Ranger, later becoming an Advanced Care Paramedic and Chief of Calgary Emergency Medical Services. In 2009, he began building the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), serving as a Deputy in the Calgary Fire Department and later as CEMA Chief until his retirement in 2020. He then founded 9Zero Solutions Ltd., providing assistance to Public Safety Agencies. He continues to serve as a Commander with Canada Task Force 2. Tom has received numerous commendations, which he attributes to the power of teamwork. His passion is to empower people and improve outcomes.
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OPENING KEYNOTE | Co-Speaker (with Sue Henry)
The Unspoken Skills of Emergency Management: What People Didn’t Tell Us
Topics covered:
Chief | Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA)
Susan Henry was appointed Chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) in 2020 and has been with The City since 2001. Prior to this role, Susan was the Deputy Chief of CEMA since 2015, where she was second-in-command. She was responsible for disaster risk reduction, community education and outreach and business continuity. She also provided leadership to Canada Task Force 2, an all-hazards disaster response team, into one of the leading six heavy urban search and rescue teams in Canada. In addition to creating national and international relationships, Henry was also responsible for the management, training, development and deployment of over 150 highly skilled volunteers.
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OPENING KEYNOTE | Co-Speaker (with Tom Sampson)
The Unspoken Skills of Emergency Management: What People Didn’t Tell Us
Principal | Zero Hour Strategy
John Larsen is a former senior officer in the Canadian Forces, a former executive with multiple international public relations agencies, and the Principal of Zero Hour Strategy. He is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, has taught at four post-secondary institutions, has been honoured as a ‘Master Communicator’ through the International Association of Business Communications, and is a certified member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. John has studied advanced leadership at Harvard and Cornell and is the author of the upcoming book In the Room: Perspectives on Leadership for an Age of Crisis.
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CLOSING KEYNOTE
Step Up: Principles of Evolved Leadership for an Age of Crisis
Far too often in crisis situations, the first consideration of a leader is ‘What do I need to do?’ Instead, the better question is ‘How do I need to think? In this engaging keynote presentation, John Larsen, an observer of crisis leadership for over 30 years, tackles the essence of crisis leadership from an adaptive leadership perspective. He implores leaders – and anyone on the crisis team – to think about the shared values that need to be communicated, and he turns some traditional command-and-control wisdom on its head by asserting that in times a crisis, a leader needs to welcome differences of opinion and creative thinking. Ultimately, John ties the science of leadership during crises into one word: trust.
Operations Manager | Flint Hills Resources
Wade is the the Manager of Canadian Operations for Flint Hills Resources and has over 30 years of related oil and gas experience with management oversight of operations, EHS programs, emergency response, security management and managing facility regulatory compliance programs. Wade currently is the Chair of the CSA Technical Committee for Z246.2 Emergency Preparedness and Response for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry Systems and a technical committee member of CSA Z246.1 Security Management for the Oil and Gas Industry Systems. He is also an active member of the Hardisty Mutual Aid Group (HMAG) for the Hardisty oil complex, and currently serving as the treasurer and chairing the training committee for HMAG. Additionally, Wade is currently serving on town council for the Town of Hardisty.
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Community and Industry: Partners in Emergencies | Co-Speaker (with Blake Moser)
HMAG history - how we got to where we are today, what’s next. Ongoing proactive development in regard to emergency preparedness and response with our community partners. How is this being facilitated, who owns it?
MD of Provost | Hardisty Fire Department
Blake Moser is the Training Officer for West End Fire Rescue within the M.D. of Provost and a firefighter on the Hardisty Fire Department through the Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society. Day-to-day, Blake works as a Facility Operator for Husky Midstream at the Hardisty Terminal, where he focuses on maintaining safe and efficient operations. Blake is a member of the Hardisty Mutual Aid Group (HMAG), working alongside member companies and various agencies to enhance emergency response capabilities within the Hardisty area. Beyond his emergency response involvement, he also holds leadership positions as the Founding President of the East 13 Rural Crime Watch Association, and Chairman of the Hardisty and District Development Group. These roles reflect his commitment to community safety and progress.
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Community and Industry: Partners in Emergencies | Co-Speaker (with Wade Kroening)
Senior Manager, Corporate Services | Canadian Mental Health Association (Calgary Region)
Michelle is a transformative leader in Calgary’s non-profit sector and brings nearly 20 years of strategic and tactical planning to the team. Michelle attended the University of Alberta with a focus on psychology and sociology. She has since completed several professional development opportunities in the areas of project management, leadership, and occupational health and safety. In 2018, Michelle was one of the founders of Wag-A-Muffins Animal Rescue Ltd., a registered non-profit in the province of Alberta. Presently, Michelle is the Senior Manager of Corporate Services at CMHA Calgary. Since joining the organization in 2017, Michelle has coordinated and led the design, development, and implantation of numerous initiatives and programs including the Occupational Health and Safety program.
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Integrated Emergency Management, Business Continuity and Health & Safety Planning: A Case Study | Co-Speaker (with Peter May)
This case study will describe the opportunities and challenges related to simultaneous development of health and safety, business continuity, and emergency management programs in a Canadian not-for-profit social service organization. Using basic principles of emergency management, business continuity and health & safety, the implementation team focused on practical programming that could be managed with the organization’s existing resources (i.e., adaptive solution), while also addressing the complexities inherent in the organization and its mission.
Practice Area Lead Health and Safety | Trace Associates Inc.
Peter May is the Practice Area Lead, Health and Safety, with Trace. He has worked in the health, safety, environmental (HSE) risk management, and emergency/crisis management fields since 1992. He has developed and had responsibility for those areas, as well as business continuity systems across a range of sectors in organizations from local to global in size and reach. Peter has proven ability to build teams, elevate culture and performance, build regulatory confidence, ensure compliance, execute leadingedge projects, anticipate and mitigate risks, reduce incident rates, and achieve safety certifications, awards, and sustainability rankings. Peter brings influencing capability and leadership experience to his work, along with technical competence in several disciplines, including health and safety, environmental management, emergency and crisis management, and business continuity. Peter is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), a Professional Biologist (P.Biol.) registered by the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists, and is an Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP) registered by the Disaster Recovery Institute.
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Integrated Emergency Management, Business Continuity and Health & Safety Planning: A Case Study | Co-Speaker (with Michelle McCara)
Senior Vice President, Reputation Risk and Corporate Training | Argyle
Kim Blanchette is an accredited Public Relations professional and a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society College of Fellows. Canada's first PR professional to become Chartered by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (UK), Kim has 30 years of media relations experience, including providing presentation, spokesperson, media and crisis communications training to public officials, federal and provincial Ministers and Deputy Ministers, subject matter experts and company representatives. Kim has won awards for her work in media relations for the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy, the 2013 Calgary Flood, the 2016 Alberta Wildfires and the Alberta Energy Regulator and has served as spokesperson for Canada as the Consul, Public Affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle.
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Trends and Insights in Crisis Communications
Crisis communications continues to evolve. What built trust and confidence last year might pose a problem today with the loss of reputation directly tied to stakeholder relationships, employee engagement and your organization’s bottom line. This session will offer a glimpse into the latest trends in crisis communications, examples of what to do (and what not to do) and insights into how your communications can be an integral, and value-added part of your crisis response.
Program Chair, Disaster and Emergency Management Program | School of Health and Life Sciences | NAIT
Jodi has been the Program Chair for the Disaster and Emergency Management Program in the School of Health and Life Sciences at NAIT since joining the organization in 2016. Prior to NAIT, she worked for over a decade as a leader of a large talented team at Alberta Health Services, providing executive education, leadership development, coaching and courses, change management education, and managing the Basic Life Support program for the province, training well over 45,000 staff members each year. A long-time educator and a committed lifelong learner, Jodi holds two Bachelor degrees from the University of Calgary and a Masters degree in Disaster and Emergency Management from Royal Roads University. She is also the current President of the Canadian Risk and Hazards network (CRHNet), a national non-profit organization that seeks to bring together policy makers, academics and practitioners to work on issues related to Disaster Risk Reduction and resiliency-building in Canada. Through that work, she has been a contributing member to both the Disaster Risk Reduction Roundtable for Canada, alongside Public Safety Canada, and the International Disaster Risk Reduction Roundtables, recently being part of the Canadian delegation for the meetings held in Uruguay at the end of February, 2023. She is also the co-chair of the national core-competency working group, alongside IAEM Canada, who is continuing the work to develop and propose a competency profile to guide future professionals in the practice of disaster and emergency management. Jodi was also a long-time volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross out of the Red Deer office, working as both a PDAT volunteer and an educator and she has direct experiences with several disaster and emergency events that have occurred in Alberta over the years.
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Preparing the next generation of disaster and emergency management practitioners: A paradigm shift of a profession in the making
Like today's rapidly changing world, the field of practice for disaster and emergency management is undergoing a significant transformation from being less reactive and operational, to being more proactive and strategic, with a systems-focus. This presentation delves into the evolving nature of this vital discipline, highlighting key focus areas such as the social construction of risk, the impacts of climate change, and the imperative to improve risk mitigation, adaptation, and safeguarding measures for communities and organizations alike. As the complexity and interdependencies of risks continue to grow, this presentation emphasizes the need for future professionals in disaster and emergency management to possess a common set of core competencies and skills to unite them as a discipline, and guide the field of practice towards becoming a recognized profession of its own. Only by embracing a holistic approach can we better mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster events in a way that builds capacity and resilience.
Co-Founder | Emergency Management Logistics of Canada
Scott Cameron is the Co-Founder of Emergency Management Logistics Canada, a new and innovative tool for EM resource management. EMLCanada views the the role and function of EM Logistics Sections as an “interface” with community, including businesses and community organizations. Scott is the former Manager of Social Planning for the City of Red Deer, where he was also responsible for the Emergency Social Services (ESS) program. In this role, he had the opportunity to be activated on numerous occasions within the City, deployed to the Slave Lake and Wood Buffalo wildfires, and facilitated a two-day ESS debrief following the Southern Alberta Floods. His exposure to disaster response and recovery started while in his role of Executive Director for United Way of Central Alberta during the Pine Lake Tornado. Scott has a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) from Royal Roads University with a specialization in Sustainable Community Development. He understands community and social development deeply – a passion he furthers through his role as President/CEO of his consulting firm, bassa Social Innovations Inc.
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Identifying Community Stakeholders in Emergency Management
This interactive session will explore the UN Sendai Framework's "all of society" approach to engagement and participation in disaster risk reduction and emergency management, and how it can be adopted and implemented at the local level. By incorporating community and economic development approaches into emergency management, we can more effectively and efficiently address disaster situations - saving time, maximizing resources, and reducing loss.
Chief Information Security Officer, Information Technology Services | Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Michael Barr and Troy Davidson will discuss the increasing cyber threats in our interconnected digital age and will debunk the myth that cyber resilience is a luxury only the biggest corporations can afford. Drawing upon real-world examples, they will navigate through cost-effective strategies and tools that any organization can implement. The presentation will emphasize the idea that being proactive about cyber resilience is more cost-effective than the potential fallout from being unprepared.
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Key Takeaways for the Audience:
Chief Information Officer | Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
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Becoming cyber resilient in a complex world; It is attainable and won’t break the bank | Co-Speaker (with Troy Davidson)
Director, Emergency & Protective Services | Town of Banff
Katherine Severson, M.O.M, is the new Director of Emergency & Protective Services for beautiful Banff, Alberta. Katherine served as a Calgary Police Service officer for 26 years, including over a decade as the Emergency Management Unit Leader within the Major Events Section. She is proud to be a member of the Alberta disaster response team CANTF2 and has garnered wide incident management expertise responding to disasters across Canada since 2016, spanning all hazards from floods to wildfires, on-duty deaths and severe weather emergencies. She is an ICS and incident command instructor, experienced operation/coordination center manager, and her planning specialties include preparedness for mass fatality/casualty incidents, integrated response to mass violence/attacks, and interoperability between emergency services. She is the recipient of the Motorola Award of Excellence in Emergency Preparedness, AACP Award for Outstanding Policing, and the Chief’s Lifesaving Award.
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The Transition from Emergency Response to Incident Management: How Do We Stabilize?
Sometimes the chaos of immediate operational response is less confusing than when an incident expands into a recognizable incident management system. Using real-world incidents for context, the presenter will share how applying the principles of command interoperability & incident management during emergency response impacts the establishment of an IMT, the activation of an ECC/EOC, and the implementation of a formalized IAP. The goal of the session will be to explore what stabilization truly means given the context of incident, and the resources trying to achieve it.
Chief Information Security Officer | Long View
With over 25 years of experience as an IT security professional, Jo-Ann has held senior security positions with notable retail and financial services brands. During that time, she has distinguished herself as one of the industry’s leading experts in assessing the ever-changing threat landscape to investigate cyber incidents and identify effective response processes to protect an organization’s information assets. Technically strong and strategically experienced, as Long View’s CISO, Jo-Ann brings a level of expertise to one of the most demanding security challenges within a modern, digital enterprise. She continues to design, develop and execute on proactive cybersecurity and privacy programs. She focuses on achieving a balance between effectively addressing potential threats while simultaneously enabling strategic and tactical business objectives. Currently living in BC’s Okanagan, Jo-Ann and her husband David have four children and have recently undertaken a major project to renovate their old house with plans to dabble in grape growing and winemaking in the far-off future as they restore the property.
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Managing Cyber Incidents — What you Should and Shouldn’t Do
In today’s fast paced technology landscape, cyber security incidents are a reality. Returning to business options is a priority for everyone when an incident happens. Ensuring business survival means that you are prepared beforehand, can detect & analyze at attack initiation, contain & eradicate during and after the attack, and then return to normal business operations actioning lessons learned with continual improvements to mitigate risk of a repeated incident. We will cover high level steps to set the tone for an effective cyber incident response program.
Co-Host | EPIC Podcast
Grayson Cockett works in healthcare disaster management, and is the co-host of ‘Emergency Preparedness in Canada (EPIC) Podcast’. Grayson has all the various education, certifications, and affiliations etc. you might expect, but more importantly has had the opportunity over the last 5 years to interview emergency management leaders, academics, and practitioners whose knowledge and experience are far superior.
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Passing the Mic — Top Tips from 5 Years of Talking to the Pros About Disaster Stuff
Join in as ‘Emergency Preparedness in Canada (EPIC) Podcast’ host Grayson Cockett reviews the most poignant learnings from 5 years of interviews with emergency management experts, summarizing conference learnings, and reviewing publications for the podcast. There will be interactive portions to the session, so come prepared to answer polls, submit opinions, and speak your mind!
Sr. Advisor Emergency Disaster Management, Indigenous Wellness Core | Alberta Health Services
Jeff Beddome, a dedicated professional with a strong commitment to serving others. His career path as a primary care paramedic, firefighter, and director of emergency management reflects his passion for public service and emergency preparedness. In his current role, Jeff contributes his expertise to support Alberta's First Nations, Métis, and urban Indigenous communities. Jeff's work is focused on informing emergency management plans with a holistic approach that considers health in all aspects. His dedication to improving the well-being and resilience of Indigenous communities and his commitment to cultural sensitivity and community engagement is an essential asset in the field of emergency management. Jeff's leadership and passion for supporting Indigenous communities are integral to building more resilient and culturally safe emergency response and recovery strategies.
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Cultural Resilience: Collaborative and Co-Developed Evacuation Centre’s before Crisis Strikes
Across Alberta, facing a rising occurrence of emergencies and disasters, the need for sensitive and effective evacuation centers has become more pressing than ever. “Cultural Resilience: Collaborative Evacuation Centers before Crisis Strikes,” sheds light on this concerning trend. With the increasing frequency of disruptive events, the demand for culturally safe, trauma-informed evacuation centers has surged and Indigenous communities and peoples are disproportionately affected. These centers play a crucial role and present collaboration opportunities that can preserve culture, improve health outcomes, foster unity, and fortify disaster preparedness.
Director of Business Development and Sales | STARS Vigilant
Nicole Segstro brings over 14 years of unwavering commitment and expertise to her role as Director of Vigilant Business Development and Sales at STARS. Her remarkable journey with STARS has seen her forge strong partnerships with hundreds of clients, dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of their employees through the STARS Vigilant Suite of Services. As a driving force behind STARS Vigilant, the social enterprise arm of STARS, Nicole possesses a deep-seated passion for safety and a wealth of experience. With over two decades of collaborative efforts alongside safety professionals across diverse industries, she plays a pivotal role in facilitating essential pre-planning for their unique safety programs. Nicole Segstro’s commitment to enhancing workplace safety, combined with her extensive industry knowledge, makes her an invaluable asset in the world of air ambulance services and safety program development.
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What to Expect When the Unexpected Occurs: How to Prepare for a Multi-agency Medivac Response | Co-Speaker (with Stuart Grant)
When acute emergencies occur, how well is your organization prepared to activate the right response, and respond when help arrives? For over 30 years, STARS Vigilant has helped organizations across Western Canada ensure communication flows freely and effectively throughout the pivotal moments of a major incident. Capitalizing on STARS infrastructure and its partnerships within the chain of survival, STARS Vigilant supports various industries with activation and coordination of their emergency response plans. Guest speakers from STARS aviation, medical, and business development teams will walk us through the anatomy of a STARS response, from pre-planning your landing zone, to preparing a patient for helicopter EMS transport.
Flight Nurse | STARS Vigilant
Stuart Grant is a dedicated flight nurse at STARS, where he plays a pivotal role in providing critical care to patients across the vast expanse of western Canada. With a multifaceted background as a Registered Nurse and Advanced Care Paramedic, he brings a unique blend of expertise to the field of prehospital and emergency medicine. Stuart's commitment to excellence is underscored by his impressive array of board certifications, including flight and transport nursing, as well as critical care and flight paramedicine. These certifications reflect his unwavering dedication to staying at the forefront of his profession, ensuring the highest level of care for those he serves. Beyond his clinical roles, Stuart Grant's diverse experience extends to his time as a ground Search and Rescue team member, demonstrating his readiness to respond to emergencies in any capacity. He has also served as a medical specialist member with Canada Task Force 2, further showcasing his expertise in disaster response and crisis management. Stuart Grant's passion for healthcare, coupled with his extensive training and experience, make him an invaluable asset to the STARS team and a beacon of hope for patients in their times of greatest need.
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What to Expect When the Unexpected Occurs: How to Prepare for a Multi-agency Medivac Response | Co-Speaker (with Nicole Segstro)
Over two full days, beginning at noon on Tuesday, delegates will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with leaders in Emergency Management and business continuity from multiple industries across Canada. Tailor your own conference experience through the selection of concurrent workshops and presentation sessions that will complement the keynote speakers and a moderated panel discussion.
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