Summit Speakers

Conference Chair and PresenterRoss Simmonds, Strategist - Foundation Marketing Ross Simmonds is the founder of Foundation marketing, a content marketing agency that helps

B2B brands and startups plan, create and distribute content that drives results. In addition to running Foundation Marketing Ross is the founder of a wide range of di� erent businesses including Hustle & Grind, an ecommerce brand described as the voice of modern entrepreneurs.

Over the years, Ross has been published or featured in publications such as Forbes, Venture Beat, Hu� ngton Post, Mashable, BET, CBC and more. He’s spoke at global conferences about digital marketing & tech. He was named in Mashable as one of the top Snapchat marketers in the world and writes regular about marketing at RossSimmonds.com.

Opening Plenary: Shifting TidesHost: Dr. Kevin Hewitt, Dalhousie Professor & Chair of Senate Dr. Hewitt is a full Professor in the Department of Physics & Atmospheric Science, and Chair of

Senate (2015-19) at Dalhousie University. In the classroom, Dr. Hewitt strives to link Physics to the everyday lives of the learner. In his Molecular imaging lab, he has developed novel nanoparticle probes for cancer imaging and treatment, new optical imaging approaches and a prototype medical diagnostic tool for liver steatosis.

Dr. Hewitt completed his B. Sc., Physics Specialist & Biology Major, University of Toronto (UofT) (1992) and was active in student politics and received the UofT Physics prize. He married his deep and abiding interest in science and community engagement at Dalhousie by co-founding the Imhotep’s Legacy Academy, a STEM outreach program for African Canadian students from junior high to university; a program he grew from a small room in the Physics building to a provincial program with an annual budget approaching $0.5M.

Dr. Hewitt has attracted more than $3M in research funding, published over 30 papers, delivered over 60 invited presentations in Canada, US and Brazil; universities in China, Ethiopia, the US and Canada; and supervised numerous students. He is co-inventor of an instrument to diagnose liver steatosis.

Alexandra McCann, Executive Director - ONSIDE Alexandra “Alex” McCann is the Executive Director of ONSIDE, the Organization for Nova

Scotia Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship, a not-for-profi t backbone organization leveraging collective impact to foster a prosperous Nova Scotia through inclusive innovation driven entrepreneurship (IDE).

Previous to this role, Alexandra was the Chief Operating O� cer for Dockside Investco, a Nova Scotia-based portfolio management company; as well as the CEO for Baie Run Pet Products, a natural products start-up, focused on pet wellness including omega3s and supplements sold direct to consumer and direct to retail in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Alexandra has been an Investment Attraction lead for Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) covering clean tech, ocean tech, life sciences, as well as bioresources, agri-foods and seafoods. She has also held positions with the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank) in Asset Management, as well as the O� ce of Renewable Energy & Environmental Exports, focused on global infrastructure structured and project fi nance.

Alexandra McCann holds an MA in Pacifi c Asian Studies from the University of London, SOAS and a double BA from the University of Virginia in Asian Studies and Anthropology. She is a member of the Board of Governors at the University of Kings College. She also serves as a member of Board at the Inspirit Foundation—which aims to promote a diverse and pluralistic Canada—on the both the Equity Committee and the Impact Investment Committee. Alex is obsessed with saving handwriting, enjoys travel, politics, and sampling all of Nova Scotia’s culinary delights.

BLACK BUSINESS

SUMMITHalifax 2019

Bozama Saint John (continued)

Boz has been recognized for her breakthrough work by both the industry and her peers, having been inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement in 2014. She currently sits on its Executive Committee. She was named

• 2016’s Executive of the Year by Billboard Magazine,

• featured in Fortune Magazine’s Disruptors, Innovators & Stars 40 Under 40 feature

• Billboard’s Top Executives 40 Under 40

• Ad Age’s 50 Most Creative People

• Ebony Magazine’s 100 Powerful Executives,

• Black Enterprise ’s Most Powerful Women in Business,

• serving on the board of Girls Who Code, and Vital Voices

• executive mentor for the Levo League.

In spite of all of her professional accomplishments, Boz recognizes her greatest job is as mother to her 9 year old daughter, Lael. After the death of her husband Peter to cancer in 2013, Boz also took on the e� orts of raising funding for cancer research, and was recognized by the TJ Martell Foundation at their Women of Infl uence gala for her devotion to the cause.

Eve Wedderburn, Imhotep’s Legacy Academy (ILA) Eve Wedderburn is a Grade 8 student at Oxford School in Halifax. She is a highly engaged student

through her involvement in her school’s Me-to-We group, school orchestra, Halifax’s string program (Cello), and Dalhousie University’s Imhotep Legacy Academy program through which she has already begun to earn scholarship money should she decide to become a Dalhousie student. Eve plays school and club soccer and is a member of her school track team. She loves gymnastics, plays the piano, and aspires to be a dentist one day.

Moderator: Cassandra Dorrington, Dalhousie Board of GovernorsPresident & CEO, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council – CAMSC Cassandra Dorrington and her team lead the charge of championing business relationships and

economic growth of the Canadian supply chain through the inclusion of Aboriginal and Minority suppliers. During her tenure, Cassandra has been focused on in expansion of the CAMSC brand both nationally and internationally resulting in signifi cant growth and impact in the Canadian marketplace.

Known for her involvement in both the business and community environment, Cassandra has been named one of Diversity Canada’s Infl uential Women in Diversity and HR and sits on the National Advisory Council for the O� ce of Small and Medium Enterprises for the Government of Canada, the Black Business Enterprise, Dalhousie University Board of Governors as well as a national Departmental Audit Committee.

With approximately 400 certifi ed suppliers, 85 corporate members and more $4 Billion plus in diverse spend, CAMSC is a proud member of both (SDAC) Supplier Diversity Alliance Canada the single voice for supplier in Canada and GSDA promoting supplier diversity across the globe with sister councils in Australia, China, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

The Pitch Host: Duane Jones, Creative Director- Art Pays Me Duane Jones is the founder of clothing brand Art Pays Me, branding consultancy Glitterati

Communications, and is Manager of Records and Information Management for the Dalhousie Faculty Of Medicine. He holds a Bachelors in Communication Design from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, a Master of Information Management from Dalhousie University and an Associates in Art and Design from Bermuda College. Duane has exhibited art in Bermuda and Halifax, sold his clothing internationally and presented fashion collections during Atlantic Fashion Week. In May of 2018 Duane, hosted his fi rst solo art and fashion show at the Halifax Central Library. Duane is also an experienced podcaster and public speaker with a passion for helping creatives level up in business.

BLACK BUSINESS

SUMMITHalifax 2019

Nadine Spencer, President, Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA)CEO, BrandEQ Agency Nadine Spencer is the CEO of BrandEQ Group Inc., a global agency specializing in social change

marketing, communications, and public relations. She holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from York University. Spencer is a big picture visionary who has accelerated strategic growth and brand visibility for a diverse portfolio of clients. She also pioneered BrandEQ Black, BrandEQ’s cultural sensitivity arm, whose goal is to work with Fortune 500 companies, banks, governments, and leading nonprofi ts to look at racial biases in advertising and marketing. Her coined “People Matter” strategy grabs attention, demands interaction, and generates long-term value for clients.

When she’s not managing BrandEQ, Spencer is a public speaker, covering topics from business intelligence to diversity and inclusion. She has also participated in discussions with the White House on issues regarding anti-discrimination, and equality for women and girls of color.

Spencer currently serves as President/CEO of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) and Director both on the York University Alumni Board and the Lifelong Leadership Institute Board. Recently acknowledged in the book 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women, Spencer has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Harry Jerome Business Award, The Dale Carnegie Highest Award in Public Speaking Award, the Brilliant Minded Woman Philanthropist Award, and the 2018 Women Worth Watching Award. Her passion lies in supporting the advancement of women’s education and working to alleviate poverty. She is driven by the principal belief that everything is possible.

Workshop #1: The 4th Industrial RevolutionHost: Burtley Francis, Partner - Stewart McKelvey Burtley Francis is a partner in Stewart McKelvey’s Halifax o� ce, practicing in the areas of corporate/

commercial, competition law, privacy and IP/IT. His clients range from owner managed businesses to larger private/public companies and are found in industries as diverse as telecommunications, manufacturing, information technology and entertainment. In addition to his legal practice, Burtley is involved in a number of committees and boards both inside and outside the Firm: he is a member of the Mount Saint Vincent University board of governors, the Chair of the Stewart McKelvey students committee and a council member for Advertising Standards Canada.

Tash Jefferies, Founder – Diversa.work Tash Je� eries is the founder of Diversa.work , which is a tech startup that specializes in helping

women and people of color get hired in tech roles. Most recently, Tash has been an Entrepreneur-In-Residence with 500startups.com based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she worked with founders across the MENA region.

Tash is also a digital and social media strategist, chemistry and biology degree holder, and advocate for helping underrepresented people to get a strong footing in the global tech community. Her work has been featured in TEDx, The Hu� ngton Post, and The Wall Street Journal.

Originally from Halifax, Tash now splits her time between San Francisco, Saudi Arabia and Stewiacke Nova Scotia.

Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson, IT Executive and Founder, Empowered in My Skin Nkechi is an experienced Information Technology professional with more than 20 years in the I.T.

space, she has held a variety of progressively senior roles within various organizations including Director, Data Center Operations at Rogers Communications; Delivery Project Executive at IBM; and most recently, Associate Vice President, Segment Technology Executive at TD Bank Group -- but this is not all. Nkechi is an entrepreneur, author, professional bodybuilder and inspirational speaker, devoted to uplifting people and helping them live more fulfi lling and purpose-driven lives.

In her current role as Associate Vice President, Segment Technology Executive at TD Bank Group, she serves as the executive focal point for the Channels Technology Solutions (CTS) segment CIO and their executive team, supporting for all infrastructure delivery needs.

A graduate of Concordia University, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics, with a minor in Computer Science. In addition, she completed a Financial Acumen Executive MBA Program at Rotman’s School of Management.

An advocate for helping others, in 2014 she founded Empowered in My Skin, an organization that provides people with tangible actions they can use to maximize their true potential, helping them become leaders in every aspect of their lives.

Workshop #2: Global Storytelling in a Digital AgeHost: Keith Gordon, Director of Marketing - Spring Loaded Technology Keith has spent the last 15 years developing his Marketing Communications expertise on a wide

variety of projects for brands such as Toshiba, AstraZeneca, Bell, Intel, and Pfi zer. He has helped organizations large and small develop strategic approaches to their marketing practice, and harness the power of digital platforms to tell their stories and engage their audiences.

Keith’s fascination with the creative application of technology to real-world problems has led him to work with startups from a range of sectors including wireless, biotech, digital media, and fi nancial services to achieve market leadership and acquisition. He has also worked internationally for non-profi t organizations including UNICEF, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Canadian Cancer Society. Currently, Keith works as the Director of Marketing for Spring Loaded Technology, a Halifax-based company bringing the world’s fi rst bionic knee braces to the world.

Ross Simmonds, Strategist - Foundation Marketing Ross Simmonds is the founder of Foundation marketing, a content marketing agency that helps

B2B brands and startups plan, create and distribute content that drives results. In addition to running Foundation Marketing Ross is the founder of a wide range of di� erent businesses including Hustle & Grind, an ecommerce brand described as the voice of modern entrepreneurs.

Over the years, Ross has been published or featured in publications such as Forbes, Venture Beat, Hu� ngton Post, Mashable, BET, CBC and more. He’s spoke at global conferences about digital marketing & tech. He was named in Mashable as one of the top Snapchat marketers in the world and writes regular about marketing at RossSimmonds.com.

Nadia Theodore, Consul General of Canada to the Southeast USA Nadia Theodore, Consul General of Canada, was appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada and

began her tenure in September 2017. While based in Atlanta, as Canada’s Consul General she is responsible for strengthening and deepening the Canada-U.S. relationship across six states of the Southeast – Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. As a career trade negotiator and trade-policy professional for the Canadian government, Consul General Theodore has held executive leadership positions in several of Canada’s trade negotiations, including serving as one of the two Deputy Chief Negotiators for the Trans-Pacifi c Partnership Agreement (now called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacifi c Partnership) and as the Executive Director of Canada’s Secretariat for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Consul General Theodore previously served at Canada’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization and at Canada’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in Geneva Switzerland.

Consul General Theodore has a passion for community engagement, especially around youth and education, and currently volunteers with EverbodyWins! Atlanta. She is married with one child.

Keynote Luncheon Bozama Saint John Over the course of her career, Bozoma “Boz” Saint John has earned a formidable reputation as a

trail blazing brand marketing executive and change agent. With almost 20 years of experience that spans multiple industries including digital music/entertainment, consumer packaged goods, fashion, sports and automotive, Boz is uniquely qualifi ed for her current role as the Chief Marketing O� cer at Endeavor.

Prior to Endeavor, Boz was appointed into the newly established role of Chief Brand O� cer at Uber in June 2017 to utilize her years of expertise in combining her pop culture savvy, analytical consumer insights, and the ever-changing media landscape to build a deeper, more meaningful connection between Uber and its drivers and riders.

Boz rose to fame in tech circles during her role as the Head of Global Consumer Marketing for Apple Music and iTunes (including iTunes movies, iBooks and Apple News) where she spearheaded campaigns geared towards growing consumer brand recognition, loyalty and equity around the world. Her most electrifying moment at Apple was when Boz stole the show at Apple’s keynote World Wide Developers Conference when she introduced the new user interface for Apple Music. Following her presentation, Buzzfeed called her the “coolest person to ever go on stage at an Apple event.”

Before Apple Music and iTunes, Boz was head of the Music and Entertainment Marketing Group at Pepsi-Cola North America, where she drove breakthrough, integrated & sustained consumer engagement plans for brands across the soda giant’s beverages portfolio. She created partnerships with fi lm studios for authentic product placement, record labels for breakthrough commercial deals, and the sports industry for live brand experiences. During her tenure, she developed programs with some of the world’s biggest stars like Kanye West, Tom Brady, Kerry Washington, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Drake, & Mary J Blige and of course her idol, THE Michael Jackson. It also during this time, that Boz worked on the highest profi led sports event with the NFL for the Super Bowl Halftime Show (featuring Beyonce in 2013, Bruno Mars in 2014, and Katy Perry in 2015).