The world’s economic powers are shifting. Find out how the West needs to wake up and change its game in order to protect its Innovation Advantage and preserve its economic strength. Amy is a passionate speaker, consultant, author and corporate instructor of Stanford University professional development courses, as well as her own workshops. With a unique and engaging style, she lectures on topics including innovation, sales, marketing, global competitiveness and China. Amy has worked with over 50 countries and at companies such as Cisco, Apple, Visa, Nationwide, Capital One, SAP, Bell Canada and AT&T. Notably, she led a CEO-sponsored global competitive sales support program at Cisco Systems, the catalyst for her current practice. She has also led business development initiatives with the World Bank. Notably, she led a CEO-sponsored global competitive sales support program at Cisco Systems, the catalyst for her current practice. Amy poured her experience and desire to influence change into her book, The China Factor: Leveraging Emerging Business Strategies to Compete, Grow and Win in the New Global Economy.

The path to reconciliation between Canada and its Indigenous Peoples begins with mutual respect, and conservation and celebration of culture. In 2014, Perry Bellegarde was elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations following a long a career championing the rights of First Nation people. Originally from Little Black Bear First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory, National Chief Bellegarde has held the roles of Councillor, Chief, Tribal Chair, and Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Saskatchewan Regional Chief. National Chief Bellegarde is the recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal (2012), the Saskatchewan Medal (2005), the Queen’s Jubilee Medal (2002) and the Confederation Medal (1992). He has been honoured by several Chiefs and Elders who have acknowledged him as their adopted son, and he honoured them by carrying their teachings forward as he works toward full realization of self-determination for First Nations peoples and a shared nation-to-nation vision for a more just and inclusive Canada.

A journey of song and growth paving the way for the next 150 years. Craig is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Known throughout Canada, Craig is developing a following throughout North America and into Europe. With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair. Infusing his music and lyrics with a uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today’s production-heavy climate. Craig Cardiff builds landscapes of sound using live digital loops, bringing the room to a hush. Edged, folk, beautiful, melancholy and left leaning, one song breaks your heart, and the next one puts it back together.

A message to Canadians: be loud, proud and tell your story, or risk being forgotten. Inspired by the Hopi American Indian proverb, “Those who tell the stories rule the world”, Melanie’s passion lies in telling fascinating stories on multiple platforms and connecting with people. As the Director of Content and Engagement at Canada 2020, Melanie has turned this passion into a career, leading the independent, progressive think thank’s content creation and social media initiatives. She is also a digital communications instructor at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication focusing on social media and storytelling in the digital age.

Are charity donors at the root of poverty? Please, stop giving to (bad) charities and learn how to truly support those in need. In 2000, Allan Brown made a radical mid-life shift by selling his IT consulting firm in order to fully dedicate himself to international development work. Today, Allan is the International Director and Founder of Compasio Relief & Development, an organization that seeks to love, protect and empower those who are vulnerable. From responding first-hand to the devastation of the 2004 Asian tsunami, to pioneering sustainable programs for victims of trafficking and abuse in high-risk refugee populations, Allan provides insights into the good, the bad and the ugly of development and charitable response. Allan has recently returned to Canada after 15 years abroad overseeing work among displaced ethnic minority communities on the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Social media has made people significantly more vulnerable to sexual violence and abuse. It causes us to question whether Black Mirror is a reflection of the world we live in today. Dillon Black is a gender-nonconforming anti-violence activist meets tech feminist media-maker who is passionate about changing the Internet, challenging cyberviolence, and empowering young women and LGBTQ youth. Dillon believes the greatest challenge the internet faces today is the issue of violence and abuse. Dillon works tirelessly to end violence against women with the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women. Dillon has spent the last 5 years studying and challenging rape culture on campuses and online with the support of Status of Women Canada. Recently, Dillon was appointed by the Honourable Minister Patty Hajdu to the Government of Canada’s Advisory Council to Help Shape the Federal Strategy on Gender-Based Violence as the Cyberviolence and LGBTQQI2S expert.

Innovation in the next 150 years is rooted in the connected economy. John Weigelt spends most of his days looking at the future. As the National Technology Officer for Microsoft Canada, John has the unique role of looking ahead 3-5 years and working at the intersection of innovative technology to determine how it impacts strategic policy and business decisions. In this role, Mr. Weigelt helps business and governments innovate with technology while avoiding the unintended consequences that might arise. He leads Canadian outreach for a variety of technology policies, including: Economic Development, Privacy, Security, Government 3.0, Accessibility, Environmental Sustainability and Interoperability.

What do Einstein and ballet have in common? The answer will help shape the future of STEM and help eradicate “ugh, science” stereotypes. Who says you have to graduate high school in order to make a compelling TEDxKanata speaker? As a Grade 12 student at École secondaire publique De La Salle, Mathilde Papillon is helping shape The Next 150 through her combined love of dance, science and community involvement. Mathilde is a strong believer in the student voice. In fact, she represents the voices of youth from all over the province as a member of the Ministerial Student Advisory Committee of Ontario. Particularly passionate about engaging youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Mathilde sits on Actua’s National Youth Council, which is the Federal Ministry of Science’s organization of choice for promoting STEM amongst young Canadians. Mathilde also strives to help make environmental education more widely available within Canadian schools, as the co-founder of a registered NGO called PAPLEN Education for Eco-sustainability.

Want more creative, productive and engaged employees? A "passion day" each week may just be what they need. Mark Dabrowski is not your typical computer nerd. Recognizing the positive impact of following your passions, Mark is constantly striving to improve himself and others’ happiness, productivity, and work satisfaction. Upon completing his education in computer engineering technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Mark was recruited by Terry Matthews and Wesley Clover to come to Kanata where he co-founded Teldio - a two way radio applications company. Mark is currently the Director of Research and Development. In 2015, Mark’s love of technology and the environment merged when he participated in the inaugural AquaHacking Challenge. Tying for first place with his teammates, the event thus marked the birth of Water Rangers. Water Rangers is a not for profit organization which aims to connect citizens to their local rivers, lakes and streams. Mark currently acts as the Director of Technology.

What happens when an academic research lab allows pure curiosity to guide its investigations? What happens when that lab opens its doors and invites the community to come in and play? Andrew Pelling launches a bold idea to create a street-level research lab that amplifies ideas through a potent mixture of craft, serendipity and curiosity. What would happen if we provided our communities with accessibility and resources to explore audacious ideas? Can we accomplish even greater things if we all work together? Canadian experimental scientist Andrew Pelling uses low-cost, open source materials to discover new biology and create novel living technologies of the future. He runs an interdisciplinary, curiosity-driven lab at the University of Ottawa where he researches non-genetic ways to create artificial tissues and organs. He has, for instance, grown human cells in apples and living skins on LEGOs – innovations with the potential to replace prohibitively expensive commercial biomaterials. While unconventional, much of his other experimental work has led to new insights in cancer pathology, muscle degeneration and stem cell development. Andrew has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including a TED Fellowship (2016), Raine Medical Research Foundation Professorship (2014), Ontario Early Researcher Award (2010), Discovery Accelerator Award (2009) and a Canada Research Chair (2008-2018).

Why is it important to write our own story? It speaks to our individuality, our independence, our integrity. It speaks to our humanity. Use the pen of your conscience to write your own story. As a toddler, Sheema Khan emigrated from India to Montreal, where she immersed herself in Quebecois culture and quickly became fluent in French. Currently a patent agent in Ottawa, she is also a published author, soccer player and hockey mom. The path to patent agent has been an interesting one: She holds a Masters in Physics and a PhD in Chemical Physics, both from Harvard University. After completing post-doctoral research at MIT and McGill, Sheema worked as an R&D scientist in pharmaceutical sciences and is an inventor with numerous patents in drug delivery technology. In addition, since 2002, she has been a monthly columnist for Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. A collection of her columns have been published in the book Of Hockey and Hijab: Reflections of a Canadian Muslim Woman. In 2012, she was a recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to Canada.