SP25 Is Sold Out

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Terry O'Reilly
Podcast Host and Author

Terry O’Reilly is one of Canada’s most awarded and respected marketing minds. From his early days as an agency copywriter creating campaigns for Labatt, Tim Hortons, and Volkswagen, to co-founding the acclaimed production company Pirate Radio & Television, Terry has shaped the voice of countless iconic brands. As host of CBC’s Under The Influence, he brings sharp wit and deep insight to the world of marketing, drawing on a career that has earned him international accolades, honorary degrees, and a place in Canada’s Marketing Hall of Fame. Whether working with global stars or crafting stories for local heroes, Terry’s passion lies in helping marketers outthink—not outspend—the competition.

Speaker Bio: Vanessa (V) Gaik

Executive Director, Brand Partnerships

As Executive Director of Brand Partnerships & Sales at TikTok Canada, Vanessa (V) Gaik helps brands efficiently reach, resonate and inspire communities on TikTok while driving ROI. A strategic marketer with a passion for creativity, she has a proven track record building multi-million dollar businesses for the likes of Yahoo!, Facebook and Instagram within Canada and beyond. While V brings zero talent to her personal TikTok account, she does bring 18+ years of experience in media, marketing, sales and technology - which lends a unique perspective to modern day business challenges. A builder at heart, she thrives in ambiguity and chaos and stays motivated by the endless opportunity to drive meaningful change.

"Conversations Drive Decisions"
Speaker Bio: Girius Cepinskas
Senior Client Partner

Girius (Giddy) Cepinskas is a marketing leader with 10+ years of agency and brand-side experience spanning Financial Services, Tech, Government, and Entertainment. As the first employee at Reddit Canada nearly 4.5 years ago, he has been instrumental in building the Canadian team and forging key partnerships. Girius continues to foster a creative and partnership-driven approach to the ad tech space.

Digital Dominance: A 5-Step AI-Powered Approach to Sales and Marketing
Speaker Bio: Haplin Milgrom-Hills
Product Education

Haplin is a former 7-figure agency operator and marketing implementation coach who traded his massive clunky tech stack for HighLevel back in 2018 and has never looked back.

Inbox Intelligence: From Spammy to Savvy—What Actually Works in Email Marketing Today
Speaker Bio: Geoffrey Blanc

General Manager, CyberImpact

Geoffrey has developed a proven expertise over 18 years in digital, notably in e-commerce and ERP implementation. Today, as the General Manager of Cyberimpact, Geoffrey continues to propel this email marketing platform to new heights, with his strategic leadership and experience.

"What We Wish We Knew: The Hidden Systems Behind Top Social Media Communities"
Speaker Bio: Joe Teo
CEO

Joe Teo is the CEO of HeyOrca - the social media scheduling tool designed to simplify collaboration. Under his leadership, HeyOrca has become a trusted solution for social media managers.

What We Wish We Knew: The Hidden Systems Behind Top Social Media Communities
Jessica Lui
SocialMedia Manager

"The Most Influential Brands"
Steve Levy

Marketing in Motion: Leveraging the Skills of Tomorrow’s Workforce
Sarah Blackmore
VP Operations

Sarah Blackmore is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in HR, operations, strategy, and leadership, specializing in scaling technology startups and fostering high-performing, human-centric cultures. As the VP of Operations and Head of People & Culture at Riipen, Sarah drives operational excellence and organizational growth while ensuring an inclusive, people-focused environment.

Passionate about team development and delivering exceptional service, Sarah leads Riipen's Operations division, which encompasses Marketing, Strategic Project Delivery, Employer Success, Data & Compliance, and People & Culture. Her leadership has been instrumental in delivering outstanding experiences for Riipen’s partners, transforming how organizations engage with talent and create lasting impact.

Speaker Bio: Lana Rogers

Founder & Director, Gentle Lion

Leading with signature drive and all heart, Lana Rogers has been immersed in the marketing and public relations industry for almost two decades. As the Founder of Gentle Lion Communications, a strategic marketing and communications company based out of Calgary, Alberta, Lana is known for redefining the communications model and bids farewell to formalities and best-kept industry secrets.

"Soup is Just a Hot Smoothie: Reframing To Get To Better Ideas"

Speaker Bio: Scott King

President

Scott is a veteran of the browser wars and a marketer with 20 years experience across categories like consumer packaged goods, financial services, retail, travel & tourism. His focus has been bringing emerging tech to clients big and small to help them solve problems.

"The New Rules of Marketing —Unlocking The Secret Framework That Top Brands Use to Drive Growth in an Over-Saturated World"
Speaker Bio: Charlie Grinnell
Co-CEO

Marketing in the Age of Overwhelm: Why Strategy Is Your Most Powerful AI Tool

Warren Thompson

Co-Founder / Managing Director

Warren is the co-founder of Ollo Metrics, a digital agency in Vancouver, BC. He also teaches at Jelly Academy and UBC and speaks at events like PPC Hero Conference and Vancouver Startup Week. His work bridges strategy, performance marketing, and AI.

The Art & Science of Behaviour
Speaker Bio: Ben Wise
Founder

Ben Wise brings 15 years of advertising expertise as Google's Head of Programmatic Media, where he shapes the future of digital advertising. A dedicated community leader, Ben serves on the Daily Bread Food Bank Board and mentors high-growth startups on sales strategy and market penetration. His unique blend of corporate leadership and philanthropic impact offers audiences actionable insights on influence, leadership, and strategic growth.

The Art & Science of Behaviour
Speaker Bio: Darren Chiu
Founder

Darren Chiu, a Strategy Lead at Google, architects breakthrough marketing strategies across diverse industries. His innovative approach combines 12 years of business acumen with the dynamic creativity of professional storytelling. Recently named an Emerging Leader in Advertising & Sales by The Peak (2023), Darren brings a distinctive perspective that merges strategic thinking with engaging communication. His talent for comedic storytelling adds an unexpected dimension to his presentations, making complex concepts accessible and memorable.

The Earned Advantage: Igniting Brand Potential in the Attention Economy
Cher Lee
Senior Vice President and Western Canada Business Lead

Cher Lee has more than 18 years of experience developing integrated communications campaigns for some of the world’s most iconic brands. With a diverse background in agency and in-house roles within Crown Corporations CBC and Destination Canada, Cher intimately understands the value of client x agency collaboration and navigating complex organizational structures. She has delivered business impact and counsel to brands spanning the consumer, tech, B2B and corporate sectors including PayPal Australia, Lyft, Mark Anthony Group, Tourism Australia and PressReader. In addition to client accounts, Cher also oversees development of Citizen’s Western Canada business in her role as Senior Vice President.

Adapting to the AI Search Revolution – Future-Proofing Your Brand in the Age of AI

Speaker Bio: Dylan MacNeill

Director SEO

Dylan MacNeill is the Director of SEO at NP Digital Canada, where he leads organic search strategy for some of the country’s top brands.
With over a decade of experience across agencies, SaaS, and global consumer companies, Dylan blends deep technical expertise with creative insight. He’s especially focused on how AI is transforming the search landscape — and how brands can evolve to stay ahead.

"How Top Fashion Brands Lead on Social — and What’s Driving Their Success?"
Pierce Kellam
Commercial Lead

Pierce Kellam is the Commercial Lead at Zavy, a social media management and analytics platform helping brands win on social. He leads marketing, sales, and product development, connecting insight with execution. He’s passionate about using digital insight and technology to help brands stand out and scale.

Umair Tazeem

Umair Tazeem is the Founder and CEO of Embold, helping brands establish strong, genuine connections through influencer marketing strategies tailored to the Canadian market.

Content at Scale: How Small Teams Do Big Things
Speaker Bio: Brooke Hahn
General Manager

A true growth operator with international experience spanning SaaS, marketing, and product, Brooke currently is General Manager of Flockler, a RelayCommerce brand - driving results through a global cross-functional team. She’s worked with several global brands including LEGO and brings sharp expertise in scaling, strategy, and execution.