---

 

Andrew Bridge - Managing Director, Virgin Mobile Canada   Andrew brings more than 10 years of global marketing experience to Virgin Mobile. He joined Virgin from Diageo, where he worked in various Marketing roles, most recently as Global Marketing Director for the Smirnoff brand. Prior to Diageo, Andrew worked in various marketing roles at Cadbury Schweppes in the US and Canada. When he’s not at the office, Andrew also works with Virgin Unite Canada as a trustee, championing the fight to end youth homelessness in Canada.   Michael Carter – President, mobile - OLSON   Michael brings over 18 years of wireless, e-commerce, interactive entertainment and consulting industry experience to his leadership role at Olson. He was the co-founder and CEO of MyThum, which established itself as one of the leading full-service mobile marketing agencies in North America before being acquired by Minneapolis-based marketing agency Olson in February of 2011. Olson mobile has been engaged by many of North America’s leading brands such as Best Buy, MolsonCoors, Sony, Pepsico, Bauer, General Mills, Target, Ontario Lottery Group and more to develop and deploy various mobile marketing solutions. Over the last ten years, Michael has gained a tremendous amount of insight into the mobile market, the mobile consumer, and most importantly the most effective methods for connecting companies to their consumers through the mobile device. Prior to starting MyThum, Michael worked in a variety of capacities for A.T. Kearney, one of the world’s leading high value add management consulting firms, for over six years. Michael’s experience also includes a stint as the Vice President, Corporate Development for a leading global interactive entertainment company, GTR Group, and a faculty member of the Richard Ivey School of Business. Michael earned both an HBA and MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, at the University of Western Ontario.   Kristian Dart, Director of Digital and Direct Marketing, Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario Kristian is the Director of Digital and Direct Marketing for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario. He is responsible for the management of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's National Direct Marketing program, and also leads the Foundation's digital marketing strategy, including Web, email and social media. Kristian earned an MBA with a focus in Strategic Marketing from McMaster University. Kristian has also been a member of the Canadian Marketing Association's Not for Profit Council for over 5 years.   David Farnes Chief Operating Officer, CWTA David Farnes is Chief Operating Officer at the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA). Mr. Farnes manages CWTA’s day to day operational aspects, and works closely with the President and CEO to develop and implement the strategic direction that the Association undertakes on behalf of its members.   Mr. Farnes has been a key figure on many of the files at CWTA, notably his role in the creation and ongoing expansion of Recycle My Cell, the wireless industry’s new national recycling program for mobile phones and accessories. As well, he was instrumental in the launch of the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada, the first mobile giving platform for Canadian wireless operators that brought mobile philanthropy to Canada. Philip King, Vice President, Mobile, Cornerstone Group of Companies Philip is Vice President, Mobile, at the Cornerstone Group of Companies where he leads the development of mobile solutions for Cornerstone's charitable and commercial clients. Cornerstone Mobile provides a range of solutions for engaging mobile audiences. Prior to Cornerstone Philip co-founded Artez Interactive and was President & CEO for almost a decade where he lead the development and sales and marketing of online fundraising solutions globally. Bernard Lord President and CEO, CWTA Chairman, Mobile Giving Foundation Canada   Bernard Lord is President and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association. He also serves as director and advisor for several corporate and non-profit organizations and he is a member of the New Brunswick Law Society. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social science with a major in economics, as well as a bachelor’s degree in common law from the Université de Moncton. Mr. Lord became one of Canada’s youngest premiers at the age of 33. In June 1999, he led the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party to one of its greatest victories. He won a second majority in 2003 and served as premier until October 2006. He was elected four times as the Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly for the district of Moncton East. From December 2007 until March 2008 he served as Special Advisor on official languages to the Government of Canada. Mr. Lord has often been recognized as a national leader and consensus builder for his work with the Council of Federation, Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers and La Francophonie. He was chosen as one of Time Magazine’s top 25 New Generation of Leaders in Canada as well as being awarded the title of Grand Officier de l’Ordre de la Pleiade from the International Association of Francophone Parliamentarians. In 2007 he was awarded the Order of New Brunswick.   Jim Manis Chairman & CEO, Mobile Giving Foundation   Jim has over 25 years of experience in developing international markets for technology based companies, advocating the advancement of wireless technology and promoting the mobile Internet on a global scale. He has been a primary leader in developing the mobile channel for the direct to consumer business and its use for interaction between brand and consumer. Jim was responsible for the first use of mobile giving in response to relief efforts for the Asian tsunami and Katrina as SVP of m-Qube, Inc. Jim founded the Mobile Giving Foundation in the 4th quarter of 2007 with the support of other leaders from the wireless and nonprofit communities to pioneer the use of the mobile channel for charitable giving.   Andrew Marek – CTO, Zipstripe Corp.   AJ Marek is the CTO for ZipGive/Zipstripe Corp, a leading mobile fundraising company in Canada. Pioneering integration of Mobile Giving outreach with social network channels across Canada, AJ has extended the reach of In-The-Moment text giving through social media marketing consistent with the platform’s strengths of immediate response to cause related calls-to-action. In addition, new frontiers have been developed in Mobileweb Data Collection as a means of extending a brand’s communication and engagement potential utilizing targeted opted-in user information.   Graham Moore, Territorial Public Relations and Development Secretary, Salvation Army Headquarters for Canada and Bermuda   Graham Moore is the Territorial Public Relations and Development Secretary at The Salvation Army in Canada, a position he has held since 2003. He is responsible for the development and management of the national fundraising program including annual giving, direct response, internet, special events, major gifts, planned giving and capital campaigns. He is also responsible for national media relations, public relations, advertising, and direct marketing. The Salvation Army began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to be the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country.   Rami Posner, Product Manager, Premium Messaging, Rogers Communications   Rami is the Product Manager for Premium Messaging at Rogers Communications where he also manages the Third Party developer platform. With foundational roots in new product development, Rami's experience ranges from start-ups to major corporations where he has been responsible for driving strategy, building partnerships and growing revenue. Rami spent his formative years in the entertainment industry, has been named to the the National Post ‘Ones to Watch’ - Toronto’s 30 Most Talented Citizens for co-founding InVuze and has served as an Industry Advisor for the Ontario Media Development Corporation Interactive Digital Media Fund.   Michael Sangster Vice-President Federal Government Affairs   Michael Sangster joined TELUS Communications (“TELUS”) in March of 2004. He is currently Vice-President, Federal Government Affairs. His responsibilities include developing and managing extensive federal government and community affairs programs to attain favourable political, policy and regulatory decisions. Michael also works closely with the sales and marketing teams within TELUS to build and leverage the TELUS brand in the Ottawa community. Prior to joining TELUS, Michael was Managing Partner at the Waterloo Group – a firm he founded to build business opportunities for private sector and government clients. Clients included foreign governments, a national health care association, a major Canadian convention facility, non-profit organisations, an event management company and a national conference on health care issues. Michael also worked as an executive with a group of high tech companies prior to and after their acquisition by BCE Emergis earlier in his career. Michael was born in Winnipeg and attended the University of Manitoba, St. Paul’s College. Michael is an active member of the community with involvement and awards from numerous charities and organizations for his efforts in the community.   Shirley Weir, Principal, Leap Frog Marketing   Shirley Weir is the principal of leap frog marketing, an integrated marketing & communications firm based in Vancouver. Since 1999, she has played the role of Marketing Director for organizations ready to leap to the next level. Shirley has worked with many not-for-profit organizations including BCAA, BC Paraplegic, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland, Kwantlen University, Vantage Point, the World Police & Fire Games, and last fall, launched the first-ever mobile giving campaign for The Royal Canadian Legion-BC/Yukon Command & the Legion’s Poppy Funds. While Shirley calls BC “home”, she is proud to be a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo and to have grown up in (the groundhog capital!) Wiarton, Ontario. Follow Shirley @shirleyweir