Meet your Speakers
NIKOLAS BADMINTON: Futurist Speaker, Trends, & Innovation Keynote Speaker
Nikolas’ mission is to drive world leaders to take action in creating a better world for humanity. He provides expertise in new technologies and promotes exponential thinking with a critical, honest, and optimistic view that empowers you to plan for today, tomorrow, and for the future.
Nikolas will help you explore the implications of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Smart Cities, Big Data, Privacy and Surveillance, Renewable Energy, Blockchain, Biohacking and Medicine, and other exponential technology innovations.
www.nikolasbadminton.com | Twitter
Nikolas will help you explore the implications of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Smart Cities, Big Data, Privacy and Surveillance, Renewable Energy, Blockchain, Biohacking and Medicine, and other exponential technology innovations.
www.nikolasbadminton.com | Twitter
JONATHAN BAYNES: CEO, Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation
A strategic leader with specific expertise in business start-ups, education, government and translating big ideas into reality, Jonathan has a reputation as an innovator and implementer across multiple sectors in South Africa, the UK and now Canada. He is passionate about the process of reconciliation in Canada and whenever possible plays an advisory/consultative role in the development of healthy and prosperous Indigenous Communities and Corporations. He worked with the Independent Electoral Commission in South Africa on the first open and democratic election following the long and sad apartheid era. Jonathan is particularly suited to providing leadership to organizations going through significant transformation and has led various national and international multi million dollar transformation programs. Jonathan has acted as a strategic advisor to organizations like UBC, Kings College London, Open University (UK), IBM, Alberta Health Services, MET Police London and Transport for London. Jonathan is now the CEO of the Development Corporation for the Penticton Indian Band.
PIERRE CLÉROUX: VP Research & Chief Economist, Business Development Bank of Canada
Pierre Cléroux was appointed Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC in 2012. Pierre leads a team of experts who analyze economic data to identify business and sector trends impacting Canadian entrepreneurs. A seasoned speaker, he regularly travels across the country to help business owners understand the risks and opportunities presented by the economic environment.
Mr. Cléroux is also responsible for providing economic analysis and advice to the Bank’s senior management team, and supervises all marketing and industry research activities. Over his 25-year career as an economist, he has held several influential positions that had a direct impact on entrepreneurs in Canada and abroad.
Before joining BDC, Pierre worked for the Government of Saudi Arabia as Vice President, Business Analysis in the National Industry Clusters Development Program. His role was to create program strategies, define sector policies and conduct financial and economic analyses of industrial projects.
Previously, Mr. Cléroux was the Quebec Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, responsible for the implementation of economic policies and programs to support small and medium-sized businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. He was also a strategic advisor for Montreal International, where he was responsible for attracting foreign investment from India and the Middle East, and developing international relationships and partnerships. He worked for 12 years at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in various roles, including economist and Quebec Vice President.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree in Economics from Laval University, as well as an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
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Mr. Cléroux is also responsible for providing economic analysis and advice to the Bank’s senior management team, and supervises all marketing and industry research activities. Over his 25-year career as an economist, he has held several influential positions that had a direct impact on entrepreneurs in Canada and abroad.
Before joining BDC, Pierre worked for the Government of Saudi Arabia as Vice President, Business Analysis in the National Industry Clusters Development Program. His role was to create program strategies, define sector policies and conduct financial and economic analyses of industrial projects.
Previously, Mr. Cléroux was the Quebec Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, responsible for the implementation of economic policies and programs to support small and medium-sized businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. He was also a strategic advisor for Montreal International, where he was responsible for attracting foreign investment from India and the Middle East, and developing international relationships and partnerships. He worked for 12 years at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in various roles, including economist and Quebec Vice President.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree in Economics from Laval University, as well as an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
ANTHONY HADDAD: Director Development Services, City of Penticton
Anthony Haddad, originally from Melbourne, Australia joined the City of Penticton in 2009 where he was Director of Development Services until the end of 2014, working to improve relationships with the business and development community and create a positive business environment. In 2013 he led the creation of the City’s Downtown Plan, which since its approval has seen over $15M in public infrastructure investment and more than $50M in new development activity taking place.
In 2014 he joined UBC Okanagan’s campus as Director of Campus Planning & Development and over a two year period helped develop the 2015 Campus Master Plan, looking to enhance the campus as a strategic hub for regional learning, research and innovation. He also led approvals for a new Teaching & Learning Centre, Transit Exchange, campus public realm enhancement and new access to the UBCO West Campus Lands.
Anthony returned to Penticton at the end of 2016 as Director of Development Services where he oversees the City’s Land Development and Economic Development functions. Development activity over 2016-2017 saw record construction values and in 2018 completed a 5-year Economic Development Strategy with priorities focused around investing in the local business community to ensure their continued success. As the community looks to the future, his team is in the process of developing the next Official Community Plan, that will provide direction for land use patterns, sustainable growth and community development over the next 20-30 years.
In 2014 he joined UBC Okanagan’s campus as Director of Campus Planning & Development and over a two year period helped develop the 2015 Campus Master Plan, looking to enhance the campus as a strategic hub for regional learning, research and innovation. He also led approvals for a new Teaching & Learning Centre, Transit Exchange, campus public realm enhancement and new access to the UBCO West Campus Lands.
Anthony returned to Penticton at the end of 2016 as Director of Development Services where he oversees the City’s Land Development and Economic Development functions. Development activity over 2016-2017 saw record construction values and in 2018 completed a 5-year Economic Development Strategy with priorities focused around investing in the local business community to ensure their continued success. As the community looks to the future, his team is in the process of developing the next Official Community Plan, that will provide direction for land use patterns, sustainable growth and community development over the next 20-30 years.
CRYSTAL HENRICKSON: Leadership Coach, Employee Experience Strategist, Talent Collective
Crystal is a certified leadership and career coach working with businesses to build thriving team cultures and compelling companies. Co-founding Talent Collective in 2015, she supports employers through a mix of executive and leadership coaching, communication training and employee experience consulting.
Having spent more than a decade working in the new economy, Crystal’s experiences include rolling out employee + community strategies on a shoestring for 30+ startups, remotely leading market expansions for companies like Yelp and Breather, and managing functions such as marketing, sales and customer experience. She has had opportunities to work with local economies from across North America and as far away as Belgrade, Serbia, where she recently advised the startup community on team and community building.
Her mostly-virtual, empowerment coaching conversations and webinar-based management training are the hallmarks of most of her days, making it possible for her to relocate her life from Vancouver to Penticton, BC, which she started calling home this year.
Having spent more than a decade working in the new economy, Crystal’s experiences include rolling out employee + community strategies on a shoestring for 30+ startups, remotely leading market expansions for companies like Yelp and Breather, and managing functions such as marketing, sales and customer experience. She has had opportunities to work with local economies from across North America and as far away as Belgrade, Serbia, where she recently advised the startup community on team and community building.
Her mostly-virtual, empowerment coaching conversations and webinar-based management training are the hallmarks of most of her days, making it possible for her to relocate her life from Vancouver to Penticton, BC, which she started calling home this year.
ANDREW RAMLO: VP Market Intelligence, Rennie Group
As Vice President of Rennie Intelligence, Andrew leads Rennie Group's Market Intelligence division, providing analytical and strategic support to all aspects of the company. For more than two decades, Andrew has provided strategic management advice to leading real estate developers, investors, retailers and consumers, as well as to many of Canada's most rapidly changing municipalities, crown corporations and public agencies.
In his role as Executive Director of the non-profit Urban Futures Institute, he conducts research on topics ranging from labour force change and human resource management to community planning and residential market analysis. Andrew is an Adjunct Professor at UBC's School of Community and Regional Planning and is the current President of the Planning Institute of British Columbia.
In his role as Executive Director of the non-profit Urban Futures Institute, he conducts research on topics ranging from labour force change and human resource management to community planning and residential market analysis. Andrew is an Adjunct Professor at UBC's School of Community and Regional Planning and is the current President of the Planning Institute of British Columbia.
JENNIFER VINCENT: Economic Development Specialist, City of Penticton
Jennifer Vincent moved to the Okanagan nine years ago from Sydney, Australia, with a specific interest in community-building. A native Canadian, Jennifer spent 11 years in Sydney working in creative industries and was enthusiastic about bringing that energy to Penticton. In 2016, Jennifer joined the City of Penticton's Economic Development Department with a focus on business retention & expansion. Specific projects include the 2017-18 Business Climate Survey to meet with 100 Penticton Businesses, the development and launch of StartHereOkanagan (a recruitment and relocation portal), the Penticton Business Tookit (an economic data dashboard), and most recently, this event - FutureBiz Penticton. In 2018 she was a core volunteer member of the The Smart Cities Challenge, a federal competition which entailed a community-led process to identify the most pressing challenges that could be resolved through data and connected technologies. This process brought together motivated and innovative minds living in Penticton to be a part of the plan to build a healthier and happier community. With her husband, she co-founded Cowork Penticton in 2012, a professional on-demand workspace and community hub. She is a passionate champion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration. In 2014 she was awarded a Top 40 under 40 accolade in Penticton.
