Koleya Karringten

CEO | Executive Director Chairwoman | Absolute Combustion International

A proud Albertan technology entrepreneur, advocate and leader, Koleya Karringten has a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of product commercialization, ecosystem building and fostering inclusion in the technology industry. As the co-founder and CEO of Absolute Combustion, she has spent a decade successfully designing and developing ground-breaking cleantech solutions for multiple industry sectors, including aerospace and Oil & Gas. She is a driving force in Alberta’s blockchain technology industry as the CEO of Bitquest Corp., the Executive Director of the Alberta Blockchain Consortium (ABC), co-founder and board member of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women (CBAW), and CEO of Civitas Events Corp. In her leadership role at the ABC, she has merged her passions for technology and social good to bring together blockchain companies, corporate leaders and government to build the province’s largest blockchain ecosystem organization. An influential public speaker, writer and community volunteer, Koleya strongly believes that uniting diverse voices behind a common goal is the path to creating a fairer, more sustainable and prosperous Alberta.

Lucas Koutroumanos

VP Relationship Manager | RBCx

Janine Moir

Digital Assurance Leader | Deloitte

Janine is passionate about technology and the impact of emerging technologies, like Blockchain, are having on finance teams and businesses. Janine is a founding member of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women (CBAW.io) and a board member of the Alberta Blockchain Consortium (ABC). At Deloitte, Janine collaborates with clients on Blockchain education and assurance, technology assessments, process improvements, and process analysis and redesign.

Richard Jones

Partner | Brownlee LLP

My law practice focuses on dispute resolution and risk/litigation management. I enjoy working with clients and helping them with the myriad of issues that come along with commercial transactions and conducting business.

Specialties: complex commercial litigation, water and irrigation, environmental, municipal and planning, and agriculture and agri-food, along with tech and blockchain.

McMillan Vantage is a unique service. We offer strategic advice and messaging in government and media relations.

Emma Todd

CEO | MMH Technology Group

Emma is an Executive Board Member of Blockchain for Impact, which works alongside the United Nations, and is CEO of MMH Blockchain Group which specializes in developing strategy, marketing, corporate communications, PR and events for technology companies. Named one of 2019’s Top 100 Influencers for Sustainable Development Goals, Emma is host to the longest running crypto mining conference in the world, the largest free blockchain conference in Canada and co-organizer of the largest enterprise conference in Canada. She is also a judge for the prestigious Canadian Marketing Awards. Emma’s strengths include a proven track record of achievements and relationship building as well as completing multiple successful projects simultaneously.

Matthew T. Burgoyne

Partner | Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Matthew is the co-head of Osler’s Digital Asset practice. His practice includes private market financings, mergers and acquisitions, secured and unsecured lending transactions, stock exchange listings, regulatory compliance, and securities issues facing the cryptocurrency industry. Matthew routinely advises national and international clients in digital currency law. He has assisted in the formation of cryptocurrency exchanges and has advised digital token and coin developers, decentralized finance platforms, centralized finance platforms, non-fungible token (“NFT”) issuers, stablecoin issuers, cryptocurrency ATM providers, cryptocurrency miners, cryptocurrency investors, anddecentralized autonomous organizations (“DAOs”). Matthew was one of the first Canadian lawyers to act for cryptocurrency companies in Canada and is regularly called to give his opinion to the media on issues relating to cryptocurrency and Canadian law, and has been quoted in Fortune Magazine, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, Bloomberg, The Logic, the Toronto Star, the Winnipeg Free Press and has also been interviewed on CBC radio and CBC television. Matthew is also an author on Coindesk.com, the world’s largest cryptocurrency and blockchain news site. Matthew sits on a variety of advisory boards of his clients and is currently an advisor to the Alberta Securities Commission’s New Economy Advisory Committee.

Chase Christensen

Vice President, Banking | RBCx

Chase Christensen currently holds the position of VP, Banking at RBCx, where he assumes the role of overseeing the RBCx practice within the Edmonton region. With an eight year career in commercial banking, Chase has dedicated the past five years to fostering growth within the Alberta technology ecosystem. His area of expertise lies in providing specialized financial solutions and offering advisory services to leading technology companies. By closely collaborating with an array of ecosystem stakeholders, Chase has built robust partnerships with organizations such as Startup TNT, the University of Alberta, and Edmonton Unlimited.

Chase’s professional background is bolstered by a Bachelor of Commerce degree with an accounting major from the University of Alberta. He has further strengthened his financial expertise by successfully completing Level II of the CFA Program and is currently registered as a Level III candidate.

Dina Mainville

Founder & President | Collisionless

With more than 8 years’ experience in blockchain, Dina is recognized for her extensive knowledge of virtual asset regulatory compliance. She is the Founder and President of Collisionless, a Web3 professional services firm, and serves as an Independent Corporate Director of Kraken, one of the world’s largest and longest running crypto exchanges.

Previously, Dina led sales at CipherTrace, a leading blockchain analysis company, guiding it from startup to acquisition by Mastercard. She has worked with nation states, global regulators, central banks, and law enforcement agencies on topics including cryptocurrency regulation, central bank digital currencies, risk mitigation, decentralized finance, and cryptocurrency forensic investigations. Presently, she is empowering victims of financial crimes and building a data orchestration layer for fraud intelligence.

Wayne Logan

Partner | Miller Thomson LLP

I have been working in the entertainment industry all of my life: first as a musician and for the past thirty five years as an entertainment, sports and intellectual property lawyer. My interest in Entertainment Royalty distribution led to deep research into Blockchain Technology. I now lead our Miller Thomson focused area of Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and Smart Contracts. When you have a question about blockchain, intellectual property, entertainment and media industries, you can trust I have the answer or can get it and share it with you. I love what I do and I am pretty darn good at it. Working with celebrities began in 1987 with Mr. and Mrs. Hockey – Gordie and Colleen Howe. This led to working with other Hockey Hall of Famers, many Canadian Olympians, TV and radio talent, adventurers, actors and authors – generally assisting them with their contracts, publishing, endorsement, sponsorship and business transactions. I have proudly been the lawyer for the Canadian Country Music Association for the past 16 years and many of their artist members such as George Canyon and Brett Kissell, to name a few. Proudly represent many blockchain business eco-system participants including GuildOne. I am well established, respected and networked within the entertainment, sports, intellectual property, venture capital and blockchain industries. Best way to reach me is wlogan@millerthomson.com

Neeraj Gupta

Founder & Angel Investor | Lawcubator

Neeraj is expert on AI/ML/IOT, Product Management, Innovation Management, Strategy, International Business Expansion, Patent Consulting, Legal-tech.

Neeraj is Chief Strategy Officer and Advisor to the CEO at Attabotics which is one of the most successful 3D robotics supply chain companies headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.

Neeraj is Chairman at India Alumni Chapter for KTH, Sweden and is on the Board of KTH Alumni Advisory Board. He is Governing Council Member at IIT Alumni Centre Bengaluru, IITACB .

Neeraj is one of the experts at Swissnex India and advises Swiss startups. He is also senior Technology Advisor at Sweden-India Business Council.

Neeraj holds Bachelors of Technology degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Metallurgical and Material Sciences and Masters of Science Degree from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden in Scientific Computing and Mathematics. Neeraj is PGPX in General Management from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Neeraj is author of book “Creating & safeguarding a strong Intellectual Property Portfolio” which was written in collaboration with SIDBI, Adelphi and KFW Bank Germany.

Neeraj is senior mentor and visiting faculty in several engineering and MBA colleges.

Lawrence Truong

|

Lawrence (CFA, MBA, CAMS) has over 25 years of experience in financial markets across front and middle office roles with financial institutions, hedge funds, and large corporations. In the capital markets, he traded billions of dollars in FX, fixed income, equities and derivatives instruments. Lawrence developed his knowledge and experience in regulatory compliance during his tenures with TD Bank and the Enforcement and Market Regulation teams at the Alberta Securities Commission. As CCO for digital asset firms Tetra Trust and Coinsquare, he led the successful regulatory licensing efforts for both firms and was responsible for developing and implementing end-to-end compliance programs. As CEO for Binance Canada, Lawrence was responsible for governance, market strategy, stakeholder and regulatory relationships

Kunal Bhasin, MBA, CISA, CBP, CCI

Partner, Digital Assets CoE | KPMG LLP.

Kunal possesses over 10 years of experience conducting and leading compliance and risk assessments, and technology audits for crypto, fintech, TradFi and technology sectors. He has been involved in the crypto and blockchain space since 2015, and has been with KPMG since 2018 where he was tasked to build the Crypto & Blockchain Advisory practice. He led the firm’s strategy for its products and services related to cryptoassets, and recently led the firm’s crypto treasury and NFT initiatives. Kunal continues to work with the community, regulators, as well as financial services and institutional investors in both traditional finance and crypto space globally for promoting and enabling institutionalization of cryptoassets while managing the risks in the space

Yohann Calpu

Co-Founder and CEO | Aloomii Inc.

Yohann is a recognized thought leader in the Web3 space. With a strong background in the crypto industry, Yohann has been actively involved in shaping and promoting this emerging technology. 

Drawing from his extensive experience as an experienced technologist and formally trained software architect, Yohann has been working closely with various Web3 clients since 2018. His expertise has been instrumental in driving project growth and establishing strategic deals and partnerships within the Web3 ecosystem.

Yohann’s dedication to Web3 shines through his role as the host of “NFT Hype,” an innovative NFT podcast that debuted in August 2020. By leveraging this platform, he actively contributes to the advancement and expansion of the Web3 industry. Additionally, as the original Co-Founder of EOS Go, Yohann played a pivotal part in bringing together the early EOS community and generating public interest through his podcast.

Prior to his involvement in Web3, Yohann had an impressive professional history, having served as a technologist at renowned organizations such as JP Morgan Chase, IBM, Maersk, and the Ministry of Transportation Ontario. With over 20 years of experience, Yohann has held various roles ranging from systems admin to senior program manager, further enhancing his ability to deeply understand Web3.

Leanne Forbes

| MediaLogic Inc.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, it makes sense that Leanne embarked on her entrepreneurial journey with a fishing marina venture.  Her passion for technology led her to the world of computer consulting and training in Victoria, BC, where she was at the forefront of the burgeoning Internet revolution or Web 1.0 as we now call it.

Leanne moved to Calgary in 1997 to run SCI (now MediaLogic), a national electronic publishing and web consulting company.  Under the MediaLogic brand, Leanne ran a full-service Marketing and Advertising agency, a .NET development team, and for over 26 years, the well-known NRES Regulatory Monitoring SaaS.  In a significant milestone, Leanne facilitated the sale of this business to Nimonik in September 2022, where she is currently the Director of Business Development. 

Leanne’s enterprising spirit extended into the real estate sector in 2002, where she actively participated in sales, marketing, procurement, and development for prominent properties and resorts.  The need to furnish these resorts led to the inception of another business endeavor—an import business and overseas furniture factory in Vietnam.

Leanne is a Certified Blockchain Expert

Today, all things Blockchain and Web3 is Leanne’s focus!  

Lee Ackerman

Distinguished Digital Learning Architect | TEKsystems

With more than 20 years of experience driving digital initiatives, Lee is a firm believer that organizations and individuals who embrace change get ahead. Lee takes a holistic view of the work needed to successfully transform, embracing systems thinking, co-creation and a healthy dose of experimentation. Often heard proclaiming that “the most interesting aspects of digital happen at the intersections,” Lee enthusiastically brings together new areas, ideas, and people – while breaking down silos along the way.

Lee is a digital leader and learning strategist. He received his Master of Educational Technology from the University of British Columbia in 2019 and holds a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Regina. He has championed digital initiatives for leading enterprises through his work with TEKsystems Global Services, Deloitte, and IBM. His work has impacted solutions and organizations across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Lee has advanced digital and learning in the community through participation on boards, committees, presenting, and guiding a leading Canadian post-secondary as they launched digital initiatives advancing the future of learning and future of work. Lee holds three tech-related patents, has published multiple books, and has presented at many industry events on topics including digital transformation, software engineering and DevOps.

Al Del Degan

Founder & CTO | New Idea Machine

As a well-known leader in Calgary’s innovation ecosystem, Al Del Degan has a background in computer science with a diverse career working as a software developer, business analyst, and project manager. He has held various leadership roles, started multiple entrepreneurial ventures, and is the creator and producer of the Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas podcast for Rainforest Alberta. Recognizing a gap in the industry where graduates from bootcamp programs lack experience to get hired, Al created New Idea Machine, a company that provides mentored hands-on experience to new developers to better prepare them for their future career positions with other software companies. Al is also a photographer and a cryptocurrency enthusiast who enjoys SCUBA diving, golf, and woodworking.

Sid Sharma

CEO and Co-Founder | Rehuman Inc.

Sid is a co-founder and CEO of REHUMAN Inc. a decentralized identity & metaverse company with a mission to build an inclusive and equitable global digital economy. REHUMAN is based in the US, Canada, and Tanzania (Africa).

REHUMAN was founded in 2019 with a dream to make a positive impact in the world through innovative products and philanthropy. And for the past 3 years, REHUMAN Foundation is committed to providing daily meals to 1500 children in Tanzania, along with funding for the school infrastructure and maintenance.

Sid has over a decade of experience in HR tech, identity management & cybersecurity, He got involved in blockchain development in 2016 starting with Ethereum, and Hyperledger which eventually led him to self-sovereign identity/ decentralized identity/ ToIP in 2018.

He is also a contributor at W3C, DIF, and Hyperledger. Sid currently leads the Hyperledger chapter for Alberta and the Western Canada chapter for Government Blockchain Association. Sid is a community builder and a supporter of Alberta’s startup ecosystem. In 2019, he launched a western Canada chapter of the Founder Institute. And built a team of over 100 mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners.

John MacPherson

Lead Relationship Manager for the Americas | Cardano Foundation

With a deep-rooted journey in the blockchain sector since 2011, John MacPherson has exemplified a blend of leadership, technical acumen, and community engagement across several notable positions. His tenure at the Cardano Foundation, progressing from an Exchange Relationship Manager to Lead Relationship Manager for the Americas, showcased his commitment to fostering blockchain ecosystems. Prior to Cardano, his roles, including as Director of the PIVX Foundation, demonstrated his versatile expertise in the blockchain domain. Currently as an ecosystem advisor, and as a Web3 Committee Member at the Canadian Blockchain Consortium, John continues to champion the adoption of Web3 technologies across Canada, underscoring his enduring dedication to blockchain innovation and community enrichment.

Sumaiya Noor

Chief Product Strategy and Talent Officer | Letus

Phil Burgess

3x Founder | Hiring Operations | Space and Time Labs

Phil Burgess is an accomplished entrepreneur and team builder with a decade of experience in the startup industry. He currently manages hiring operations for Space and Time, a Web3 startup that connects off-chain storage with on-chain analytic insights. Phil and his team have grown the organization to over 50 employees and secured a $30M Seed round led by Microsoft and Framework Ventures. He also advises startups in non-profit, carbon, and supply chain industries, and is interested in energy tokenization and smart-contracts.

Phil’s passion for building successful teams and delivering results has been the driving force behind his achievements in the startup industry. His experience in various leadership roles has provided him with a deep understanding of how to build and manage teams that are capable of meeting and exceeding expectations.

Phil’s interests in energy tokenization and smart-contracts reflect his passion for exploring emerging technologies and their potential to disrupt traditional industries. He is dedicated to staying at the forefront of these developments and helping startups harness the power of these technologies to achieve their goals.

Randall Baran-Chong, CPA, CA

Lead Steward and Architect | NorthstarDAO

Randall Baran-Chong is an internationally-experienced Web3 founder, investor-advisor, and thought leader based in Toronto. His Web3 journey started in 2017 when he left consulting to found his startup DoTell, a graduate company of Founder Institute Toronto’s first Blockchain cohort sought to help people “live forever” by eliciting, preserving, and sharing people’s life stories on the blockchain. He subsequently joined as a Principal in a pre-seed emerging technologies venture capital and consulting firm where he supported companies in the asset tokenization, behavioural science, and robotics space. As the pandemic emerged, Randall founded MyBubble, which gamified good COVID behaviours and graduated out of the Creative Destruction Lab, followed by its acquisition. Returning to consulting in Amsterdam, became KPMG Global’s Director of Digital Health Strategy and Ecosystems, within the Digital Health Hub, a firm-funded practice he founded to incubate/invest/scale Web2/3 health solutions. He left the firm to found Pathfinders for Ukraine at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, where the non-profit became a leading ‘front door’ Canadian presence in Ukraine and Poland providing emergency visa, flight support, and even developed an app to make jobs-based city relocation selections. 

Upon his return to Canada in late 2022, he became re-ingrained in the Web3 community, founding NorthstarDAO Foundation in 2023, a non-profit whose mission is to bring economic, societal, and individual prosperity by bridging the mainstream to exponential technologies through research, education, and advocacy – leveraging his experience in influencing policy and regulation across 3 House of Commons Committee appearances, including the Industry and Technology Committee. The DAO is a first-of-its-kind community-based advocacy DAO in Canada, coordinating/actioning the voices and interests of grassroots ecosystem of builders, investors, creators. In summer 2023 he co-founded and is CEO of BizBridge.io, a technology company built to serve the 70%+ of small-and-medium businesses transitioning ownership over the next 10 years due to boomer retirement, connecting new generations of ownership and wealth leveraging AI and Web3-rooted technologies. 

David Koroma

Market & Client Experience Lead | Apaylo Finance Technology

Jade Alberts

Founder | Peer Guidance
Vice President Canada | Canada Blockchain Consortium

I am a serial entrepreneur with a track record of successfully guiding multiple companies to exit. In addition to my role as the Founder of Peer Guidance – where we prioritize Purpose Before Profit and operate as a Fractional Business Team with a sharp focus on Scale, Growth, and People 

As an Angel Investor, I’ve made strategic investments in Cleantech, Life Science, Agtech, and various industry-agnostic tech ventures, accumulating a portfolio of over 30 investments. Furthermore, I serve as a Start-Up Advisor for Health Sciences and Social Innovation Hubs at Innovate Calgary (University of Calgary) and Ag Venture Fund SVG Thrive.

On top of these roles, I host a highly influential weekly business podcast, “Telling It Like It Is,” which has garnered over 5 million views, making it a prominent platform for insightful discussions. I’ve also initiated “Founders Coffee” in Alberta, creating a space for like-minded entrepreneurs to connect and exchange ideas.

In addition to these commitments, I am the Vice President at the Canadian Blockchain Consortium, where our mission is to educate and unite the Canadian Blockchain Industry. We actively engage with Provincial and Federal Governments to advocate for sensible regulation in Canada, representing the interests of our 90 member companies. Our influence and expertise extend beyond borders as we frequently share our insights and experiences on global stages. 

Mental Health advocate for entrepreneurs. Speak at events and make sure entrepreneurs realize they are not alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

Layne Nadeau

Founder & CEO | NVAL

Layne has over 19 years of enterprise software experience across multiple industries including institutional finance, retail banking, and digital assets.

Currently: creating the NFT market data and analytics technology that enables the NFT ecosystem.

Leander Mclean

Marketing & Sales Director | QuickBit Crypto Boutique

Results-driven COO with a solid background in brand development, marketing, and compliance within the crypto industry. Adept at fostering financial inclusivity through education and innovation. Skilled in cross-functional collaboration, project management, and customer engagement. Committed to demystifying cryptocurrencies and driving positive change. Cryptocurrency Tracing Certified Examiner.

Surinder Padem

Program Manager | NAIT

Vickram Agarwal

Founder | S1:E2

Nick Meagher

Cloud Security Consultant | ZScaler

Nick Meagher is an award-winning cloud cyber security consultant with acumen spanning computer science, finance, and media communications, and has worked with companies including Microsoft, AWS, Paramount Global, Hitachi, and Canon. He is certified in varying cloud architectures, networking, data privacy, cryptography, complex systems science, nuclear technologies, and cryptocurrency engineering.

Nick is currently building a start-up which applies the principles of fundamental investing to low market capitalization blockchain projects. He brings a deep understanding of consensus, tokenomics, and L2s to the analysis of disruptive use cases.

Nick is passionate about dispelling the convenient – yet ultimately limiting – metaphor of blockchain as currency by explaining use cases which decentralize through a functional mediary. By dispelling this myth, he hopes to enhance the popular understanding of blockchain’s true potential.

As a member of the Royal Society of New South Wales, the Association for Computing Machinery’s SIGSAC & SIGHPC professional groups, the University of Oxford Physics Society, and the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Society, Nick maintains avid interests in a variety of intersecting domains.

Kimberly Hicks

Treasurer, Open Medicine Foundation Canada | COO/CFO/Treasurer, Open Medicine Foundation

Kimberly has worked with Open Medicine Foundation since its early days, helping to build the organization to the global collaborative research entity it is today, and was instrumental in building out its Canada and Australia operations.  As a patient, she is driven by a need to accelerate research findings into diagnostics and treatments and bring precision healthcare to all patients suffering from these diseases. 

She is a C-suite Finance industry veteran with over 25 years of leadership, business transformation, business development/sales, merger integrations, and major strategic initiative experience across private and public sectors, and international settings.  Early in her career she was also involved in projects with the US Air Force to codify effective teaching behaviors and intelligent tutoring capabilities and apply those to intelligent aircraft diagnostic tools.

In the past several years she has transitioned to Health Tech and Healthcare and has a keen interest and passion for the use of technology to solve big healthcare problems. She is specifically focused on the use of AI and Web3 solutions to target answers and treatments more quickly and build community and patient engagement around those solutions. 

Ms. Hicks holds an MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from St. Mary’s University and a BA in Psychology from The University of Texas.

Open Medicine Foundation

www.omf.ngo

Treasurer, Open Medicine Foundation Canada

www.omfcanada.ngo

Treasurer, Open Medicine Foundation Australia Ltd.

www.omfaustralia.ngo

Koleya Karringten

President / Founder | Executive Director | Absolute Combustion International

A proud Albertan technology entrepreneur, advocate and leader, Koleya Karringten has a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of product commercialization, ecosystem building and fostering inclusion in the technology industry. As the co-founder and CEO of Absolute Combustion, she has spent a decade successfully designing and developing ground-breaking cleantech solutions for multiple industry sectors, including aerospace and Oil & Gas. She is a driving force in Alberta’s blockchain technology industry as the CEO of Bitquest Corp., the Executive Director of the Alberta Blockchain Consortium (ABC), co-founder and board member of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women (CBAW), and CEO of Civitas Events Corp. In her leadership role at the ABC, she has merged her passions for technology and social good to bring together blockchain companies, corporate leaders and government to build the province’s largest blockchain ecosystem organization. An influential public speaker, writer and community volunteer, Koleya strongly believes that uniting diverse voices behind a common goal is the path to creating a fairer, more sustainable and prosperous Alberta.

Jade Alberts

Founder | Peer Guidance
Vice President Canada | Canada Blockchain Consortium

I am a serial entrepreneur with a track record of successfully guiding multiple companies to exit. In addition to my role as the Founder of Peer Guidance – where we prioritize Purpose Before Profit and operate as a Fractional Business Team with a sharp focus on Scale, Growth, and People 

As an Angel Investor, I’ve made strategic investments in Cleantech, Life Science, Agtech, and various industry-agnostic tech ventures, accumulating a portfolio of over 30 investments. Furthermore, I serve as a Start-Up Advisor for Health Sciences and Social Innovation Hubs at Innovate Calgary (University of Calgary) and Ag Venture Fund SVG Thrive.

On top of these roles, I host a highly influential weekly business podcast, “Telling It Like It Is,” which has garnered over 5 million views, making it a prominent platform for insightful discussions. I’ve also initiated “Founders Coffee” in Alberta, creating a space for like-minded entrepreneurs to connect and exchange ideas.

In addition to these commitments, I am the Vice President at the Canadian Blockchain Consortium, where our mission is to educate and unite the Canadian Blockchain Industry. We actively engage with Provincial and Federal Governments to advocate for sensible regulation in Canada, representing the interests of our 90 member companies. Our influence and expertise extend beyond borders as we frequently share our insights and experiences on global stages. 

Mental Health advocate for entrepreneurs. Speak at events and make sure entrepreneurs realize they are not alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. 

Trina Arnold

Director of Operations | Canadian Blockchain Consortium

Trina Arnold is the Director of Operations at the Canadian Blockchain Consortium and a contributing driving force behind the organization’s success. As the key support to Founder and Executive Director, Koleya Karringten, Trina plays an integral role in executing the Consortium’s vision, fostering collaboration between industry and government, and ensuring seamless operations across all initiatives. With a strong background in strategic management and event coordination, she helps lead a dynamic team effort that brings together policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to advance Canada’s blockchain ecosystem. Her dedication and leadership are instrumental in the success of major initiatives, including policy summits, trade missions, and industry events.

Kevin Huang

Junior Data Scientist | Crestview Strategy

Kevin Huang is a Data Scientist with Crestview Strategy, based out of Toronto, and works to leverage data to optimize digital campaigns for clients.

He has previous experiences in research and public policy roles at the federal and provincial levels, including conducting bioinformatics research for large-scale projects at the federal level and assisting in the modernization process of operational policy within the Ontario Public Service using modern data-driven approaches.

Jonathan Hartney

Independent Management Consultant & Innovator | YYC Tech Consulting

Sid Sharma

CEO | Innovation Leader | Blockchain, Digital Identity, Future of Work | Rehuman

Koleya Karringten

CEO | Absolute Combustion International

A proud Albertan technology entrepreneur, advocate and leader, Koleya Karringten has a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of product commercialization, ecosystem building and fostering inclusion in the technology industry. As the co-founder and CEO of Absolute Combustion, she has spent a decade successfully designing and developing ground-breaking cleantech solutions for multiple industry sectors, including aerospace and Oil & Gas. She is a driving force in Alberta’s blockchain technology industry as the CEO of Bitquest Corp., the Executive Director of the Alberta Blockchain Consortium (ABC), co-founder and board member of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women (CBAW), and CEO of Civitas Events Corp. In her leadership role at the ABC, she has merged her passions for technology and social good to bring together blockchain companies, corporate leaders and government to build the province’s largest blockchain ecosystem organization. An influential public speaker, writer and community volunteer, Koleya strongly believes that uniting diverse voices behind a common goal is the path to creating a fairer, more sustainable and prosperous Alberta.

Dina Mainville

Founder & Principal | Collisionless

Dina Mainville is the Founder of Collisionless, a consulting and advisory services firm that provides strategic guidance, fractional management, and outsourced staffing solutions to the blockchain industry. She is a cryptocurrency regulatory compliance specialist who, since 2016, has presented to tens of thousands of people across six continents on blockchain, money laundering controls for blockchain assets and global regulatory policy. 

 Dina has advised numerous Global Fortune 500 companies on blockchain initiatives and has trained hundreds of government and law enforcement professionals on cryptocurrency forensic investigations to combat money laundering and financial crime, human trafficking and other illicit activity. 

 Dina currently serves as Head and Chair of the FinTech Committee at the Canadian Blockchain Consortium, and as a member of its Access 2 Banking Committee. She is an Advisory Board member for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and a key cryptocurrency spokesperson for Mastercard.

Erik Kryski

CEO | Bidali

Sheereen Khan

Global, Chief Compliance Officer | Coinsmart

Sheereen is purpose-driven compliance executive and has spent the last 25 years of her career helping
CEOs within the Financial Services sector to execute the right strategy, solve complex problems, create
solutions and get effective results with minimal risks.

She is renowned by local and foreign regulators for the standards she brings to the table and have been
invited by them to review international standards and regulations and speak at risk conferences.

Sheereen is described by her peers as someone who has mastered the art of balancing innovation and
compliance and type of person the crypto space requires.

George Bordianu

Co-founder, CEO | Balance

Rodney MacInnes

COO & AML Compliance Ninja | Outlier Solutions Inc.

Rodney is currently the COO & AML Compliance Ninja at Outlier Solutions Inc. (Outlier) a Canadian-based consulting company that set out to break the consulting mould by focusing on 3 core principles: Value, Open-Source & Continuous Improvement. His financial compliance experience includes anti-money laundering (AML), counter terrorist financing (CTF), fraud and Legislative Compliance Management (LCM). Over the past 10 years, Rodney has held positions in-house, as a consultant, as a strategic leader and as a founder. He has been involved with numerous activities by reporting entities, including MSBs, financial institutions, real estate and securities. He became a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) in early 2011 and is also a graduate of the Canadian Institute Financial Crime Analysis course at Seneca College. Rodney is also a Certified Bitcoin Professional (CBP) who fell down the rabbit hole in 2013. Since then he has been somewhat obsessed with how Bitcoin and other technologies are impacting the financial and regulatory landscape. 

Wayne Logan

Partner | Miller Thomson LLP

Wayne Logan, an experienced Intellectual Property specialist, leads the firm’s focused area of Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and Smart Contract.  He is also co-leader working in the areas of Entertainment and Media law. When you have a question about the blockchain, entertainment and media industries, you can trust Wayne has the answer, or can get it and he will be happy to share it with you.   Wayne knows how to support and work with the genius that drives entrepreneurs, software developers, musicians, authors, athletes and celebrities to excel.  Wayne’s passion and creativity is what fuels his drive to continuously advance his clients’ careers and business plans.

Koleya Karringten

CEO | Absolute Combustion International

A proud Albertan technology entrepreneur, advocate and leader, Koleya Karringten has a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of product commercialization, ecosystem building and fostering inclusion in the technology industry. As the co-founder and CEO of Absolute Combustion, she has spent a decade successfully designing and developing ground-breaking cleantech solutions for multiple industry sectors, including aerospace and Oil & Gas. She is a driving force in Alberta’s blockchain technology industry as the CEO of Bitquest Corp., the Executive Director of the Alberta Blockchain Consortium (ABC), co-founder and board member of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women (CBAW), and CEO of Civitas Events Corp. In her leadership role at the ABC, she has merged her passions for technology and social good to bring together blockchain companies, corporate leaders and government to build the province’s largest blockchain ecosystem organization. An influential public speaker, writer and community volunteer, Koleya strongly believes that uniting diverse voices behind a common goal is the path to creating a fairer, more sustainable and prosperous Alberta.

Kunal Bhasin

Director and Co-Leader Cryptoassets and Blockchain CoE | KPMG

Kunal is the Director and Co-Leader of KPMG Canada’s Cryptoassets and Blockchain CoE. He possesses over 10 years of experience conducting and leading compliance and risk assessments, and technology audits for crypto, fintech, TradFi and technology sectors. He has been involved in the crypto and blockchain space since 2015, and has been with KPMG since 2018 where he was tasked to build the Crypto & Blockchain Advisory practice. He led the firm’s strategy for its products and services related to cryptoassets, and recently led the firm’s crypto treasury and NFT initiatives. Kunal continues to work with the community, regulators, as well as financial services and institutional investors in both traditional finance and crypto space globally for promoting and enabling institutionalization of cryptoassets while managing the risks in the space.

Mark A. Morency

Financial Institutions Practice Leader | Arthur J. Gallagher Canada

Mark Morency is the Financial Institutions Practice Leader for Arthur J. Gallagher
Canada, providing insurance solutions to the financial services industry across Canada.
As a leader in Gallagher’s Global Digital Assets practice, Mark works with
cryptocurrency and blockchain companies globally, along with educating the insurance
industry, to increase the availability of insurance for emerging fintech companies.
Mark joined Gallagher after a 25 year career at Canada’s largest banks. Mark has an
M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a B.Sc. in Actuarial Science
and Economics from the University of Toronto.

Frank Maione

Founder and CEO | Bitcoin4U

Frank Maione is the founder and CEO of Bitcoin4U, a non-custodial cryptocurrency exchange based in Toronto. His interest and passion for Blockchain technology grew from experience in the technology and electronics security sectors in Canada and South Africa, founding  Bitcoin4U in 2019. Frank holds a degree in Electronic Engineering.

Paul Burak, LLM, CAMS

Compliance Officer | Shakepay

Paul Burak is a compliance professional specializing in the crypto space. With over 15 years of experience across various private and public sector roles, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge on anti-money laundering and securities compliance. He is passionate about financial innovation including DeFi and trustless peer-to-peer transactions. Since discovering bitcoin in the early 2010s, Paul has seen the incredible potential that crypto has to make the world a better place.

Emma Todd

CEO | MMH Technology Group

Emma is an Executive Board Member of Blockchain for Impact, which works alongside the United Nations, and is CEO of MMH Blockchain Group which specializes in developing strategy, marketing, corporate communications, PR and events for technology companies. Named one of 2019’s Top 100 Influencers for Sustainable Development Goals, Emma is host to the longest running crypto mining conference in the world, the largest free blockchain conference in Canada and co-organizer of the largest enterprise conference in Canada. She is also a judge for the prestigious Canadian Marketing Awards. Emma’s strengths include a proven track record of achievements and relationship building as well as completing multiple successful projects simultaneously.

Ben Gagnon

Chief Executive Officer | Bitfarms

As Chief Mining Officer of Bitfarms, Ben manages mining operations and strategy for one of the largest and oldest publicly traded Bitcoin mining companies in the world.   Before joining Bitfarms, Ben started building and operating Bitcoin mining facilities in mainland China in 2015. Ben has also founded multiple mining companies where he was responsible for sourcing and developing strategic low-cost power opportunities, facility planning, economic analysis, equipment sourcing, operation, and optimization of industrial-scale crypto mining facilities in Asia and North America.   Ben brings over 7 years of real-world Bitcoin mining experience and is a recognized industry thought leader whose expertise is regularly requested at conferences and from industry leaders around the world.

Koleya Karringten

CEO | Executive Director Chairwoman | Absolute Combustion International

A proud Albertan technology entrepreneur, advocate and leader, Koleya Karringten has a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of product commercialization, ecosystem building and fostering inclusion in the technology industry. As the co-founder and CEO of Absolute Combustion, she has spent a decade successfully designing and developing ground-breaking cleantech solutions for multiple industry sectors, including aerospace and Oil & Gas. She is a driving force in Alberta’s blockchain technology industry as the CEO of Bitquest Corp., the Executive Director of the Alberta Blockchain Consortium (ABC), co-founder and board member of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women (CBAW), and CEO of Civitas Events Corp. In her leadership role at the ABC, she has merged her passions for technology and social good to bring together blockchain companies, corporate leaders and government to build the province’s largest blockchain ecosystem organization. An influential public speaker, writer and community volunteer, Koleya strongly believes that uniting diverse voices behind a common goal is the path to creating a fairer, more sustainable and prosperous Alberta.

Gabriel Ibghy

Chief Legal Officer | Hive Blockchain Technolgoies Ltd.

Gabriel Ibghy joined HIVE in 2021 as Director of Legal Affairs further to the acquisition of GPU Atlantic’s 50MW data center site in New Brunswick, Canada. At GPU.ONE, the parent corporation of GPU Atlantic, he acted as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Legal Affairs. Originally from Montreal, Québec, Mr. Ibghy is a practicing attorney who holds a law degree from the University of Montreal and is member in good standing of the Quebec Bar. Moreover, he holds a Global MBA from the Reichman University as well as a certificate from IE Business School IMBA. Mr. Ibghy has extensive experience in the field of cryptocurrency mining, data centre construction, operations and management and has gained international experience in complex and challenging environments. Mr. Ibghy applies his experience and profound knowledge of this fast-paced industry to the sustained growth and development of HIVE Blockchain Technologies.

Taras Kulyk, JD, MBA

CEO & Co-Founder | Synteq

Taras Kulyk, JD, MBA is SunnySide Digital’s Founder & CEO. He has extensive global experience in digital mining, fintech, and capital markets.

Prior to founding SunnySide Digital, Taras served in a number of senior roles within the digital mining sector; including as SVP Growth at Core Scientific while it was the largest public digital mining company where he originated several billion dollars in total contract value.

 Before beginning his career in the digital asset sector, Taras was an investment banker with BMO Capital Markets covering the traditional mining sector, followed by two years with TD Securities in the Communications, Media and Technology team, where his coverage included technology and media companies.

Ben Harper

Director | Luxor Technologies

As a Financial Associate with Luxor Technologies, a Seattle-based digital mining services company, Ben helps build the software and financial service infrastructure to support the next generation of digital assets. Before joining Luxor, Ben spent six years working in numerous positions in the public and private sector, in Canada and abroad, as a financial, economic, and public policy analyst. Ben sits on the Canadian Blockchain Consortium’s Policy and Advocacy Committee and is passionate about advancing policy to encourage the development of the blockchain industry, and digital asset mining specifically, in Canada. Ben holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Queen’s University.

Mohamed El-Masri

Founder & CEO | PermianChain Technologies Inc.

Mohamed has over eight years of corporate finance experience, giving him a detailed understanding of how to structure alternative investment products. He is the Founder and CEO of PermianChain Technologies Inc., a proprietary technology platform that brings together the crypto-asset mining and energy sectors. Mohamed also serves as Director and CEO of Brox Equity Ltd., which oversees a group of portfolio companies active in oil and gas, power generation and bitcoin mining data centers.

Mike Shidler

Chief Executive Officer | SustainHash Technologies Ltd.

Mike co-founded SustainHash out of a passion for Mining. Having been a hobby miner since 2013, he’s been through some of the best and worst times in blockchain history. With the belief in a more sustainable industry in both business practices, energy consumption, and e-waste management, he’s embarked on a mission to push the boundaries of the Crypto Mining industry.

Fanny Philip, CPA

Independent Director | Bitfarms

Ethan Vera

Chief Operating Officer | Luxor

Ethan serves as the COO of Luxor, a full-stack mining software and services company. Ethan’s expertise in cryptocurrency mining stems from five years of operational experience. Beginning in late 2017, Ethan helped launch altcoin mining pools across North America. In mid summer 2018, Ethan helped build a mining colocation company that hosted a few thousand ASICs, utilizing 4 megawatts of power. Since then, Ethan has helped Luxor grow to one of the largest Bitcoin mining companies globally, pioneering new products such as hashrate-based derivatives and the first ever mining ETF (NYSE:RIGZ).

Previously, Ethan worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, on the M&A team. Ethan covered the blockchain, semiconductor, energy, internet and real estate sectors at Goldman.

Mike Cohen

Chief Executive Officer | Pow.re

Mike is a systems engineer who has been directly involved in digital asset mining since 2013. Mike actively participates in the blockchain industry as an advisor, systems architect and investor for leading industry stakeholders, regulatory and industry bodies, and enterprise customers.

Magdalene Gronowska

Advisor | PRTI Inc.

Magdalena has 5 years of experience in the Bitcoin and digital asset space, where she helped launch the first Bitcoin fund in Canada, oversaw the $215M Quadriga exchange bankruptcy, held senior roles at Bitcoin wallet and mining companies, and spearheaded industry advocacy efforts on proposed crypto exchange regulations. Magdalena has a decade of experience delivering strategic advice to Ministers on low-carbon and energy policy and leading complex, multi-stakeholder, $100+ million public sector projects.

Shaed Hashimkhial

Sr. Manager, Decentralized Strategy | RBCx

Shaed is a Senior manager on the Decentralized Strategy team at RBCx, the tech and innovation banking group at Royal Bank of Canada.

He has 10+ years of experience in technology and has built cross functional expertise in product, sales, partnerships, marketing, and operations. Over the past five years, he has been an operator building and scaling GTM teams at early stage and growth stage startups across EdTech, FinTech, and Web3. This broad exposure has honed his skills as a systems thinker, blending strategic insight with practical execution to address complex business challenges.

In his role at RBCx, Shaed is focused on future proofing the bank by exploring the transformative potential of crypto assets and decentralized technologies. He works at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and risk management, identifying opportunities for RBC to capitalize on emerging financial trends while supporting the banks long term growth and resilience.

Shaed holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Waterloo. 

Amber Scott

Founder & CEO | Outlier Solutions Inc

Amber is a compliance geek with a passion for technology.

After graduating from the University of Waterloo, Amber joined the compliance group at one of Canada’s largest insurers where she focused on the implementation of technology-based processes to streamline compliance. She has since worked in in-house roles with major securities firms and banks. Somewhere along the line, she added MBA, CBP, and a few other letters after her name.

Amber joined a boutique compliance consulting firm, then larger consulting firm, before getting frustrated enough with the status quo to launch Outlier Solutions Inc. (Outlier) in 2013. Outlier specializes in anti-money laundering (AML) and privacy compliance. The company is based on one of the premises of Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers: that to be really good at something you need a lot of practice (about 10,000 hours). Each of Outlier’s team members has 10,000 hours or more of in-house (not consulting) compliance experience. Amber loves leading this team of entrepreneurial compliance badasses.

Amber is a firm believer in the idea that good compliance can enable good business. Find out how at www.outliercanada.com or reach out to her directly at amber@outliercanada.com.

Dina Mainville

Founder & President | Collisionless

With more than 8 years’ experience in blockchain, Dina is recognized for her extensive knowledge of virtual asset regulatory compliance. She is the Founder and President of Collisionless, a Web3 professional services firm, and serves as an Independent Corporate Director of Kraken, one of the world’s largest and longest running crypto exchanges.

Previously, Dina led sales at CipherTrace, a leading blockchain analysis company, guiding it from startup to acquisition by Mastercard. She has worked with nation states, global regulators, central banks, and law enforcement agencies on topics including cryptocurrency regulation, central bank digital currencies, risk mitigation, decentralized finance, and cryptocurrency forensic investigations. Presently, she is empowering victims of financial crimes and building a data orchestration layer for fraud intelligence.

Laure Fouin

Partner, Co-Chair, Digital Assets and Blockchain | Osler

Laure is the co-head of the Digital Assets and Blockchain group and a partner in Osler’s Montréal office. Her practice focuses on financial institutions, financial products and services regulation, securities regulation and investment products (including crypto assets and crypto contracts), structured finance and debt capital markets (DCM). As such she notably helps her clients navigate digitization and ESG strategic and regulatory matters.

Laure is regularly called to share her expertise on matters relating to the use of blockchain technology, cryptoassets, digital tokens, artificial intelligence in financial services, regulatory and compliance issues relating to financial services entities and financial products, including banks and investment funds. She is also recognised as a Rising star in Banking and Finance by IFLR 1000: Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms, ‘One to Watch’ in Corporate Governance by Best Lawyers Canada and won IFLR 1000’s Rising Stars Awards Americas 2020.

Pascal St-Jean

President | 3iQ Corp.

I believe in helping create opportunities to help businesses unleash their true potential and as such, I work with founders & entrepreneurs, who recognize the value of investing in personal and professional growth, not only for their own benefit, but also for that of their employees and customers. My focus is helping companies grow faster, easier, with less risk.

As a serial entrepreneur, I understand the importance of leadership development, team culture building, strategic thinking, and clear operational processes. My long-term vision is simple, yet ambitious – to lead and inspire businesses and their teams so they can reach their full potential. I have done so over the past 20 years, largely by facilitating the understanding and development of the kind of strategic thinking, planning, and execution that helps businesses to succeed.

Karim Hamasni

Head, Decentralized Strategy | RBCx

Karim is the Head of Crypto Asset Innovation at RBCx, the tech and innovation banking group at the Royal Bank of Canada.

He prides himself on being a ‘geek’ that fully immerses himself in the latest tech. He joined RBC in January of 2016 after winning two back-to-back RBC Hackathons. Shortly after, in 2017, Karim led an internal RBC hackathon team that won top accolades for their Blockchain identity project. While with RBC, Karim has been granted three blockchain and cryptocurrency related patents, with a fourth currently under review. Karim’s interest in the space goes back to 2013 and he once ran a small crypto mining operation.

His YouTube channel, where he teaches algorithm design and cryptography, has over 19,000 subscribers and over 1.85 million views.

Heading the Crypto Asset Innovation team, Karim oversees a multidisciplinary group engaged in technology development, research, business development, and risk management. His work centers around assessing and developing the disruptive potential of crypto assets within the realm of traditional finance. Karim has led the Crypto Asset Innovation team at RBC since the fall of 2017.

Karim holds a degree in Computer Science from Brock University and an MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.

Regan McGrath CPA, CA

Founder and CEO | Metrics Chartered Professional Accounting

Regan McGrath is the Founding Partner and CEO of Metrics where she has grown the firm into a national leader in the cryptocurrency space. Regan started working and investing in crypto in 2016 and has been in love with the industry ever since.

In her role as the leader of the virtual CFO services business Regan brings over 10 years experience working in financial strategy with small investment funds and high growth companies, ranging from small startups to large crypto projects and publicly traded companies on global exchanges.  She also works internally within the firm at the intersection of digital assets, tax, accounting and finance to research and influence policies in today’s uncharted technical, taxation and regulatory frameworks.

Regan holds her Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, CPA CA from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, her Certification in Fintech and the Future of Commerce (which largely focused on blockchain innovation) and her Certification in Applied Business Analytics from MIT Sloan School of Management. She is also a published writer and an educator on topics of blockchain, crypto taxation and the future of work including frequent presentations for CPA associations and other professional organizations.

Alex Nelson

Senior Director, Financial Services (Digital Finance and FIG) | ATB

Alex is the Senior Director of Financial Services at ATB Financial, acting as the primary intermediary between Digital Asset business clients and their successful achievement of a fruitful banking relationship in Canada. Prior to coming to ATB in 2017, Alex held an 11 year product and technology leadership role in the telecom industry.

During his current tenure at ATB, Alex continuously works with internal risk and AML partners to author the playbooks that provide prospective digital asset clients with the goalposts they need to be onboarded as a banking partner, all while protecting ATB from undue risk. Allying closely with expert legal counsel in blockchain technologies, Alex launched the regulatory compliant trust accounts and agreements that allow ATB’s digital asset clients to properly keep their client funds safely separated from operational balances. 

Alex is an avid participant in ATB’s digital asset journey through continued digital asset business client advice, authoring ecosystem related position papers, and working with ATB’s product technology teams to drive forward innovation that can bridge the gap between traditional finance and DeFi product offerings. 

Alex is a dual Canadian and US citizen with a Bachelor’s of Science, Marketing degree from the University of Rhode Island.

Yves La Rose

Executive Director and Founder | EOS Network Foundation (ENF)

Yves La Rose is the Executive Director and Founder of the EOS Network Foundation (ENF) and the visionary behind exSat, a pioneering solution designed to enhance Bitcoin’s scalability through a unique Docking Layer. Yves’s journey into blockchain began in 2010 when he started mining Bitcoin, captivated by the potential of decentralized networks. After co-founding EOS Nation in 2018 and leading it to become the top block producer on the EOS Mainnet, Yves dedicated himself to advancing the EOS ecosystem, ultimately establishing the ENF in 2021 to unify stakeholders and strategically propel the network’s growth. Through exSat, Yves is bridging Bitcoin with Layer 2 applications, enabling an interconnected blockchain ecosystem while retaining Bitcoin’s robust security. Yves’s extensive background includes work with the Canadian Government, the Assembly of First Nations, and a transformative period in Japan, where he cultivated a holistic approach to leadership rooted in Eastern philosophies. His unique blend of technical expertise, cultural insight, and commitment to public goods funding positions Yves as a leader shaping the future of blockchain for both EOS and Bitcoin ecosystems.

Alexis Pappas

Chief Innovation Officer | GuildOne

James Graham

CEO | GuildOne Inc.

GuildOne Inc. is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions that help organizations better understand and use data to enhance business performance. Driven by its SynergyDNA technology, solutions are designed to transform complex data from various systems into valuable information assets that are easily understood, shared, and exploited to enhance business performance.

Integrated solutions include software and services enabling organizations to acquire a clearer understanding of operations, make more informed business decisions, identify gaps and streamline business processes, recover lost revenue, yield better bottom line results and achieve compliance. Flagship products include SynergyStudio cross-system data exploitation software and FacilityStudio data-driven measurement schematic software.

Founded in 2001, GuildOne is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Wayne Logan

Partner | Miller Thomson LLP

Wayne Logan, an experienced Intellectual Property specialist, leads the firm’s focused area of Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and Smart Contract.  He is also co-leader working in the areas of Entertainment and Media law. When you have a question about the blockchain, entertainment and media industries, you can trust Wayne has the answer, or can get it and he will be happy to share it with you.   Wayne knows how to support and work with the genius that drives entrepreneurs, software developers, musicians, authors, athletes and celebrities to excel.  Wayne’s passion and creativity is what fuels his drive to continuously advance his clients’ careers and business plans.

Martin Delaney

Sr. Vice President, ESG Transactions | Gallagher Insurance

A specialist in developing innovative solutions for business risk and ESG challenges, Martin has a diverse background in financial risk management, structured surety solutions like On-Demand Payment bonds (ODP), trade credit and cyber security, with expertise in the financial and energy sectors that includes product development. As Sr. Vice President of ESG Transactions at leading global insurance firm Gallagher, he is engaged in building a new generation of carbon and sustainability products to help organizations meet the demands of accelerating climate risks and regulatory pressures. 

Demien Newman

Founder and CEO | Greenworks ESG

A veteran sales executive with over 20 years in the Canadian energy sector, Demian experienced the nuanced and complex world of environmental reporting, sustainability optics and business ethics from the perspective of an industry insider. Frustrated by issues of poor data reporting and insufficient storytelling, in 2019 he founded GreenWorks ESG, a platform designed to increase transparency by making it easier for any size company to track, manage, and validate their true ESG impacts. GreenWorks ESG is built on the belief that ESG is the key to building real, tangle, quantitative substance into Sustainability reporting.

Tamie Dolny

Associate | Aird & Berlis LLP

Corporate insolvency litigator, cross-listed between Financial Services (Insolvency & Restructuring) and Litigation at Aird & Berlis LLP, with a practice emphasis on complex commercial restructuring and enforcement proceedings

Anish Kamboj

Principal and Founder | Solstice Law

Anish Kamboj is an associate in the Miller Thomson LLP corporate tax group. He is one of the few Canadian lawyers whose practice is in tax law (tax litigation, corporate tax and international tax planning) and the digital asset space. Anish regularly advises clients on their crypto-related concerns. He presents and publishes on the taxation of crypto-assets with his publications cited by the National Insolvency Review, the Practitioner’s Income Tax Act, Canada Tax Service, and Taxes & Wealth Management (a Thomson Reuters quarterly newsletter). His goal is to shed light on this developing area while keeping Canadians informed of the tax implications of their personal and business activity. Anish can be reached at akamboj@millerthomson.com.

Anne Ramsay

FinTech/Crypto Advisor | Ramsay Advisors

Anne is a lawyer and financial services veteran, most recently focused on innovation, FinTech and digital assets.  Anne currently helps private companies with regulatory, compliance, risk management, governance and scale up.

Adam Garetson

Partner | Gowling WLG

Adam Garetson is Partner in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office and a leading member of the firm’s Blockchain & Smart Contracts and Technology Industry groups, helping clients navigate the complex legal and commercial terrain surrounding financial technology, regulation and digital assets.  Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Adam served as General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for one of Canada’s top TSX-listed digital asset market infrastructure companies, while acting as President of a Canadian Securities Administrators licensed restricted dealer trading platform. Adam also previously served as Director and Senior Counsel at Canada’s largest global financial institution within its Capital Markets division, while acting as a Committee Member of the Canadian Bankers Association Securities Legislation Specialist Group. Adam is also currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Law, teaching a course on Digital Assets and Blockchain Law and Policy

Heidi J. T. Exner

Founding Partner | Ethical Edge

Heidi J. T. Exner is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a licensed Private Investigator in the Province of Alberta, and she holds a Chainalysis Reactor Certification (CRC). She acquired her Bachelor of Arts (First Class Hons), Juris Doctor (JD), and Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Calgary, and she plans to become a licensed attorney in the state of New York, USA. Bringing decades of international experience to the table, in 2023, Heidi formed Ethical Edge PI & Corporate Advisors with a vision to foster transparency, accountability, and trust in Canada's corporate landscape. Over the years, Heidi has served on numerous boards, councils, and committees within non-profits and major institutions across Canada. She is locally and globally celebrated for her academic, entrepreneurial, and community contributions; her list of accolades and awards is largely due to her philanthropic efforts and formidable work in the realm of white-collar crime. In her personal time, Heidi is passionate about fitness and nutrition, and she is a zealous advocate for animal rights.

Natalie Bravo

Digital Assets and Blockchain Lawyer | Renno & Co

Natalie is a Digital Assets and Blockchain lawyer at Renno & Co. She specializes in cryptocurrency and blockchain law, offering expert guidance on company and token structuring, DAO governance, and compliance matters.

Candy M. Davis, CPA, CGA

Founder | Davis Accounting

Candy M. Davis, CPA, CGA, founder of Davis Accounting & Tax, is one of Canada’s foremost experts in cryptocurrency and digital asset tax accounting, having guided clients nationwide for more than a decade. Her work and publications have been instrumental in helping the accounting industry adapt to emerging technologies. Through her commitment to professional education, speaking engagements, and practical tax work, she has earned recognition as a trusted authority in professional circles. Davis recently joined CPA Canada’s Cryptocurrency Working Group, where she is positioned to advise the profession and work directly with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This role offers her a new platform to share her extensive experience in this dynamic industry with key regulatory stakeholders. Her comprehensive knowledge of both traditional accounting and tax principles and blockchain technology makes her a valuable member of the Canadian Blockchain Consortium’s Policy and Advocacy Committee. For more information visit www.cryptocurrencytaxaccountant.ca.

Julia Baranovskaya, CFE, CAMS, CCI

Chief Compliance Officer | NDAX

Julia Baranovskaya is a distinguished compliance leader in the financial service industry with an extensive background in the financial services sector, focusing on regulatory compliance. As the Chief Compliance Officer at Ndax and a founding team member, she has been instrumental in evolving the company from its initial concept to a successful creation over the past seven years. Julia’s mission has been to foster a safer and more secure cryptocurrency trading environment for Canadians, advocating for the development and implementation of regulations in the virtual currency markets.

Her dedication extends beyond regulatory compliance; Julia is committed to educating investors and empowering their decision-making processes. She believes in the critical importance of informed investing and actively works to provide investors with the information and tools they need to navigate the complex landscape of crypto asset markets confidently.

Julia’s expertise is further evidenced by her attainment of several prestigious designations, including Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and Certified Cryptocurrency Investigator (CCI). These credentials highlight her comprehensive knowledge and commitment to combating financial crime, enhancing transaction security, and ensuring compliance in the evolving digital asset space.

Before her engagement at Ndax, Julia’s career spanned several CIRO-registered firms, such as CIBC Wood Gundy and AltaCorp Capital, where she held various compliance-related positions. The fusion of her solid legal and compliance foundation, coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit, naturally propelled her toward the blockchain and digital asset class, where she continues to make significant contributions to the field.

Kunal Bhasin, MBA, CISA, CBP, CCI

Partner, Advisory Services & Co-Leader, Cryptoassets & Blockchain CoE | KPMG LLP

Kunal is the Director and Co-Leader of KPMG Canada’s Cryptoassets and Blockchain CoE. He possesses over 10 years of experience conducting and leading compliance and risk assessments, and technology audits for crypto, fintec, TradFi, and technology sectors.

Didier Lavallee

Chief Executive Officer | Tetra Trust

Didier has spent the last 16 years in capital markets and asset servicing experience across Canada and the US. Prior to becoming CEO of Tetra, Didier held various leadership positions at the Royal Bank of Canada including Head of Canadian Custody Product for RBC I&TS. Before that, Didier also ran RBC I&TS North American FX Sales Trading team, FX Product and held various roles in capital markets with RBC, UBS and Genuity. Didier holds a B.A. in Finance and Administrative Studies from Western University.

Pamela Draper

President and Chief Executive Officer | Bitvo Inc and Pateno Payments Inc

Pamela Draper is the President and CEO of Pateno Payments Inc., a firm that provides development solutions in the payments space, as well as the President and CEO of Bitvo Inc., a crypto asset trading platform launched in Canada in 2018. Prior to joining Pateno and Bitvo, Pamela spent approximately 14 years with top tier Canadian banks, in the areas of corporate and investment banking. Most recently Pamela held the position of Director in BMO Capital Markets’ Equity Capital Markets group in Toronto where she was responsible for assisting North American corporate clients raising capital in public and private markets. Pamela obtained an Honours Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Current voluntary positions include acting as a Director for the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women and for the Calgary Public Library Foundation. Pamela also serves as an Advisory Committee Member to Rallie, a financial technology company on a mission to get more women investing.

Adam Cai

Chief Executive Officer | VirgoCX

Dean Skurka

President | Bitbuy/Wonderfi

dean@bitbuy.ca

Farhan Memon

Vice President, Digital Asset and Block Chain Product Management | Mastercard

Experienced product management executive with a demonstrated history of creating innovative websites and apps in Fintech and Digital Media. Extensive knowledge in Financial Services and Card Payments, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Advertising, and Social Media. Strong entrepreneurship background with a JD focused in Law from Golden Gate University School of Law.

Lucas Matheson

Country Director (Canada) | Coinbase

Hashim Mitha

CEO | MeetAmi

We are witnessing the evolution of our financial services sector and the emergence of digital assets. The amazing team at MeetAmi Innovations is building for the future… A platform to empower Wealth Management Advisors to transact in digital assets and to meet the evolving demands of their clients.

Chris Zuehlke

Global Head | Cumberland DRW

I am a Partner at DRW, where I serve as the Global Head of Cumberland, a global leader in crypto assets and a subsidiary of DRW.

Proven leader in operational excellence with extensive experience building trading operations from the ground up. Skilled in software development, trade research, automated and OTC trading, compliance, operations, market structure and regulation design.

Giles Anderson

Digital Asset Sales and Relationship Management VP @ Fidelity Clearing Canada | Fidelity Clearing Canada

I lead the sales of our IIROC and OSC approved Crypto Assets trading and custody platform in Canada. FCC is Canada’s first IIROC approved dealer for Crypto Assets and, as Carrying Broker, we offer our Crypto Assets platform as a service to other investment dealers and institutional investors. We are compliant for Crypto Assets under both IIROC and NI 81-102 (we can custody for investment funds).

Lisa Durnford

Director, Crypto Compliance and Product Risk | Wealthsimple

I have experience in risk management, compliance, product management and design, legal research, managing teams, building partnerships with strong values alignment, advocacy, negotiating, and event planning. I love tackling a new challenge, incorporating creativity into every role, and helping teammates and communities grow in any way that I can.

Mark Greenberg

Managing Director (Canada) | Kraken

I am the Managing Director, Canada for Kraken Digital Asset Exchange. Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrency so that you and the rest of the world can achieve financial freedom and inclusion.

I am known for jumping into the white spaces of an organization, solving problems where no one’s succeeded before and identifying opportunities that were previously unnoticed. I do this because I’m unsatisfied with the status quo, both professionally and personally.

Jonathan White, CBP, CRC

FinTech Management Consultant | Jonathan White

Jonathan has been a key stakeholder managing global payments, cryptocurrencies, and AML/KYC compliance for financial services firms for 20+ years.  A founder of Payline Financial Inc., a successful online global payments company, and a crypto exchange startup in Latin America, he is known for his strategic vision, analytical mindset, and ability to navigate complex business landscapes.  He is a trusted advisor to executive teams and successfully guided organizations through periods of transformation.

Lili Infante

CEO | CAT Labs

Lili Infante is the CEO of CAT Labs building digital asset recovery and cybersecurity tools to fight crypto crime. She spent the last decade as a Special Agent at the US Department of Justice, DEA chasing crypto criminals, and leading some of the most prolific crypto cases in history, to include the takedown of Hydra Market – the largest and longest dark web market in the world accounting for over 80% of all dark web cryptocurrency transactions.

Brent Bowden

Financial, Tax and Regulatory Account Exec | Chainalysis

Sean Tweed, CFE, CAMS, CCAS, CCI

Cryptocurrency and Fraud Investigator | The Preston Matthews Group Inc.

Sean is a Cryptocurrency and Fraud Investigator at The Preston Matthews Group and has received certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, and a Certified Cryptoasset Anti-Financial Crime Specialist. Sean’s work predominantly focuses on helping individuals who have fallen victim to cryptocurrency romance, pig butchering, and investment scams.

Lorne Lantz

Founder | Breadcrumbs

Lorne Lantz is the founder of Breadcrumbs, the crypto investigation tool. He co-authored the book, “Mastering Blockchain”, and has produced educational videos on blockchain. With almost a decade worth of blockchain experience spanning from Silicon Valley to Asia, Lorne has founded several startups from a Bitcoin remittance service, a cryptocurrency wallet, a Bitcoin Point of Sale system, to a crypto trading platform. Lorne has a Computer Engineering degree from the University of Manitoba and an MBA from McMaster University.

Marc Lijour

Head of Innovation | Financial Services Industry | Exaion

Marc Lijour is an entrepreneur, researcher, and educator on a mission to unlock human potential in a world increasingly governed by data and software. At Exaion, he is actively working with the financial services industry to accelerate, automate, and secure data processing, leveraging the team expertise in the operation of large-scale critical infrastructure. Exaion helps Fortune 500 and tier 1 banks such as Socgen, Goldman Sachs, and BNP Paribas achieve concrete business outcomes by leveraging AI, Quantum, Blockchain, Digital Twins, and other high performance computing workloads while reducing energy consumption and maintaining the lowest carbon footprint in industry.

Marc is committed to sharing his knowledge and passion for innovation. He’s teaching strategy to his MBA students. He’s advising startups in the Web3 and the Quantum streams at the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) between HEC Montréal and the University of Toronto. He serves on the board of non-profit organizations in the tech industry such as TechConnex and NorthstarDAO. 

Jessica Stansfield

Partner | WeirdFoulds

Jessica brings a client-focused and practical approach to complex and high stakes litigation. She has significant experience acting for both private and publicly held corporations, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and individuals in disputes involving asset tracing, civil frauds and conspiracies, shareholder rights, director and officer liability, consumer banking services, and breach of fiduciary and other employee duties. Jessica also advises clients on internal policies and controls, evidence preservation, and regulatory and litigation risks arising from data breaches, cybersecurity incidents, and misappropriations of funds and digital assets.

Before joining WeirFoulds, Jessica was an Associate at the Toronto office of a full-service national firm, where she maintained a diverse commercial litigation and professional liability practice. Her experience includes representing clients before the Ontario Superior Court, Ontario Divisional Court, Federal Court, and all levels of court in British Columbia. She has also represented clients before numerous administrative tribunals and regulatory bodies.

Jessica is an involved member of the broader legal community. She volunteers with Pro Bono Students Canada as a supervising lawyer and is a contributing author of the CanLII Manual to British Columbia Civil Litigation, which was awarded the Hugh Lawford Award for Excellence in Legal Publishing. In addition, Jessica volunteers with St. Michael’s Homes where she acts as a Co-Chair of the Board of Directors.

Sheereen Khan

Founder and Lead Advisor | REGULATIVITY

With over two decades of unwavering dedication to the field of compliance, Sheereen Khan stands as a seasoned expert in the realm of regulatory adherence and risk management. As a Senior Compliance Executive, her illustrious career is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence, steadfast commitment to ethical standards, and an unyielding passion for ensuring organizations operate within the bounds of the law.

Sheereen’s journey into the world of compliance began with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics, a solid foundation upon which she would build an illustrious career. Her drive and thirst for knowledge led her to earn a Masters in Accounting (CPA) with a specialization in Risk Management, propelling her to the forefront of the industry.

Throughout her professional trajectory, Sheereen has honed her expertise by serving in key roles at prominent organizations across various sectors. Her career highlights include leading compliance teams at renowned financial institutions and global corporations. She is known for steering these organizations through complex regulatory landscapes, ensuring they not only meet but exceed industry standards.

Sheereen’s two decades of hands-on experience have seen her tackle multifaceted challenges with an astute understanding of the ever-evolving compliance landscape. She has successfully implemented robust compliance programs, overseen thorough risk assessments, and crafted comprehensive strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities. Her ability to seamlessly integrate emerging technologies into compliance frameworks has garnered recognition within the industry.

Beyond her professional achievements, Sheereen is an advocate for ethical business practices, actively promoting a culture of integrity and transparency. She has mentored numerous compliance professionals, nurturing the next generation of experts who will continue to champion ethical conduct and regulatory compliance.

A dynamic and forward-thinking individual, Sheereen’s leadership has not only resulted in substantial growth and success for the organizations she has served but has also established her as a thought leader in the compliance arena. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and ethical principles is a beacon for others in the industry, and her legacy of compliance innovation continues to shape the future of regulatory adherence.

Joseph Iuso

Global Regulatory Affairs at KYC2020. | KYC2020

Joseph Iuso is the Executive Director of the Canadian MSB Association and co-founder and responsible Global Regulatory Affairs at KYC2020.  Joseph is a solutions-focused Senior Executive and Consultant with more than 35 years of success across multiple sectors including IT, AML compliance, banking, financial services, e-commerce, payments, digital/crypto currency, and identity verification/management. He has leveraged his extensive experience in the Fintech/Regtech spaces as it relates optimal ROI, sales, compliance, and training. Throughout his career, Joseph has held many leadership positions at companies such as KYC2020, Payment Source, Bitbuy, Clipmoney, UseMyServices, TEKchand, ACHreturnsRX, INGdirect, RBC, JAWZ, CIBC, Interac, and IBM. He also holds many accreditation including CAMS, CFCS, CRC, & several business, technical, and project management certifications.

Justin Newton

CEO and co-founder | Netki

Justin Newton is the CEO and co-founder of Netki, the leading Web3 Credential Authority and DeFi compliance provider. Netki’s solutions help wallet providers, exchanges, banks, fintech, governments and any company using blockchain technology comply with recent FATF, FINMA and FinCen guidance, while maintaining the principles of privacy and autonomy on which blockchain and digital assets were founded. Justin has consistently predicted where crypto and DeFi regulation is going, and ensured that Netki’s tools were always a step ahead of regulatory requirements.  As the architect of both the Credential Authority and DeFi Sentinel, Justin’s views are regularly sought out by regulators operating at the intersection of new technology and combating risk. He was recently Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Digital identity initiative and will be speaking at Davos in 2024 to present the team’s findings. You can read the paper from the working group here.

Lewis Cohen

Co-founder | DLx Law LLP.

Lewis Rinaudo Cohen is co-founder of DLx Law, a law firm created to serve the needs of a new, technology-driven economy.  Lewis works together with his colleagues to provide in-depth legal counsel to startups, growth companies, major enterprises, venture and investment funds, and governmental entities on a broad range of matters involving the use of crypto assets, blockchain, and other disruptive technologies.  Passionate about addressing the many legal issues that arise when innovative technologies are used to change the way businesses and individuals work together, Lewis has become a major thought leader on these topics.  Lewis is the lead author of “The Ineluctable Modality of Securities Law: Why Fungible Crypto Assets Are Not Securities”, a leading work on the application of U.S. securities laws to the use of crypto assets.

Lewis brings more than 20 years of experience as a traditional capital markets and finance partner at two Global Top 50 law firms.  Lewis is a frequent public speaker on the topic of blockchain and distributed ledger technology.  Lewis served on the Board and Executive Committee of the Structured Finance Industry Group (SFIG).  Lewis is also recognized by Chambers Global as one of only five lawyers in “Band 1” for Legal: Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies – USA.

Rodney MacInnes

COO & AML Compliance Ninja | Outlier Compliance Group

Rodney is currently the COO & AML Compliance Ninja at Outlier Compliance Group (Outlier) a Canadian-based consulting company that set out to break the consulting mould by focusing on 3 core principles: Value, Open-Source & Continuous Improvement. Rodney is a Certified Bitcoin Professional (CBP) and a Certified Ethereum Professional (CEP), who fell down the rabbit hole in 2013. Since then, he has been somewhat obsessed with how Bitcoin and other technologies are impacting the financial and regulatory landscape. His financial compliance experience includes anti-money laundering (AML), counter terrorist financing (CTF), fraud and Legislative Compliance Management (LCM). Over the past 15+ years, Rodney has held positions in-house, as a consultant, strategic leader and a founder. He became a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) in early 2011, and is a graduate of the Canadian Institute Financial Crime Analysis course at Seneca College. More recently, Rodney is a member of the CryptoCurrency Certification Consortium’s (C4’s) Certified Bitcoin Professional Examination Committee, where he assisted in revamping the questions, content and training for the current certification.

Regan McGrath, CPA CA

Founder and CEO | Metrics Chartered Professional Accounting Inc.

Regan McGrath is the Founding Partner and CEO of Metrics where she has grown the firm into a national leader in the cryptocurrency space. Regan started working and investing in crypto in 2016 and has been in love with the industry ever since.

In her role as the leader of the virtual CFO services business Regan brings over 10 years experience working in financial strategy with small investment funds and high growth companies, ranging from small startups to large crypto projects and publicly traded companies on global exchanges. She also works internally within the firm at the intersection of digital assets, tax, accounting and finance to research and influence policies in today’s uncharted technical, taxation and regulatory frameworks.

Regan holds her Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, CPA CA from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, her Certification in Fintech and the Future of Commerce (which largely focused on blockchain innovation) and her Certification in Applied Business Analytics from MIT Sloan School of Management. She is also a published writer and an educator on topics of blockchain, crypto taxation and the future of work including frequent presentations for CPA associations and other professional organizations.

Moty Moravvej

Founder and CEO | NeXFi Solutions Inc

Moty is a Finance Ph.D. candidate specializing in Blockchain, Modern Payment Systems, and Fintech. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in software engineering and an MBA in Capital Markets, her interdisciplinary background enriches her research.

Her second line of research is Market Mircostructure. Prior to her doctoral studies, Moty accrued a decade of experience in the stock market. She contributed to international projects like cross-border settlement and market surveillance. Her research offers valuable insights for policymakers in financial innovation.

Nick Waytula

Head of Tax | Crypto Tax Calculator

Nick is a licensed attorney and the Head of Tax at Crypto Tax Calculator with over 6 years of experience in the Industry. He has previously held key roles at Deloitte and TurboTax, focusing on digital asset taxation and blockchain compliance. At Crypto Tax Calculator, Nick helps drive the development of a leading software that enables taxpayers around the world to accurately and efficiently complete their crypto taxes.