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SPEAKERS

EVAN SHAPIRO 

  • Many know Evan as the official, unofficial cartographer of the Media Universe since Deadline published Evan’s first Media Universe Map. It has since been adopted by businesses, executives, analysts, and colleges as the unofficial official representation of the map of media. Using his very specific point of view, Evan charts Media's future through his essays on the Media War & Peace Newsletter, and with his change agency, ESHAP.

     Evan is also an Emmy and Peabody award-winning producer of TV, films and podcasts, including Portlandia and This Film Is Not Yet Rated. He also serves as a professor at NYU and Fordham Schools of Business, as Board Chair for non-profit educational enterprise One Diverse Industry, and as co-host of the Cancel Culture Podcast.

RON TITE

  • Ron is an award-winning advertising writer and creative director who has worked with some of the world’s most respected brands, including Air France, Fidelity, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Volvo, and is the founder and chief creative officer of Church+State, an agency that unifies content and advertising where he also is the host and executive producer of Church+State’s hit podcast, The Coup, which recently won “Outstanding Business Series” from the Canadian Podcast Awards and the NY Festivals.

    Trained at the legendary Second City, his presentations are not only information-packed but also infused with his unique humour. Ron was named one of the “Top 10 Creative Canadians” by Marketing Magazine and his third book, The Purpose of Purpose, will be released Fall 2024.

ALAN BREZNICK

  • Alan is a business editor and research analyst who has tracked the cable, broadband and video markets like an over-bred bloodhound for more than 20 years. As a senior analyst at Light Reading's research arm, Heavy Reading, Alan authored numerous reports, columns, white papers and case studies, moderated dozens of webinars, and organized and hosted regional conferences on cable, broadband and IPTV technology topics. He was the founding editor of Light Reading Cable, transforming a monthly newsletter into a daily website. Prior to joining Light Reading, Alan was a broadband analyst for Kinetic Strategies and a contributing analyst for One Touch Intelligence.

Gino Dion

  • Located in Saint-John, New-Brunswick Canada, Gino is Head of the Nokia’s Innovation Solutions team. In his 25+ years in telecom industry, he has extensively worked with CxOs, heads of Network Operations of Service Providers & MSOs worldwide, and major webscale corporations such as Apple, Meta and Google.

    Gino has extensive experience in all aspects IP service delivery, low-latency optimizations, advanced innovation R&D, IoT security, service assurance and cloud native technologies. Gino is recognized as a Bell Labs Fellow, and also holds over 15 patents in the telecommunications space, including technology such as video multicast fast channel-changes, WIFI algorithms, and converged wireline & wireless access. Gino complements the leadership teams of Nokia major accounts and primarily focuses on igniting R&D innovation opportunities for Nokia and their customers.

GEOFF BATSTONE

  • Geoff has been practicing telecommunications and corporate law for over twenty-five years, first at the regulator, and then companies. He has international experience providing advice to clients and governments in over twenty-five countries, advising clients on a wide range of telecommunications regulatory and legal matters, with a particular experience in the area of fibre-optic submarine cable systems. Until very recently, Geoff was General Counsel to the Distributel group of companies.  Purchased by Bell Canada, Distributel was one of the largest independent telephone companies in Canada, with over 400 employees and approximately $100M in annual revenue.

    From 2008 to 2012, he was Associate Director, Legal and Regulatory in the London headquarters of Cable & Wireless Communications Plc, a FTSE listed telecoms company with operations in more than thirty countries.  Prior to that Geoff was V.P. Legal and Regulatory, Eastern Caribbean for C&W and responsible for all legal and regulatory matters in six Caribbean countries.  Before joining Cable & Wireless, he spent six years as Legal Counsel to the CRTC, Canada’s telecommunications and broadcasting regulator, where he advised the Commission on various issues including tariffs and price regulation, hearing processes and procedures, administrative law, access subsidies, dispute resolution, and universal service.

     

JAY KERR-WILSON

  • Jay is the co-leader of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications group at Fasken and practices primarily in the areas of communications and public law, with a particular emphasis on copyright. Regularly representing both Canadian and foreign communications and technology companies, he advises clients on issues related to telecommunications and broadcasting regulation, trademarks, and copyright licensing and liability.

    Jay represents large and small, Canadian and foreign communications and technology companies in proceedings before the Copyright Board of Canada, advising them on issues related to copyright licensing and copyright liability. Regularly representing clients in appeals and judicial reviews before the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada, he is at the forefront of the debate surrounding the regulation of rapidly evolving communications technologies.

SCOTT PRESCOTT

  • Scott specializes in communications and administrative law and serves as the co-managing partner of Fasken’s Ottawa office. He possesses extensive knowledge of the legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks governing Canada's broadcasting and telecommunications industries. Scott has provided complex legal and strategic advice to a diverse range of clients, including leading Canadian and international communications companies. His advisory work also extends to cable, IPTV, and satellite distributors, television and radio broadcasters, online content providers, foreign programming services, internet service providers, and wireline and wireless telecommunications carriers.

    Scott’s communications practice encompasses licensing and regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, regulatory and statutory interpretation, ownership and control transfers, Canadian ownership and foreign investment, regulatory and policy frameworks, building access and telecommunications interconnection, licensing and tariffs. Additionally, he represents clients in various proceedings before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

John Roman

  • John is CCSA’s newly appointed Director of Legal & Regulatory Affairs. With more than 14 years of dedicated experience in policy, regulation, and consulting within the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors, his has an extensive track record of crafting regulatory submissions, supporting Governor in Council (GIC) requests, and creating and delivering presentations for appearances at CRTC and Senate Committee hearings.

    John brings experience as an intervener and applicant in numerous regulatory and governmental hearings and has been involved with licensing, mergers, pricing models, and service frameworks – providing him a deep understanding of the regulatory complexities facing the industry today.

DEREK SEGUIN

  • Based in Montreal, Derek is one of the most sought-after stand-up comedians on the international circuit.  He has performed at the prestigious, invitation-only Just For Laughs festival an impressive 11 times and has appeared at every major festival in the country, making numerous television appearances along the way. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on CBC Radio’s The Debaters, where he has appeared more than forty times and is a fan favorite.

    Whether he's poking fun at politics or sharing anecdotes about life with his children, he offers his perspective without pushing a selfish agenda. His undeniable charm makes him a joy to watch and listen to, which is a big reason why he is one of Canada’s most in-demand comedians. He’s sure to have you in stitches!

DOUG SHAPIRO

  • Doug is an independent advisor and consultant and senior advisor for Boston Consulting Group and writes The Mediator, a widely read industry blog.

    From 2021-2022, Doug was the Chief Financial Officer of Pugilist Capital LLC, an investment firm formed with the purpose of acquiring media and media-adjacent technology businesses. He joined Time Warner in 2007, holding various senior roles until 2021 which including EVP and Chief Strategy Officer at Turner, a division of WarnerMedia where he headed the Corporate and Data Strategy functions. Prior to that he served as the SVP of International and Corporate Strategy at Time Warner Inc. where he helped drive their global strategy and business development initiatives. Doug was also senior analyst at Banc of America Securities where he covered the Cable and Satellite TV and Media Conglomerate sectors and was the head of the Media and Telecommunications research team and was ranked as one of the top Cable and Satellite analysts by Institutional Investor magazine for 10 years running.

NATHALIE THÉBERGE

  • Nathalie has over 20 years of experience promoting Canada’s creative industries, distinguishing herself in the fields of culture and copyright. Prior to joining the CRTC, she was Vice-Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Copyright Board of Canada, where she directed the work done by the Board. Her extensive experience was also gained in several executive positions held at Canadian Heritage, where she was at the forefront of driving cultural and copyright measures in several major trade negotiations, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as agreements with South Korea, Japan, and the European Union. She also led the development of Canada’s Creative Export Strategy.

     

    At the international level, Nathalie led the International Network for Cultural Policy, representing Canada as the national contact point for UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, a position she held from 2010 to 2018.