Categories: Business
Wendy Millard RGD
Director of Design at Empire Life
Wendy Millard is the Director of Design at Empire Life, combining over 30 years of visual communication expertise with a proven track record in design management and creative operations.
A specialist in Workfront (Project Management) and Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems, she is dedicated to optimizing in-house design workflows and transforming design operations into an integrated business ecosystem that drives corporate design excellence.
Her comprehensive approach bridges creative vision with business performance, encompassing design management, multi-touch point marketing and corporate governance. An industry advocate, Wendy serves as Vice-President of the Kingston School of Art (KSOA) and is a Past President of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD).
Paul Jen
Managing Partner at Paul Jen Communications (PJC)
Paul Jen is Managing Partner of Paul Jen Communications (PJC), one of Canada’s leading brand-elevation firms. He founded PJC in 2015 with a single conviction: the most valuable brands are not reinvented, they are elevated.
For more than a decade, he has led a senior practice devoted to one discipline, taking established companies whose brand no longer reflects the calibre of the business and repositioning them as the defining name in their category. His work reaches across three continents, from a century-old New York institution made contemporary to two of Canada’s foremost Indigenous-owned enterprises brought to the national stage, among them a client that tripled in size and earned Gold Standard in Canada’s Best Managed Companies. PJC is a Certified LGBT+ Business Enterprise.
Mike Ukstins
Director, Managed Services at Cella by Randstad Digital
Mike Ukstins is a creative industry professional with an international MBA and leadership experience in agency and in-house settings.
Having recently launched and led Cella’s award-winning creative studio at Fresenius Medical Care, Mike enjoys helping companies of various sizes and industries elevate creative output through a focus on process, people and technology. Mike began his career as a graphic designer, gaining more than 20 years of experience across marketing, creative operations and strategy. He understands the challenges that creatives face, speaks their language and inspires them to do great work. Mike’s thoughtful approach to leadership and client support helped his career grow to manage teams, processes and operations. Mike sees the big picture and enjoys finding common ground among stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and opinions. He’s a strong communicator and comfortable in conversations with everyone from the C-suite to production.
Jason Boyer
Senior VP, Advisory and Transformation at Aquent Studios
Jason Boyer is a marketing and AI transformation leader who helps organizations translate creativity and emerging technology into practical business advantage.
As Senior Vice President at Aquent Studios, he advises Fortune 100 companies on growth, analytics and agentic AI. He draws on experience as CMO at Deloitte, where he helped shape the firm’s AI market strategy and influenced more than $1 billion in new business opportunities and, at Dubai World, where he built a global digital marketplace connecting hundreds of thousands of businesses across Asia and the Middle East. A consistent thread through his work is using technology to build human connection at scale. He brings that perspective to leadership forums and company events, helping organizations move beyond AI experimentation toward measurable business value.
Marjorie Malpass
Founder & CEO, Nerve Strategic
Marjorie Malpass began her career on stage—touring internationally in theatre, improv, comedy and acting in film, TV and voice work.
Lauren Wong Lee & Gabby Lord
Founders of Super Keen
Lauren Wong and Gabby Lord founded Super Keen in 2021 to create the kind of studio they always wanted to work for.
As Creative Director, Gabby creates story-led brand systems that are based on a strategic foundation. Prior to Super Keen, Gabby worked at leading design studios across Sydney, Berlin and NYC. She has worked on brands like Apple Music Awards, Ableton, Netflix, and RBMA. Gabby curates a directory called OMGLORD that shares thoughts on design, creativity, and handy resources. As Strategy Director, Lauren helps founders translate their vision into clear strategy and compelling creative work. She has worked with big global brands like Samsung, Google and Airbnb as well as dozens of founder-led startups like Propel, Oura and Tempo. Lauren taught at Parsons School of Design and mentors at New Inc, an arts and technology incubator from New Museum.
Kenjiro Kirton
Co-Founder & Creative Director of HATO
Kenjiro leads the creative vision at HATO—a publishing house, design studio and concept store with locations in London and Hong Kong.
HATO develops design through a playful approach grounded in research, concept and participation. Working within culture—and collaborating with artists, organisations, and brands who share these values—has driven the studio’s practice for over a decade. HATO’s goal is to connect a genuine community, leaving a legacy that adds value and provides a strong foundation for growth.
Kenjiro’s experience has evolved to focus on digital products and branding, with a specialism in co-creation and creative strategy. He has applied this approach across a range of client projects, including On, the Barbican, the V&A, District Vision, BAO, and New Contemporaries.
Erik Mohr
Owner & Creative Director of Made by Emblem
Erik is a creative director and brand strategist with over 25 years of experience exploring how ideas take shape—helping organizations connect people, ideas and purpose through design and storytelling.
From crafting compelling copy to shaping comprehensive advertising campaigns, he’s guided teams to create meaningful, results-driven work for major Canadian brands that include Air Canada, Bell Canada, Pearson Airport, The Beer Store, Sobeys, Canadian Tire Group and the Government of Canada. With a background in fine arts and painting, Erik brings a unique perspective to ideation, brainstorming and creative concept development.
Elana Rudick RGD
Founder & Creative Director of Design is Yummy
Elana is the Founder of Design Is Yummy, an award-winning Montreal-based design studio known for their bold, impactful graphics.
For over 15 years, her team has helped businesses and organizations communicate their values with clarity. Rooted in respect for the rich histories and identities of the communities they serve, the studio approaches every project with care, curiosity and a commitment to helping clients connect more deeply with their audiences.
Believing that design is most effective when it serves people first, Elana collaborates with clients across arts and culture, education, healthcare, hospitality and government, including the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, the Cree Nation, Moxy Hotel and Myra’s Kids Foundation. Doing great work for great people making a difference in the world is what fuels the studio. Under her leadership, the women-led team has built a reputation for professionalism, reliability and outstanding creative that delivers results.
A seasoned creative leader, Elana has built and led design teams, worked with countless creatives and cultivated a studio culture grounded in shared purpose. Whether guiding clients through complex brand challenges or mentoring emerging designers, she advocates for the power of thoughtful design.
Elana is a speaker on design and the business of running a studio, sharing insights on authenticity, partnership and building a fulfilling career. She also mentors within the creative community to support growth and encourage creative confidence.