Headshot Barrington Reeves

Barrington Reeves

Creative Director & Founder of Too Gallus

Barrington is a true multi-hyphenate creative. As the founder and creative director of Glasgow-based studio Too Gallus, he has worked with some of the world’s most acclaimed brands including Chanel, Nike and Red Bull.

With a background in graphic design, Barrington focuses on creating impactful and future leading work for global clients. His aim is to continue to push the boundaries of design, visualization and communication. Outside of agency life, Barrington is a photographer for luxury, beauty and fashion brands, in addition to running a thriving club night in the Sub Club, the world’s oldest electronic music venue.

Sponsored by Paul Jen Communications

Headshot Nikki Gonnissen

Nikki Gonnissen

Founding Partner & Creative Director at Thonik

Nikki Gonnissen works at the intersection of society, culture and design. She is co- founder and Creative Director of Thonik, a multidisciplinary design studio based in Amsterdam.

With visual identities for the City of Amsterdam, Power Station of Art in Shanghai, M+ Museum for Visual Culture in Hong Kong, Schiphol Airport and Dutch Design Week, Thonik connects important public institutions with new, younger and diverse audiences. Nikki’s work makes the values, ideas and social relevance of organizations visible through visual identities that become part of contemporary culture. She sees design not just as a tool for communication, but as a way to engage people, shape culture and create connections across society.

Alongside directing Thonik, Nikki works on individual artistic projects that address social themes. Her work is characterised by a clear visual language that seeks connections between people and organizations. She regularly lectures and leads workshops internationally.

Sponsored by The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Toronto.

Lauren McConnell

Creative Business & ADHD Coach

Lauren McConnell works with designers, illustrators and creative entrepreneurs to help them untangle their thinking, trust their ideas and build businesses that work with their brains instead of against them.

Through her coaching practice and community, she has worked with many creatives navigating the deeper challenges behind creative work, from burnout and creative paralysis to the pressure of comparison, perfectionism and creative self-doubt. Her work focuses on helping creative professionals reconnect with their intuition, strengthen trust in their ideas and build sustainable creative momentum. She co-hosts the podcast This Juicy Life, where she explores creativity, intuition and personal growth with artists, entrepreneurs and thought leaders. Drawing on a background that blends performance, facilitation and coaching, and as a creative herself, Lauren’s highly engaging and interactive workshops activate audiences, with their combination of insight, play and practical tools that help participants reconnect with their creative instincts.

Goldie Chan

Best-selling Author of Personal Branding for Introverts

Dubbed the “Oprah of LinkedIn” by Huffington Post, Goldie Chan is one of the original “LinkedIn Top Voices”, the author of the best-selling book Personal Branding for Introverts (Basic Venture, 2025) and the founder of Warm Robots, an award-winning social strategy agency.

She was named a Woman To Watch In Leadership for 2026 and has been featured in the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Vulture and Fast Company, where she is valued for her fresh brand insights in an ever-changing marketplace. As a Forbes alum, cancer survivor and global keynote speaker with about half a million followers across platforms, she helps both Fortune 500s and individual leaders build lasting community and presence through brand storytelling. Known for her warmth and strategy, Goldie’s novel work spans major business campaigns, Archie comics and cozy branding.



Headshot Marjorie Malpass

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.

Along the way, she realized something big: actors are trained to hold attention, earn trust and inspire action. Business leaders are expected to do the same, but no one teaches them how. That’s why Marjorie founded Nerve Strategic: to bridge the gap between creative performance and business leadership. Nerve Strategic’s consultants draw on proven skills from the entertainment industry to bring the backstage to the boardroom. They teach business leaders the techniques actors use to command a room, foster authentic relationships and get results.
Headshot Lauren Wong Lee & Gabby Lord

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.

Headshot Kenjiro Kirton

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.

Headshot Andrea Rodriguez

Andrea Rodriguez RGD

Creative Designer & Mural Artist

Andrea Rodriguez is known for transforming spaces into vibrant storytelling canvases.

With over 13 years of experience in graphic design and art direction, Andrea has built a thriving freelance practice collaborating with top-tier organizations, cultural institutions and community groups. Drawing inspiration from her Colombian-Canadian heritage, her murals and design projects are celebrated for their bold colours and meaningful narratives. Andrea actively mentors emerging designers through organizations such as the RGD, Workman Arts and OCAD University. Passionate about empowering the next generation of creative entrepreneurs, Andrea’s workshops blend practical strategies with genuine insights, equipping designers with the tools and inspiration to turn their passion into sustainable, profitable careers.

Robert Smith RGD

Branding Expert, Author & Speaker

Robert Smith is a coach, creative director, studio owner, professor, speaker and author with over 30 years of experience in the creative industry.

He’s worked across corporate, government and agency environments, leading branding initiatives for clients including Warner Brothers, DC Comics, the RCMP and the Royal Canadian Mint. He helped build the Farm Boy brand from the ground up, contributing to its $800 million sale. Rob has taught at multiple colleges, mentored hundreds of creatives and spoken at events like DesignThinkers and CreativeMornings. He is the author of three books on creative practice: The Frankenstein Condition, Stop Looking for Zebras and his latest, Stop Looking for Zebras and Do the Work!.

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