20 Event Directors Behind Canadian Education Events

Last updated: 12 August 2026.

Education conferences are held together by people whose work is often invisible once the doors open. This checked list focuses on current event directors, managers, coordinators and conference professionals connected to education events in Canada. It is not ranked or exhaustive.

1. Lindsay Callan

Conference Director, UBC Continuing Professional Development

Lindsay Callan is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

UBC CPD says Lindsay leads the professional educational conference team and works from concept through execution. The same team plans and delivers more than 50 conferences each year. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference director. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Lindsay Callan works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

That combination makes her a useful example of the work that sits behind a large education calendar: turning a programme idea into a repeatable, well-run experience for learners, speakers and partners. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

2. Michelle Baysan

Conference Manager, UBC Continuing Professional Development

Michelle Baysan is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

UBC CPD lists Michelle as a Conference Manager and notes more than 15 years of conference and event management experience, alongside training in communications and hospitality management. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference manager. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Michelle Baysan works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Her profile shows why education conference delivery is a hybrid discipline. The role needs commercial care, clear communication and the practical hospitality habits that make a multi-session event feel calm for attendees. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

3. Nabila Kazmi

Conference Manager, Canadian Society for the Study of Education

Nabila Kazmi is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

CSSE lists Nabila as Conference Manager and says she joined the position in 2024 while completing a PhD at the University of Victoria Faculty of Education. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference manager. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Nabila Kazmi works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

That connection between research and conference operations matters. The strongest education events do not treat logistics as separate from learning. They create the conditions for researchers, teachers and students to exchange ideas well. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

4. Barb Ford

Membership Services, Canadian Society for the Study of Education

Barb Ford is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

CSSE says Barb manages membership, conference and special-event registrations for CSSE and four other national organisations. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to membership services. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Barb Ford works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Registration is often the first real experience a delegate has with a conference team. Her work shows how the quieter systems behind an event shape trust, access and the sense that a person has been expected and welcomed. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

5. Marbella Berroa

Conference Manager, Canadian Surgery Forum, Canadian Association of General Surgeons

Marbella Berroa is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

The Canadian Association of General Surgeons lists Marbella as Conference Manager for the Canadian Surgery Forum. CAGS describes the forum as the largest surgical conference in Canada. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference manager, canadian surgery forum. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Marbella Berroa works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

A conference at that scale has to balance clinical education, professional community and operational detail. Her role is a reminder that a strong education event is both a learning product and a carefully managed live experience. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

6. Loula Mohamed

Conference Assistant, Canadian Association of General Surgeons

Loula Mohamed is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

CAGS lists Loula as Conference Assistant for the Canadian Surgery Forum. The association describes annual conferences and courses as part of its education work for surgeons. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference assistant. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Loula Mohamed works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Assistants are often the connective tissue of a conference team. They keep the many small promises of a programme moving, from participant questions to speaker needs, so the larger learning experience can hold together. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

7. Ola Ayoub

Conference Manager, International Conference on Academic Medicine

Ola Ayoub is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

The ICAM planning team lists Ola as Conference Manager. ICAM also describes programme committees that shape its medical education and international academic streams. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference manager. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Ola Ayoub works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

This is the kind of role that sits at the intersection of content and delivery. The manager helps turn an academic brief into a conference with a clear rhythm, useful conversations and a workable experience for delegates. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

8. Meaghan Mallory

Conference Administrator, International Conference on Academic Medicine

Meaghan Mallory is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

ICAM lists Meaghan as Conference Administrator within the AFMC planning team. The page also sets out the committee structure used to build the programme. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference administrator. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Meaghan Mallory works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Administration is not a background task when a conference brings together multiple academic communities. It is the structure that lets committees, speakers and delegates focus on the quality of the exchange. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

9. Cathy Wiederick

Conference Director, Council for Inclusive Education

Cathy Wiederick is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

The Council for Inclusive Education lists Cathy as Conference Director and describes her background in teaching, inclusive education and gifted education. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference director. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Cathy Wiederick works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Her work reflects a valuable principle for education events: the event format should serve the people in the room. Inclusive conference design begins with understanding the communities, access needs and learning goals behind the brief. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

10. Arlene Foley

Co-Conference Director, Council for Inclusive Education

Arlene Foley is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

CIE lists Arlene as Co-Conference Director and notes her experience as a vice principal and her work advocating for an inclusive mindset. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to co-conference director. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Arlene Foley works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

That mix of school leadership and event responsibility brings the audience close to the design process. The result is more likely to respect the realities educators carry back into their schools after the event. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

11. Joanna Imoo

Conference Director and Sponsorship Coordinator, BC Home Education Conference

Joanna Imoo is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

The BC Home Education Conference lists Joanna as Conference Director and Sponsorship Coordinator on its 2026 team. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference director and sponsorship coordinator. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Joanna Imoo works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Holding both the conference and sponsorship briefs shows how a smaller education event often depends on one person seeing the whole system. Programme, partner value and delegate experience all need to work together. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

12. Adrianne Doyle

Speaker Coordinator, BC Home Education Conference

Adrianne Doyle is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

The BC Home Education Conference lists Adrianne as Speaker Coordinator for its 2026 team. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to speaker coordinator. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Adrianne Doyle works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Speaker coordination is where a promising programme becomes a dependable one. Clear briefs, timely communication and thoughtful support help presenters do their best work and help attendees experience a coherent event rather than a string of disconnected sessions. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

13. Gretchen Newman

Conference Director, Fluid Events

Gretchen Newman is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

Fluid Events describes Gretchen as Conference Director, with work across conference design, speaker coordination, educational experiences, programme development and audience engagement. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference director. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Gretchen Newman works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Her role makes the case for treating an education conference as a designed journey. People remember the transitions, the questions and the quality of attention between sessions as much as the headline speakers. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

14. Ana-Louise Ruso

Director, Events, Fluid Events

Ana-Louise Ruso is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

Fluid Events describes Ana-Louise as Director, Events, with more than 16 years leading large-scale, high-impact events and experience across international productions. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to director, events. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Ana-Louise Ruso works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Large events create a useful test of calm leadership. The work is not only about a polished stage. It is about making decisions quickly, protecting the attendee experience and keeping a complex live system moving. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

15. Emma Roberts

Vice President, DES, Base Consulting

Emma Roberts is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

Base Consulting says Emma began by managing cross-country meetings and educational events and now leads a team of conference managers and communications colleagues. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to vice president, des. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Emma Roberts works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Her path shows how conference expertise can grow into broader association leadership. The operational knowledge gained from events becomes useful when shaping member value, governance and long-term client relationships. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

16. Marie Bordeleau

Director, Base Consulting

Marie Bordeleau is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

Base Consulting describes Marie as having more than 25 years in association management and event planning, including conferences across Canada, the United States and overseas. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to director. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Marie Bordeleau works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

That breadth is a reminder that the best event decisions are rarely isolated choices. Venue, format, stakeholders, travel, timing and learning design all need to support the same promise to the audience. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

17. Shijing Xu

Conference Chair, University of Windsor Faculty of Education

Shijing Xu is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

The University of Windsor identifies Dr Shijing Xu as conference chair for a 2026 international education conference and describes her as an education professor and associate dean of teacher education. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference chair. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Shijing Xu works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

Academic conference chairs carry the bridge between subject expertise and shared learning. Their influence can be seen in the questions a programme invites, the people it brings together and the practical value delegates take home. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

18. Kate Kelly

Conference Manager, Alberta Condominium & Real Estate Conference

Kate Kelly is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

The ACR 2026 page lists Kate Kelly, CMP, CMM, DES as Conference Manager and describes a 500-plus-person professional event built around learning, discovery and connection. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference management. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Kate Kelly works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

A conference with a clear learning promise needs someone who can hold the audience, programme and practical delivery together. Kate’s role shows how professional education events can sit inside a wider industry community while still giving people useful insight and connection. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

19. Jennifer Whytock

Conference Coordinator, Division of Geriatric Medicine, St Joseph’s Health Care London

Jennifer Whytock is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

St Joseph’s Health Care London lists Jennifer as Conference Coordinator for the Geriatric Medicine Refresher and says the 2026 educational conference expected 500 participants. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference coordinator, division of geriatric medicine. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Jennifer Whytock works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

A large clinical education day needs clear coordination because the audience arrives with limited time and high expectations. Her role points to the discipline required to make a practical refresher feel focused, useful and welcoming. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

20. Michelle Smith

Conference Manager, NCM Society and Podium Conference Specialists

Michelle Smith is included because the work behind an education conference deserves more attention than the name on the stage. A strong event depends on someone keeping the brief, the people and the practical details connected. That work can look different in a university professional-development team, a national association, a school community or an independent event company.

The NCM Society staff page lists Michelle as Conference Manager with Podium Conference Specialists, the conference management team supporting the society’s scientific community. That is a useful window into the responsibility attached to conference manager. It tells us something concrete about the setting in which Michelle Smith works, without turning a public profile into a larger claim than the source supports.

A conference manager working with a scientific community has to hold both sides of the brief: dependable delivery and respect for the knowledge being shared. That balance is central to education events across Canada. For conference organisers, the lesson is practical: define the learning promise first, then design the systems that let people experience it. When programme, people and operations support one another, delegates can spend their attention on the work that brought them into the room. Check the current role and context on the official source before using this entry for a future event brief.

A practical way to use this list

Before you brief an event partner, write down the change you want the conference to create. Then ask how the programme, speaker experience, delegate journey and post-event follow-through will support that change. A well-run event is not just a full room. It is a room where the right people can do useful work together.

Sources and freshness

The profiles in this article were checked on 2026-08-12. Each entry carries a source URL in the accompanying package. Recheck the role before using the entry for a future event brief.