25 Conference Leaders at Canadian Education Groups
- Jonno White
- Aug 14
- 7 min read
This directory brings together 25 current conference chairs, programme leads, conference managers, and event planners named by Canadian education and professional learning groups. Their work sits behind annual conferences and other learning events, where clear planning shapes the participant experience.
The entries are arranged alphabetically by surname, not ranked. For a related look at how leadership teams work together, see 25 Ways Working Genius Transforms Executive Teams and The Ideal Working Genius Team Composition.
The people shaping Canadian education conferences
1. Michelle Aarons
Conference Planning Committee Chair
Michelle Aarons is the conference planning committee chair for Canadian Association for University Continuing Education. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
2. Carli Agostino
Conference Co-chair, CAPAL / ACBES 2026
Carli Agostino is the conference co-chair, capal / acbes 2026 for Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
3. Patricia Alviano
2026 National Leaders Conference Planning Committee member
Patricia Alviano is the 2026 national leaders conference planning committee member for Canadian Accredited Independent Schools. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
4. Julie Auger
Director, Events and Convention Committee Chair
Julie Auger is the director, events and convention committee chair for Canadian Psychological Association. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
5. Justin Ball
2027 Conference Planning Committee Co-chair
Justin Ball is the 2027 conference planning committee co-chair for Canadian Association of Law Libraries. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
6. Suéli Bonafim
Conference committee member and Head of Operations
Suéli Bonafim is the conference committee member and head of operations for SALTISE. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
7. Jesse Carson
2026 Conference Program Team Co-chair
Jesse Carson is the 2026 conference program team co-chair for Association of Canadian Archivists. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
8. Nathan Cheney
Conference Planning Committee member
Nathan Cheney is the conference planning committee member for Canadian Association for University Continuing Education. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
9. Gillian Comchi
Co-chair, WNRCASN conference planning committee
Gillian Comchi is the co-chair, wnrcasn conference planning committee for Western and North-Western Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
10. François Duguay
Chair, Exhibitors and Sponsorship, CEEA / ACEG 2026
François Duguay is the chair, exhibitors and sponsorship, ceea / aceg 2026 for Canadian Engineering Education Association. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
11. Jennie Fallis
Conference Co-chair, CAPAL / ACBES 2026
Jennie Fallis is the conference co-chair, capal / acbes 2026 for Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
12. Eric Francoeur
Conference committee member
Eric Francoeur is the conference committee member for SALTISE. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
13. Lili Jardine
Conference chair, CASAE / AERC 2026
Lili Jardine is the conference chair, casae / aerc 2026 for Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
14. Azeddine Kaddouri
Co-chair, Technical Committee, CEEA / ACEG 2026
Azeddine Kaddouri is the co-chair, technical committee, ceea / aceg 2026 for Canadian Engineering Education Association. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
15. Hajime Kataoka
Conference Planning Committee member
Hajime Kataoka is the conference planning committee member for Canadian Association for University Continuing Education. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
16. Nabila Kazmi
Conference Manager
Nabila Kazmi is the conference manager for Canadian Society for the Study of Education. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
17. Kirsten Kopp
Conference Planning Committee member
Kirsten Kopp is the conference planning committee member for Canadian Association for University Continuing Education. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
18. Tamara McColl
Local Conference Chair, CAEP27
Tamara McColl is the local conference chair, caep27 for Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
19. Ann Marie Melvie
2027 Conference Planning Committee Co-chair
Ann Marie Melvie is the 2027 conference planning committee co-chair for Canadian Association of Law Libraries. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
20. Max Otte
Conference Planning Committee Chair
Max Otte is the conference planning committee chair for Association of Canadian Archivists. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
21. Paul Pageau
National Conference Chair, CAEP27
Paul Pageau is the national conference chair, caep27 for Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
22. Raz Peel
CAWM2026 Conference Planning Chair
Raz Peel is the cawm2026 conference planning chair for Canadian Association of Wilderness Medicine. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
23. Denise Robertson
Event Planner, Convention
Denise Robertson is the event planner, convention for Canadian Psychological Association. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
24. Jude Walker
Session chair, CASAE / AERC 2026
Jude Walker is the session chair, casae / aerc 2026 for Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
25. James Whitehouse
Planning Committee Chair, National Leaders Conference
James Whitehouse is the planning committee chair, national leaders conference for Canadian Accredited Independent Schools. That places this person inside the planning, programme, management, or event-delivery work behind a Canadian learning event.
Conference work is a team effort, and this role is a useful reminder that the participant experience depends on many decisions made before the event begins.
What this list shows
Conference leadership is often shared across chairs, committee members, programme teams, managers, and event staff. Their responsibilities may look different, but they all help turn a professional learning idea into an experience that people can attend, use, and remember.
The strongest event teams make the work visible early. They clarify the purpose, audience, experience, and decisions each part of the programme needs to support. That kind of clarity helps a conference feel coherent rather than simply busy.
About the author
Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker, author, and Certified Working Genius Facilitator. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at.
Next read
For a related look at how leadership teams work together, read 25 Ways Working Genius Transforms Executive Teams and The Ideal Working Genius Team Composition.
If your leadership team needs help turning good intentions into clear, practical ways of working, I use keynotes, workshops, and facilitated leadership sessions to help make that change stick.
To enquire about a keynote, workshop, or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.