Conference Details

Named one of Canada’s top 100 most influential people in Canadian politics by The Hill Times, David Coletto is one of Canada’s most recognizable pollsters and commentators on politics, consumer behaviour, and the workplace. He is Chair, CEO and founder of Abacus Data, a full-service market research and strategy firm based in Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax. With almost two decades of experience in the industry, David and his partners founded Abacus 15 years ago and since then it has grown into one of Canada's most respected market research firms. He earned a PhD in Political Science from the University of Calgary in 2010 is an adjunct professor at Carleton University in the Clayton H. Riddell Master of Political Management program. He is the host and producer of inFocus with David Coletto a podcast that explores the intersection of public opinion, politics, public policy, and consumer behaviour. He is also the official pollster for the Toronto Star and The Logic

Gwen Patrick is the Financial Innovation Lead at the Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies, overseeing program execution and financial and economic toolset development. Her primary focus is Economic Nutrition, which is a tool developed by Shorefast and modelled after the practice of food nutrition labelling that shows where your money goes and what it pays for. Gwen grew up on Salt Spring Island, BC, where she founded the Foundation of Youth, a youth advisory committee of the Salt Spring Island Foundation. While earning her Bachelor of Commerce at Queen’s University, she received the Kehoe Fellowship, enabling her to intern with Shorefast on Fogo Island. After graduation, she obtained her CPA designation and worked in public accounting at Deloitte, Toronto before returning to Shorefast. 

Loren Christie, emcee for the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence, is a highly respected Canadian tourism leader, strategist, and broadcaster with more than 25 years of experience in travel, hospitality, and business events, much of it rooted in Ontario’s visitor economy. Currently the Managing Director of the BestCities Global Alliance, Christie has held senior leadership roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Destination Toronto, where he led international and national sales efforts and helped position Toronto—and Ontario more broadly—as a leading destination for global meetings and conventions.  

In addition to his industry leadership, Christie is a well-known media personality and travel expert, contributing regularly to national television and publications, which has helped raise public awareness of tourism’s importance and showcase destinations across Ontario and beyond.  As an emcee, he brings a dynamic blend of industry insight, storytelling, and on-stage experience, offering audiences a unique perspective that connects the achievements being celebrated to the broader growth and evolution of Ontario’s tourism sector. 

As Regional Head, Executive Search and DEI Co-Lead based in Toronto, Ontario, Ryna plays a key leadership role in driving the firm’s expertise in executive search, coaching, and DEI strategy. With close to 25 years of experience, she has a proven track record of supporting leaders across a range of functions spanning the c-suite, boards, operations, human resources, IT, sales, finance, and accounting in both public and private sectors. Ryna's forte is cultivating robust relationships and earning trust, which underpins her sustained success. Having lived on four continents, Ryna brings a truly global approach to her work. 

Ryna is a graduate of the University of Windsor with a degree in psychology and is an Associate Certified Coach through the NeuroLeadership Institute, an ICF-recognized coaching program. She is a proud community member serving as North American Diversity Leadership Council Member for the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), on the Board of Directors at Kinark Child and Family Services, and an active volunteer at Foodbank Oakville, Kerr Street Mission, and Scott Mission. 

Wahn Yoon is a Toronto‑based strategist and co‑founder of L’Institut Idée, a Canadian think tank and consulting firm focused on helping organizations reimagine strategy, brand development, and long‑term growth through innovation and insight. With more than two decades of experience in brand strategy and business transformation—initially trained in global agencies such as J. Walter Thompson—Yoon has built a career leading complex, multi‑sector initiatives for major international clients across hospitality, tourism, retail, and entertainment.  At L’Institut Idée, which he co‑founded in the early 2010s, his work centres on using advanced strategic methodologies, such as the firm’s proprietary “Structural Mapping Process,” to uncover deeper human motivations and align organizations around future‑focused ideas and decision‑making.