Keynote Speakers 2025

RBC Welcome & Economic Overview (8:45am - 9:30am)

Haley Hopwood, Royal Bank of Canada

Institutional Portfolio Manager, PH&N Institutional, RBC Global Asset Management
CFA (2014); BSc (Engineering) (2009), University of British Columbia, Canada.

Haley is an institutional portfolio manager at PH&N Institutional. In this role, she works closely with clients and consultants to manage a wide range of balanced and fixed income investment mandates, including Universe, Long Bonds, and Corporate Bonds. Prior to joining the institutional team in 2012, Haley spent two years with RBC Global Asset Management Inc.'s advisor channel sales group, where she helped promote PH&N and RBC mutual funds among financial advisors and brokers across British Columbia. She started her career in the investment industry in 2010.

Day 1 Opening Keynote Address (9:30am - 10:30am)

Mark DeVolder

Future Proof: Navigating Change with Confidence and Excitement

Imagine a new way to change: unhurried, composed, and confident instead of the usual frenzy, chaos, and uncertainty. The Empowered Change strategy presented in this high-impact keynote equips participants to transform the pace of change and drive sustainable success by providing a clear roadmap for navigating the stages of change.

This program is perfect for leaders and teams in the midst of constant change who are:

• Going through change, growth and disruption, such as AI, leadership changes, restructuring, digital transformation, upskilling,
• Navigating their team members’ reactions to the volatility, complexity, and ambiguity in their work and life (like frustration, anxiety, confusion, and fear) •
• Feeling unprepared for their evolving roles and responsibilities or unable to change at the rate and pace needed to keep up with ever-increasing changes After this intensely practical session, the audience will leave with: 
• A Journey-map framework for understanding any change they experience 
• A personal plan for confidently navigating the transitions between each stage of change 
• The skills and mindset for boldly mobilizing through disruptive change to accomplish their objectives

Bio

Mark DeVolder is a global change and transformation expert, thought leader on transitioning through disruption and award-winning Speaker. DeVolder’s transformational message has inspired government leaders and top organizations like PwC, Coca-Cola, Siemens, Qatar Petroleum, Bristol Myers Squibb and more.

Mark’s provocative and practical concepts have been game changers for organizations in the midst of disruption and high stakes changes:

• Guiding healthcare professionals through a multi-billion-dollar mergers • Restructuring Canadian Federal Government Department 
• Transitioning to a safety-first culture inside a global energy leader 
• Mentoring Senior U.S. Military leaders in Change Management Partnering with clients gives Mark a laser-focused view into their disruptions and opportunities; with localized insights and customized research, 
• Mark teaches the unique strategy of Empowered Change™, equipping leaders and teams to adapt to change and embrace challenges in order to accelerate growth and transformation. 

Mark DeVolder is an award-winning speaking, receiving the prestigious Top 5 Speaker Award in Business Management for several years running and Top 10 Speaker in Change Management. Mark is the author of Perpetual Pivot and Unity in Diversity Through Synergy and Get Engaged!

Day 2 Opening Keynote Address (9:00am - 10:00am)

Nate Tucker

Own Your Story – Redefining Limitations

From a childhood fuelled by the dream of athletic greatness, Nate's journey took an unexpected turn when a golf ball altered his life, leaving him paralyzed. He has triumphantly emerged as one of the biggest names in Para athletics. Beyond the track, he champions the cause of those with invisible disabilities using his platform for more than medals; it's a stage for advocacy and visibility.

• Tokyo 2020 Gold Medalist Paris 
• 2024 Silver Medalist 
• 2x World Gold Medalist 
• 2x World Record Holder
• Keynote Speaker - Partner retreat for Atlanta-based law firm
• Spokesperson for Children’s Miracle Network
• Virtual Speaker for National Academy of Sports Medicine Optima Conference
• Event Partner - Royal Bank of Canada

Day 2 Closing Keynote Address (1:30pm - 2:30pm)

Robert Hawke

The Excellence Principle: Unleashing Your Potential Through The Power of Feeling Good

Imagine having a game-changing tool that instantly boosts your intelligence, creativity, and productivity. If that isn’t enough, this tool literally saved my life.

After I had surgery for cancer, I was depressed, angry and unable to cope. I had to learn resilience techniques that would help me FAST.

I discovered that when we feel good we are a better version of ourselves. We are more resilient, more intelligent and more creative!

I didn’t just happen upon this. I learned and demonstrated this by working with cancer patients and their families, by creating content for medical professionals across the country (including U of T Medical School) and by researching my own books Kicking Cancer’s Ass and Doing Happiness. In delivering this keynote, I draw upon my years of working as a comedian with The Second City to create an audience experience that is funny, useful and will help your group increase their sense of purpose for their work.

This one of a kind keynote, features audience participation, spontaneity and comedy that will get your audience to “laugh while learning”. I will teach your group:

• How to use the cutting-edge collaborative tool “Yes And” to help build ideas and foster innovation. 
• How to use laughter as a useful professional tool. 
• How Feeling Good can help us be more productive, creative and resilient. The Excellence Principle will do all of this and re-invigorate your teams’ sense of purpose and inspire them to work together and contribute more.

Bio

Robert Hawke is a comedian, author and speaker. Rob honed his storytelling and comedic skills with The Second City Comedy Troupe. He has shared in a Canadian Comedy Award and Gemini Award Nomination for Best Writing in a Comedy Series.

Robert created the keynote presentation The Excellence Principal: Unleashing Your Potential Through The Power of Feeling Good that gives audiences immediately usable tips and tools to build resilience in these ridiculous times.

Rob wrote the books Kicking Cancer’s Ass: A Lighthearted Guide To The Fight Of Your Life and Doing Happiness: Uncovering The Hidden Benefits Of Feeling Good. He lives in Peterborough where he goes swimming in cold water and plays far too much guitar.

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