Andrew Au is this year's keynote speaker. 

We are at an inflection point with technology and cultural shifts that is changing the norms of gambling and where it appears. 

This year’s keynote address “Navigating Digital Transformation” will help define the technological landscape today and what we need to know moving forward. 

Andrew Au brings both substance and style to navigating disruption and future-proofing organizations, powered by big data and transformative ideas.

Referred to by Forbes as a “millennial expert”, our Keynote Speaker Andrew Au is a modern business leader who helps global blue-chip brands respond to the new culture and nature of work.   

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Blaine is Co-Founder and CEO of GameCo, inventor of the video game casino and creator of the Video Game Gambling Machine (VMG™). Blaine’s produced 4,000+ projects for world-renowned clients such as, Blizzard, Ubisoft, DreamWorks, Mattel, Sony, Disney, Nickelodeon, DIRECTV, Warner Bros., and more. Blaine is an active member of the Producers Guild Of America (PGA).

David Horricks spent his school-age years in Halifax Nova Scotia and young adulthood in Ottawa, where he completed an undergraduate degree in Sociology at Carleton University.  He completed a Masters in Social Work with a specialty in community, organization, management and policy, from the University of Calgary. He left Alberta after twelve years as Executive Director of Parkland Youth Homes in Red Deer. In 2009 he moved to Victoria, BC accepting a position as the Director of the Responsible & Problem Gambling Program and is currently the Executive Director of the Community Supports Division at the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch in the Ministry of Finance. 

Doug Walker is a professor of economics at the College of Charleston. He also operates Casinonomics Consulting. Recognized as one of the world’s top experts on the socioeconomic impacts of gambling, Dr. Walker has published two books and more than 50 refereed journal articles and book chapters on gambling

Eve is a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Gambling Research at UBC, investigating the psychological mechanisms of gambling and gambling disorder. She uses a combination of behavioural and brain imaging measures to identify factors that influence gambling behaviour, and the development of gambling disorder.

Glenn Pothier is the founder and president of GLPi — a specialist strategy, facilitation and engagement-consulting firm focused on helping clients to operate successfully and communicate effectively in complex environments. For over two decades, he has helped countless organizations from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors to develop new approaches, nurture ideas, and reposition themselves (and/or their initiatives) to realize aspirations.

Professor and Clinical Psychologist at the University of Memphis where he also directs The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. In addition to being well published on topics related to responsible gambling and gambling disorder assessment and treatment, he and his team have treated over 800 individuals with gambling problems. 

Janine Robinson is the Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices and RG Plus at the Responsible Gambling Council. Her advanced degrees in adult education, clinical care and community development, combined with her passionate interest in culture and gambling, bring a 360° perspective to responsible gambling. She brings workplace learning practices to responsible gambling programing, and academic rigor to program evaluation, creating programs and guiding responsible gambling policies for the real world

Dr. Quilty is a Senior Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. She has an applied program of research, with a focus on personality and cognition in depression and addiction. Her research program includes evidence-based assessment of and early intervention in gambling, as well as cognitive and behavioural therapeutics for mood and addiction.

Madison Stange is a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo, studying under the supervision of Dr. Mike Dixon. Her research focuses on the structural characteristics of scratch card games and how various game features (such as near-misses) influence gambling behaviour and decision making. 

Dr Mark R Johnson is a Killam Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Alberta. His research examines loot boxes, daily fantasy sports, esports, live streaming, and gamification. Beyond academia he is also an independent game developer, a games blogger and podcaster, and a former professional poker player.

When the Government of Japan deliberated the Gambling Addiction Countermeasures Bill last summer, Dr. Nishimura was the only person invited to both Houses as an expert witness. After the Bill was passed, he founded and became the Representative Director of Japan Sustainable Responsible Gaming Council (JSRG), which is the first organization in the country to use RG in its name, and aims to develop sustainable RG schemes and practices customized for Japan.

Dr. Nishimura is also the Representative Director of Recovery Support Network, a nonprofit organization offering telephone consultation to those affected by problem gambling in pachinko halls. He is considered the leading expert in Japan on gambling addiction countermeasures and prevention.

Mr. Sattar has over 10 years of operations experience in the gaming payment industry.  Most recently, Mr. Sattar co-founded Sightline Payments LLC, where he serves as Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives.  Mr. Sattar previously served as President of UB Ventures, a service provider to the prepaid industry. Prior to this role he was Senior Vice President of Cash Access Services for Global Cash Access Inc. (NYSE: GCA).  Mr. Sattar started his career in Debt Capital Markets and Healthcare Corporate and Investment Banking with Wachovia Securities.  Mr. Sattar is an undergraduate of Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

Paul Pellizzari is Vice President—Global Social Responsibility, Hard Rock International. Previously he headed social responsibility for OLG. His career spans social impact research consulting, purpose-driven marketing, and collaboration with government and many not-for-profits. Author of two books and many articles, he has also taught as adjunct faculty at Queen’s University

Renee Linklater, PhD is a member of Rainy River First Nations in Northwestern Ontario.  She has over 25 years of experience working with Indigenous healing agencies and First Nation communities. Renee has worked across the health and education sectors as a frontline worker, program evaluator, curriculum developer, educator/trainer, and researcher. She is an international speaker on trauma and healing and is the author of Decolonizing trauma work: Indigenous stories and strategies. Renee is the Director of Aboriginal Engagement and Outreach for the Provincial System Support Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and is actively involved in several system level initiatives across the province.

Richard Taylor is the Executive Director of Responsible Gaming and Military Affairs for MGM Resorts International. Among other duties, he oversees the operation of the company’s responsible gaming program, GameSense. He is a native Las Vegan and proud graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dr. Sasha Stark is the Senior Researcher for the Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices and RG Plus at the Responsible Gambling Council. Sasha has more than a decade of experience in the gambling field, working on gambling prevention, standards development, and program evaluation.

Shelley White is one of Canada’s foremost visionary leaders who has dedicated her life and career to empowering organizations that create better futures for thousands of people in their communities. In 2017, she became the new CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC).  

Over the last 30 years, Shelley has also held a variety of executive positions also in the non-profit sector for the country’s most recognized and trusted national institutions, including United Way, Kidney Foundation of Canada and the YMCA. Earning a reputation as a champion of social change, Shelley has received United Way Worldwide’s Common Good Award, the Queen’s Jubilee Award for outstanding achievement in voluntary service, and has been named one of Mississauga’s Top 10 Most Influential Leaders

Simo is CEO of BetBuddy, Playtech’s award-winning responsible gambling data analytics company. Simo is an expert in consumer behaviour and consumer protection. Simo is also a PhD supervisor at the Research Centre for Machine Learning at City, University of London, and was named AMBA Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013.