Meet Our Speakers

The conference features motivating and educational speakers on the subject of embracing change - in our clubs and in our environment.
 
Speakers for the conference include:
  • Kristine Clark - Professor in the School of Business and Management,
         Niagara College Canada
  • Joani Gerber - CEO Invest Stratford
  • Ian Graham - Conestoga College and Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Kirk Langford - London Centennial Satellite Rotary Club
  • Max Morden - Chair of the Lakeshore Eco-Network
  • Jennifer Pate - environmentalist
  • Denis Shackel - Head of Management Communications at the Richard Ivey School of Business,
         Western University
  • Amanda Watkin - Rotary International President's Representative,
         General Secretary, Rotary In Great Britain and Ireland

Kristine Clark

Kristine Clark is currently a Professor in the School of Business and Management at Niagara College Canada.  With more than 25 years’ experience working in public sector and post-secondary institutions, Kristine’s experience includes learning and leadership development, talent management, strategic planning, change management, team effectiveness and facilitation.
 
A PhD in Human and Organizational Systems, MSc in Counselling & Human Services and certifications in Adult Education, Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Emotional Intelligence (EQi/EQi360), Kristine is passionate about partnering with individuals and teams to achieve desired results.
 
Born and raised in Niagara Region, Kristine also enjoys her volunteer work with Leadership Niagara’s Program Advisory Committee, collaborating on quality learning experiences that help facilitate the development of Niagara’s emerging community leaders.
 
 

Joani Gerber

Joani Gerber is CEO of investStratford where she supports Stratford’s varied business economies encouraging growth, expansions, attractions and new partnerships. Current active projects include the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network, Connected Car collaborations, ongoing company retention & expansions, new investment attraction and Smart Community Initiatives.
 
As a Stratford native, she is deeply committed to pursuing excellence while maintaining both a global vision and a local perspective. Previous experience includes roles with both the Waterloo and Stratford Accelerator Centres, (where, in the position of VP, Client Experience and Partner Relations she was responsible for the incubation programming and the partnerships with post-secondary institutions and all levels of Government), Perth Community Futures Development Corporation and the Stratford Perth Centre for Business. She holds a degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and is past Board Chair for the Stratford/District Chamber of Commerce.
 

Ian Graham

The Climate Crisis, and the road to energy freedom
Ian became fascinated with renewable energy when his Dad powered the family cabin off the grid with a micro-hydro system. Since then he has taken on multiple ways to utilize clean energy and be independent. Ian is the owner of Small Dog Studio, an off the grid recording studio and a professor at Conestoga College and Wilfrid Laurier University teaching audio production and engineering.
 
 

Kirk Langford

Kirk has been a member of the Rotary Satellite Club of London since its inception in 2016. He was an outbound to Brazil in 2005-2006, during which time he was a member of the Interact Club of Itabuna. After returning from his exchange, he became a member of the D6330 Rotex group, attending a number of exchange conferences in the district and eventually becoming conference coordinator. He also became involved in the Rotaract Club of Western University; based on his marks, you might say too involved! In 2009-2010, while studying French linguistics, the travel bug bit again, so he spent a year abroad studying in France. His appetite for Rotary still not satiated, he attended RYLA North America in Washington D.C. in 2011. Through each step of his Rotary journey, he has been, and continues to be awed and humbled by the support, generosity, and enthusiasm of Rotarians around the world. He's excited to speak this weekend about his Road to Rotary and to connect with Rotarians from all over District 6330!
 
 

Max Morden

The Climate Crisis, and the road to energy freedom
Max Morden is Chair of the Lakeshore Eco-Network, a not-for-profit that focuses on planting native trees and raising awareness around climate change. Max also serves as a Director of the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy. Max is committed to the fight against climate change, and has trained with the Climate Reality Project. 
 
 

Jennifer Pate

Love your Greats: The search for environmental optimism
Jennifer Pate is a scientific researcher, filmmaker, and adventurer. Her renowned “eXXpeditions” have given her first-hand experience of the degradation taking place in our oceans and Great Lakes due to plastic and toxic pollution.  Jennifer’s session will help you understand how plastics are despoiling our waters and endangering species.
She will set out the challenges ahead, and ultimately give us reasons for hope.
 
 

Dr. Denis Shackel

Head of Management Communications at the Richard Ivey School of Business,
Western University

 

Dr. Denis Shackel, a specialist in developing Human Resources, presents workshops designed to unlock talents of those within management, business, and government organizations.

Denis is head of Management Communications at the Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University , and a consultant for corporations throughout North America. Born in New Zealand, he has an M.A. in psychology from Canterbury University and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. In 2005 and 2007, Denis Shackel was voted Professor of the Year by students at the University of Toronto and the Western University, respectively. His outstanding teaching record led to being selected as a "Leader In Faculty Teaching" [LIFT] by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in July 2007.

He has been President of his management consulting company since 1978 and has presented countless workshops to managers in business, industry and government agencies around the world. His client list includes Maple Leaf Foods, J.D. Irving Ltd., K.P.M.G., The Learning Edge, American Management Association, Bell Canada, Petro Canada, Burger King, Imax Inc., Deloitte Inc., Big Sky Farms Ltd., Assiniboine Community College, Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, Ministry of Transport Ontario, Canadian Medical Protective Association, Agricore Inc., Potash Corp., Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, Bombardier Ltd., City of Saskatoon, Home Hardware Inc., Molly Maid International, National Spar Ltd., and Royal Bank of Canada.

In May 2010, Denis was featured in a National Post article by M.T. Bitti, "Lateral Living... Denis Shuns the Down Days".

Denis' book, Five Seconds At a Time, is a compelling mix of stunning survival, leadership principles and real-life stories that inspires readers to achieve the seemingly impossible. Published by Harper Collins, it has become an award-winning best-seller across Canada.

Title :Embracing Change by Seizing the Helm … Not the Lifeboat”
Denis Shackel will use the following 4 quotes from Einstein as the framework for his presentation….
  1. "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them”
  2. "Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character”
  3. “Once we accept our limits we go beyond them”
  4. “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile”.
He will draw from lessons he learned when facing death at 8,000 feet at the top of a mountain in his home country of New Zealand. He survived the longest night of his life by implementing the same steps which are required today to deal with change and actually embrace them in order to be successful in these challenging, and often frightening times.

Amanda Watkin

Amanda Watkin
RIBI General Secretary

As a founder member of the Rotary Club of Hitchin Tilehouse (D1260), PHF Amanda followed her term as club president by joining the district team to chair the Leadership Development and Training Committee (LDTC). In 2008/09 she joined the Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) LDTC as district specialist before becoming elected as district governor. In that role, Amanda served as RIBI executive member 2010/12 and drove the national Focus on the Crocus campaign with fellow district governors across RIBI.

Amanda also served as a Group Study Exchange Team Leader in 2008 taking a team of young professionals to South Korea. In February 2011, along with a fellow District Governor, she visited Afghanistan and Pakistan to witness and support first hand the service given by Rotarians in exceptionally challenging environments. As a result of that visit, RIBI Disaster Relief Funds have been successfully allocated to build new homes for survivors of the 2010 Pakistan Floods. Amanda continues to support and promote this vital work as a goodwill ambassador.

Amanda has served as RIBI Membership Development and Retention Chair, responsible for driving the five-year membership plan and district restructuring aimed at strengthening Rotary across Great Britain and Ireland. Amanda’s experience of local Rotary club activities, work supporting overseas projects, time given as district governor and RIBI executive member, combined with her understanding of Rotary’s membership challenges, made her an ideal fit for the position of RIBI General Secretary and she joined the staff team in October 2013.

Having a professional background in management consultancy, with specialist focus on technology, development and training, Amanda has led a process of change to readily identify to Rotary members that the team in Alcester are here to support them. During her time at the Rotary Support Centre she has developed community engagement activity to help staff better understand our members’ needs and inspired a project based approach to working giving leadership opportunities to all. Because of these changes and continued commitment from all team members, the Rotary Support Centre achieved the Investors in
People Silver standard.

Amanda remains an active Rotarian in her local club, within her community and at an international level, and is honoured to continue being able to act as Representative to both the RI and RIBI Presidents at home and overseas.