New Additions to ICF Canada’s Speakers Bureau

ICF Canada offers communities and organizations across Canada and abroad access to qualified Canadian and International speakers who can discuss smart city and Intelligent community issues, share best practices and expertise with case studies of successful communities and how they met challenges head on with ingenuity and innovation, leadership and collaboration; how broadband and smart infrastructure technologies helped transform their communities; and success stories of communities with which your community can become inspired. Many in your area may speak for free or for a modest honorarium. Others may require travel expenses to be covered and some may also require a speaker’s fee to cover their time away from their normal business. All of the speakers are qualified to speak about the topics that they indicate in their bios. See: https://icf-canada.com/icf-canada-speakers-bureau/

This month learn more about these exciting new additions to ICF Canada’s Speaker Bureau:

Agustín Argelich is a telecom engineer, and graduate of Ramon Llull University (Barcelona), and a professor at Lleida University.   He is an author and principal consultant of Argelich Networks, an independent digital technology (Information and communications technologies) and management consultancy in Barcelona. He was one of the youngest project leaders as Technological Director of the IX Paralympic Games at the Barcelona’92 Olympic Games. For 30 years he has been leading significant digital technology projects for business and for public organizations. He represents the Intelligent Community Forum in Spain and is member of the international jury. He is a recognized international speaker in ICT technology, innovation, change management and leadership. Agustin can present in either Spanish or English.

Ema Hsieh is the Director of Marketing and Promotion Division at the Intelligent Community (ICF) Institute in Taiwan. Formerly Ema worked for the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI); one of Taiwan’s most important research organizations. She held several significant positions during her career here, including: Head of PR, Project Manager in Latin America, Co-Leader of the Energy Saving Service Team and Director for the New Business Division of the Technology Center for Service Industries. Ema is an experienced Project Manager in industrial technology research and has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Chung Hua University, in Taiwan. She was also an advisor to the Joint Innovation Center of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (JIC of TEEMA) to assist the Taiwanese industry with expanding its sales to Latin America. Ema’s experience includes business development, coalition development, international relations and public relations and she has been involved with the smart city and Intelligent Community movement in Taiwan for many years and can speak about most cities in Taiwan from that perspective. She also has an extensive network with the smart city solution providers in Taiwan. Current active projects include international partnership development, consulting to build smart cities, training programs and promoting best practice solutions from Taiwan. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Mandarin.

Michael Kolm is the City of Toronto’s first-ever Chief Transformation Officer. A seasoned executive with extensive experience in business transformation, Michael provides strategic leadership to help the City become more effective and efficient in its delivery of public services, now and in the future, while delivering maximum value for public dollars. With a long and successful background in consulting with powerhouse firms such as EY and PwC, Michael worked with private and public sector clients to plan for and realize the benefits of implementing business transformation. Leading the City’s Transformation Office, Michael works closely with internal and external leaders, partners and stakeholders to lead transformational projects that will ultimately drive social, environmental and economic benefits for all those who live, work and play in Toronto.

Dan Mathieson, Mayor of Stratford Ontario, is in his fourth term as Mayor and has sat on municipal council since 1995. He is currently Chair of the Ontario Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), Chair of Kings University College at Western University, Chair of the Stratford Police Services Board, a member of the Board of Directors of Festival Hydro and Rhyzome Networks, the Stratford Festival, and the Advisory Board of the University of Waterloo-Stratford Campus.  Dan is also on the Advisory Board for the Institute for the Study of the Intelligent Community. In November 2015 Dan was awarded the Alumni Award of Excellence from the Master of Public Administration, Local Government program at Western University.  He is also the 2016 Western University, Public Administration Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, lecturing on governance and innovation in public institutions.  In 2012, Dan received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, paying tribute to community leaders whose endeavours have set them apart as technology innovators.  As well, Dan received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 for public service. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Guelph and a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Western Ontario. Dan can speak about Stratford as a Smart21 City and as a multiple TOP7 Intelligent Community.

Carl Viel is President & CEO of Québec International, which is the economic development agency in the Québec City’s region. The agency contributes to the economic development in the Quebec City metropolitan region and enhances its international status. It fosters business growth and development, supports key clusters and attracts talent and investment to the region. Carl can speak to his experiences promote the competitive environment of the Quebec City area globally as his organization works to attract foreign investments and qualified foreign workers to his community. He also supports trade and foreign market development and fosters innovation and hi-tech entrepreneurship as his organization helps to develop and promote the region’s key clusters.

Welcome to these new additions. See all the ICF Canada speakers, both domestic and international at: https://icf-canada.com/icf-canada-speakers-bureau/. More will be added next month. Watch for this post to learn more.