Keynotes and Presenters

Robert Dunlop is a teacher, curriculum consultant, author, and inspiring speaker who believes that there is nothing more powerful than an educator who loves coming to school each day. His personal journey and his work with thousands of teachers, principals and support staff has given him insight into the importance of finding more happiness in education. Robert channels his passion for helping others into engaging, informative, research-based professional development that always leaves his audience feeling empowered and inspired to make positive changes in their lives.

Dr. Jessica Riddell is a Full Professor of Early Modern Literature at Bishop’s University and holds the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair of Undergraduate Teaching Excellence. As founder of the Hope Circuits Institute (HCI), she drives systems-change in higher education, focusing on governance, leadership, and student success. In a landscape rife with indictments of broken systems, her work invites people across the post-secondary ecosystem to co-create blueprints for meaningful rewiring that centers justice, equity, and access. Her 2024 book, Hope Circuits: Rewiring Universities and Other Organizations for Human Flourishing (McGill-Queen's Press), offers a roadmap for this transformation. A recognized leader, scholar, and educator, she serves on multiple boards and has received numerous awards and grants for teaching and leadership, including the 3M National Teaching Fellowship (Canada's highest recognition of educational leadership), the D2L Innovation Award (the highest recognition of innovation in partnerships), and the Forces Avenir award (Quebec's highest recognition of teaching excellence in higher education).