Speakers

The organizing committee has lined-up a great group of speakers and panellists for WordCamp 2016. We’ll be announcing speakers and panellists over the next weeks leading up to WordCamp 2016.

Submit a speaker proposal


Here are the great speakers that we have confirmed so far!

Paul Thompson

Often called a geek translator by clients, Paul specialises in turning the buzzwords of web marketing into solid business results for everyone from bloggers and small businesses to enterprise clients.

As a web marketing consultant, Paul focuses primarily on optimizing existing sites into powerful marketing platforms. Using his extensive expertise in technical SEO audits as a basis, he incorporates custom analytics, content marketing, conversion optimisation, email marketing, Paid Search, and social media marketing, depending on the client’s needs.

He’s been managing and marketing sites since 2002, including stints running web programs for Banff Lake Louise Tourism and Travel Alberta. When he’s not at the keyboard, he’s likely on his bike or cross-country skis, or on teh hiking trails around his home in Canmore, camera in hand.

Dan Stephenson

Since building his first website in 1997 Dan Stephenson has enjoyed keeping up with the ever changing landscape of digital media ever since. He has been a passionate WordPress developer since he first discovered the project back in version 2.0 (Duke).

Currently Dan works as an Instructor for the New Media Production & Design program at SAIT, is the Host and Producer of the popular Fireside Chat podcast and consults for an array of companies – helping them create great user experiences. When he needs to take a break from the digital world Dan wows audiences performing close-up magic. When he gets time to sleep is a mystery!

Jason Dorn

Jason Dorn has been creating digital experiences in Calgary since 2004, which really just a fancy of saying he designs & builds websites. In that time he’s worked on digital projects for military contractors, high end furniture stores, and enterprise level stock plan administration software. Once he even climbed onto the roof of a client’s house for a photoshoot. Jason is currently a senior digital designer at MacLaren McCann.

Richard Archambault

Richard loves the web and really loves WordPress. After attending his first WordCamp Montreal in 2010, he was hooked! Now a Happiness Engineer with Automattic, Richard wants to help spread the WordPress goodness to anyone else who’s interested in the web. When he’s not tinkering with his sites, he loves going to Mexico to eat spicy tacos and ride around on the metro!

Idris Fashan

Content Strategist, Marketer and seasoned copywriter with special talents in online marketing, website content, content strategy, web writing, blog writing and workshop facilitation. I’ve fought in the trenches of some of the most ambitious marketing initiatives in some of the most competitive areas of business.

It was important to take what I learned and expand it. I bring an understanding of story, culture, communication and value, and I help to present it in a compelling way that balances business goals and buyer mindsets.

@topdrawinc Top Draw 

Jeff Archibald

I’m co-founder of an award-winning design agency in Edmonton called Paper Leaf; this is where I ruminate on design, business, & the intersection of both. Other things that turn my crank: type, whisky, coffee, bicycling, and the NBA/NFL.

@jeff_archibald

Edward McIntyre

Edward is a freelance designer & developer that has been solving problems with the power of WordPress for over a decade. He is excited to give back to the community that taught him and has open sourced many of his projects including WP-Bootstrap-Navwalker.

From event planning to user interface design, his philosophy and action plan remain the same. Create the best possible end-user experience, and achieve it in the most efficient way possible.

This is Edward’s third WordCamp and first time speaking.

Kevin Kwan

Kevin Kwan is a co-owner and program developer at Athlete Inside Performance in Calgary, AB. Since opening in 2009, the gym has expanded to two locations both over 5,300 square feet. The success of AI has been built on wholistic coaching principles constantly being improved by Kevin, encompassing knowledge in training, injury prevention, nutrition and lifestyle management.

Kevin is certified nutritional techniques and knowledge in Biosignature Level 2, and Precision Nutrition Level 2, as well as strength coaching through the Poliquin International Certification Program and CrossFit. He has been practising nutrition for over 5 years, and strength coaching for over 6 years dealing with a range of athletes from CrossFit competitors to ultra endurance runners. He is constantly learning in courses, workshops, and keeping up with research in the field to understand the complexities of each individual and it’s relation to optimizing health and performance.

Christina Varro

Christina owns and operates a creative design and commercial photography studio called Varro Creative based in Calgary. She has over 15 years of experience in graphic and web design, and has primarily focused on WordPress based projects for her web clients for the past 6 years. She is new to speaking at WordCamp, but excited to collaborate and share knowledge with others in the WordPress community.

Dana DiTomaso

Dana is a partner at Kick Point, where she applies marketing into strategies to grow clients’ businesses, in particular to ensure that digital and traditional play well together. With her deep experience in digital, Dana can separate real solutions from wastes of time (and budget).

Dana was born in a steel mill but overcame these humble beginnings to move to Edmonton in 2010. In her spare time, Dana is the president of the Advertising Club of Edmonton, co-leads Ladies Learning Code Edmonton and is the weekly technology columnist on CBC Edmonton AM. She also enjoys drinking beer and yelling at the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Aurooba Ahmed

Professionally that means I’m a front-end web developer at Wanderoak, a company I co-founded with my best friend. We work with creative and inspiring businesses striving to make a positive difference in this world. I love my job and am grateful everyday that I have it.

I strive to create easy to use systems people can use to further their vision in the world.

Russ Fee

Russ has been making websites with WordPress as a Partner at Build Studio for nearly 5 years. This is his fourth time attending a WordCamp and his second time as a speaker. Russ’ primary interests lie in user experience, psychology, and clean design.

David Andrew Wiebe

David Andrew Wiebe is a hardworking, fun-loving, dynamic individual. A year out of College in 2002, he started teaching guitar in every setting imaginable: studios, community centers, in his own home, in his client’s homes, churches and even online.

Simultaneously, he continued to progress and advance his abilities as a guitarist, studio engineer, producer, blogger, podcaster, multimedia designer and online marketer. Having recorded his first solo album in 2006, he has since contributed his talents to the likes of Andrew Riches, Jonathan Ferguson and The Active Light.