Kate Robson
“I’m thrilled that so many people now have access to her compassion, wisdom, and humour as well to the tools she has honed for many years as a therapist, mother, and friend.”
– Sarah Polley, Academy Award winner and bestselling author of Run Towards the Danger.
“This delightful book offers invaluable tools to readers, featuring the many strategies available for anybody hoping to heal and find connection in their lives.”
– Clara Hughes, Olympian and bestselling author of Open Heart, Open Mind.
Kate Robson is a registered psychotherapist based in Toronto and author of Something to Hold Onto (S&S). Inspired by her own experiences with her children in a neonatal intensive care unit, she has worked with babies, parents, and families for more than twelve years as a NICU family support specialist. She has since travelled internationally to educate parents and clinicians on family-centred and trauma-informed care. Her talks and workshops focus on cultivating secure attachment in relationships and creating emotion-friendly homes, workplaces, and systems.
In her private practice, Kate supports individuals and couples navigating infertility, high-risk pregnancies, NICU hospitalizations, and bereavement – she has led Canada’s largest support community for NICU families for the last 10 years. She holds degrees from McGill University and OISE/UT, completed her psychotherapy training at the Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy, and has trained in modalities including ACT, Internal Family Systems, EMDR, PACT, and somatic approaches.
Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, Kate brings a deeply human lens to conversations about trauma, attachment, and resilience. Her speaking style is grounded, compassionate, and practical – offering language and tools people can use immediately in moments that matter.
Attachment & Relationships
Creating emotion-friendly homes, workplaces, and communities
Strong relationships are built not on perfection, but on safety, repair, and emotional attunement. In this talk, Kate explores how attachment patterns shape the way we relate … to partners, children, colleagues, and ourselves … and how small shifts can create environments where people feel seen and supported. With warmth and clarity, she translates attachment theory into practical guidance for fostering trust, connection, and emotional literacy in everyday life.
Resilience & Emotional Wellbeing
Practical tools for navigating adversity and finding calm in uncertainty
This talk explores resilience not as toughness or positivity, but as the capacity to stay present and resourced when life feels unsteady. Drawing on psychology, lived experience, and simple, practical frameworks, Kate offers tools for regulating emotion, reducing overwhelm, and responding to stress in ways that are workable rather than reactive. Participants leave with language and practices they can use immediately — especially in moments when certainty is in short supply.
Grief & Loss
Gentle ways to be with grief and move forward with meaning
Grief shows up in many forms. It appears not only after death, but in illness, infertility, change, and when we notice the lives we didn’t get to live. This talk invites a compassionate, non-pathologizing approach to grief, focusing on how we can honour love and meaning without being crushed by loss. Kate offers steadying perspectives and accessible practices that help people make room for sorrow while staying connected to what sustains them.
Kate Robson in the Media:
- Jann Arden Podcast: Kate Robson and Sarah Polley
- The Tyee Review: Something to Hold Onto
- Kate Robson speaking at Rotman School of Management
Jessica Barrett
Jessica Barrett is an award-winning journalist and author of No Place Like Home: The Missing Key To Our Housing Crisis. Jessica got her start as a community newspaper reporter in Vancouver, B.C., where she fell in love with covering municipal issues and urban affairs. Over the years she worked her way up to reporting for the Vancouver Sun, B.C. Business Magazine and eventually became Senior Editor of Vancouver Magazine. Jessica has also appeared regularly as a columnist in print and on the radio. Her writing has won multiple awards, including Postmedia’s prestigious Michelle Lang Fellowship and the Jack Webster Foundation’s City Mike award for her columns about Vancouver’s housing affordability crisis.
Jessica now lives in Calgary, where she continues to write and think about how to bring about systemic change for a more just, joyful and functional society. When not writing, Jessica spends her time gardening, devouring podcasts and attempting to wrangle her young son into bed.
Topics:
- Urban Planning and Housing Policy
- Community Connections and social isolation
- Writing and Writing Craft
Talks
Housing Vs. Home
After living in Vancouver for her entire adult life, Jessica Barrett packed up her apartment, quit her dream job as a magazine editor, and headed for Calgary in search of a more affordable place to call home. In the years since Barrett was priced out of Vancouver, the issue of housing affordability has become a national crisis, fanning the flames of social inequality and setting us up for financial ruin. But our obsession with rising housing prices obscures a more complex and pressing issue: we have lost our reverence for, and our understanding of, home. In this talk, Jessica introduces audiences to her research on the fundamental elements of home and explores how these elements are, or are not, prioritized in our current housing system. She then goes on to present examples from around the world and locally on how to get back to the fundamentals of home, and produce better, more affordable housing for all.
C is for Community
When it comes to our housing crisis, most of the proposed solutions come from one of two places: the market, or the government. Both are problematic, though for different reasons. Private developers don’t always build homes that people can afford — or homes that people want. And governments are famously fickle. All it takes is a shift in political ideologies or a change in ruling parties to decimate systems and organizations that rely on public funding. But there is a third option. A vast middle ground between public and private on which we can build housing that is affordable, desirable and socially and environmentally sustainable. And there is an overlooked stakeholder group that is inherently motivated and perfectly capable of leading this charge. Us. In this talk, Jessica introduces audiences to the concept of Community-Led housing, offering examples from all over Canada, and all over the world, that show how the housing crisis can be solved by regular people coming together in pursuit of a better way to live.
The Hidden Power of Neighbourliness
Canadians spend significantly less time with our neighbours now than we did just a few decades ago. In the era of Amazon and Instacart, our lack of neighbourly connections might seem a little sad, but largely inconsequential to our lives—we no longer need our neighbours to provide that proverbial cup of sugar. But we do need our neighbours, and we need them more than ever. In this talk, Jessica dives into the astounding research on the role neighbourliness plays in our health, safety and social fabric, explaining how reclaiming neighbourliness is one of the biggest untapped solutions to some of most pressing issues of our time — everything from the loneliness epidemic, to political polarization, to surviving climate change. She then points the way toward some surprising, and surprisingly simple, actions we can take to nurture neighbourliness at every level of our lives, from the personal to political.
She can be found on Instagram at @thewrightlight
Selected works:
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Jen Kish
Jen Kish is an Olympic medalist, former Captain of Team Canada Rugby 7s, keynote speaker, and mental health advocate. Known for her leadership, grit, and resilience on and off the field, Jen spent over 13 years representing Canada at the highest level – leading her team to a historic bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and a gold medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Her journey-from a difficult childhood to captaining a world-class team -shapes her speaking work today. Jen specializes in leadership, culture building, women’s empowerment, mental health, and the realities of invisible injuries such as concussion. Her keynotes combine powerful storytelling with practical lessons that audiences can immediately apply to their own lives, teams, and organizations Jen’s authenticity and lived experience create an emotional, inspiring, and actionable keynote experience for audiences in corporate, education, athletic, and community sectors.
THE LEADER IN YOU
Unlocking Influence, Culture & Purpose
“Leadership isn’t a position — it’s a behaviour. It’s a skill, not a title.”
• Build influence through trust, example, and accountability
• Adopt a “lead from the back” approach to empower teams
• Transform adversity into purpose-driven performance
• Strengthen culture through clarity, communication, and ownership
UNLOCK THE HIDDEN HER-O IN HER
Elevating Women Through Strength, Representation & Voice
“When we remove barriers for women, everything improves.”
This keynote is designed to empower girls and women to:
- Recognize the impact of representation on confidence and ambition.• Develop strategies to champion women in leadership.
- Understand early gender messaging.
- Build cultures that support equity & belonging.
- Encourage girls and women to take space — and keep it.
THE UNSEEN WOUNDS WE CARRY
Mental Health, Resilience & Healing
“Mental health affects every part of performance and life.”
• Learn how early support changes outcomes.
• Recognize signs of struggle.
• Apply the N.U.R.S.E. model.
• Foster cultures of empathy.
THE INVISIBLE IMPACT
Understanding Concussion & Recovery
“A concussion is an invisible injury with very real consequences.”
• Recognize symptoms & effects.
• Explore emotional identity challenges.
• Learn support strategies.
• Build safe awareness-driven cultures.
Jen Kish in the news:
Cherie Dimaline
Cherie Dimaline is an internationally bestselling author. Her book The Marrow Thieves was named by TIME magazine, one of the Best YA Books of All Time and won the Governor General’s Award and the Kirkus Prize. Her novel Empire of Wild was an instant Canadian bestseller and is being adapted into a full opera for the Canadian Opera Company. Hunting By Stars was a 2022 American Indian Library Association Honor Book and her novel VENCO debuted at #1 on Canadian bestseller lists. Other titles include Funeral Songs for Dying Girls (AILA Honor Book, AURA Award winner, CRIME WRITERS Best Book, Bram Stoker Finalist) and Into the Bright Open (2024 Governor General’s Award Finalist).
Cherie lives in her Georgian Bay Métis Community and has written and produced for MARVEL, FX, HBO, Disney, and is currently adapting two major projects for AMC.
To book Cherie, contact Rob Firing at rob@transatlanticagency.com
Dr. Cathy Miyata
Whether collecting, mining, researching, writing, or telling, Dr. Cathy Miyata is passionate about story. As a master storyteller she has performed, conducted workshops, lectured, and delivered keynote presentations for educational, corporate, and student audiences in Germany, Sweden, Serbia, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, Mexico, the United States, and all across Canada. Her presentation style is vibrant, emotionally charged, and deeply meaningful, transforming you from tears of laughter to tears of sadness and back again. She also maintains a wide repertoire of folklore (folktales, legends, myths, parables, sacred stories) from many cultures which she weaves into her presentations depending on the needs and requests of her audience.
As an award-winning author, Cathy has published in a variety of genres: novels, teacher education books, academic chapters, research studies, and journal articles. Her writing styles are eclectic, poignant, and powerful.
As a life-long learner, at the age of 52 she decided to pursue an educational dream by beginning her doctorate at U of T. Even before she defended, she was offered an Assistant Professorship in the Faculty of Education and Global Education Departments at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her uncanny ability to transform a dry lecture into a compelling story event made her extremely popular on campus in both the undergraduate and graduate programs.
She recently left her role at Laurier in order to write full-time. Her third novel, co-written with her husband Kaz, is awaiting publication. Cathy considers this work to be the most significant writing of her career so far. It captures the heart wrenching and desperate plight of a Japanese Canadian family incarcerated in a German prisoner of war camp in Northern Ontario after the second world war has ended. Sadly, there is almost no public knowledge of this camp and most of the events in the novel are true. The scenes were woven together from interviews with survivors who graciously shared their memories, recollections, and nightmares about this devastating time in Canada’s history. Cathy’s husband was imprisoned in this camp.
Speaking Topics
Dr. Cathy Miyata is a dynamic speaker whose expertise spans leadership, inspiration, and the art of masterful storytelling. With a deep commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), she empowers audiences to embrace diverse perspectives while cultivating authentic leadership. Renowned for her engaging public speaking, Dr. Miyata seamlessly blends insight, personal experience, and compelling narratives to inspire action and foster meaningful connections. Her presentations leave audiences motivated, enlightened, and equipped with practical tools to lead with impact.
Outsider on the Inside
As a white middle class woman, I had a lot to learn about raising BIPOC children, handling discriminatory snipes, and supporting my partner’s challenges. Hard lessons. Life-changing but worthwhile lessons. EDI are gifts worth fighting for.
Successful Leadership
If a leader wants to be authentic, make an impact, drive their team forward, embed a vision, transform an image, or rescue a failure, they need the right story, for the right audience, told the right way. And they need it now. In this interactive presentation we will explore several narrative structures and techniques that will help you achieve your leadership goals.
Community Building
Solidify your group by exploring the three C’s of Community Building: Collaboration, Connection, and Communication. In this interactive presentation, you will learn strategies and techniques that bring people together.
Speak and Be Heard!
If you want to be heard, really heard, then learn to tell well. This interactive presentation will provide you with the techniques you need to motivate, persuade or inspire your team, class, or audience.
YOUR Life, YOUR Story
In this interactive presentation explore techniques of mining and writing, empowering you to capture those crucial life moments that make thrilling and impactful stories for sharing.
Cathy will create presentations uniquely for your group upon request. She is also available for workshops and residencies. Presentations can be in person or virtual.
Testimonials
“Cathy is an exceptional speaker. She is captivating, insightful, and profoundly authentic. Her ability to blend academic knowledge with real-world experience brought the topic to life in a way that was both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. I was fully engaged throughout her presentation and the conversations she inspired continued long after our session had ended. What impacted me most was her call to move from awareness to meaningful action, a message that continues to shape my leadership today. Cathy doesn’t just talk about equity; she lives it, breathes it, and empowers others to do the same. She is articulate, genuine, and truly inspirational.”
– Josée Landriault: Directrice, École Secondaire Gaétan Gervais
“Cathy brings the perfect blend of humour, heart, and intellectual engagement in her professional speaking sessions, and I would highly recommend her to any organization or team looking to drive transformational change centered around an ethic of love.”
– Betsy Enriquez: Instructional Program Leader, Halton District School Board
“Cathy’s impact on our faculty was immediate and lasting. Whether speaking to a small group in a workshop or a packed auditorium, Cathy connected with her audience through a powerful blend of storytelling, research, visuals, and real classroom practice. Her sessions were both informative and inspiring.”
– Mr. Chuck Reid: Director and Ms. Suzanne Tsuchida: Associate Director of Academics: Dover International School, Cairo, Egypt
“Dr. Cathy Miyata is a brilliant storyteller. She reads a room with the sensitivity of a true artist- chooses stories that meet her audience exactly where they are- and then lifts them to someplace more expansive. She can make you laugh and cry in the same breath. More than that, she consistently moves her audience into a deeper sense of understanding themselves. Her keynote addresses are not only masterclasses in communication—they’re unforgettable experiences that leave people feeling seen, connected, and inspired.”
– Nicole Fougere: Executive Director, Rotary Arts Centre, Corner Brook, NL
“It’s obvious from the moment you meet Cathy that she has a passion for storytelling and is eager to share that passion with others. Cathy was part of our Inspiring Success Speaker Series, where she led us through the art of storytelling. Not only did she share her own stories, we learned to engage, persuade and motivate others through storytelling and the practical ways we can build collaboration, connection, and community.”
– Jill Reiner: Director, Talent – Human Resources, Wilfrid Laurier University
“Dr. Miyata is a dynamic speaker and master storyteller who draws on drama, literacy, and creativity to engage and inspire. Her warmth, energy, and deep understanding of learning combined with her practical and powerful use of storytelling strategies, leave a lasting impression on audiences.”
– Dr. Kari-Lynn Winters: Professor, Brock University
“Cathy has a unique talent for engaging diverse groups, ensuring that each presentation is memorable and that it resonates deeply with the audience. She manages to captivate everyone in the room and keep them engaged. Her presentations are experiences that stick with you long afterwards, and I have found the messages to be both enlightening and profoundly moving.”
– Laurie Reid: System Principal, HDSB
“Dr. Miyata’s gift for beautifully expressive and moving oratory stands out for her natural conveyance of personal insight, based on vast intercultural dialogue and the uncanny ability to peer into the hearts of others. Audiences respond to her deep empathy and quick mind.”
– Paulus Linnaeus: Graphic Artist
“During her keynote address, Dr. Miyata shared her insights on public speaking and the transformative potential of storytelling as a powerful creative tool for connection and inspirational impact. I left the keynote stimulated by the practical tips on how to better engage an audience and with a beautiful parable that I later shared while emceeing another event. Dr. Miyata inspired me to embrace the opportunity to share stories with others. Thank you, Cathy, for reminding us of the power of words and the importance on how we deliver them.”
– Suzanne Luke: University Art Curator, Robert Langen Art Gallery
Robin Stevenson
Robin Stevenson is an award-winning queer Canadian author of more than thirty books for young readers. She has written non-fiction about queer history, activism, and rights; novels for teens and children; and picture books for the youngest readers. Her recent titles include Queer History A-Z; Pride: The Celebration and the Struggle; Pride Puppy; and A Hug on the Wind. Robin has a master’s degree in social work, and worked as a counselor, group facilitator and social work instructor for ten years before beginning to write while on parental leave.
Robin’s books have won the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff award and a Stonewall Honor, and been finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Lambda Literary Awards, four BC Book Prizes, and many reader’s choice awards. Her work has received numerous starred reviews, and been translated and published in more than ten countries. In 2023, she was awarded the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence in recognition of her body of work and her contributions to the literary community.
Robin is a vocal advocate for reader’s rights and a strong voice in opposing censorship and book bans. She was named as the 2022 Champion of Free Expression by the Book and Periodical Council of Canada. She has faced challenges to many of her books, and in 2025, her picture book Pride Puppy was at the center of a US Supreme Court case, Mahmoud v. Taylor. She regularly speaks about books and writing, about 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion in schools and libraries, and about issues related to censorship and book bans.
SPEAKING TOPICS WITH DESCRIPTION AND AUDIENCE
Robin is available for keynotes, conference sessions, festivals, writing workshops and panels, professional development, and consulting.
For Educators & Librarians
- Who’s Afraid of Pride Puppy!? Books, Bans and Backlash
In the current landscape of anti-LGBTQ+ backlash and book challenges, both authors and educators who are committed to inclusion face new challenges — but despite the risks, many are refusing self-censorship, building networks of support, and advocate for diverse books and readers’ rights.
- Pride, Inclusion and Belonging: The Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation in Books
Inclusive books help students see themselves, understand others, and feel a sense of belonging. As anti-LGBTQ+ hate rises, representation is more important than ever. - Why Book Banners (and the US Supreme Court) Are So Afraid of Queer Joy
LGBGTQ+ children’s books show people being themselves and being loved and celebrated for who they are. Queer joy is powerful — and we need to keep celebrating it and sharing it. - Readers, Leaders, Disruptors
Knowing where we have come from helps light the way forward. Stories of resistance can be used to inspire reflection and action, to show students the power of words, and to empower young people to tell their own stories and make their voices heard. - Creating Inclusive Spaces
Practical strategies for supporting 2SLGBTQ+ students and creating safer and more welcoming spaces in classrooms and libraries. - Talking to Young People About Challenging Topics
How books can spark necessary conversations about identity, belonging, and social justice.
For Writing Conferences & Festivals
- My Book Was Banned: Now What?
Robin will share the story of what happened when her picture book Pride Puppy found itself at the US Supreme Court—and what she learned about book challenges, fighting back, staying safe, and protecting creativity and resilience. - Writing as Resistance
In an era marked by rising book bans, online hostility, and backlash against diverse stories, writing can be difficult for writers whose stories — and identities — are targeted. How do we resist the urge to self-censor? And how do we stay true to our voices, tell the stories we want to tell, and write the books our readers need? - Writing Queer Books for All Ages
Fiction or non-fiction, from toddlers to adults: all our readers need books that reflect their lives and the world they live in. So how can writers — regardless of their own identities — ensure their writing is inclusive of the diverse LGBTQ+ community? - Craft-Focused Workshops on a Range of Topics
Co-writing a novel; character development; trouble-shooting a manuscript; dealing with writer’s block; sparking new ideas; the magic of revision; writing children’s non-fiction about challenging topics, etc.
For Organizations, Employee Events, and Lunch-and-Learns
- Stories Can’t Be Silenced: Lessons from the Pride Puppy Case
What happened when a picture book about a lost puppy at a Pride parade became the target of the conservative legal movement in the United States—and ended up at the US Supreme Court. - Books Change — and Save — Lives
The social impact of diverse literature and why representation matters. - 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion 101
Practical ways workplaces, schools, and libraries can foster belonging for 2SLGBTQ+ people. - Censorship and Free Expression
What rising book bans reveal about our culture, and how to respond with courage and integrity. - The Power of Stories
How sharing our stories builds empathy and connection and leads to social change.
ONLINE INTERVIEWS
- A Canadian Picture Book at the U.S. Supreme Court | The Agenda with Steve Paikin on TVO
- Velshi Banned Book Club on MSNBC
- Pride Puppy Author Talks LGBTQ+ Book Bans and SCOTUS case, on Boom! Lawyered podcast:
- As It Happens on CBC
PRINT INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES
- First person article in Macleans Magazine: How My LGBGQ+ Kids’ Book Ended up at the US Supreme Court
- ‘All kids deserve to see families like their own in the books they read’: Robin Stevenson writes books she wishes she had read growing up, from PEN America
- You Can’t Read That: Banning kids’ books in Canada and the United States, from PEN Canada
- Author Robin Stevenson Resists Organized Challenges to Books About Sexual Minorities, from Freedom to Read
- Interview in Vancouver Sun about Pride: The Celebration and The Struggle
PULL QUOTES FROM REVIEWS, WITH LINKS
Reviews for Queer History A to Z: 100 Years of LGBTQ+ Activism:
“Perfect for middle school and public libraries; an essential collection of LGBTQIA+ history.” – School Library Journal
“Queer History A to Z is a must-buy title from an accomplished veteran of LGBTQ+ children’s and YA literature. Highly Recommended.” – Canadian Materials
Reviews for Pride: The Celebration and the Struggle
“Stevenson’s joyful celebration of self, community, existence, and activism examines Pride parades, how they came to be, and what they celebrate… An indispensable and celebratory primer on the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. An excellent resource that is as thorough as it is visually appealing.” – Starred review, School Library Journal
Reviews for Pride Puppy
“Highly—and proudly—recommended… The book is sheer delight and will be a welcome addition to shelves everywhere.” – Starred review, Kirkus
“This engaging introduction to Pride parades for the youngest readers successfully testifies to the warmth and power of queer community.” – Starred review, Publisher’s Weekly
TESTIMONIALS
“Robin was the keynote speaker at the Children and Teen Services conference for library staff. She presented on the topic of young people’s right to read and the challenges to this right. The presentation was factual, educational and powerful. In addition to presenting, Robin facilitated a group exercise for staff on how to better support 2SLGBTQ+ youth and families in our communities. Participants were able to openly share and learn from each other because Robin created a positive learning space. I definitely recommend Robin as a speaker and facilitator.”
– ASHLEY MACHUM, Head of Youth Services, Okanagan Regional Library, Kelowna, BC
“Robin was a dynamic and engaging speaker and presenter who connected so well with audiences of all ages. From a host perspective, Robin was also an absolute dream to work with – responsive, flexible and generous with her time and so much fun to be around. She is easy to recommend as an author, as a presenter and as a workshop leader!”
– DEB ISBISTER, Red Deer Library
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Robin as a keynote speaker and a program facilitator, and appreciate her understanding of our roles as educators, and navigating systems to ensure that all students see themselves and their peers reflected through literature. Robin is extremely knowledgeable about the experiences, rights, and histories of Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ humans, and always works to center lived experiences of intersectional identities in all of her work. I highly recommend her as a speaker and facilitator for both students and educators.”
– ELIZA HYNES, Resource Teacher – Indigenous Education, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression and Community Partnership, Peel District School Board
“Robin is a dynamic and thoughtful speaker who was part of author events at my university that were engaging and deeply relevant. The events sparked meaningful conversations about writing for young adults and children, censorship issues we face today, queer representation in literature, and the power of inclusive storytelling. She brought warmth, insight, and a strong sense of purpose to our library’s events—an invaluable voice in today’s cultural landscape.”
– Joseph Hafner, Dean of Libraries, York University
“Hosting Robin at the library for an evening discussion about the censorship of LGBTQA2S+ materials was eye-opening for everyone involved. She was knowledgeable, personable, and presented her information in a manner accessible and relatable to everyone in the audience, from teens to seniors.”
– Wendy Wright, Director of Smithers Public Library, BC, senior fellow at the Canadian Center for Free Expression
Danny Ramadan
Danny Ramadan is a Syrian-Canadian author and LGBTQ+ refugees’ advocate. His memoir Crooked Teeth received raving reviews and was nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction. His latest novel, The Foghorn Echoes, won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction and was nominated for both the BC & Yukon Book Prizes and the City of Vancouver Book Award. His debut novel, The Clothesline Swing, won the Independent Publisher Book Award, was longlisted for Canada Reads, and has been translated into multiple languages.
Ramadan is also the author of the award-winning Salma children’s series, which has received the Nautilus Book Award, the Publishing Triangle Award, the Middle East Book Award, and numerous other accolades.
Since arriving in Canada, he has raised over $300,000 to support LGBTQ+ refugees, securing safe passage for more than two dozen queer and trans individuals. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC and an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Adler University.
He lives in Vancouver with his husband and two dogs — and when he’s not writing, he’s probably playing video games.
Speaking Topics
Exploring Identity, Storytelling, and Social Justice through Lived Experience
The Immigration Journey
Ramadan speaks thoughtfully and with lived experience about the journey of immigration — from the personal realities of leaving Syria and building a new life in Canada, to the broader challenges faced by refugees and newcomers. Blending memoir-style storytelling with current research, he explores the emotional, political, and cultural impact of migration. His tone is candid, compassionate, and often humorous, offering space for honest conversations about belonging, identity, and resilience.
Intersectionality in Activism and the Writing Life
With a deep understanding of layered identities, Ramadan offers insights into how intersectionality can shape both creative work and community advocacy. Whether he’s discussing the role of intersectionality in building inclusive movements or developing fully realized characters on the page, his approach is clear, grounded, and inviting. Ramadan’s background as a writer, activist, and union leader allows him to navigate this topic with nuance, making complex ideas accessible and engaging for a wide range of audiences.
Writing Across Genres: Craft, Editing, and Storytelling Tools
As a writer of novels, memoir, and children’s literature, Ramadan brings a multi-genre perspective to conversations about writing craft. He speaks about narrative structure, editing strategies, voice, and revision, offering practical tools for writers at any stage of their career. His sessions are accessible, flexible, and often shaped by the needs of the audience — whether they’re new writers in classrooms or professionals in literary spaces. Ramadan’s style is friendly, generous, and focused on growth rather than perfection.
Queerness and Identity
Ramadan brings warmth, openness, and clarity to conversations around queerness — both as a lived experience and as a lens through which to view art, culture, and personal growth. He reflects on his own journey as a queer man from the Middle East and how it has shaped his voice, community, and storytelling. His talks offer space for vulnerability, joy, and honest reflection, making them especially resonant in educational and community-focused settings.
Karen van Kampen
Karen van Kampen is an author, creative writing instructor and award-winning journalist who has built a career on writing, sharing and listening to stories. She focuses on the art and science of storytelling to educate, inspire and connect to gain new perspectives and boost well-being.
In The Brain Never Sleeps: Why We Dream and What it Means for our Health (Simon & Schuster Canada, 2026), Karen guides readers on a journey through dreamland to discover why dreams matter and how we can reclaim this alternate realm of experience. Her interest in dreams began at the age of nine when her dad opened one of the first independent sleep laboratories in Canada and she was his first lab assistant, practising electrode hook up and testing. She went on to work on the business side of sleep for more than 15 years.
Karen offers insightful and engaging talks on the power of human story in the age of AI. Karen leads interactive workshops for individuals and companies to learn the essential elements of a compelling story that connects and inspires audiences, taking their ideas from concept to podium. Karen explores how we can harness our natural superpower of sleep to improve our well-being and shares how we can use dreams as a creative brainstorming tool in business and in life. Karen has audiences create their own dreamer toolkit to reveal their concerns, reduce nightmares and benefit from the insights and self-awareness of dreams.
She is the author of The Golden Cell: The Quest for the Next Great Medical Breakthrough (HarperCollins), which garnered extensive media coverage. Her writing has appeared in various publications including The Globe and Mail, National Post, Flare magazine, FASHION magazine and Reader’s Digest. She has worked as a writer and editor at several magazines and newspapers. Karen teaches creative non-fiction and science and public health writing at the University of Toronto.
Speaking Topics
Storytelling
The Power of Human Story in the Digital Age
Discover why human stories have the power to strengthen learning, empathy and well-being. Learn how we are wired to communicate and connect through story, empathizing with characters and gaining personal insights. Discover how storytellers and listeners share similar brain activity as a story unfolds and the “narrative transport” of storytelling that connects people emotionally. Learn the art of strategic storytelling, the essential elements of a compelling story and how to package your story to make it your own. Practical tips on effective communication to build a digital presence, make big ideas resonate and find your voice to influence, inspire and make a meaningful impact.
Storytelling as a Business Tool
Learn the importance and impact of compelling stories to build brands, become a trusted voice and drive change. Hands-on instruction to develop your voice as a leader and communicator, craft your message and shape your story to connect with your target audience and achieve your strategic goals. Learn how meaningful, authentic stories create a dynamic and engaged work culture and build a loyal audience that lives your brand. Tips on creating valuable content that meets customer wants, needs and challenges. Explore the power of story-based advocacy to drive social change.
Sleep, Dreams and Well-being
Build a Work Culture that Prioritizes Sleep and Well-being
Sleep fuels the body and the mind, just like food. Learn how sleep and dreams can improve workplace productivity, job satisfaction and employee retention. Adopt healthy sleep habits and create your own sleep system to gain health and wellness benefits in your personal and professional lives.
The Dream Dimension: Why we Dream and How to Use Dreams to Improve our Waking Lives
Explore the connection between dreams and waking life to reveal your preoccupations, concerns and state of mind. Uncover possible functions and many benefits of dreaming. Investigate dream engineering to guide your dreams, reduce nightmares and harness their creative power to solve problems and gain new insights.
Night Shift: What Our Work Dreams are Trying to Tell Us
Explore common work dreams, their impact on productivity and happiness, and what happens to our sleep and dreams if we try to suppress work anxieties. Gain strategies on how to combat and manage work stress dreams. Create your own dreamer’s toolkit of high-tech and low-tech dream tools to harness the benefits of your dreams for your health and well-being.
To learn more about Karen’s business storytelling and consulting work, visit her consulting website. Through Daring and Kind, Karen partners with organizations and individuals to craft authentic narratives that connect, influence and drive meaningful change. The site offers insight into her consulting approach, client collaborations, and how story can be used as a powerful tool for leadership, innovation and impact.
Liz Renzetti
Elizabeth Renzetti is a bestselling author and journalist. She is the author of five books, most recently the national bestseller What She Said: Conversations About Equality. She’s also the author, alongside Kate Hilton, of the Quill & Packet mystery series. Their first novel, Bury the Lead, was published in 2024, and Widows and Orphans followed in 2025.
As a journalist, Elizabeth reported from London, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Berlin, and wrote a popular column on current affairs in The Globe and Mail. In 2025, she was awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work on gender equality, and she has twice won the Landsberg Prize for reporting on gender issues. She lives in Toronto with her family and two very bad cats.
Praise for What She Said:
“What She Said is frank, funny, and unfailingly honest …. Should be mandatory reading!” – Lisa LaFlamme, journalist
“What She Said is as honest as it is painful and smart …. It made me weep, laugh, and ultimately helped me exhale.” Kathleen Wynne, former premier of Ontario
Liz is an experienced public speaker and can lecture on numerous topics including:
Women in Leadership
Women are underrepresented at all levels of leadership in every field. And it’s getting worse. At a time when companies are rolling back their diversity policies, what does the future hold for women in leadership roles? Drawing upon years of reporting, interviews with leaders in politics and business, and her own story as a woman in management, Liz speaks to this fraught moment – and the future ahead.
Gender Inequality & Why It Harms Us All
We know that we are facing an unprecedented backlash to the rights of women and non-binary people, not just in North America, but around the world. Young women and young men grow farther apart in their political beliefs. How did we get to this place, and how do we find a way out that heals rather than harms?
Teamwork is Dreamwork
As the co-author of a fictional mystery series, and as a journalist who participated in many group projects, Liz can reveal the secrets of what makes for a fruitful partnership. How to choose the right collaborator, best ways of working that will not lead to divorce, and how to successfully play to a team’s strengths and weaknesses are all part of the discussion.
The Misinformation Crisis & The Power of Journalism
How do we move forward as a society if we can even agree on facts? As a journalist with decades of newsroom experience, Liz can talk about how journalism is facing this crisis, and what we can do to understand each other better.
Liz also hosts panel discussions, conducts public interviews, and gives workshops on interviewing techniques.
Valerie Jerome
“As chief, I travelled around the world, meeting royalty and prime ministers, and never was I nervous or anxious. But my knees shook with fear at the schoolhouse door. Valerie Jerome changed that for my son, and for many children in our nation. We were made to feel welcome, safe, and cared for.”
Valerie Jerome Speaking Topics