SPEAKERS

Scott Cohen
CEO, Inbox Army

Scott Cohen is CEO of InboxArmy, a full-service email marketing and lifecycle marketing agency. He’s also an award-winning email marketing veteran with 20 years of experience as a brand-side marketer and agency executive who has worked with both small and enterprise companies alike across multiple industries. He’s pressed the “Send” a few thousand too many times, has the scars to prove it, and loves to talk about email.

Raymond Dijkxhoorn
Founder and CEO, SURBL

Raymond Dijkxhoorn is the CEO and a founding member of SURBL, a company specializing in providing reputation data through near real-time feeds. This data is used to secure various digital communications, including email, SMS, and web access, and helps protect against malicious activities such as phishing and spam. He has over 25 years of experience in high-tech engineering, particularly in ISP (Internet Service Provider) and ESP (Email Service Provider) technology and implementation architecture.

In addition to his role at SURBL, Dijkxhoorn is a founding member and CTO of EHAWK, a platform focusing on fraud and abuse prevention, and he owns Prolocation, a Dutch ISP. His extensive experience in the industry makes him a well-regarded figure in cybersecurity, known for his contributions to enhancing internet safety and security protocols

Annett Forcier
Founder and Managing Director, EmailBoutique Digital Inc.

Annett Forcier is the founder of EmailBoutique.io, a solo-run business specializing in custom email design systems and modular templates. With many years of experience in email marketing, she combines creative design with technical expertise to deliver efficient, brand-compliant solutions. As the 2020 Litmus Email First Innovator Award winner and an international speaker, Annett inspires audiences with practical insights and strategies to unlock the full potential of email marketing.

Steven Harroun
Vice President, Compliance and Enforcement, CRTC

Steven was appointed Vice-President, Compliance and Enforcement at the CRTC in November 2016. He is responsible for the enforcement of the Unsolicited Telecommunication Rules, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, and the Voter Contact Registry.

As the Vice-President, Compliance and Enforcement, Steven’s leadership approach is to promote compliance with the applicable legislation and regulations through education and outreach and, when necessary, encourage and enforce compliance through both traditional and innovative approaches.

Steven joined Canada’s converged communications regulator in 2002 and has developed his expertise in both broadcasting and telecommunications through various positions of increasing responsibility. As Director General, Strategic Policy from 2012-2016, Steven led the development and implementation of key Commission policies, including the Wireless Code of Conduct, Video Relay Service, and Broadband Performance Measurement, through his leadership of the Social and Consumer Policy, Network Technology and Strategic Policy and International Affairs teams.

Steven began his federal public service career in 1999 with the Canada Revenue Agency, following several years in the private sector.

Tali Hasanov
CEO, WSI Digital Path Marketing

Tali is an award-winning digital marketer with a track record of growing her clients’ businesses and driving revenue. Her 19 years of varied and in-depth experience have helped to make her an industry leader.

Hank Hoffmeier
Director of Operations, Kickbox

Hank is an author, speaker, podcast host and Director of Operations at Kickbox, a Ziff Davis Company. With a passion for all things digital and social, combined with more than 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, he has been dubbed the Digital Marketing Infotainer because he makes marketing fun and successful.

Derek Lackey, CIPM
Managing Director, Newport Thomson

Derek is the Managing Director of Newport Thomson, a data protection and privacy advisory firm in Toronto, specializing in CASL, PIPEDA, GDPR, ePrivacy, and CCPA/CPRA compliance. As Chairman of the Response Marketing Association, Derek leverages over 30 years of marketing and advertising experience to help clients achieve compliance with minimal disruption. He authored “CASL Compliance: A Marketer’s Guide to Email Marketing to Canadians” and advocates for practical, feasible compliance solutions.

Active in the privacy community, Derek chairs the Guidance Committee of the Canadian Advisory Council – GDPR, co-chairs the IAPP Toronto Chapter (2020/2021), and participates in several committees, including ISO 31700 and the Data Governance Standardization Collaborative. Educated in Marketing at the University of Toronto, Derek has led his ad agency to success, handling brands like Air Canada Vacations, Canon, and The Salvation Army, with seven out of nine becoming top in their categories in Canada.

Bob Sybydlo
Sr. Director, Marketing Technology and Innovation, ENVERTAdigital

Bob Sybydlo has spent nearly 20 years in the MarTech industry, helping organizations navigate the evolving landscape of marketing technology. With deep expertise across all major MarTech platforms, Bob has worked with senders of all sizes from around the globe translating emerging trends, capabilities, and strategies into actionable solutions that align with real business objectives. His work focuses on demystifying innovation and integrating it seamlessly into marketing ecosystems.

In addition to his platform expertise, Bob is recognized as a leading voice in the email deliverability space. He has guided global brands through complex deliverability challenges, from authentication and sender reputation to inbox placement and compliance in highly regulated industries. Bob regularly speaks at industry conferences, webinars, and panels, translating technical deliverability concepts into clear, actionable insights for marketers. His sessions are known for blending practical advice with strategic vision, empowering audiences to maximize email performance, protect brand reputation, and drive measurable engagement.

Matthew Vernhout
Founder Canadian Email Summit, Principal Email Advisor, Email Industries

Matthew Vernhout, known online as @emailkarma, is the Principal Email Advisor at Email Industries, where he brings his extensive expertise in email marketing, deliverability, and privacy advocacy. A respected figure in the digital marketing world, Matthew serves as the chairperson of the ANA’s Email Experience Council and holds a Director-at-Large/Secretary with the Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email (CAUCE). He is also the Communications Chair for the AuthIndicators Working Group (BIMI Group), and founder of the Canadian Email Summit.

With a reputation as a thought leader, Matthew was recognized as the 2019 EEC Thought Leader of the Year and is a Certified International Privacy Professional (Canada) (CIPP/C). He frequently speaks at global email marketing and technology conferences, sharing insights from his celebrated blog, EmailKarma.net. Notably, in 2010, EmailKarma was recognized as one of the top 40 marketing blogs in Canada, underscoring Matthew’s influence and expertise in the marketing community.

Jing Zhao
Director, Performance Marketing, Pet Valu

Jing Zhao is the Director of Performance Marketing at Pet Valu, Canada’s market leader in pet specialty retail. She leads the charge on media and investment strategy, driving omnichannel growth and customer acquisition through paid media and email/CRM marketing.

Passionate about connecting with pet lovers in meaningful ways, Jing and her team craft personal, memorable, and connected moments across every touchpoint—turning everyday interactions into lasting brand relationships and measurable business impact.

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Connect with many of the brightest minds in Canada regarding email marketing for a series of thought-provoking topics that will change the way you use email marketing in your organization.