Dan McQuillin

Dan McQuillin is the Founder and Managing Director of Broadcast Bionics. For 30 years, he has guided the global broadcast industry through multiple transformational technical changes. Today, Broadcast Bionics supports many of the world’s leading broadcasters as they navigate an ever-changing media landscape. Recognised with the Queen’s Award for Innovation and named a RadioWorld Industry Innovator, Dan has spent over a decade pioneering AI that doesn’t replace human creativity, but amplifies it. Under his leadership, Broadcast Bionics is advancing powerful new Augmented Intelligence tools shaping a future for radio that’s driven by innovation, rooted in authenticity, and powered by human connection. In the AI arms race for attention, Dan is backing radio’s greatest strength – its unmatched ability to bring people together.

Dawna Howe

Dawna Howe is Director of Production Technology at Canucks Sports & Entertainment, where she oversees broadcast, audio, video, lighting, and digital display systems across Rogers Arena. She joined the Vancouver Canucks organization in September 2010 and has spent over fifteen years building and leading the technical teams behind live game and event production. She has project managed the venue’s scoreboard installation, a full broadcast control room overhaul, and a digital signage platform refresh. She is currently designing a new arena audio system unlike anything else currently running in the NHL.

Before moving into venue technology, Dawna spent fifteen years as a touring audio engineer, one of the only women on most crews she worked, learning systems by necessity in an industry that offered little formal support at the time. That background shapes how she leads today: she has built out her department’s full technical and leadership structure at CSE and continues to mentor the next generation of engineers and technicians in the building.

Dawna has spoken twice at the SEAT conference, first on rethinking technology to open new revenue paths, and the following year on leveraging digital signage for fan engagement and financial impact. She was also profiled in Creative Realities’ “Sit down with Dawna Howe,” discussing her path into sound engineering and her approach to stadium and arena technology. She brings more than two decades of experience across touring, live sports, and broadcast production to how she talks about the technical and cultural sides of this industry.

Glen Hurst

20 + Years Engineering, installing, performing maintenance, and proofing transmitter sites in Canada, USA, and the islands.

Hans van Zutphen

Hans van Zutphen, is the CEO and founder of Thimeo Audio Technology. Hans started developing Stereo Tool, a powerful software only audio processor in 2004. The product and resulting technology became so popular that Hans founded Thimeo Audio Technology in 2011 in order to create more new innovative audio products.

One of the companies’ goals has been to develop at least one innovative, disruptive audio product per year. Hans, together with his team of Thimeo Audio software engineers have created award winning technology such as MicroMPX, Perfect Declipper, Delossifier, and new technology for composite clippers which gives stations an additional 2 to 3dB of loudness whilst maintaining clean audio quality. Thimeo technology is used in over 20,000 devices worldwide.

A native of the Netherlands, Hans graduated with a master’s degree in computer science and worked at ASML and Philips Healthcare prior to founding Thimeo Audio Technology. When not creating new products, Hans is a bit of an adrenaline junky enjoying bungie jumping, riding extreme roller coasters, or finding thrill seeking activities that make his coworkers quite nervous. Fortunately, Hans is content not to make it a company requirement to participate.

James Fess

Been working in the tower industry for over 30 years in various roles in telecom implementation and maintenance with the last 10 years at RVA Lighting and Masts.

Nima Malekmanesh

Nima Malekmanesh has been with Evertz since 2001, first joining the company as a software engineer. During his time as a software engineer Malekmanesh contributed to many of the core products at Evertz with his final contribution being the DreamCatcher replay platform. In his current role, Malekmanesh oversees the global marketing, business development, technical sales, commissioning, training and service of the live media products.

Rob Poretti

For over 25 years, Rob Poretti has provided wireless solutions for live events and venues in Canada and around the world. Rob was an RF expert for Sennheiser Canada for 8-years; providing engineering, design and specification support for their partners. Rob specializes in designing large, complex RF systems for broadcasters and large events, where requirements for multi-zone combining, facility-wide frequency coordination and systems integration are the norm. Example with broadcasters include CBC, CTV, Global TV, and RogersTV.

Rob managed the Sennheiser service shop at the Vancouver 2014 Winter Olympics, where a team of RF experts provided technical support for IOC host broadcast partners during that time-frame. He has also consulted with Industry Canada during the 2012 700 MHz Digital Transition, and the 2002 600MHz Repack. He has developed various tools to determine Canadian DTV environments for all major cities, as well as most countries around the world.

Rob was also on the software development team as architect, for the Professional Setup component of Wireless Systems Manager (WSM). WSM is Sennheiser’s software tool for managing wireless devices and frequency coordination.

Rob is the RF Wireless brand manager for AVL Media Group, that includes Wisycom and Pliant Technologies.