David Beurle is a world-renowned expert on community, regional and organizational economic revitalization. His work extends from the local and regional, through to Corporate and Governmental levels with a focus on ‘future thinking’ and long term planning. As the CEO of Future IQ, he specializes in creating innovative future planning approaches for use in regional and organizational settings. He pioneered the application of Scenario Planning to regions and rural industries around the world. Having worked in the field of regional and community planning/ revitalization for over 20 years, he is a leader in the field of regional and organizational development. Future IQ serves clients n North America, Europe and Australia, working across cultures, sectors and languages in order to shape unique and effective planning solutions.

Todd Hirsch is an internationally renowned economist, keynote speaker, and author whose research and work focuses on enhancing adaptability in an ever-changing world. Having had a front row seat to key issues transforming the global economy for the past 25 years, he delivers dynamic, clear-eyed talks on adaptability, creativity, and resilience to help industry and business leaders prepare for a future that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. An economist by training, Hirsch recently served as the Director of Energy Transition Centre, an incubator of tech startups focused on navigating our path toward net-zero carbon. Prior to this, he spent 15 years as the VP and chief economist for ATB Financial, taught economics at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, and worked in the research department of the Bank of Canada. In recognition of his work, Hirsch has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the University of Alberta’s Alumni Honour Award, and an honorary degree from Mount Royal University. He has also spoken to hundreds of business audiences across the United States and Canada, and international audiences from Venezuela to Dublin. The author of four books, Hirsch’s latest, Spiders in COVID Space: Adapting During and After the Pandemic, shares the inspiring and compelling stories of businesses and not-for-profits that reinvented themselves during the pandemic.