Jack Newton is the CEO and Founder of Clio, the world’s leading legal technology company. Based in Vancouver, BC, Jack has spent 17 years transforming how legal professionals work while improving access to justice worldwide.

Under his leadership, Clio powers over 200,000 legal professionals in 130+ countries with the industry’s most comprehensive operating system for law firms — integrating 300+ apps, supported by hundreds of certified consultants, and endorsed by 100+ bar associations. Clio became the first legal practice management unicorn in 2021, valued at $1.6B, and grew to $3B by 2024 following a record-breaking $900M Series F. In 2025, Jack announced Clio’s landmark $1B definitive agreement to acquire vLex, laying the groundwork to unite Clio’s platform with the world’s largest legal database and cutting-edge AI, shaping the future of how legal services are delivered.

Jack is also the author of the bestselling The Client-Centered Law Firm and a recognized leader in AI and legal innovation.

Karina LeBlanc is an Olympic bronze medalist, five-time FIFA Women’s World Cup participant, and proud Member of the Order of Canada. Over her 18-year career with Canada’s national team, she earned 110 caps and helped define a generation of women’s soccer.

Born to Jamaican and Dominican parents and raised in Canada, her journey has fueled a lifelong passion for belonging and opportunity. After retiring, she became a broadcaster and later a global leader in the game, serving as Head of Women’s Football at CONCACAF and as General Manager of Portland Thorns FC, where she made history as the first person to win an NWSL title both on the field and in the front office.

Now EVP of Strategic Growth at RAJ Sports, Karina returns to TEDxVancouver to share lessons on resilience, leadership, and the power of sport to transform lives.

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Chief Gibby Jacob, whose ancestral name is Kákeltn Siyám, is a Hereditary Chief of the Squamish Nation. A man with quiet power, he has served for over 40 years in various leadership roles within the Squamish Nation, including elected Councilor and then Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Natural Resources & Revenue Rights and Title Department. He has spearheaded many initiatives aimed at the economic and cultural revitalization of the Squamish people. Under his leadership, the Squamish Nation is worth more than $5 Billion from business revenue, royalties, and real estate assets.

Chief Gibby Jacob helped broker the deal that established the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, as well as the 2010 Olympic Land Legacy that resulted in the Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations gaining several tracts of land in the Whistler community. He also played an instrumental role in enabling the Sen̓áḵw project and the MST Development Corporation. Engaged in over $20 billion in real estate activities, these projects have transformed the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people into major city builders in the region, providing economic autonomy for younger generations.

Recognized as one of the most influential Indigenous leaders in Canada, Chief Gibby has received numerous accolades, including the BC Aboriginal Business Award, the Senate 150 Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and has been honoured twice with Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50 Award.

Gail Sparrow is the former Chief of the Musqueam First Nation and a powerful advocate for Indigenous rights, community resilience, and cultural preservation. Early in her career, she became the youngest female elected councillor for the Musqueam First Nation, and she was also the first Musqueam Recreation Director. Her life’s work includes championing housing rights, mentoring youth, and protecting cultural heritage.

Gail’s educational contributions have been significant. She advises the Indigenous Studies in Kinesiology program at the University of British Columbia (UBC), and she’s also an alumna, Elder-in-Residence, and Indigenous Advisor to the President at Langara College. She was instrumental in strengthening the relationship between Langara and the Musqueam Nation, helping the college receive its Musqueam name, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓, meaning “house of teachings.” She also developed the first Langara program that is tuition-free for Musqueam students. Her contributions to the college were recognized in 2019 when she was named a "49 Langaran," an honour given to influential Langara members.

Gail’s commitment to economic empowerment is evident in her founding roles at the LIFT Institute, which provided cutting-edge computer software training to Indigenous students, as well as Salishan Employment Services, and Sparrow World Holdings. Sparrow World Holdings is the first Musqueam-owned enterprise founded by Gail and her Vietnamese business partner, Lanh Pham, to promote sustainable growth, Indigenous advancement and long-term prosperity in British Columbia. Gail also serves as a Board Director for the Musqueam Capital Corporation, supporting initiatives that drive sustainable economic growth while integrating Musqueam cultural values.

Her significant contributions have been widely recognized. In 2002, Gail Sparrow was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal, and in 2025, she was nominated for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the "Community Champion" category, which acknowledged her as a source of strength and heart in her community.

Dr. Myp Sekhon is an intensive care physician and researcher at the University of British Columbia. He completed his medical and research training between the University of British Columbia and University of Cambridge. He is the current Division Head for Critical Care Medicine at the University of British Columbia and the Provincial Director for Critical Care Research Networks in BC. His research interests are in harnessing cutting edge technologies to unravel disease mechanisms in the human brain.

Stacey McLachlan is an award-winning writer and magazine editor living and working in Vancouver. She is the editor-in-chief of Vancouver Magazine and a senior editor for Western Living, where she covers design, food, travel, and interesting people. On the side, Stacey is also a comedy performer and producer, and the creator of a beloved toddler-friendly happy hour event series called Witching Hour.

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Credit for Headshot: Evaan Kheraj

What has this tattooed rocker done to warrant your attention, and why has he been a keynote speaker for a Psychiatric Association of Canada conference and performed and spoken at maximum-security prisons?

Found with no pulse by the first responder. He resuscitated him, and while unconscious, they rebuilt his skull with Titanium. When he awoke and began rehabilitation, he frankly did not want to be alive. "My identity was lost, and that brought me to a very dark place for the next two-and-a-half years."

He was able to deal with that darkness by channeling it into music. After having two Top ten hits, Robb walked away from the industry. He has spent the last ten years sharing his story to thousands of students across the country, changing lives, giving them purpose, erasing the stigma, and making it okay to be vulnerable and ask for help. All the while working on music and making the best songs of his career. Robb has hundreds of names and signatures tattooed on his arms, taken from over 900 suicide notes he's received from kids who experienced his show in person or from YouTube clips — and some of them have his lyrics tattooed on them. It's a mutual relationship of acceptance and go forth and conquer.

"This is War" is his second album since leaving the music business. There might not be a more pronounced album full of anger, hope and concern this year.

Recently featured in CBC legend Peter Mansbridge's book called "Extraordinary Canadians." Robb has won multiple awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor-General of Canada in 2019. "When it comes to people struggling with addiction and suicide, I truly believe we are losing some of the most gifted people. We try to help them channel those thoughts rather than shut them off," Robb says, adding that he had a team of psychologists follow one of his tours for months to measure its effectiveness and now are one of his biggest supporters.

April Johnson is a filmmaker and producer currently residing in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is of Métis/Nehiyaw (Muskoday First Nation) and European settler descent. She attended the University of Victoria and the Indigenous Digital Film Program (IDF) at Capilano University and has worked as a video-journalist at Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) as well as on numerous Indigenous film and television projects since completing her studies.

In 2017 April participated in Canada’s National Screen Institute (NSI) IndigiDoc course, a development program that provides training and financial assistance for Indigenous documentary filmmakers. With the support of the NSI, April produced the Leo-nominated doc Cedar, Tree of Life, for APTN and the Documentary Channel.

In 2019, April completed the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) mentee program and worked alongside the head of scripted development at Great Pacific Television and Thunderbird Entertainment (TSX-V: TBRD). While working at Great Pacific Television (a Thunderbird Company) she worked as an Associate Producer on Season 1 of Reginald the Vampire, starring Jacob Batalon (Spiderman: Homecoming) for Amazon, Syfy and Hulu.

During the pandemic April produced and directed Stardust, a short documentary chronicling the creation of a memorial blanket for her mother following her brother’s accidental fentanyl overdose. Stardust was screened at both the 2021 Gimli Film Festival as well as Los Angeles Skins Festival. With the support of the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), April also wrote, produced and Directed Serving Shaid, a comedic satire about the Indigenous shopping experience. Serving Shaid has premiered at Los Angeles Skins Fest, the American Indian Film Festival in San Fransisco and Acimowin Film Festival.

In 2022, April began her working relationship with Lark Productions on Season 2 of Farming for Love. With the ensemble cast of Season 2 including an Indigenous 2-Spirit farmer, April worked in casting and scouted an Indigenous dater, thus leading to an Indigenous LGBT2Q+ romantic storyline on CTV, CTV.ca and Crave. April is currently in post-production on a Cree live-action/animation hybrid web-series entitled Kokum & Dot through her production company, Ekosi Productions Inc. She is also a recent graduate of Filmmakers in Indigenous Leadership and Business Affairs (FILMBA) program in partnership with Capilano University.