Speakers



Jack Newton
CEO and Founder, Clio
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
Olympic Medalist, Five-Time FIFA Women’s World Cup Participant, Member of the Order of Canada
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.



Chief Gibby Jacob
A Hereditary Chief of the Squamish Nation
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
Former Chief of the Musqueam First Nation
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. Mypinder Sekhon
Division Head, UBC Critical Care Medicine, Provincial Director of Critical Care Research, Intensivist at VGH
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
Editor-in-Chief, Vancouver Magazine
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.
Credit for Headshot: Evaan Kheraj
