Tony Olvet is Group Vice President, Worldwide C-suite and Digital Business Research at IDC. His team’s global research focuses on the connection between business transformation and digital investments across enterprises. Tony’s analysis and insights help vendors, IT professionals, and business executives make fact-based decisions on technology strategy and digital business.

Tony has worked with clients across a variety of organizations including global IT manufacturers, enterprise software vendors, telecom service providers, financial institutions and public sector organizations. He has been quoted in major business and industry media including CIO Magazine, The Globe and Mail, CBC and The Financial Post.

He is also a frequent public speaker delivering keynote presentations at conferences, IDC webinars, and virtual events for clients. Tony is member of IDC Canada’s senior leadership team and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Rick Villars is IDC’s chief analyst guiding research on the future of the IT Industry. He coordinates all IDC research related to the impact of Cloud and the shift to digital business models across infrastructure, platforms, software, and services. He helps enterprises develop effective strategies for using their diverse portfolio of cloud investments and applications. He supplies early guidance on implications of critical innovations such as the shift to cloud-based control platforms for deploying/managing infrastructure, data, and code delivery as well as the emergence of AI as a critical IT workload and part of all IT products/services.

Marcela Vairo is responsible for leading the Americas Data Architecture Sales Team at IBM, helping customers with initiatives to successfully become AI Driven Businessesl driving innovation and growth across the competitive IT landscape.

Marcela has been working in the IT Industry for more than 25 years, leading diverse and high-performing sales and marketing teams and developing strategic ecosystem partnerships across the Americas. She is graduated in Industrial Engineering at University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Megha Kumar heads software and cloud services research at IDC Canada. As a research vice president, Megha is responsible for managing and delivering projects across technology areas such as cloud services, enterprise applications, software and digital transformation for the Canadian market. She manages both the Canadian Software as a Service (SaaS) and Canadian Cloud Platforms (PaaS and IaaS) research programs in Canada

In addition to research, Megha has aided vendors with go-to-market engagements to improve market awareness and provide end users with essential guidance on technology adoption. She regularly interacts with CIOs and IT decision makers regarding their technology preferences, priorities, and concerns.

She originally joined IDC in 2007 covering the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey region, based out of Dubai, U.A.E. In her previous role at IDC, she regularly provided insights on market dynamics, vendor strategies, and end-user trends across the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey for both global and regional ICT firms as well as public sector organizations.

Megha presents at various industry and vendor conferences. She is often quoted in the media, providing opinions on technologies and market dynamics. She holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Marketing from York University, Canada.

Tara Tokatly is the Senior Vice President of Solution Engineering at Salesforce, where she scales Canadian teams that deliver transformative customer success. With over 25 years in tech, she advocates for women’s leadership and serves as a board member of the Forward Together Conference, empowering women to reach their full potential. 

Reem Gedeon joined Insight in 2023 as the senior vice president and general manager of Insight Canada. She leads a team of 550 teammates across seven Canadian locations and reports to Insight North America President, Dee Burger.

For more than 25 years, Gedeon has held senior leadership positions in the IT services sector. Before joining Insight, she served as vice president of public sector consulting services at IT and business consulting firm CGI, leading growth in the company’s Ontario public sector business.

Gedeon is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and overall operations of Insight Canada. She focuses on delivering exceptional client experiences and strengthening Insight’s position as a trusted technology advisor and the leading Solutions Integrator in the Canadian market.

Gedeon describes herself as a strategic and transformational leader with a passion for building and leading diverse and inclusive high-performance teams. She is an innovative thinker known for creating long-term relationships focused on driving mutual business value.

Shane Schick tells stories that help people innovate, and to manage the change innovation brings.

As a content marketing consultant, Shane has helped organizations ranging from the world’s most recognized technology brands to the smallest agencies and startups to tell more authentic and engaging stories about the communities they serve.

Allice Shandler, a seasoned event management professional, orchestrates captivating and seamless experiences in the technology, hospitality, entertainment, and manufacturing industries. With a proven track record spanning the past 25 years, she skillfully designs and executes a multitude of events, both virtual and in-person, to bring together like-minded individuals for the purpose of sharing knowledge and forging connections. She is an energetic leader who enjoys leading with empathy and embodying the science of emotional intelligence.

From her time as an Assistant Cruise Director with Princess Cruises to her role as the National Virtual Events Manager and subject matter expert during the pandemic at KPMG Canada, and currently as the Director of events with IDC and Foundry, Allice’s journey reflects a mastery of marketing integration, project logistics, and alignment with sales strategies, all underscored by her meticulous attention to detail. Allice Shandler exudes a passion for hosting and connecting with peers both on the stage and during carefully crafted industry events. She brings an unmatched ability to curate engaging experiences that resonate across industries and captivate audiences around the globe.