We are excited to announce our guest MC and judge panel for Applied Research & Innovation Day this April 6, 2017!

Ace Burpee will be our MC for the luncheon! He is currently the host of The Ace Burpee Show on 103.1 Virgin Radio.
Ace is a recipient of an Honorary Diploma from Red River College, a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to our community, he is the recipient of a Hero of Mental Health Award from the Canadian Mental Health Association, he has received a Volunteer Manitoba Award for Outstanding Community Leadership, was recognized as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Manitoba and also named a Manitoba Hero. He is proudly from Cooks Creek Manitoba. 

 

Judging

These guest judges will be reviewing the top student presentations of the day during our luncheon.

Jeff Ryzner has been helping companies successfully commercialize technology for more than 20 years. He is a founding partner of three technology startups, including HealthLink Technologies, a top-tier SaaS solution for healthcare facilities in North America. His volunteer work with Futurpreneur earned him the award for Manitoba Business Mentor of the Year in 2011 and the BDC Mentorship Award for Canada in 2015.
As President of North Forge Technology Exchange, Jeff is leading a winning team that has introduced numerous new programs and resources that are accessible to entrepreneurs all across Manitoba.  In 2016 Jeff accepted both the prairie regional and national awards for Entrepreneur Support from Startup Canada.
 
Tracey Maconachie is an ambassador for business, with more than 25 years’ experience in both industry and leading a non-profit organization. A relationship builder with strong interpersonal skills that has resulted in successful partnerships with businesses, government, community leaders, and non-profit organizations. She as the President of the Life Science Association of Manitoba, Tracey has established the Association as the voice of the life science community, while working to anticipate and meet the needs of LSAM’s members. In all that she does, she has four cornerstone objectives in mind: connecting of people, information and ideas; building human resource capacity; facilitating a strong business development climate for members; and advocating for Manitoba’s businesses.
 
 
Martin Cash has been writing a column and business news at the Winnipeg Free Press since 1989. Over those years he’s written through a number of business cycles and the rise and fall (and rise) in fortunes of many local businesses. He studied history and philosophy at the University of Toronto and journalism at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. Martin was a finalist for a National Newspaper Award in 2001 for work he produced for the Free Press on a bitter strike at Versatile Tractors. He has recently become a go-to judge of business competitions for the city’s bustling entrepreneurial community.
 
Freyja Arnason is the Manager of Funding Programs at Research Manitoba.  She has a Masters Degree in Canadian Politics from the University of Manitoba. Throughout her career she has gained varied and extensive experience in project and program management, policy analysis, research and fund management. Freyja has worked closely with researchers, companies and senior public and private sector stakeholders at the regional, national and international level to foster research and innovation in Manitoba.
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