SPEAKERS
CARRIE KIRKMAN
President, Kirkman Consulting Group
With over 25 years of experience in management for top women’s apparel brands, Carrie is recognized as a leader in the womenswear industry in Canada. She is currently President of her own consulting group, Kirkman Consulting Inc.
Previous experience includes President of Global Brands Group Canada, President and Chief Merchant, Sears Canada and Jones Group Canada.
Passionate about empowering women in business, Carrie is Chair of the Board of directors for G(irls)20. She is also on the Board of Directors for The Canadian Club of Toronto.
Carrie has been profiled in top Canadian publications including The Globe and Mail, The Kit and Women of Influence. She is also a blog contributor to Huffington Post Canada. Carrie has been on the nominating committee of CAFA- Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards, featured on CBC radio, Sirius Radio, and speaks globally on the roles of women in leadership.
ASHLEY BARBY
Founder of FashionTech Toronto
Ashley Barby is the Founder of FashionTech Toronto and COO of custom 3D printed eyewear manufacturer Specsy. With a decade of experience across fashion, retail, and tech, her work has exposed her to new and emerging fashion and technology markets. From innovating with luxury retailers in Canada, to launching industry disruptive retail technologies in the United States, to establishing fashion innovation partnerships in the UK.
Ashley sits on the advisory board for Humber College’s fashion management program, and is a business and entrepreneurship mentor with Futurpreneur Canada. Previously, Ashley was the founder and CEO of luxury consignment ecommerce company ShopLux, and held a series of leadership roles with luxury retailer Holt Renfrew
AHMER BEG
President of Authentic Or Not
Ahmer Beg is the President of Authentic Or Not and specialized in digital transformation technologies. He created a patented technology that adds intelligence to products and packaging. A computer engineering degree and technical background with a focus on business strategy has allowed him to introduce the concept of a 'digital personality' on merchandise to audiences globally. Ahmer had been selected as a Canadian delegate to showcase technology with the government on trips overseas, and the winner of the Joe Fresh Centre for Fashion Innovation Award. As a thought leader, he has presented on the topic of digital transformation of merchandise at numerous events and Universities around the world.
CHRISSY GOW
Founder AccessAR
Chrissy Gow has a BA in Fashion Communication and Promotion from Central St. Martins School of Art in London, UK, and an MA in Fashion Studies from Ryerson University, Toronto. She worked as a fashion marketer in the UK, India and China before moving back to Canada in 2016.
Her company, AccessAR, creates Augmented Reality Lenses and Filters for Social Media Marketing on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Her team has built social media experiences for clients including Sony Legacy, Columbia Records, and the Advertising Council of America amongst many others!
MEGAN PAGE
Senior Director, Digital & Social at MSL Group
Megan is the Director of Influencer Strategy for Canada, leading a team that supports clients across Edelman’s various business sectors (Brand, Health and Corporate).
She is an integrated marketing leader with a background that spans Brand development to execution of large-scale marketing communications across traditional and digital channels for organizations like Nike, Holt Renfrew and Target.
Combining her rich experience in content production and social strategy, Megan brings both a creative and results focused perspective to Edelman’s Influencer practice.
She is passionate about building purposeful work that has value and creates meaningful engagement with our client’s consumers.
Megan is a graduate of Queen’s University, is obsessed with culinary arts, and plays tennis to fulfill her competitive spirt.
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CLAIRE SANTAMARIA
Vice President, Yorkdale, Oxford Property Group
Claire is responsible for maintaining Yorkdale Shopping Centre’s position as Canada’s most successful retail destination based on sales per square foot throughout a period of unprecedented growth. Claire’s leadership in guiding internationally-renowned brands into the Canadian market ensures their entry into Canada is successful.
During her tenure at Yorkdale, she has led the property through the opening of a 300,000 square foot expansion anchored by Nordstrom that also featured 20 additional new retailers, created and hosted an interim Canadian Fashion Week when the original concept ceased, and helped Oxford Properties launch an innovative and award-winning permanent pop up concept to give independent retailers exposure to some of the country’s most enthusiastic shoppers.
In her role as Vice President and General Manager, Claire oversees an enthusiastic team of Yorkdale management and staff that continues to attract many first-to-Canada retailers to the shopping centre. She is dedicated to providing an unparalleled experience for brands, employees, partners and shoppers.