Johanna is a technology sales leader, with over 15 years’ experience working with clients across North America and Europe. Johanna has worked with technology organizations at various stages of growth (pre-seed to enterprise) and is currently the Founder and Principal of Rivet where she helps early-stage innovation companies develop scalable revenue tactics and strategies. Rivet’s Sales Blueprint Builder guides startups to early traction and scaleups to product-market fit—faster.

Johanna is the Chair of techNL, Managing Partner at Women’s Equity Lab (Atlantic), and a member of the Heart & Stroke Provincial Advisory Board. She also serves on various tech-related selection committees at both local and federal levels, works with incubators/accelerators, and mentors with the Canadian Women’s Network (CWN).

Hasan is the Regional Vice President of Sales with Carnegie Learning, a K-12 educational technology (EdTech) company, with headquarters in St. John’s, NL. Hasan is the Vice-Chair of techNL. His 20+ year career in tech includes leadership in customer support, operations, customer success, and sales. In 2017, he made a career pivot by leaving the Telecommunications industry and diving into the world of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) here in NL.

Volunteer experience includes currently serving on the board for First Light NL , and previously with the CMHA-NL and Clarenville and Area Chamber of Commerce.

He is perhaps best known for his work as founder of the “MerB’ys” initiative; a charity calendar of men dressed as mermen, which from 2018-2020 raised over $600K for local charities and non-profit organizations, all wrapped around themes of inclusion, body positivity, and more tender expressions of masculinity.

Previously, he was the founder of Project Kindness, a grassroots organization with a focus on mobilizing community volunteers to engage in large and small acts of charity and kindness, the most notable (or at least, most fun) being the “Dark Elf on the Shelf” project which involved slipping into leggings and fuzzy sweaters and perching on sturdy shelves and desks to raise money for local food banks.

Hasan is passionate about the concepts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in education as well as professional spaces. He frequently speaks to K-12 students as well as professionals on these topics, with a goal of making spaces more inclusive and accessible to people from diverse backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.

David Gibbs leads KPMG’s Atlantic Canada Technology Risk Consulting practice focused on helping clients manage technology-related risks. David is an experienced leader with a proven track record advising and collaborating with clients at all levels – staff, management, executives, board members and other organizational stakeholders. David brings over 20 years of risk management experience advising clients and organizations across all industries within Atlantic Canada including technology; energy and resources; retail and manufacturing; financial services; and, the public sector.

Norm Williams is the Chief Financial Officer at Genoa Design International Ltd., having joined the executive team in the fall of 2023. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) degree from Memorial University (1998) and earned his Chartered Accountancy designation (CPA, CA) from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2001.

With over 25 years of experience across both the public and private sectors, Norm brings deep expertise in financial management, corporate financing, leadership, and strategic operations. His career has spanned a diverse range of industries, including professional services, mineral exploration and development, resource production, cultivation, and currently, shipbuilding. Known for his adaptability and practical insight, Norm has consistently demonstrated an ability to quickly understand new sectors and contribute meaningfully at both the operational and governance levels.

In addition to his executive leadership roles, Norm brings a breadth of experience from serving on a variety of boards—spanning not-for-profit organizations, publicly traded companies, and private corporations. He is valued for his thoughtful, grounded perspective and his ability to navigate complex challenges related to human resources, operations, and financial oversight.

One of Norm’s core strengths lies in his in-depth knowledge of finance and accounting, coupled with a strong understanding of board governance, particularly around financial stewardship. His experience and approach make him a valuable contributor to strategic discussions focused on sustainability, accountability, and sector growth.

Eric Aylward brings a unique blend of technical expertise, hands-on industrial experience, and a passion for innovation to his work in Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech ecosystem. With a Bachelor of Information Technology and an Advanced Diploma in Interactive Multimedia Development, Eric has spent the past seven years developing digital and multimedia solutions for industrial clients across the province and beyond. His work spans mining, utilities, marine, and wind energy—offering him a broad perspective on how technology can support and transform traditional industries.

At SEM Ltd., an environmental consulting firm with a growing digital/tech service line, Eric applies his skills in project management, 3D visualization, drone operations, and reality capture to support innovation with environmental insight. He is also actively building internal capacity in generative AI and machine learning applications, with particular interests in geospatial AI, digital twins, and IoT.

Eric is especially interested in the intersections of technology, industrial operations, and regional development. He regularly contributes to multimedia storytelling, public engagement efforts, and training design. His background offers valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges facing Newfoundland and Labrador’s innovation economy, particularly as it relates to environmental sustainability and digital transformation.

Originally from Ottawa, Eric has strong family roots in Cape Broyle and Northwest River and now lives in Newfoundland and Labrador, where he has worked in all regions of the province. He also volunteers with the East Coast Trail Association, supporting their multimedia needs since 2020, and has a working knowledge of French. His professional and personal journey gives him a grounded, province-wide perspective on tech sector growth.

Brad Budden is a corporate and commercial lawyer based in the St. John’s office of McInnes Cooper, with a practice spanning corporate finance, securities, mergers and acquisitions, project development, venture capital financing, intellectual property, and technology.

Brad routinely practices within the energy and natural resources, construction, and engineering sectors, with a strong track record in acquisitions, dispositions, structured financings, and major project development for small, medium, and large-scale projects.

Brad also regularly advises rapid growth companies, investors, and lenders in the technology space on corporate governance, debt and equity financing, buying and selling businesses, IT outsourcing agreements, and intellectual property protection, licensing, and royalty arrangements.

In addition to his legal acumen in traditional sectors, Brad has a strong interest in emerging technologies and innovation. He closely follows developments in intellectual property and artificial intelligence to help clients stay ahead of technological change. His work in this space has been featured in Halsbury’s Laws of Canada and has contributed to shaping proposed legislation related to AI governance.

Brad combines legal competence with a forward-looking perspective, offering deep insight into the legal considerations that impact both established industries and the evolving tech sector.

Nadia Dajani is a Senior Associate Partner at Barrington Consulting, where she brings over 15 years of consulting experience spanning multiple industries and sectors, including healthcare, the public sector, privacy, strategy development, and technology implementations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Dalhousie University, where she later returned to teach Industrial Statistics to third-year engineering students for three years. Nadia is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Prosci Change Management Practitioner, and holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. 

Nadia initially began traveling to St. John’s on a consulting contract, serving as the Business Lead and Digital Strategist on the Government’s digital transformation initiatives. She officially made Newfoundland and Labrador her home in 2021 and opened a local Barrington Consulting office. Her experience includes leading complex engagements with diverse stakeholder groups across government, business, and technical domains. In addition to her client-facing work, she leads Barrington Consulting’s marketing efforts and plays a role in the strategic direction of the firm. 

Nadia is also an entrepreneur; she co-founded a boutique that began as an e-commerce venture and later expanded into a brick-and-mortar store. She currently serves on the board of the Spring Garden Area Business Association. 

What kind of future do we want to create here in Newfoundland and Labrador? 

One where we don’t just adapt—we lead. 

Will founded the Sentinel Institute to help local companies and public leaders navigate cybersecurity challenges. But as the world shifted, so did the mission—now Will and Sentinel help organizations thrive in the age of AI, with courage, clarity, and conscience. 

Will has advised provincial leaders on the coming wave of AI disruption—from job displacement to energy strain—and helped craft policy blueprints for our collective future. He designs GPT-powered tools, teaches AI fluency, and works with everyone from startup founders to frontline workers to make advanced tech not just usable, but meaningful. 

Because it’s not enough to be tech-literate—we need to be tech-capable. With leadership that understands not just how things work, but why they must work in service of people. 

Will brings a systems-thinking lens, and a neurodivergent mind wired for both nuance and scale. His governance style blends imagination with rigour, not afraid to challenge assumptions—especially when better, more inclusive answers are within reach. 

He advocates for AI ethics, underrepresented voices, and public dialogue that cuts through the hype to what matters. 

This province doesn’t need to follow. We have the raw creativity, the collaborative DNA, and the grit to lead—especially in areas like ethical AI, digital trust, and tech-for-good policy. 

Will wants techNL to be a beacon of that vision.  

Let’s build a future we’re proud of—one where we didn’t just survive the machine age… 

We made it more human. 

Will is passionate about helping Newfoundland and Labrador lead—not follow—in shaping a digital future that is resilient, responsible, and globally relevant. 

Stephen Hill is the Managing Director of Product Development at Avalon Holographics, where he leads a multidisciplinary group of engineers, scientists, and technical specialists developing the world’s most advanced holographic displays. Over the past 15 years, he’s built his career in Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector, focused on developing new technologies, leading technical teams, and translating innovation into real-world solutions. 

Stephen holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Memorial University. He has contributed to patents in light field rendering and display design, and has shared this work through talks at PEGNL, NECEC, and local innovation events. Throughout his career, he has taken part in the Genesis Evolution program and spent several years working from the Genesis Centre, where he connected with local entrepreneurs and early-stage startups. 

Stephen brings a collaborative and practical mindset to everything he does and believes strongly in learning by doing. He focuses on building a strong engineering culture rooted in clarity, autonomy, and mutual respect. Outside of work, he helps his wife run their small business, is a father of two with a third on the way, and enjoys woodworking, rowing, 3D printing, and home automation. 

Stephen is eager to contribute to the board’s strategic work and help guide the province’s evolving tech landscape with a practical, builder’s perspective. He’s proud to be part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s growing tech ecosystem and looks forward to sharing his experience and supporting others who are building meaningful, high-impact technology, particularly in deep tech and product development. 

Jennie Massey is a Partner with KBRS and leads the firm’s Executive Search Practice in Newfoundland and Labrador. With extensive experience supporting private, public, and post-secondary institutions in Canada and internationally, Jennie is a consultative and collaborative recruitment professional who serves as a trusted advisor to organizations seeking transformative leadership. She works across a wide range of sectors, bringing insight, rigour, and strong facilitation skills to every search. 

Jennie is deeply committed to equitable and inclusive recruitment processes that result in selecting the right leaders for today’s complex institutional landscapes. Her work is informed by firsthand experience leading within large, multi-faceted organizations. Prior to joining KBRS, she served as Associate Vice President at Western University, where she oversaw a diverse portfolio of 10 departments. She has also held leadership roles at Queen’s University, the University of Windsor, the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), Baylor University in Texas, and Memorial University, where she served as Director of Student Life. 

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography from Queen’s University, a Master of Arts from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from King’s College London. She has also completed executive and professional certificates in diversity and inclusion (Cornell University) and business management and leadership (Western University). 

An active community contributor, Jennie serves on the Boards of the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (Vice Chair), Shallaway Youth Choir, and the Ontario Committee on Student Affairs. She specializes in executive recruitment for academic, not-for-profit, public, and private sector organizations. 

Olubunmi Odeyinka is the Founder and CEO of Refined Solutions Systems Inc., a Newfoundland and Labrador–based technology company focused on building AI-powered learning and certification platforms. With nearly two decades of experience in software development and scalable cloud architecture, Olubunmi has led projects across sectors including education, enterprise SaaS, and compliance. 

He is the lead architect behind Study4AS, a cohort-based learning management system deployed under the Prepcohort brand and used by exam-prep institutions supporting over 50,000 learners. His team is also developing Study4Biz, a corporate training platform designed to deliver analytics-driven workforce learning with a focus on compliance and internal certification. 

Prior to founding Refined Solutions, Olubunmi held senior technical roles at global companies including Upland Software, Aurea, Netop Business Solutions, and Gastrograph AI (acquired by NielsenIQ). He brings deep expertise in artificial intelligence, DevOps, distributed team leadership, and large-scale product delivery. He holds dual master’s degrees in software engineering from the University of Tartu and TalTech in Estonia. 

Based in St. John’s, Olubunmi is committed to growing Newfoundland and Labrador’s tech sector through local hiring, mentoring, and collaboration. He is passionate about building accessible, data-driven learning tools that support both individual learners and enterprise training needs. 

Nick practices corporate commercial law, technology law, and intellectual property law, and is also a registered patent agent and trademark agent through an affiliation with Deeth Williams Wall LLP. 

His previous work as a member of parliament and professional engineer (now non-practising), provide special insights to help clients solve complicated problems in a collaborative yet rigorous way.  From November 2015 until October 2019, Nick was the Member of Parliament of Canada for the Riding of St. John’s East.  His most fulfilling roles in public life were as the chair of the Atlantic Liberal Caucus, the chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and as a member of the House of Commons Standing Committees on Natural Resources and Government Operations and Estimates.  His engineering expertise is in applied mathematics and electrical engineering. 

Throughout his professional life, he has had the opportunity to achieve success for organizations of all sizes, for both new and established companies, in the not-for-profit sector and in relation to complex organizational matters for national broadcasters, and for international energy companies. 

Born and raised in St. John’s, NL, Nick earned an LLB from McGill University and earned both a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Engineering from Queen’s University.  He is currently a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Law Society of Ontario and an Attorney in the State of New York. He is also a non-practicing member of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador.  While a member of parliament, Nick was made a Fellow of Engineers Canada (FEC).  After politics, Nick earned the ICD.D designation as part of the Directors Education Program at Rotman School of Business and the Institute of Corporate Directors.