FALL PDD - OCT 24

More people have walked on the moon than have visited many of the places that Jill Heinerth has seen on Earth. From the most dangerous technical dives deep inside underwater caves, to searching for never-before-seen ecosystems inside gian Antarctic icebergs. Heinerth's curiousity and passion about our watery planet is the driving force in her life. In her visually stunning presentations, she encourages audiences to reach beyond their limitations, challenge the unkown, and overcome their fears, while sharing practical lessons on risk management and safety, discovery learning, failure, and collaboration.

Heinerth became the first Explorer-in-Residence of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2016. She is also a fellow of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Underwater Academy of Arts and Sciences, Women Divers Hall of Fame, and the Explorers Club, which awarded her with the William Beebe Award. In addition, Heinerth has been honoured wiht the Explorer's Club Stefansson Medal and the Wyland ICON Award, and she is the inaugural recipient of the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration. In 2023, she received her first honorary doctorate from the Victoria University of the Univserity of Toronto.

A bestselling author, Heinerth's first book Into the Planet, was lauded by the Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, and the New York Times. Her children's book, The Aquanut, is a Blue Ribbon Selection for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Heinerth is also the subject of a new documentary Diving into the Darkness, to be released in 2024.

Mark Mullaly is the President & Chief Organizational Therapist of Interthink Consulting. Mark is a consultant, facilitator, writer and speaker that is passionate about helping strategic leaders to make a difference and deliver meaningful value.

Building on a career of more than three decades, Mark knows what it takes to deliver results in the real world, where complexity is real, politics matter and the right answer always depends. Mark combines engaging storytelling, a wry sense of humour and the benefit of years of research to deliver presentations that matter and strategies that make sense. His presentations are dynamic, engaging, highly visual and make complex ideas clear and comprehensible.

It’s difficult to put a label on Mark, but we can try. He has spent a lot of time in project management, and arguably still does. He’s been spending a lot of time in strategy, and that likely will continue. Decision making, personality, biases, innovation, change, politics, sensemaking are a few domains he considers engaging (and that he knows contain depths beyond which he has yet explored). Diving into any one of these areas is interesting. Making connections across them is fascinating. Making them meaningful to the rest of the world is his happy place.

Mark has a PhD in strategy and decision making (with a side-helping of psychology) from Bond University in Australia. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama & Theatre Arts from the University of Waterloo. His work, his speaking and his workshops all benefit from having one foot firmly in business and the other in the arts. His audiences firmly agree.

Rafael Vitorelli is a visionary IT professional and Director of Project Portfolio & Business Growth Strategy at Smile Digital Health, renowned for his expertise in integrating advanced technologies to enhance project management practices. With over 15 years of diverse experience across financial services, government, healthcare, and insurance sectors, Rafael has successfully led the implementation of interoperable health systems across North America, managing a portfolio valued at $100 million.Rafael’s educational background includes a Master of Science in Blockchain with a specialization in Finance from the University of Nicosia, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tampa and FGV.

As an advocate for leveraging cutting-edge technology, Rafael is deeply passionate about the transformative power of AI in project management. His innovative approach combines best practices from PMBOKv7, PMBOKv6, and PRINCE2 with Generative AI, offering practical solutions to streamline and enhance risk management processes. This forward-thinking methodology has positioned him as a thought leader in the field, particularly in using AI to navigate the complexities of modern project management.

Throughout his career, Rafael has shared his insights as a keynote speaker and lecturer at numerous PMI chapters in North America. His presentations cover a range of topics, from risk management strategies to organizational change management, with a focus on the integration of AI into project management. His PMI leadership journey has seen him progress from an Associate Governance Director to President at PMI Manitoba, reflecting his dedication to fostering a collaborative and supportive project management community. His journey from Brazil to Canada, where he has become a proud citizen, highlights his adaptability and commitment to personal and professional growth.