TEDxKalamalka Lake

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Amelia Sirianni

  Actor/Artist

  Originally from Vernon, BC, Amelia Sirianni spent 14 years in Toronto honing her craft as a professional musical theatre actor and has had the privilege of performing on stages across North America as well as in film and television. Amelia moved back to Vernon 9 years ago with her husband and son where she’s had the good fortune to be a part of the thriving arts community here through teaching theatre for diverse students of all ages, as well as owning and operating an early childhood music program "Itsy Bitsy Music Together" for 4 years. Amelia transitioned into the charitable non-profit sector in 2020. Working in various aspects of service delivery. In 2024, after leaving the executive director role at a local charitable society, Amelia went back to her entrepreneurial roots - producing events, project management and facilitating theatrical workshops. She co-owns Ghost Tours of Vernon and actively connects the community through engaging storytelling; being at heart of all her work.

• Bryan Sakakibara

  Social Worker and Entrepreneur

  Born and raised in Vernon, BC, Bryan grew up with a deep sense of family and community before first encountering unspoken challenges in high school, when a friend’s disclosure of abuse and parental addiction revealed the struggles too often overlooked around him. That experience led him to pursue social work, completing his BSW at the University of Victoria in 2021. Today, he works in Community and Long Term Care with Interior Health Authority and has recently turned to entrepreneurship with Project Causeway — a platform rethinking how nonprofits access funding while strengthening the connections that hold communities together. Beyond his work, Bryan values time with his family and enjoys traveling the world whenever the opportunity arises.

• Joanne De Vries

  Fresh Outlook Foundation, Founder & CEO CARE, Program Director

  Okanagan born and raised, Joanne worked for 33 years as a public outreach and engagement specialist to all levels of government in BC. She focused on projects and issues related to water, waste, energy, and community planning. Seeing the need for broader engagement around these issues and community sustainability in general, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation in 2007. Highly acclaimed FOF events and programs have included provincial conferences, kids camps, film festivals, and the HEADS UP Community Mental Health program. Her current passion is Climate Action Ripple Effect (CARE), a proven climate education and engagement program in Vernon, Lumby, and the Central Okanagan that matches student teams with community mentors to create inquiry-based projects in support of local and global climate goals. Joanne’s career as a change maker has taught her that understanding and respecting people’s motives ─ and exploring them within deep, respectful, and authentic conversations ─

• Jonny Braun

  Peace Officer and Author

  Jonny Braun is a police officer, former employment advisor and shelter worker, turned author. His teenage years were marked by hardship—leaving home at sixteen and spending over two years navigating life—homeless and on the streets. It gave him an education no textbook could teach. These formative experiences fueled a career devoted to helping others and a voice shaped by hard-won perspective. Despite his straight-laced job, he still has punk rock in his veins and enough stories to fill a warehouse of paperbacks. He returned to school and earned a degree in Social Work at the University of Victoria where he went on to support vulnerable populations through his work in homeless shelters and employment services. In 2019, he graduated from the RCMP Training Academy and returned home to serve the community he grew up in. Now a husband, dad of two wild boys, and full-time peacekeeper (professionally and at home) He believes in second chances, full circles, and yes…calling your mom back.

• Julian Sernik

  Orthopedic Surgeon

  Dr. Julian Sernik is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in lower extremity reconstruction and trauma, with additional training in healthcare leadership, quality improvement, and team-based systems design. For over a decade, he has worked with specialist teams, hospital leaders, and quality experts to build collaborative workflows in high-stakes environments. Julian is passionate about understanding how high-performing teams can improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes—anywhere people work together. Outside the clinic and OR, Julian brings the same focus on teamwork to the mountains. In summer, he explores British Columbia’s backcountry on horseback. In winter, he draws on decades of mountain experience as a ski patroller and mountain doctor—and recently became a certified ski guide. He gravitates toward environments where trust, communication, and coordinated action are as vital as they are in the operating room.

• Kris Fuller

  Operations Manager at North Okanagan Hospice Society

  Kris Fuller is a heartfelt and engaging speaker who brings compassion, authenticity, and a deep sense of humanity to every stage. After losing her husband, Ben, to colon cancer in 2020, Kris gained a profound understanding of grief, love, and the importance of meaningful support through life’s hardest moments. She now brings that lived experience to her work with the North Okanagan Hospice Society (NOHS), where she is proud to be part of a team that provides exceptional care, comfort, and connection to individuals and families facing end-of-life. Kris is uniquely qualified to speak about the full scope of what hospice offers—not only through her personal journey but also through her frontline involvement in this vital community service. With a rich background in nonprofit leadership, education, and community engagement, Kris has dedicated her life to helping others feel seen, supported, and uplifted. Her message is one of resilience, love, and the enduring power of human connection.

• Nicholas Jacob

  Lawyer

  Originally from Ontario, Nicholas Jacob came to the Okanagan with his family in 2014 and never plans to leave. Nicholas works as a lawyer, operating his own criminal defence firm, taking all types of cases from traffic tickets to homicides and everything in between. Nicholas believes the two best parts of his job are defending constitutional principles in the trial courts and helping people who have made major changes get second chances at life. Outside of work, baseball is a big part of his life, both coaching his kids and playing in a men's league. Other activities in the winter include curling and even singing with his wife. Nicholas works hard to balance his high stress job with being a husband and a father to four beautiful children.

• Rachel Marchand

  Okanagan Indian Band mother, educator, and leader

  Rachel holds a Master of Education and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy, with research grounded in Indigenous education, governance, and the principles of the 1972 Indian Control of Indian Education policy paper. Her work emphasizes community-driven, culturally grounded approaches to learning, advocating for education that reflects Indigenous worldviews while equipping students for success in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous contexts. Passionate about bridging systemic gaps, Rachel speaks openly about the realities of ongoing colonization in education and the need for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous systems to learn, unlearn, and rebuild relationships. She continues to work with local, provincial, and federal partners to ensure that Indigenous Nations move from being “consulted” to being in full control of their children’s education — as promised more than 50 years ago.

• Robin Billy

  Entrepreneur

  Robin Billy is a member of the Adams Lake Indian Band and a dedicated leader in Indigenous governance, environmental stewardship, and economic development. Beginning his career with the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, he led major environmental cleanups and helped establish one of the few on-reserve environmental assessment processes. With experience as an environmental consultant and a background in commerce, he has held senior roles including Gen. Mgr. of Sexqeltkemc Enterprises Inc., Chief of Adams Lake, and Dir. of Ops for the St’kemlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation. He has successfully negotiated major infrastructure and title agreements, secured funding for numerous projects, and led initiatives in land conversions and governance. He recently completed a rapid housing project for Sqwlax te Secwepemulcw after the 2023 fires with the construction of 33 homes in under a year. Robin is assisting First Nations across Canada build major infrastructure projects and digitize housing manufacturing.

• Sarah Wildeman

  Leadership & Team Dynamics Coach

  Creative, authentic, and grounded, Sarah is a leadership and relationship dynamics coach, community builder, and founder of Our Common, a coaching and consulting practice dedicated to helping individuals and teams thrive through a collaborative, whole-systems approach. With nearly a decade of intentional community living and extensive experience navigating complex organizational dynamics, she brings deep insight into the art of authentic connection, courageous leadership, and relational design. Rooted in her background in forest ecology, permaculture, and her love of gardening, Sarah integrates the wisdom of nature into her work — helping people and systems grow with intention and resilience. Now based in the BC Okanagan with her family, Sarah lives in alignment with values of environmental stewardship, community care, and local impact, bringing grounded leadership and a steady, collaborative presence to everything she does.

• Tracy Cramer

  Educator

  Rewriting the story - seeing every child, every day Tracy Cramer is a passionate educator of small humans in the heart of the Okanagan and a mentor to future teachers through her work with UBCO students. She also specializes in early childhood education as an instructor for Queen’s University, where she supports educators in the Kindergarten Specialist and Social Emotional Learning programs. Tracy holds a Diploma in Learning in the Early Years and a Master’s in Educational Leadership, grounding her practice in both research and real-world experience. A fierce advocate for both her students and her colleagues, she leads with heart, humour, and purpose. She is happiest outdoors and, in the summer months, can often be found on the lake or deep in the backcountry. In times of change, she stays grounded in her “why”—believing the greatest flex is being surrounded by those you love and who love you back.

• Valerie McTavish

  Business Growth Expert

  Valerie McTavish is a growth activator with a 35-year background in media, communication, and storytelling. After two decades in Vancouver’s fast-paced broadcast and advertising industries, she moved to the Okanagan in search of a different kind of life, one that made more space for creativity, connection, and freedom. Her work explores what it means to grow with clarity and intention, both in business and in life. As a world traveler, Valerie has always been drawn to the unexpected. Whether wandering through unfamiliar cities or exploring new ideas, she believes that spontaneity can shift our perspective in powerful ways. Now based in Kelowna, she shares intentional spontaneity as a practice for reconnecting to ourselves, each other, and the communities we call home.