The following are some leaders who have spoken at previous LeaderImpact events and are available to speak at your Group Forum. If you would like more info or to book one of these speakers, please contact info@leaderimpact.com or your local Area Director.

Jason Demers has been deeply engaged for more than a decade in the non-hydrocarbon upstream gas space with a focus on helium. Having successfully built and sold an active US helium development company during the past 4 years Jason has learned a great deal about the value of teams and the challenges of starting up a business in an unknown market space. Jason initiated and continues to lead efforts to enable long term supply chain stability through development of America’s untapped helium resources and is the first Canadian to have provided testimony before the Congressional Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, leading to the introduction and passage of the Helium Extraction Act of 2017.

Prior to his work in the Helium space, Jason spent over 15 years as a business leader and entrepreneur in the Calgary energy and resource development industry.

Building on a solid 30 year background of media, event planning and corporate social responsibility, Lisa Peters has transformed ideas, spaces and platforms into events of magnitude and exceptional polish with a personal mission to make a difference.

She is the owner of Eye Inspire Events and is an award-winning talk show host. Her event management firm inspires businesses to invest in their community, develop leadership in their employees and inspire companies to perform better. Drawing from strong business relationships, Lisa shares her voice on multiple platforms including Talk of The Town with Lisa Peters and Lisa Peters Live. Her shows feature local events in the community, women in leadership roles and socially relevant topics. She is also host of the LeaderImpact Podcast.

Paul’s career in agriculture research and research management included 26 years with AAFC as a research scientist, Section Head and Centre Director and then 9 years as Vice-President of the Western Beef Development Centre (WBDC). He was editor of the Canadian Journal of Plant Science from 1998 to 2000. He retired from WBDC in 2016 and consults on agriculture research and scientific writing and is an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan. He has published 88 scientific (peer-reviewed) research papers and given many technical presentations.

Paul’s insider perspective of the scientific writing and peer review process from both sides is valued by graduate students and early career researchers. His personal discovery that science and faith are not contradictory but complementary has impacted his work and life.

In his mid 20’s Colt began by launching a Real Estate sales business while renovating and reselling houses. After a few short years he found himself over $100,000 (Canadian dollars) in consumer debt. Being a commission-based real estate sales agent, there were many months with no income. In 2010, he hit rock bottom. In the pain of his ultimate depression, something amazing happened…Colt learned how to permanently defeat the negative thoughts! This is what Colt used to build a successful Real Estate business and pay every penny he owed back. Through his years of building his Real Estate sales practice, Colt was led to transition into launching a business coaching company where he helps other business owners by teaching them ​to live a life worth living.

Colt was born in Calgary, Alberta and now lives in Ottawa, Ontario with his sweetheart wife Amanda.

(*Only available for online forum)

Over the course of his business career, Garth Jestley has held many senior leadership positions in investment management, venture capital, corporate banking, international project financing, private debt placement and investment banking.

After serving as Vice President Project Financing at Bank of Montreal and Vice President of Citibank responsible for Corporate Banking in Eastern Canada, he joined Middlefield Group in 1985 where he served as CEO of the group’s core investment management business.

Garth stepped back from his full-time duties at Middlefield in 2012 and subsequently assumed the role of Executive Director of LeaderImpact for four years. He currently serves on the board of directors of two Christian organizations and has authored the book “MORE THAN YOUR BUSINESS CARD: a wake-up call for leaders desiring to follow Jesus in the marketplace” published in 2021.

Garth and his wife, Mary, are involved in various church leadership roles, including ministering and speaking in Canada and around the world. They place a high priority on family and, in particular, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.