SPEAKERS & PRESENTERS
Power Up North 2026 is proud to feature a dynamic lineup of speakers and instructors who embody this year’s themes of Financials in Action and Business in Action. These leaders, innovators, and industry professionals bring real‑world experience, practical insight, and hands‑on teaching to every session. They’re here to help you understand your numbers, strengthen your operations, and build the confidence to take meaningful action in your business. Get ready to learn from the best and leave inspired to put their knowledge to work.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Amanda Wagner
Speaker / Strategist / Hype Woman
Amanda Wagner is “a bit much” - a speaker, strategist, confidant, and hype-woman - who helps women-identifying entrepreneurs and leaders un-shame their ambition. With 7 careers by 38, currently building her speaking business and pursuing a PhD, Amanda is always in pursuit of “more” and “the next big thing”. Amanda is dedicated to helping people acknowledge and protect their ambition, supporting them in creating value in tangible ways. Known for her quick wit, humour, and memorable language, Amanda’s power is in her presence. She brings to the stage both sizzle and steak, insisting that audiences remember her name and make a name for themselves. Amanda's Keynote address "The Worthy Ask: Rethinking Value, Selling, and the Art of Asking for More". The best way to create and demonstrate value for others is to clarify what you want and start with the outcome, then work backwards! Goodbye sleazy selling or less-than-amazing pitches that don't land. Hello refined purpose, compelling language, and asks that get you what you want.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Heather Thomson
Community Economist | Author
Heather Thomson is a community economist, studying the forces that make places and the people in them thrive. She works at the intersection of consumer behaviour, local economies, and community vitality, helping audiences understand not just what's happening in the marketplace, but why it matters and what to do next. She brings rare range to the stage: hands-on business experience in retail (lululemon); applied research as co-founding Executive Director of the Alberta School of Business Centre for Cities and Communities; and executive leadership as Vice President of Economy and Engagement at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. She is the author of the 2025 State of the Economy report and has worked with thousands of businesses and dozens of communities across North America. Heather Thomson’s talks are equal parts economist and storyteller: grounded in data, built for action, and designed to leave audiences seeing their community, their business, and their role in both, differently.
PRESENTERS
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Angus Gastle
AWE Business Advisor and Expert Facilitator
Angus brings more than 20 years of hands-on tech, leadership, and startup experience to AWE and he’s exactly the kind of advisor entrepreneurs want in their corner. As the Co-Founder & President of Phosphene, a digital consultancy that helps companies build strong, scalable products, he spends his days creating MVPs, guiding founders, and solving real business challenges. His career includes serving as Global Managing Director for CUSP. One of the world’s top-ranked digital agencies as well as co-founding an eCommerce platform and leading CleanNow, a successful on-demand home services startup. Angus has a knack for breaking down complex problems into clear steps, building high-performing teams, and using technology to make businesses work smarter. At AWE, he brings that same energy to the entrepreneurs in our programs helping them strengthen their operations, think strategically, and build momentum with confidence. Outside of work, Angus is a father of three, traveler, reader, board member… and he’ll still tell you he has a decent jump shot.
Cliff Turner
ATB Regional Advisor - Entrepreneurial Growth
Cliff Turner is a Regional Advisor with ATB Financial’s Entrepreneur Growth team, where he supports businesses through every stage of their journey. With a rich background in entrepreneurship, he has founded and run three of his own ventures, including his latest startup this year, Shire Tire, a mobile tire service in Edmonton. He also has experience with a national small business advocacy group and helped design and operate a medical supply mission in Eastern Europe. This diverse background gives him the experience and a strategic mindset to serve as a true thinking partner for entrepreneurs, offering creative solutions, guidance, and valuable connections to help them navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities."
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Meadow Kenney
Community Futures North Central Alberta - Professional Development Coordinator
Meadow Kenney is a lifelong entrepreneur who launched her first business—a hair salon—early in her career, quickly realizing that passion alone wasn’t enough to drive success. Determined to better understand the mechanics behind sustainable growth, she shifted her focus to mastering the art of running a business, rather than letting it run her. Today, Meadow is an experienced business coach and commercial real estate professional who specializes in helping small to medium-sized business owners think like a CFO and uncover the stories hidden within their numbers. She currently serves as the Professional Development Coordinator at Community Futures North Central Alberta, where she supports entrepreneurs in building stronger, more strategic businesses.