Keynotes
Jim Elzinga
Guardians of the Ice
Jim has been an active alpinist for over 40 years. He has led multiple expeditions in North America, the Himalaya and the Andes. In 1986, he led the most successful Canadian expedition to Everest (Everest Light). He received a rare Award of Recognition from the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation recognizing his leadership of this historic expedition.
“No matter how far I have travelled, I have year after year been drawn back to one place: the Columbia Icefield. It is a touchstone in my life; a place in the world and in my heart to which I have been returning for 50 years! It is only now- after a lifetime in the mountains – that I have come to more fully realize the extent to which my experiences in this remarkable place have inspired not just direction, but purpose in my life. I encounter the mountain as both my mentor and my photographic subject.”
Jim’s interest in photography led him, in the early 80s to enroll in the four-year Photo Arts program at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). As a documentary photographer, Jim was one of the first western photographers into China to document the lives of ordinary people. In the Icefield, each engagement is an effort to make the invisible visible: “I work to photograph mountain landscapes in an authentic intimate way so viewers are catalyzed to act, moving in their own way toward fuller engagement with the natural world.“
Madison Feehan
Space Copy
Madison C. Feehan is the founder and CEO of Space Copy. As an early career professional based in Edmonton, Canada with a background in advanced lunar instrument development and early-stage innovations for NASA’s Planetary Science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics divisions, Madison’s initiatives are focused towards combining deep-tech development for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) with entrepreneurship. Madison’s background is based in Commerce, and she holds a Harvard Business School Certification in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, in conjunction with ongoing studies in International Business. Madison seamlessly merges scientific expertise with a keen business acumen and stands at the intersection of space science, entrepreneurship, and STEM education. As the leader of Space Copy, an international logistics and manufacturing company, Madison leads groundbreaking initiatives, driving innovation in space technology and fostering accessible STEM education, as well as serving as the G100 Region Chair of Space Technology and Aviation for the Province of Alberta, and Chair of the Lunar Chamber of Commerce. Her commitment to shaping foreign policies for small businesses in STEM through volunteer work with consortiums including the United Nations, Lifeboat Foundation, and National Small Business Association; mentoring others in sciences and propelling innovation and collaboration across borders with visionary leadership.
Session Speakers
other speakers will be announced soon