Our Advisors

The FWD50 Advisory Board draws on some of the best minds in government, innovation, academia and civic technology to help us steer the content and format of our annual event.

While we’re incredibly grateful for their time and commitment, their participation as advisors should not be seen as an endorsement or promotion of the conference.

Opinions expressed by our advisors related to FWD50 are their own, and not endorsed by or representative of other organizations with which they are associated.

The 2026 Advisory Board

Hillary Hartley
(FWD50 Co-Chair / Catalyst, OpenPublic)

Pia Andrews
(Senior Policy Advisor, Regional Innovation and Digital Team, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub)

Kathy Pham
(Faculty and Senior Fellow, Product and Society, Harvard University / Vice-President, AI Research and Open Technology, Workday)

Skaidra Puodžiūnas
(Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy, Council of Canadian Innovators)

Honey Dacanay
(Director-General, Policy and Performance, Treasury Board Secretariat, Government of Canada)

Audrey Lobo-Pulo
(Head of Public Policy & Economic Graph, Australia & New Zealand, LinkedIn)

Derek Alton
(Host & Chief Explorer, Civic Punks)

Jacqueline Lu
(Founder and CEO, Helpful Places)

Dr. Wafa Snaineh
(President, Gov. Design Academy)

Annette Hester
(Principal, TheHesterView)

Ryan Androsoff
(Vice-President, Learning and Leadership, IOG)

Rob Butler 
(Senior Advisor, Canada Free Agent, Director General's Office, GCTI)

Uchenna Solana
(President and Founder, MokSol Impact / Social Innovation Fellow, StartingBloc)

Tamara Srzentic
(Tech Ambassador / Founder, Rebel Alliance)

Iain Montgomery
(Instigator, Host, Editor and Facilitator, Challenger Cities)

Dorothy Eng
(CEO, Code for Canada)

Evangelina (Emily) Tavoulareas
(Adjunct Professor, McCourt School for Public Policy / Steering Committee, Public Tech Leadership Collaborative)