2025 CONFERENCE - DAY 1
Monday, October 20, 2025
FREE VENUE TOURS
Free venue walking tours will be offered in the morning. Registration will be required for capacity and security purposes.
Registration closes on Friday October 17, 2025.
Mirvish Productions
9:00am Start Time. Tour will take approximately 1h-1.5h. Meeting point is at the Princess of Wales Theatre Stage Door on Pearl Street, the alleyway just north of King Street West, east of John Street. CLICK HERE for map.
Tour will include the FOH and BOH areas of the Princess of Wales Theatre and Royal Alexandra Theatre, and will be lead by Stephen Rebbeck, Director of Production, Chris Prideaux, Production Manager, and Mark Lavaway, Director of Labour Relations & Business Development.
CLICK HERE to register.
Budweiser Stage (Live Nation)
9:30am Start Time. Tour will take approximately 1h. Meeting point is at the Loading Docks at Budweiser Stage. CLICK HERE for map.
Tour will include the FOH and BOH areas of Budweiser Stage, and will be lead by Ethan Wright, Operations Manager, and Alex Bowmer, Venue Services Manager.
CLICK HERE to register.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Studios
10:00am Start Time. Tour will take approximately 1h. Meeting point is inside Mansbridge Hall through the main entrance on Front Street West, just east of John Street. CLICK HERE for map.
Tour will include the Glenn Gould Theatre, the Newsroom, and the Production Studios, and will be lead by Tina Allmark, Senior Manager, Production Management & Design.
CLICK HERE to register.
Tour details and timing are subject to change. All times are displayed in local Toronto time (EDT).
SESSIONS
Scott Johnson Keynote - Safety is Leadership in its Truest Form | Annemarie Roe
Safety is legislated, documented, and governed. However, for it to be most effective, a climate of safety must be cultivated by leaders as a throughline for all decision-making. This keynote address looks to the world of high-profile sports and entertainment events. Projects such as MLB at Field of Dreams, NHL Winter Classic and TwitchCon have presented opportunities to put this leadership philosophy to action. Annemarie Roe, president of BaAM Productions, talks about how an established culture of health and safety provides the foundation required to impose strict safety standards among a diverse range of project teams with varying degrees of experience. A focus on safety is a fundamental aspect of leadership – not in reference to an individual leader – but rather the organizational priorities behind every decision being made. A Q&A session will follow.Considering the Options: Real-World Safety Scenarios | John Badcock (moderator), Aaron Billesberger, Kerrie Blizard, Jason Gordon, Cindy Sypher
In this interactive session, participants will work through a series of real-world safety scenarios drawn from across the live event industry. Each scenario will present multiple possible response options, and attendees will have the chance to discuss their reasoning in small groups before sharing perspectives with the room. A panel of experts representing different disciplines (e.g., e.g.,occupational health and safety, public safety, engineering, security and crowds) will then weigh in, highlighting key considerations and lessons learned.
Rather than focusing on a single “right answer,” this session emphasizes the process of risk assessment: what information is needed, how decisions are made under pressure, and how those decisions are communicated. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to analyze emerging safety challenges and the value of collaborative problem-solving.
Pink Bows Foundation - Turning Tragedy into Action | Stephanie Stegall (moderator), Steve Allen, Bryan Huneycutt, Tim Roberts
We will go through what the Foundation has done and plans to do since the 2021 Astroworld Crowd Crush taking 10 lives - including the Pink Bows Safe Space, Showstop Course and plans for additional continued education learning options.
Radical Inclusion - Reimagining the Future of Live Entertainment and Events | David Connolly
The future of live entertainment and events depends on more than just innovation—it requires radical inclusion. In this compelling keynote, David Connolly, the first amputee on Broadway and now an acclaimed Artistic Director, Educator, and Disability Inclusion Advocate, shares his powerful personal journey and professional insights to challenge how we define creativity, safety, and access.
David invites us to reimagine what's possible in our industry by connecting the dots between empathy, imagination, and systemic change. Highlighting how every technological and creative breakthrough begins with the question “what if…?”, he emphasizes that both the analytical (left brain) and creative (right brain) are essential in building safer, more inclusive experiences for all.
Whether you're producing a major festival, corporate event, theatrical production, or community gathering, this keynote will encourage you to rethink your role in dismantling historical barriers and championing a more equitable, innovative future in the live event space.
SPEAKERS
 | Steve Allen, FdA MIFireE FIIRSM RSP Steve Allen is a global crowd safety and security consultant with over 30 years of experience. As the recognized pioneer of Showstop® Procedure, Steve has ensured the safety of crowds and spectators at concerts, festivals, sporting events and other major events. Steve has consulted for Royal events in the UK and MIddle East, for multinational brands and has toured with artists including, but not limited to, Oasis, Led Zeppelin, Eminem, Beastie Boys, Dixie Chicks, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kasabian and the Stereophonics. |
| John Badcock Originally from the UK, John Badcock currently works 5 months of the year as Operations and Safety Director for SXSW in Austin, Texas, having started as Event Safety Coordinator in 2014, and since 2024 has been project Operations Director for TAIT, the Producing Partner for SXSW London. John also has 16 years of experience in operations roles for UK green field events for both Live Nation and Superstruct Entertainment, as well as other promoters, with specific experience in crowd management planning for ingress and egress, general emergency planning, and 3C planning, as well as numerous control room management roles for festivals and events, including the role of Overnight Senior Control Room Manager for the Queen's Funeral. He was on the Event Safety Alliance board of director from 2021-2024. |
| Aaron Billesberger Aaron Billesberger is a security and crowd safety specialist with almost 28 years of experience in event safety. As the contracted Senior Director of Security & Crowd Safety for several large festivals and events in western Canada, he has led Show Pause and Show Stop procedures, briefing, training and practice exercises as well as participated in decision making and execution of Show Pauses and Show Stops at live events. |
| Kerrie Blizard Kerrie Blizard is the Director, Public Safety and Environment with the Calgary Stampede. The Calgary Stampede is most famous for its community festival in July where it welcomes approximately 1.4 million guests over 10 days, but Stampede Park is a busy place all year hosting hundreds of third-party events including conventions, consumer shows, corporate and private events as well as agriculture and youth events. With more than 25 years’ experience in tourism, hospitality and live events, Kerrie has had the opportunity to work in several roles including event management, guest experience, food and beverage, crowd, queue and traffic management and sustainability. It is this breadth of experience that has allowed her the opportunity to be a part of many high-profile events including Royal visits, government summits, conventions, and festivals. Her passion resides with events that engage the public and bring people together in celebration safely. Kerrie is committed to elevating safety practices and resources within the event industry and has recently joined the Event Safety Alliance Canada as a board member where she can continue to make a difference in this area. |
 | David Connelly (he/him) David Connolly is the Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit theatre companies. As an advocate for disability inclusion, David made history as the first amputee to perform on Broadway. In 2024, he was honoured with the inaugural Change Maker Award from Canadian Actors’ Equity. As a director and choreographer, David has led acclaimed Canadian premiere productions of The Prom, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mamma Mia!, Newsies, and more. His screen credits include directing series for CBC, along with projects for Disney, CBS, NBC, ABC, and PBS, collaborating with artists including Katy Perry, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, kd lang, and Patti LaBelle among others. David is also a recipient of the Ontario Premier’s Award of Excellence, who has proudly served as a peer assessor for the Canada Council for the Arts, and as an ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children and the War Amps Child Amputee Program. |
| Jason Gordon Founder, The Event Safety Professionals Company Jason Gordon completed his studies in Civil Engineering Technology at St. Lawrence College in 1998. With 25 years of experience in Occupational Safety Jason has developed confidence in interpreting and implementing Health and Safety Legislation as well as developing and implementing Health & Safety Management Systems. From 2004 to 2014, Jason worked as an Inspector and Inspectorate Peer Trainer for the Ministry of Labour, where he received the prestigious GEM award for developing a provincial enforcement initiative.
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| Bryan Huneycutt (he/him) Bryan is a global safety strategist, educator, and thought leader in live entertainment and event operations. With decades of experience across theatre, touring, festivals, and film/TV, he specializes in transforming compliance-based safety into people-centered culture. As Vice President of Operations (North America) for Halo Solutions and founder of HuneyBadger Entertainment Consulting, he is shaping industry standards worldwide. A board member of the Event Safety Alliance and experienced academic, he brings operational clarity, inclusive leadership, and a philosophy grounded in compassion to every stage, classroom, and control room he enters. |
| Tim Roberts Speaker Bio Coming Soon! |
 | Annemarie Roe As President of BaAM since its inception, Annemarie has led the company’s Strategy, Design, and Delivery resources, working behind the scenes in partnership with international federations and major North American leagues and teams to create some of the world’s most prominent sports and entertainment events. Recognized as a Sports Business Journal Game Changer, Annemarie’s organizational philosophies of agility and innovation have established her as a trusted industry leader and go-to-resource for organizations looking to carve new paths for fan engagement and major event production. Annemarie’s influence spans a client list that includes FIFA, Pan/Parapan Am Organizing Committees, National Football League, Major League Baseball, Live Nation, National Hockey League, professional sports teams and major sponsors. The teams she leads have powered the delivery of world-renowned special events such as FIFA World Cup, MLB at Rickwood Field, NHL Outdoor Games, MLB at Field of Dreams, and NFL Super Bowl. |
| Stephanie Stegall Stephanie, Managing Partner of Confetto Productions, brings over 20 years of expertise in events and entertainment. Her career includes 10+ years with the Houston Astros as Vice President of Event Sales and Operations, where she secured major concerts like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Billy Joel, and Morgan Wallen, as well as high-profile sporting events such as the WWE Royal Rumble and Cricket All-Stars T20. Previously, she managed Entertainment and Concert Production for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, booking & producing 20 consecutive nights of live performances annually at NRG Stadium. Stephanie currently serves as the Board President for the Pink Bows Foundation. |
| Cindy Sypher Cindy Sypher, M.Eng., P.Eng. is the President of Sypher & Associates Field Engineering Ltd. She is licensed to practice engineering in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo. Her consulting interests include: temporary structures, mechanical and structural design, fire and life safety, emergency preparedness, rigging, general public safety initiatives, amusement rides, risk management, machine guarding, and playground design and inspection. She has consulted to major fairs, parks and event promoters. She is currently the Chair of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s (TSSA) Amusement Devices Industry Advisory Council and is the Vice-Chair of ASTM F24.80 Harmonization Sub-Committee. Ms. Sypher is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) North American Safety Committee. She is a member of the board of directors for the Event Safety Alliance Canada. She is the former vice chair of the CSA Z267 Amusement Rides Harmonization Technical Sub-Committee. She has developed and presented curriculum for the programs at the TSSA’s NAARSO Safety Seminar, AIMS, IAAPA and other industry associations. She has been a guest speaker at the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University and Humber College, Toronto, Canada. Ms. Sypher also has 18 years experience in the nuclear industry. She has participated in standards development on the CSA N289 series of standards for seismic design and qualification of CANDU nuclear power plants. She is a former member of the board of directors for the Organization of CANDU Industries. Ms. Sypher has been consulted to render opinions for amusement devices litigation as well as on general mechanical and structural engineering issues. Ms. Sypher is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, ASTM International, the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials, Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers International, Event Safety Alliance (Canada and the US) and the Canadian and International Associations of Fairs and Exhibitions. |
Programming and speakers are subject to change.