Melissa McGarvey
MC
British Swim School
Meet Your MC: Melissa McGarvey – Making Waves in Aquatics!
Get ready to dive into an unforgettable event with, your dynamic MC! As thefor British Swim School, Melissa doesn’t just make waves—she builds entire currents of change in swim education, training, and safety. Leading a powerhouse team, she ensures swimmers of all ages gain the skills they need to thrive in the water.
A true, Melissa works closely with industry and government leaders to drive key legislation that makes waters safer across Canada and the U.S. Her passion extends beyond her role, serving as a, an, and an active advocate with the CSSA.
Before making a splash at British Swim School, Melissa honed her leadership skills as theat GoodLife Fitness, mastering customer service, child development, and team leadership.
When she’s not shaping the future of aquatics, you can find her in, where she and her husband, James, are lovingly ruled by their two miniature Schnauzers.
So buckle up, because with Melissa at the mic, this conference is guaranteed to be
About Melissa McGarvey
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MC
British Swim School
Anthony Robles
Speaker • Commentator • Nike Athlete
Anthony Robles
3-time wrestling All-American and the 2011 NCAA Division I National Champion
Two Time ESPY Award Recipient including, Jimmy V Award for Perseverance
Internationally renowned motivational speaker to Fortune 500 companies
2012 Inductee, National Wrestling Hall of Fame
ESPN College Wrestling Expert and Analyst since 2012
Pac 12 Network Wrestling analyst since 2015
2013-16 member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition
Member of the Presidential Delegation to the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games
Featured in a 2014 prime time TV special on TBS in Japan and viewed in 15.5M homes
Published Author, Unstoppable
Nike Athlete
2015 National Wrestling Media Association's Broadcaster of the Year award
2017 Inductee, Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
2018, Guinness World Record Holder for pull-ups in one minute with 62
2020, Guinness World Record Holder for pull-ups in one minute with an 80 lbs pack with 23
2021, Guinness World Record Holder for pull-ups in one minute with an 60 lbs pack with 30
2022, Inductee, ASU’s Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame
Ben Afflect and Matt Damon Produced a film on Anthony’s life for distribution Q4, 2024
www.anthonyrobles.com
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Speaker • Commentator • Nike Athlete
Anthony Robles
Elizabeth Monier-Williams
Career Strategist & Coach
Growclass
Elizabeth Monier-Williams is a marketing and career strategy consultant with over 20 years of experience marketing products, companies and ideas within Toronto’s technology and research sectors. She has built and led interdisciplinary teams to achieve ambitious targets while delivering transformational work.
Elizabeth is a pioneer in crowdfunding campaigns for research-driven technology. She co-directed the campaign on Indiegogo, which raised over $150,000 in platform and follow-on donations to fund an innovative medical imaging technology. WaveCheck was also twice named to the Globe and Mail’s Top 10 Canadian crowdfunding campaigns in 2013. She also served as strategy lead for the on Kickstarter, which raised over $100,000 USD for a wearable technology designed to encourage girls to code.
She holds a Honours Bachelor of Arts (co-op) from the University of Waterloo, where she was the English Department’s candidate for the Gold Medal. She completed a Master of Arts from the University of Guelph, receiving an Ontario Graduate Scholarship to fund her studies. She is an alumna of and , and an active member of both communities.
In Spring 2022, Elizabeth published , her first novel, under the pen name E. M. Williams. The book received a and was named a #1 Amazon Hot New Release. To learn more about her writing work, visit .
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Career Strategist & Coach
Growclass
Sam Demma
Best-selling author -Keynote Speaker
Samdemma
Sam Demma is a best-selling author and one of the most in-demand keynote speakers
today. He has delivered over 600 performances across Canada, The United States and
Kenya. He was invited to deliver two TEDx talks, co-founded PickWaste—an organization
that mobilized volunteers to pick up over 3000 bags of litter—and was awarded the
prestigious Queens Platinum Jubilee Award for his national contributions. During the
pandemic, Sam produced two viral graduation videos for students who missed their
ceremonies and launched a partnership with Taco Bell to encourage people to engage in
acts of kindness.
His work and interviews have been featured in The Globe & Mail, CBC, and CTV. He has
been recognized as Top 25 Under 25. Sam’s multimedia platform, The High Performing
Educator, has spotlit over 250 educators, and his bestselling debut book, Empty Your
Backpack, has been called “a must-read for young dreamers.”. In his spare time, you can
find Sam reading books, dancing the bachata, or journeying across the globe with his giant
red backpack. For more information, please visit: www.samdemma.com
www.samdemma.com
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Best-selling author -Keynote Speaker
Samdemma
Mel Rickwood
Owner
Aquatics Down Under Swim School
Mel Rickwood is the owner of Aquatics Down Under Swim School situated in Sydney, Australia which teaches 1700 children a week and employs 33 staff. The Swim School caters from babies to adults and is uniquely situated in a shopping centre. The business is now into its 17th year of operation and has won many awards and accolades for its high level of teaching as well as its program design.
With over 36 years in the Swim School Industry, Mel has just finished her term as a Director on the Australian Swim Schools Association Board. She is a committee member on the ASSA Water Safety Group as well as a Participant in the Coutts Family Scholarship ISSA Think Tank that has just recently met in Finland.
Along with her Bachelor of Sports Science Degree and Diploma of Education, Mel is also an AUSTSWIM Trainer, training new and upcoming instructors to gain their accreditation. She has presented at many national and international conferences throughout her time in the industry, with the most recent presentations being for the International Swim Schools Association Conference in Dubai and the United States Swim School Association in Las Vegas in 2024.
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Owner
Aquatics Down Under Swim School
Jim McPartlin
Leadership Coach, Executive Trainer, Self-Insight Specialist
All Good People Corp
A renowned coach and consultant with over three decades of leadership experience across the global luxury hotel industry, Jim began his career with the Walt Disney Company in 1985 in its management training program. Over the next four years, he gained valuable experience working in both the Magic Kingdom and Resort Division(s). He earned his first General Manager position at the age of 29. From there, he would spend the next decade with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, holding a variety of positions, including General Manager, Area Director of Operations, and Vice President of Human Resources. In each of these roles he focused on exemplary training, communication, and conflict management as a mechanism to enhance the staff and guest experience.
Jim spent the next several years of his career with W Hotels Worldwide, The Ian Schrager Company, André Balaz Properties and Loews Hotels in roles ranging from General Manger to Senior Vice President of Operations. In working with a high-profile clientele from the entertainment and financial sectors, he became known for a light touch in recognizing the needs of guests whether through non-verbal communication or a few well-chosen words.
As an Executive Trainer at Forbes Travel Guide, Jim was quickly promoted to Vice President, Leadership Development and focused on helping luxury hospitality brands develop their own, unique leadership teams. He has been a certified teacher in the Enneagram for over 25 years and began using this model of personality with teams as a tool to develop emotional intelligence individually and collectively.
St. Martin’s Press published Jim’s first book, The Enneagram at Work, in the fall of 2021.
www.allgoodpeoplecorp.com
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Leadership Coach, Executive Trainer, Self-Insight Specialist
All Good People Corp
Dan Riskin
Biologist | Science Journalist | Author | Television Host
Dan Riskin, PhD
A renowned evolutionary biologist, award-winning television presenter, and bestselling author,
Dan Riskin has dedicated his career to igniting curiosity in audiences worldwide. Whether he’s
inspiring viewers as the co-host of Discovery Canada's flagship science program, Daily Planet;
terrifying them as the host of Animal Planet's docu-horror show, Monsters Inside Me; or
covering the latest news as CTV's Science and Technology Specialist, Riskin's passion and
curiosity have made him an unparalleled source of science inspiration for all.
Riskin earned his scientific chops studying how bats move — famously putting vampire bats on
a treadmill as part of his research. He earned his PhD from Cornell University, then worked as a
scientist at Brown University and Boston University. Not only has he published his research in
prestigious scientific journals, but he is also the author of the national bestseller Mother Nature
is Trying to Kill You, and of the delightful and educational children's book, Fiona the Fruit Bat.
Renowned for his infectious humour and charismatic presence, Riskin has been interviewed
about science by Anderson Cooper, Gayle King, Lisa LaFlamme, Don Lemon, Jay Leno, Charlie
Rose, Peter Sagal, and many others. Craig Ferguson, who had Riskin as a guest on The Late Late
Show eight times, once called him "my favourite scientist.”
By stoking a childlike passion, Riskin gives audiences so much more than scientific “wow” facts.
His keynotes, like his television shows, help individuals see their own curiosity in a new light,
pursue their interests with more vigour, and tap into a deeper sense of inspiration. He will
spark your audience's passions, leaving them invigorated to embark on their own journeys of
exploration and discovery.
https://noctilio.com/
About Dan Riskin
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Biologist | Science Journalist | Author | Television Host
Dan Riskin, PhD
