Founder and CEO of Miyoko’s, Miyoko Schinner sparked the rise of the multi-million dollar plant-based cheese revolution by pioneering a proprietary technology for making dairy from plants. Miyoko has redefined the categories of “cheese” and “butter” with complex flavors that have garnered multiple awards and the attention of The New York Times, Forbes, Food and Wine, Good Morning America, and many more. The bestselling author, chef, entrepreneur, and animal sanctuary founder has dedicated 30+ years to affecting social change and sustainability.

Vanessa Richards, born in Vancouver, is an artist and community engagement facilitator. Her work focuses on participatory culture and what happens when we turn toward each other. Some of the organizations she’s devised and delivered projects with include PHS Community Services, Broadway Youth Resource Centre, The Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver International Children’s Festival, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Simon Fraser University and and Vancouver Park Board. She is the founder and song leader for the drop-in choir, Woodward’s Community Singers, and director of Creative Together, a song based facilitation process bringing song to conferences and gatherings including SVI and SCI with the Hollyhock Leadership Institute. Vanessa volunteers with the Hogan’s Alley Working Group to reinvigorate citizen driven city building. As Director of Community Engagement at 312 Main, she is bridging  and renewing local relationships for a collecative transformation of the former VPD Headquarters into a coworking community people palace. In Feb 2018, she received the Mayors Achievement Award for her work in community engagement.

Emira is the Principal and Lead Strategist of Raised Eyebrow, a values based digital strategy consultancy that works with non-profit organizations and progressive businesses to help them succeed online. She is also the author of The Boss of You: Everything A Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run and Maintain Her Own Business, a business book for women in small business and a regular speaker, writer and commentator on the topic of women and small business. She has been an SVI producer since 2011.

Joel Solomon is Chair of Renewal Funds, Canada’s largest mission venture capital firm. With $98m assets under management, Renewal Funds invests in organic food, green products, and environmental innovations. Joel is a Senior Advisor with RSF Social Finance, a 2012 TEDxVancouver speaker, founding member of Social Venture Network, Business for Social Responsibility, the Tides Canada Foundation, and is Board Chair of Hollyhock. Joel founded Social Venture Institute at Hollyhock and has been producing it for 20 years. Thank you Joel!

Lorie Corcuera is the Co-Founder and CEO at SPARK Creations & Company Inc., a training and development organization that inspires people and companies to create meaningful cultures and workplaces. Over the past 20 years, Lorie has cultivated her people and culture development, community relations, and leadership coaching experience as both a strategic and progressive senior human resources leader and business consultant in the technology, interactive entertainment, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, and non-profit space. Lorie is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) with The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and an active mentor for Futurpreneur Canada, Dress for Success Vancouver, HR Tech Group, BC Tech HyperGrowth, Young Women in Business and Forum for Women Entrepreneurs. She is also the Co-Founder of the social enterprise Enspire Foundation. Lorie is passionate about elevating the life experience at work and cultivating a community that is igniting and enriching our human spirit.