Resilient Leadership: Innovating Through Adversity

A Typical AMI Meeting…

It’s through the collision between those different ideas, those different world views and those different perspectives that people become more original thinkers.

– Steven Johnson, Author of Where Good Ideas Come From

AMI meetings are built around the concept of Positive Turbulence, the idea that by inserting some turbulence into your thinking or your organization, you can create opportunities for ideas to collide and innovation to thrive.

Meeting Schedule

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Afternoon – Optional Pre-Workshop

Evening – Welcome Reception & Introductions

After hours – Hospitality Suite

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Breakfast

Morning Session – Positive Turbulence Speaker (TBD), BBWI Learning Exchange

Lunch

Afternoon – Positive Turbulence Speaker (TBD), BBWI Learning Exchange

Small Group Dinners

After hours – Hospitality Suite

Friday, April 25, 2025

Breakfast

Morning Session – Positive Turbulence Speaker (TBD), BBWI Learning Exchange

Newcomer Fishbowl & Lunch

Speakers

Many struggle just to survive when things become challenging. Some aim to merely maintain the status quo. But, what if there was another path available to us? A path where we didn’t just make it through, but transcended all expectations and created a new future ahead of us. Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey has long offered insights for moving through the trials that humans face but in this session, possibilities for how the stages of Campbell’s Journey apply uniquely to Innovators for creating a better tomorrow will be explored.

Bio

John Bucher is a renowned mythologist and story expert who has been featured on the BBC, the History Channel, the LA Times, The Hollywood Reporter and on numerous other international outlets . He serves as Executive Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation and is a writer, podcaster, storyteller, and speaker. He has worked with government and cultural leaders around the world as well as organizations such as HBO, DC Comics, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, A24 Films, Atlas Obscura, and The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation, bringing his deep understanding of narrative and myth to a wide array of audiences. He is the author of six influential books on storytelling, including the best-selling Storytelling for Virtual Reality, named by BookAuthority as one of the best storytelling books of all time. John has worked with New York Times Best Selling authors, YouTube influencers, Eisner winners, Emmy winners, Academy Award nominees, magicians, and cast members from Saturday Night Live. Holding a PhD in Mythology & Depth Psychology, he integrates scholarly insights with practical storytelling techniques, exploring the profound connections between myth, culture, and personal identity. His expertise has helped shape compelling narratives across various platforms, enriching the way stories are told and experienced globally.

The temesewtx Aquatic & Community Centre is the City of New Westminster’s largest capital project to date. MIYIWTS – its largest public art commission ever. Sitting by side, these projects are rooted in the City of New Westminster’s far-reaching aspirations, with environmental performance, inclusive design, and a commitment to Truth & Reconciliation all key priorities. But the City’s ambitions didn’t stop there. They also challenged both architect and artist to consider how these significant community investments could foster collective pride. What does it mean to be proud of our community? And how can art and architecture inspire collective pride – in our lands, our stories, and our communities? How does pride foster resilience? Architect Ali Kenyon and artist James Harry of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw discuss how they approached the creation of these two community assets. They explore what it means to create through a lens of social and environmental impact, and share a vision for future world-building that integrates Coast Salish perspectives.

Bios

Ali Kenyon – Associate Principal at HCMA Architecture

Ali Kenyon is an architect, urbanist, and mother living on the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh). With Dutch and Italian ancestry, and raised in the Treaty Four lands of Regina, Ali is interested in the relationship between cities, buildings, and landscapes, their cultural context, and the systems that connect them. Through her work, she is committed to providing design solutions that catalyze community change, now and into the future.

As Associate Principal at hcma, Ali leads teams in the pursuit of maximizing positive impact on communities across Canada, through the design of public spaces, aquatic and recreation centres, libraries, outdoor pools, and development master plans. Her interdisciplinary background, first in industrial design then architecture, influences the success she has had across project scales – Alley Oop and Ackery’s Alley are two of her non-traditional projects that reshape the urban landscape, while the newly opened təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre brings a new top-of-class civic amenity to a challenging site.

James Harry – SḴWX̱WÚ7MESH ÚXWUMIXW Artist

James Harry was born on October 31, 1989, in Vancouver, British Columbia, to a family of artists. His father, Xwalacktun, is a master carver of the Squamish Nation, and he learned indigenous stories, Salish design, and carving skills from him. Growing up, James was immersed in Squamish Nation culture and traditions, which deeply influenced his artistic style and approach.

James later attended Emily Carr University of Arts and Design, where he obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in Visual Arts in 2014. During his studies, James focused on integrating traditional Coast Salish art forms, including Salish design, with contemporary concepts and materials, experimenting with a variety of media, including wood, metal, and glass.

Today, James is recognized as a leader in the burgeoning contemporary Coast Salish art scene, known for pushing the boundaries of traditions while using his work to promote cultural understanding and reconciliation. His unique style blends intricate carving with bold, modern designs and incorporates elements of metal, light, and Salish design. James creates work that is a powerful expression of his cultural heritage and a testament to the ongoing vitality and relevance of Indigenous art forms.

More speakers to be announced soon!

Optional Pre-Conference Workshop – Coming Soon!

Venue

The Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver is a fitting venue for our community gathering centered Resilience: Innovating Through Adversity. Established in 1927, this iconic hotel has weathered nearly a century of change, standing as a symbol of adaptability and transformation. In 2011, it underwent a meticulous renovation to restore its historic charm while introducing modern amenities that meet today’s standards. Recently, in 2024, further refurbishments reimagined its rooms and public spaces, harmonizing classic elegance with contemporary design.

Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia offers a rich historical backdrop and modern conference facilities, creating an inspiring atmosphere for meaningful discussions on resilience and innovation.

*Note, please wait to book your room with the unique link provided during registration. This will ensure you are included in our block and receive the favorable rate negotiated for our group.