Resilient Leadership: Innovating Through Adversity
Join us April 23-25, 2025, for our next in-person meeting, Resilient Leadership: Innovating Through Adversity.
Set in Vancouver in the traditional and unceded territory of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh), Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples… known for its natural beauty, deep connection to First Nations, and wide ethnic diversity.
Embracing sustainable practices, decolonizing our mindsets and focusing on inclusion are key contributors toward finding resilence and will be repeated themes during this meeting. We will hear from leaders how resilience and innovation have helped them withstand adversity and rise to the challenges of our times.Through community sharing and conversation, we’ll see how these themes are all interconnected and explore how we might become more resilient leaders.
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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.
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
Positive Turbulence Speakers
Telling a Better Story: Discovering and Exploring the Innovator’s Journey
John Bucher
Executive Director, Joseph Campbell Foundation
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.
Building Community Resilience Through Art and Architecture
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.
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.
The Power of Imperfection
Jessica Fraser
Producer/Director/Writer
Resilience in leadership doesn’t come from always having the answers—it comes from embracing imperfection. In a world defined by complexity and rapid change, authentic leaders find strength in vulnerability and courage in admitting what they don’t know. This session will explore how telling stories about imperfect people—stories of missteps, growth, and resilience—can inspire trust and foster a culture of innovation. By humanizing leadership, these narratives build deeper connections and remind us that success often comes through embracing the messy, unpredictable journey of change.
Drawing inspiration from initiatives like One Day’s Pay, which embodies the spirit of collective action and intentional reflection, we’ll also explore the art of inhabiting spaces of uncertainty. Whether it’s leaning into the discomfort of not always getting it right—or even getting it wrong—this session will uncover strategies for navigating these pivotal moments with purpose. Together, we’ll reframe imperfection not as a flaw but as a catalyst for resilience, transformation, and meaningful progress.
Bio
She co-created the Mobile Movement Project — a next generation, interactive, crowdfunding and collaborative development platform that partnered with UN HABITAT and USAID from 2009-2013. What inspired her work was making ensuring people receiving investment and aid were directly seen and heard — making the invisible visible. Mobile Movement was a Macarthur Foundation award winner and Jess was also honoured with the BC Council for International Cooperation’s Global Citizen’s Leadership Award for her work in this field.
Recently, with Katrina, she turned her focus to supporting Indigenous Movements in Canada and was one of founding members of One Day’s Pay. ODP has raised close to three quarters of a million dollars over two years – transferring settler wealth to Indigenous led movements and organizations on Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. To learn more go to onedayspay.ca
Creative Problem Solving Workshop (Optional)
How Might We Build Community at Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon (RMHBC)?
Our House itself is a testament to innovation, designed by the acclaimed local architectural firm MGA to create a warm, welcoming environment that promotes healing and togetherness.
We are excited to offer a pre-workshop experience that includes a tour of RMHBC, giving participants an opportunity to witness our mission in action. Additionally, we will discuss our ambitious expansion plans, which aim to double our capacity to support families from across BC and Yukon, ensuring even more families can stay together and find the comfort they need during challenging times.
During our time, we look forward to sharing a challenge and an opportunity we’re facing, and to actively problem solving together with the AMI community to benefit the families we serve.
Venue
Rosewood Hotel Georgia
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.
For reservations, book online. Deadline for room availability and group rate is Friday March 21st, 2025, so book your room now to secure a spot.