Speakers

With heartfelt humor, electrifying energ, and hard-earned expertise, Brandi doesn’t just talk about how play rewires the brain, builds resilience and reconnects us, she creates live, interactive programs where people feel the shift in real time.

She’s a best-selling author, award-winning educator and international speaker on the science of play at work; leading a workplace revolution against burnout and boredom by helping people and organizations reclaim their Playful Intelligence.

Brandi helps caring professionals and purpose-driven teams restore the part of themselves that knows how to adapt, connect and create - even under pressure, even when they’re running on empty.

Her work draws on neuroscience and compassion to show how play resets the nervous system, reignites creativity, and rebuilds the connection we lose trying to perform perfectly under pressure.

Brandi’s message is bold and deeply human: 
Play isn’t the opposite of work - it’s how we do our best work. 

Meg Polson is a lifelong sports enthusiast whose passion led her to a career in sports media. A graduate of NAIT’s Radio & Television Arts Program, she began in music radio before shifting to sports broadcasting, honing her storytelling skills at TSN 1260 as a co-host and producer.

In 2011, Meg joined CTV Edmonton as a sports anchor, balancing dual roles in radio and television. After nearly a decade in broadcasting, she combined her entrepreneurial spirit and love for sport to launch The Pro-Am Golf Show in 2013 and hosted/produced the television show for nine seasons.

In 2022, Meg expanded her love for golf by purchasing Glacier Greens Par 3 Golf Course north of Stony Plain. She now balances her ongoing media work with running the course, continuing to share stories and grow the game she loves.

Moderator: Patron Supports Beyond the Casino Walls

Eric has been with AGLC since 2008. His background as a social worker and counsellor provide insight into his role at AGLC and his work within the Social Responsibility branch. He is proud of the work AGLC is doing to provide the policies, regulations, programs and tools to support a culture of moderation and to promote balanced and healthier choices for Albertans when it comes to alcohol, gaming and cannabis.

Panelist: Patron Supports Beyond the Casino Walls

Christina Cook, IGRS, is the founder of The Broke Girl Society, a peer-led community and podcast that creates safe, empowering spaces for women impacted by gambling harm. A dedicated advocate for recovery, Christina draws from her own lived experience of disordered gambling to support others in navigating the complex emotional, financial, and social challenges of recovery.

Through storytelling, community connection, and compassionate advocacy, Christina helps women reclaim their voices and build lives they no longer want to escape. Her work centers on breaking stigma, fostering resilience, and amplifying the realities of women’s experiences with gambling harm.

Christina currently serves on the boards of:

• Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health (LEAP) Board – Member
• International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Board (IPGGC) – Executive Secretary 

Presenter: Social Responsibility within the Play Alberta Landscape

Carly Curran is a seasoned marketing and business development leader with a passion for building brands that resonate and drive impact. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Concordia University of Edmonton, Carly has spent her career bridging the gap between strategy and storytelling in both business-to-consumer and business-to-business environments.

In 2018, Carly brought her expertise to AGLC, where she played a pivotal role in launching Alberta’s land-based casino loyalty program, Winner’s Edge—rolling it out province-wide within a year. Today, she serves as Director of Gaming Business Development, guiding strategy for Winner’s Edge and Play Alberta, supporting the retail lottery division, and spearheading innovation across AGLC’s gaming portfolio. Her current focus includes the future development of AGLC’s retail sportsbook extension and social gaming platform.

Carly is known for her ability to connect the dots between consumer insight, brand strategy, and business growth—making her a compelling voice in the gaming and marketing space.

Panelist: Patron Supports Beyond the Casino Walls

Bob Fisher is a dedicated leader and experienced management professional, currently serving as the Past President of CIM | Chartered Managers Canada. With a strong foundation in leadership, ethics and continuous learning, he has held multiple key roles within CIM, including President, Executive Board Chair and Secretary.

Known for his dependability, adaptability and strong communication skills, he is passionate about strengthening his professional network and staying at the forefront of modern management practices.

In addition to his work with CIM, Bob is the President and Board Chair of SMART Recovery Association, Canada. He is excited to guide the organization in its evolution into SMART Canada.

Panelist: Patron Supports Beyond the Casino Walls

Stephen Hard is the Manager of Responsible Gaming and Corporate Social Responsibility at the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA). In this role, Stephen is responsible for advancing SIGA'S Responsible Gaming (RG) Strategy, aligning it with evolving industry best practices in Responsible Gaming.

Drawing on insights from other jurisdictions and partnerships such as GameSense, Stephen continually refines SIGA's approach to responsible gaming—innovating programs and initiatives that promote player health, awareness and informed choice. As well as providing training and awareness for SIGA and it's seven casinos and 1,600 plus employees.

Since joining SIGA in 2008, Stephen has held various positions across several departments, including Human Resources, Security and Surveillance. His diverse background provides a strong operational foundation and strategic perspective that he now brings to the organization's responsible gaming and social responsibility mandate.

Stephen collaborates with teams across all seven SIGA casinos and the Central Office location to ensure a culture of responsible gaming throughout the organization. He also plays a key role in broader community engagement, serving as Co-Chair of the Saskatoon Problem Gambling Committee (SPGC) and working closely with stakeholders such as SaskGaming and the First Nations Addictions Rehabilitation Foundation (FNARF) to raise public awareness and foster shared responsibility around gaming harm prevention.

SIGA is a non-profit organization that operates seven casinos across Saskatchewan and manages the province's only legal online gaming and sports betting platform, PlayNow.com. With over 1,600 employees — more than 65 per cent of whom identify as First Nations — SIGA is one of the largest First Nations employers in the province, committed to economic reconciliation and social impact.

Panelist: Patron Supports Beyond the Casino Walls

April has worked in a number of roles at AGLC over the last 12 years. A strong advocate for AGLC's Self-Exclusion Program, she has provided strategic guidance and assistance to both patrons and staff as they navigate the path of self-exclusion and responsible gambling.

She approaches each day and interaction with empathy, accountability and continuous improvement.

Presenter: Performing in the Storm - Going Beyond Resilience
Community and Workplace Traumatologist
Executive Director of Imagine Institute for Learning

Line Marie is the founder and executive director of Imagine Institute for Learning and a Community and Workplace Traumatologist. She has spent the last 25 years igniting the potential of professionals across sectors to build their capacity and competencies in the workplace. She has worked with different groups such as WCB, Paladin Security, Government of Alberta, QuadReal Property Management, first responders and multiple communities, organizations and sectors. Her goal is to transform compassion into action. line is also a mother to five and grandmother to 4 children.

Presenter: The Wild World of Influencer Marketing and its Intersection with Gambling

Brady is a PhD student in the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. HIs work focuses on gambling behaviours, consumer identity, influencers and language. Brady is also a hobby gaming influencer, where he has amassed approximately 9,000 followers on Twitch, livestreamed in front of 10,000+ people, and partnered with video game development companies. Brady has also worked in the tech industry in both sales and marketing and taught at the University of Lethbridge for nearly 5 years. In his spare time, Brady enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in sports.

Moderator: GameSense Across North America

Kim Steinbart has worked at BCLC for 14 years, most of that with the Player Health team. She is the Manager of Player Health Advancement and Outreach, where she looks after several programs including player health culture, training development, accreditations, the New Horizons Conference and the GameSense business-to-business program. Prior to Player Health, Kim specialized in communications and media relations.

Presenter: Awards Presentation - Self-Exclusion & GameSense Awards of Excellence

Seamus Strutt serves as the Manager of Gaming Programs, Social Responsibility at AGLC. With a tenure spanning a decade, Seamus has been instrumental in multiple roles within the organization. He is deeply committed to the ongoing development of responsible gambling initiatives throughout Alberta.

Presenter: The Evolution of Social Responsibility Marketing within Alberta

Sandra Symbaluk is a seasoned marketing strategist with over a decade of experience in the gaming and entertainment sectors. As Senior Marketing Officer, she has played a pivotal role in shaping campaigns that balance commercial success with ethical responsibility. Sandra is a passionate advocate for responsible gambling practices, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure that marketing initiatives promote player safety, informed decision-making and community well-being.

Her work emphasizes transparency, education and the integration of harm-reduction principles into brand messaging. Sandra brings a unique perspective to the conversation, combining data-driven insights with a deep understanding of consumer behavior. She is committed to fostering industry-wide collaboration to create safer gambling environments and is honored to contribute to this vital dialogue at the conference.