Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) has unveiled its full speakers lineup for its 89th conference, ranging from addressing the rapid pace of change in broadcasting to new revenue models and emerging tech solutions.
Set to take place May 28-29 at Banff Fairmont Springs, this year’s keynote will be delivered by Kimberly Knull, an Edmonton-based psychologist and host of The Overwhelm Cure Podcast, who’ll speak to resiliency in leadership amongst broadcasters.
WAB President Adam West said Knull’s message will resonate with executives in the audience who are navigating through major industry shifts.
“The annual WAB Conference brings together key decision-makers in our industry, so it’s essential that we deliver meaningful takeaways that truly resonate with our stakeholders,” West told Broadcast Dialogue. “This keynote explores how senior-level broadcasters can navigate setbacks, foster innovation through failure, and lead with authenticity in an evolving media landscape.”
West said each year, WAB looks to create a lineup that reflects both the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
“For 2025, we focused on curating a mix of forward-thinking leaders, operational experts, and on-the-ground broadcasters — people who can speak to where we are now and where we’re headed,” said West. “We’ve had great engagement from our board of directors this year, which made building the lineup a really collaborative process.”
Other conference highlights include former BC Lions captain and radio host Angus Reid, unveiling a playbook for building an elite team culture; Ashish Agrawal, founder and CEO of Eon Media Corp, on utilizing AI to enhance and monetize media archives; Creighton Green of Utah-based software provider, Audience, on turning audience data into growth and revenue; and Frequence sales leader Michael Smith on building successful digital teams at traditional media companies. There will also be updates from the CRTC, Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), and Radio Connects.
“There’s no shortage of big topics, but at the heart of it, we wanted to address the rapid pace of change in broadcasting — from regulatory shifts and audience fragmentation to revenue models and technology,” said West.
“We’re thrilled to be back in Banff for the 89th annual WAB Conference,” he added. “It’s always a special setting to bring the industry together — not just to learn, but to connect and recharge. We’re proud of the agenda this year, and we think it reflects the energy, creativity, and resilience of Canadian broadcasting.”
Conference registration is now open.
