D2L Connection: Toronto

Anne Renaud

Anne Renaud has been the Executive Director at OntarioLearn since March 2023. In her short time at OntarioLearn, she oversaw the shift from a long standing Technical Service Provider to working with both internal and external resources to provide a new technology infrastructure for the organization. She also is building many partnerships and exploring new opportunities for OntarioLearn.

Prior to joining OntarioLearn, Anne worked at Confederation College for over 20 years. Her college career started off as Campus Manager at the Fort Frances Campus. Here, she developed a passion for technology enabled learning in order to provide more opportunities to learners in this remote northern community.

Anne had a variety of roles over the years at Confederation College, including in Student Success, Teaching and Learning, Continuing Education, Academic Upgrading and Workforce Development. Her last role was as Dean, Business, Hospitality & Media Arts. Despite all these changing portfolios, Anne was always very involved in the smaller Regional Campuses and Distance Education as her passion for accessible online learning grew.

Carrie Maynard

Carrie Maynard is a Digital Learning Design Manager at Serefin, where she leads the creation of innovative eLearning solutions and supports the effective use of D2L Brightspace. With extensive experience in instructional design, curriculum development, and eLearning, Carrie specializes in crafting accessible, engaging learning experiences grounded in adult learning theories. She is passionate about integrating UDL principles, AODA, and WCAG standards while fostering collaboration among educational leaders, stakeholders, and teams to drive organizational success.

Christian Pantel

Christian was appointed Chief Product Officer in 2024. He leads global Product Strategy, Product Management, Product Design, User Experience Research and Accessibility at D2L. Christian first joined the company in 2015 and has expanded his leadership in product, design, and engineering. He has extensive experience in Education Technology and knows D2L customers well. With deep empathy for diverse learners and educators, Christian has led D2L to develop products with a world-class user experience.

Christian has over 25 years of leadership experience building software at notable enterprise software companies including Workday, Infor, and PeopleSoft. Christian earned a Master of Science in computing science from Simon Fraser University, specializing in human-computer interaction and Web-based learning environments. He also holds a Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) from the University of Manitoba. Christian lives in Winnipeg with his wife and four children.

Lindsay Shipman

Lindsay Shipman is the Director of Release and Product Enablement at D2L and a part-time instructor at Fanshawe College. With 13 years in educational publishing and technology, she specializes in blended and online learning. Lindsay holds a BA in English and a Master of Professional Education in Curriculum and Pedagogy. She is passionate about building connections, fostering community, and supporting students’ holistic growth.

Cortney Hanna-Benson

Dr. Cortney Hanna-Benson is a skilled learning and design professional with over ten years of experience in instructional design, online teaching, and educational leadership. At the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Western University, Cortney works as the Associate Director, Digital Learning to enhance and develop opportunities for online, blended, and technology-enhanced teaching and learning. Cortney’s research interests include course design for online and blended teaching, ensuring accessibility is at the forefront of course design, students-as-partners in course design, and understanding the complexities of student transitions to university.

Beth Peck

Beth Peck is the Learning Development Manager at CWB Group. Beth’s team creates learning resources to support welders, welding supervisors and inspectors. The CWB Group certifies companies, inspection organizations, inspectors, and welding consumables through a review and qualification process to ensure that they meet the requirements for a variety of product and safety codes.

John Baker

John founded D2L in 1999, at the age of twenty-two, while attending the University of Waterloo. He strongly believes that learning is the foundation upon which all progress and achievement rests.

He is a member of the Business Council of Canada, board member of the Business Higher Education Roundtable, member of the Industry Strategy Council in Canada, Chair of the Digital Economic Strategy Table in Canada, has served on the Governing Council of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, is the Past Chair of the board of Communitech, and is a board member of Canada’s National Ballet School.

John was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Ontario for Software and Technology), Young Alumni Achievement Medal from University of Waterloo, and Intrepid Entrepreneur of the Year in Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

John graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours B.A.Sc. in Systems Design Engineering, with First Class Honours and an option in Management Sciences.

Josh Bell

Josh Bell manages business applications for Hockey Canada, supporting national online learning initiatives across the country. With a background in business analysis, project management, and stakeholder engagement, Josh helps bridge gaps between departments, provincial associations, and subject matter experts to deliver impactful online education.

Ari Shulman

As Director of Technology & Business Applications at Hockey Canada, Ari has driven national initiatives across registration, finance, system implementation, and fan engagement, while advancing partnerships with municipalities and global brands. He brings a strong track record in strategic planning, enterprise systems, and data-driven decision-making, all shaped by experience at Deloitte, CPA Ontario and a lifelong passion for growing the game.

Jenni Bauer

Currently a Solutions Engineer at D2L, Jenni brings over 14 years of experience in higher education, with a passion for academic development, fostering curiosity, and promoting lifelong learning. Since joining D2L in 2020, Jenni has leveraged deep expertise in Brightspace, having taught with the platform for four years and used it extensively since 2011. In addition to work in education technology, Jenni is a certified high-performance hockey coach, blending leadership and performance development across fields. Jenni is also expanding their skills by pursuing certification in Python programming and app development to further support innovation in education.

Ken Champman

Kenneth is responsible for D2L’s advisory board program, which involves working with top executives, administrators, and educational leaders across the company’s customer base. He is also responsible for analyst and thought leader relations, acting as an advisor to D2L’s senior executives and product leadership group on behalf of the institutions D2L serves. Deeply passionate about the connection between technology and learning, Kenneth strives to identify how the changing edtech landscape can help educators transform student outcomes.

He joined the original D2L team back in 2003, and has since played a major role in shaping customer support, product management, product design, and market strategy. Kenneth graduated with distinction from the University of Guelph, holding an Honours Co-op Bachelors in Mathematics & Statistics and Computer Science. He has also subsequently achieved certifications in both product management and project management disciplines.

Anita Joshi

Anita Joshi is a dynamic education professional with over 15 years of experience spanning edtech sales, corporate training, classroom teaching, instructional design, and entrepreneurship. She is passionate about bridging the worlds of technology and education, designing dynamic curricula, and delivering impactful learning experiences for diverse audiences. Known for her innovative, learner-centered approach, Anita partners with organizations to drive engagement, build capability, and achieve meaningful learning outcomes. She is excited to share her insights and experiences at this event.

Coco Wang

Coco Wang is a Customer Advocacy Manager at D2L. Coco started her career in marketing communications, and her enthusiasm for working in the education sector has led her to D2L. Coco holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Carmela La Rosa

Carmela La Rosa is a dedicated intermediate and senior educator with a passion for fostering inclusive and positive learning environments. She currently serves as the K-12 Digital Learning Integration Resource Teacher within the Toronto Catholic District School Board, where she leverages her expertise to enhance educational experiences through technology. Carmela specializes in 21st-century learning practices, educational technology integration, and mental health advocacy, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills and support they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Ben Zimmer

Ben Zimmer is the CEO of Enable Education (enableeducation.com), and a former software developer and post-secondary educator with a passion for making learning experiences truly stick. His team is known for crafting high-fidelity, simulation-based training that integrates seamlessly into LMS ecosystems like D2L. From welding inspection simulations for the CWB Group to gamified corporate learning, Ben specializes in turning complex learning goals into engaging, measurable outcomes. Since founding Enable in 2006, he’s helped organizations scale rich content inside platforms like Brightspace—bridging the gap between great instructional design and powerful tech integration.

Kevin Bradbeer

Kevin is the Senior Manager of IT Business Operations, IT Services in the Toronto District School Board. His portfolio includes responsibility for large applications & operating system support, application development, enterprise service management, projects and communication and digital transformation. Prior to joining IT Services, Kevin coordinated Teaching & Learning with Technology and e-Learning in the TDSB.