2026 COCA National Conference: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

9:00am MDT

Keynote Series 1

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Avery Swartz - Drawing the Line: Making Choices in the Age of AI
Every campus professional is making AI decisions, often unknowingly. From drafting emails to analyzing surveys or editing photos, the questions are constant—and the answers unclear. In this keynote, Avery offers a practical framework using real campus examples to navigate the gray areas, helping attendees make confident, ethical AI choices in everyday work.

Wayne Lee - ACE Your Day Keynote: Creating High Performance On Demand
Creating unforgettable student experiences comes with constant pressure—balancing leadership, mental wellness, team dynamics, engagement challenges, tight budgets, and the demand to keep students connected in an increasingly distracted world. Wayne Lee delivers a high-energy keynote experience that combines psychology, comedy hypnosis, audience interaction, and practical performance strategies to help student leaders and campus programmers learn how to consistently show up at their best, lead with confidence, adapt under pressure. Through laughter-filled demonstrations, inspiring insights, and powerful takeaways, attendees will discover how mindset, focus, emotional state, and connection directly impact leadership, student engagement, teamwork, and the success of the experiences they create on campus.

Presenters

Avery Swartz

Keynote Speaker, Camp Tech

Avery Swartz is an acclaimed tech educator and best-selling author. She is the founder and CEO of Camp Tech, Canada’s most established provider of practical tech and AI skills training, and is co-lead of AI Skills Lab Canada, a national program bridging the AI gender adoption... Read More →

Wayne Lee

Speaker/Entertainer, Wayne Lee Enterprises Inc

For over 30 years, Wayne Lee has been a high-performance keynote speaker, entertainer, and self-trained hypnotist who has shown over 6000 global organizations how to perform at their best automatically, using the power of the subconscious.Wayne's fascination with performance began... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Capital A DoubleTree Regina

Education, Keynote Presentation

9:00am MDT

Keynote Series 2

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Capital A

Jacqueline Hurlbert - Instilling Pride in Rider Nation

Greg Stewart - Championing Vulnerability
We often see success, and love as these tangible, external objects. The money, the cars, the houses, all of these materials are what we often see as a result of success. But were success and love actually lie are in the vulnerable discomforts, the places of challenge, and failure. Educating and guiding people to see their true selves, only brings more love and success within, bringing more outwards.

Presenters

Jacqueline Hurlbert

Director, Marketing & Fan Engagement, Saskatchewan Roughriders

A true citizen of the world, Jacqueline Hurlbert has crafted a unique understanding not only of the sports industry but also of the vast and rapidly shifting landscape of the global marketplace, thanks to her time spent in nearly every corner of the globe.

Placing the label of “home” on destinations such as Scarborough, Ontario, Phoenix, Arizona, Calgary, Alberta, Nanaimo BC, and even Sydney, Australia — Jacqui possesses uncommon insight into sports marketing, which she has harnessed and applied to management and marketing at... Read More →

Greg Stewart

Keynote Speaker, Talent Bureau

Greg Stewart is a two-time Paralympic Champion in shot put. He competed in the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Born without a left arm below the elbow, Greg overcame many challenges to become a top athlete. After the 2020 Tokyo Games, Greg retired from competitive sport... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Capital A DoubleTree Regina

Education, Keynote Presentation

9:00am MDT

Keynote Series 3

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am MDT

Capital A

Alick Mac
A bold new show about masculinity, misogyny, the manospehere and mental health — from award-winning rapper Alick Mac. Alick uses personal anecdotes and songs to offer reflections on misogyny, mental health and masculinity. His music offers insight into the male experience, tackling a wide range of issues including the complexities of male friendships. Delivering an urgent and timely message, “Boys’ Club” takes stock of a bleak present while also offering an aspirational vision of the future.

Laura Lawrence - The Power of Adaptability: Thriving in Change with Confidence and Clarity
In today’s high-stakes business world, change isn’t optional—it’s constant. But while disruption can feel overwhelming, it also holds the power to shape stronger leaders, more resilient teams, and a renewed sense of purpose.
In this moving and motivational keynote, Laura shares her deeply personal story—a journey from unexpected adversity to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur and philanthropist in the mental wellness space. What began as a life-altering challenge evolved into a mission to help others lead with courage, clarity, and conviction.
More than a talk on mindset, this keynote is a roadmap for transformation. With vulnerability, humor, and practical wisdom, Laura equips professionals and leaders with the tools to break through self-limiting beliefs, embrace change with confidence, and unlock their full leadership potential—especially in uncertain times.
Keynote Take-Aways:
• Mastering Change with Confidence: Shift from resistance to resilience with strategies for leading effectively through uncertainty and challenge.
• Building Resilient, Growth-Oriented Teams: Learn how to foster adaptability, psychological safety, and long-term success—no matter what comes next.
• Enhancing Focus & Productivity: Gain practical tools to eliminate distractions, optimize workflow, and sustain peak performance even during times of transition.

Presenters

Laura Lawrence

Keynote Speaker, Talent Bureau

Award-winning Entrepreneur | Best-Selling Author | Mental Health
Advocate

Laura Lawrence is an award-winning entrepreneur, keynote speaker, educator, and mental
health advocate. With over a decade of experience working at the intersection of leadership,
mental health, and human perfo... Read More →

Artists

Alick Mac

Artist, Alick Mac

Alick Mac is a rapper, singer and songwriter based in the Comox Valley. His style is defined by his honest, vulnerable songwriting, evidenced by his award-winning single “Easier to Shout”, which tackles masculinity. Another distinguishing feature of Alick’s artistry is his versatility... Read More →

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am MDT
Capital A DoubleTree Regina

Education, Keynote Presentation

2026 COCA National Conference

9:00am MDT

Avery Swartz

Wayne Lee

9:00am MDT

Jacqueline Hurlbert

Greg Stewart

9:00am MDT

Laura Lawrence

Alick Mac

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