Breakout – Innovation Ecosystems: Cultivating Collaboration & Fueling Community Growth

Vito has over 10 years of experience in government administration with the Corporation of the City of Windsor. Currently serving as the Senior Economic Development Officer for the municipality, Vito is dedicated to fostering economic growth and development. In 2021, Vito played a crucial role as part of a six-person project team to develop the implementation plan for Windsor Works, the city's comprehensive economic development strategy. Vito and his team are responsible for implementing Windsor Works and its related projects, as well as investment attraction, business retention, talent attraction, and downtown revitalization.

As the Director of Venture Services and Partnerships at WEtech Alliance, Adam has dedicated the past seven years of his career to fostering growth in the Ontario startup sector. His role as coach, program designer, and connector has allowed him to develop and deliver several internationally recognized entrepreneurial development programs. In addition to being honored as one of United Way's 40 under 40 leaders and the 2021 BizX Powerhouse Professional of the Year, Adam has also been named to The Peak's 2024 Emerging Leaders' List, highlighting his significant contributions to the field.

Derek is currently Director of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) delivered out of Calgary Economic Development (CED). Derek leads a team that finds, fuels and fosters opportunities to build a more diversified and resilient economy. He previously led a Calgary-based team at Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), a federal government department tasked with growing and diversifying Alberta’s economy through innovation and entrepreneurship. Through his different roles, Derek has helped enable growth in areas such as the energy transition, agricultural innovation, health and life sciences, digital tech, and economic inclusiveness. For almost 20 years, Derek has provided strategic advice and operationalized economic, environmental, and infrastructure initiatives in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and now Calgary. This includes strategic climate change policy, major public-private infrastructure projects, and regional economic development. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree from McGill University in Montreal.

Tom Viinikka is the CEO of Edmonton Unlimited, with the mandate of empowering the organization to move into the next level of scale and integration locally and globally, while supporting Edmonton’s innovators who are solving the world’s toughest problems. 

As a passionate, community-centric, long-time entrepreneur and investor, Tom has founded, acquired, exited and invested in businesses spanning technology, construction, retail and energy. 

Prior to joining Edmonton Unlimited, Tom served as the CEO of Edmonton Screen Industries Office (ESIO), where he oversaw economic development in the film, TV and video games industry. He has also held senior roles at AlignVR and vrCAVE—both of which he cofounded—along with Enzo Energy Services and Allsports & Cycle. 

Tom is a Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) mentor at the University of Alberta, where he supports entrepreneurs building high-impact ventures in Edmonton. 

He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in international business and minoring in business law, from the University of Alberta and is fluent in Spanish.