WABE 2026 Calgary Media Meetup

Join Us in Calgary for a WABE Media Meetup!

Date: Thursday, September 3rd, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: SAIT Polytechnic - MacDonald Hall
 

Meet & Greet: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Panel Discussion: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Topic: AI is here, now what?

Spend an evening with our Panel of Media insiders who are shaping how Ai is being used, deployed, what challenges have been faced and what polices are being talked about.  A diverse group has been assembled including personal from TV, Radio, AV and Film to showcase the viewpoints from all walks in the media universe.  Free admission, free snacks, a robust discussion that puts the industry at a crossroads, don't miss this consequential discussion.

Panelists:

Cameron Thomson - Rogers Sports and Media - Cameron Thomson is a Manager of Media Engineering at Rogers Sports & Media, where he leads teams responsible for critical broadcast and media technology infrastructure across Alberta. With 20 years of experience spanning broadcast engineering, media operations, automation, and infrastructure management, Cameron has played a key role in modernizing broadcast systems and driving technology transformation initiatives. He is passionate about innovation, automation, and developing high-performing technical teams that can adapt to an evolving media landscape. Cameron is a strong advocate for continuous learning, collaboration, and the future of media technology. 

Damien Mustaphi - SAIT Polytechnic - Damien Mustaphi is an Instructor in SAIT's Digital Media Production Program and an experienced multimedia production professional. His work spans commercial video production, branded content, photography, music and podcast production, and event media, giving him a practical perspective on today's evolving creative industries. With experience in both industry and post-secondary education, Damien utilizes emerging technologies to integrate into the creative arts and media fields. He works closely with students, clients, creators, and industry partners to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming storytelling, production workflows, and workforce readiness in the rapidly evolving technology and media landscape.

Erin Ruttan - Erin came into broadcasting from the perspective of leveraging technology advancements as a means of closing the digital divide. Her background in public engagement and social program development in urban and remote regions caused her spidey senses to tingle when she heard about the IP based ATSC 3.0 standard and she dove headfirst into learning about what this technology had to offer. While Erin’s community centered approach to technology has her jokingly referring to herself as a social worker in IT, her vision for broadcasting has both the technical and sociological research to back it up.

Heather Best - Diversified - Heather Best is a results-driven strategist and technology leader with over 15 years of experience guiding Fortune 500 companies through complex technical transformations in the Media, Sports & Entertainment sectors. She specializes in translating cutting-edge technology into measurable business outcomes bridging the gap between technical innovation and enterprise value across immersive venue design, broadcast infrastructure, and emerging media ecosystems.

Paul Moore - CBC News - Paul Moore's role includes helping editorial leaders ensure that CBC News content aligns with the principles of the CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices: to report on matters of public interest with fairness, accuracy, balance, impartiality and integrity. He has been part of many discussions related to AI and journalism, including the ongoing development of the CBC News AI Principles and Practices.