Start Time: 5.30 to 7.00 PM
Evelyn So
Evelyn So has 12 years of experience in business-to-consumer interactive solutions, specializing in consumer-centric strategy, product development, usability, and marketing, from concept through to launch. She has worked extensively in both corporations and agencies in Canada and the United Kingdom. Her track record covers the telecommunication, financial, internet, entertainment, and marketing industries.
Since 2002, Evelyn has been providing consulting services to a spectrum of clients including Bell Canada, Microsoft, Bell ExpressVu, Cossette, Xenophile Media, TV Ontario, Electronic Commerce Council of Canada, Arnold Interactive, Infinet Communications, amongst others. Recent projects cover innovative mass market initiatives such as IPTV, iTV and web applications synchronized with live broadcasts, a cross-platform game associated with a TV series, and a CBC online documentary.
Prior to establishing her consulting business, Evelyn was a Product Development Manager at Telewest Communications, the largest cable operator in England. She headed up a number of key iTV products including Electronic Programme Guide, Video On Demand, portal, and a proprietary portal-styled remote control with matching infrared keyboard. She led multi-functional teams in the full cycle of conceptualization, development, enhancements, and maintenance. In addition, Evelyn was the Head of User Experience and was responsible for the customer acceptance of the whole iTV product suite (Games, Portal, Online billing, Program Guide, Shopping, Email, TV-on-demand, Internet access).
From 1997 to 2000, Evelyn worked at ExtendMedia, Toronto, where she developed and launched a range of interactive solutions for clients like Bell Canada, CIBC, and NBTel. As a senior member, she established one of the first usability groups in North America which provided the company with a major competitive advantage.
In 1996, Evelyn led the design of the first CIBC PCBanking website from concept to launch. This paved the way towards all subsequent generations of online banking services by CIBC.
Evelyn holds a Master of Science degree from University College London, University of London, and an honoured Bachelor of Science degree from London School of Economics, University of London, U.K. She is a regular speaker on various consumer technology subjects.
Dmitri Buterin
Dmitri is the President and Cofounder of BonaSource, Inc., a successful offshore software development firm that creates custom e-business solutions with a focus on usability. Dmitri is originally from Russia, with a Master of Science degree in Computer Sciences, an MBA and accounting education from the Chartered Management Accounting Institute of London, UK. Dmitri’s background includes several years of software engineering work as well as business consulting on several major IT projects with Arthur Andersen in Moscow. Dmitri takes an active role in the Canadian IT community, having served as a member of HP Canada Business Advisory council, as the Web Chair of Association of Internet Marketing and Sales Canada (www.aimscanada.com ) and as the Chairman of the IT/offshore development Industry Group at the Canada-Russia Business forum. (www.canada-russia.com ). He is the current President of Toronto Interacts. He has been interviewed and quoted in Computer World Canada, ITBusiness.ca, IT World, Profit Magazine, National Post, Globe and Mail and internet radio talk show on the topics of eBusiness, offshore development, software project management and usability.