Meet your speakers
Bob Egan
Award-Winning Hall of Fame Musician
Bob Egan is best-known for his decades spent as a musician for the acclaimed bands Blue Rodeo and Wilco. As an in-demand session player, he has recorded on over 120 records including the Tragically Hip’s 2000 Juno-award winning Single of the Year, Bobcaygeon. He is a member of 3 Canadian Halls of Fame and was awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2014.
Prior to his music career, Bob earned a Masters degree in Industrial/Organization Psychology specializing in employee attitude and organizational culture research. After 7 years as a management consultant, he left the corporate world to establish and manage North America’s largest volume guitar repair facility before embracing music fulltime.
Bob retired from the music business in 2017 to work in the municipal sector and pursue his passion for public speaking. He is currently the Film and Music Officer for the City of Kitchener and an in-demand keynote speaker.
John Neufeld
Executive Director, House of Friendship
John Neufeld is the proud father of Micah (21) and Mikayla (19) and grateful husband of Andrea. Since 2009, John has had the privilege of serving as the Executive Director of House of Friendship – a multi-service organization in Waterloo Region focused on housing, addictions treatment, food security, and neighbourhood development. Prior to serving at House of Friendship, John had the incredible opportunity of working with foster children/youth at Bridgeway Family Homes for 11 years.
Academically, John has a Bachelor of Theology (Canadian Mennonite University), Bachelor of Arts – Social Development Studies (Waterloo), Master of Social Work (Toronto), and Master of Business Administration (WLU).
In his volunteering, John is involved with some boards and now that he’s over 50 has started to play pickleball. John enjoys travelling with family, spending time with friends, international murder mystery shows, reading business and fiction, and technology.
Dr. Rebecca Sutherns
Facilitator, Coach, Insightful Strategist
Dr. Rebecca Sutherns is an insightful and high energy strategist, author and world class facilitator who has served as a trusted advisor to hundreds of mission-driven organizations across Canada and internationally. Rebecca brings intellect, enthusiasm and varied experience in strategy development and adaptability when speaking, writing and mentoring. She is a skilled communicator, with a particular gift for helping leaders and organizations reimagine their next chapter. Rebecca has extensive experience working with non-profits, municipalities, governments and for-profit organizations. She is very familiar with Habitat for Humanity, having developed strategic plans with several affiliates and contributed to your national gatherings, and she has worked with many other community-based agencies and coalitions on affordable housing-related initiatives.