Cem Kaner J.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Software Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology, and the Director of Florida Tech's Center for Software Testing Education & Research (CSTER) since 2004. He is perhaps best known outside academia as an advocate of software usability and software testing.

Prior to his professorship, Kaner worked in the software industry beginning in 1983 in Silicon Valley "as a tester, programmer, tech writer, software development manager, product development director, and independent software development consultant." In 1988, he and his co-authors Jack Falk and Hung Quoc Nguyen published what became, at the time, "the best selling book on software testing," Testing Computer Software. He has also worked as a user interface designer.

In 2004 he cofounded the non-profit Association for Software Testing, where he serves as the Vice-President for Publications.

What you experience at the conference is entirely up to you - there are multiple "tracks" occurring in parallel, and participants are free to select which talks they would like to attend. We are also incorporating some workshop-style sessions which will provide a more hands-on option. Additionally, a buffet lunch will accompany a presentation by our keynote speaker.

For more details, please visit http://www.qualityconference.ca

After having studied fine arts at the University of Waterloo, Karen Collins received her PhD in music from the University of Liverpool. She spent several years working as a professional web developer.

She is currently developing software for interactive sound applications and conducting research into procedural audio, sound interaction design, video games, and sound in slot machines. She teaches game design and sound for digital media in the Digital Arts Communication program at the University of Waterloo.

Dave Matson:

Dave Matson currently holds the position of AVP, IS at Manulife Financial
and has more than 26 years in the Information Systems industry in varying
roles, 20 of these years focusing primarily on departmental leadership and
management.   The first 5 years of Dave's career were in the Manufacturing
and Retail services sector, with the remainder of his experience focused in
the Financial sector.  Experience in the financial sector includes 8 years
in Banking and 13 years in Group Pensions.  Throughout his career, Dave has
held increasingly senior roles with primary accountability for the
management of systems development and support services to business
partners.  Ensuring the quality of these services has been an ever
increasing focus in order to continue to deliver high value-add products to
more demanding clients and because the bar has continued to be raised with
regards to the adherence to industry, regulatory, legislated and audit
requirements.

Karen Baldin:
Karen Baldin has 24 years in the software development industry in many
different roles.   She has concentrated in the area of quality assurance
and quality improvement for the past 9 years; developing the quality
management program within an IS team at Manulife Financial.