The New World (Dis)Order:
The Future of International Exchange and Collaboration
This session, led by ISPA CEO David Baile, is designed to inspire discussion and critical thinking around the conditions we find ourselves navigating in this New World (Dis)order.
We begin with an entertaining 20-minute debate where teams will argue for and against international engagement activity. Teams have been assigned which side of the argument they are representing and have been tasked with pushing the limits for making their case.
Once the arguments have been made, and the extremes of the possibilities tabled, David will engage the debaters in a panel discussion and open the floor to a more pragmatic and solution-oriented conversation.
Alt Hotel Ottawa
Wednesday, December 3
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Talk led by:
David Baile
David Baile is the Chief Executive Officer of the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), based in New York City. ISPA is a dynamic global network of more than 500 leaders from over 60 countries, united by a shared commitment to advancing the performing arts worldwide. Since joining ISPA in 2007, David has led a significant expansion of the organization’s reach—broadening its membership diversity and championing innovative global leadership development initiatives.
Before his tenure at ISPA, David spent two decades immersed in Toronto’s vibrant arts scene, holding senior management and consulting roles across contemporary dance, theatre, literary arts, and opera.
A frequent speaker at international gatherings—including those hosted by ABO, APAP, CAPACOA, IAMA, and PAMS—David is recognized for his insights on cultural leadership, collaboration, and the evolving global arts landscape. Beyond his professional work, he is deeply engaged in volunteer leadership, having served on the Mayor’s Round Table on Arts and Culture (Toronto) and the boards of the Toronto Arts Council and OPERA America.
David is a Chief Executive Global Fellow with National Arts Strategies and was recently named a Canada Global Executive (2025). He holds an Honours B.A. in Urban Development from the University of Western Ontario.
Debaters
Featuring:
Bernadette Haldane
Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland Arts Festival - Artistic Director
Bernie Haldane is a seasoned advocate for the live performance and arts sector across Australia and New Zealand, with over 25 years’ experience. Beginning in stage management and lighting design, she went on to produce new works for the national stage and manage major venues. A 2010 Churchill Fellow, her research focused on sustainable theatre models for developing and presenting new work. Bernie has held senior roles including Director of Presenter Services at Arts Centre Melbourne and Chief Executive of HotHouse Theatre. She actively contributes to industry networks supporting artists and extending the life of their work. Most recently Creative Director at Auckland Live, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest performing arts centre, Bernie now serves as Kaitohu Toi – Artistic Director of the Auckland Arts Festival (2025–2028), continuing her commitment to advancing the arts for artists and audiences alike.
Featuring:
Ragnheiður Skúladóttir
Reykjavík, Iceland
Creative Producer - Lókal Performing Arts Reykjavík
Born and raised in Reykjavík. BA in theatre and multimedia from University of Iowa. MFA from University of Minnesota. Worked and lived in New York City as a performer, performance maker, mentor and instructor. In 2000 she moved to Reykjavík after taking on the position of Dean of the Department of Performing Arts at Iceland University of the Arts. Ragnheiður worked at the Academy until 2011, initiating programs in contemporary performance practices and contemporary dance. In 2008 she co-founded the LÓKAL International Theatre Festival. She was artistic director of the Akureyri City Theatre from
2012 to 2015 and manager of Iceland Dance Company 2016-2019. Ragnheiður served as the artistic director and CEO of Festspillene i Nord-Norge 2019-2025. Ragnheiður has years of experience as teacher and mentor, she has also worked with various artists/groups as a producer and as a critical friend.
Featuring:
Gillian Reid
Event/Tour Producer - FeLIX Productions (NS)
Gillian brings a wealth of project management and special events production experience to her role as an Arts Administrator, Agent/Manager and Tour Producer.
Gillian’s professional background includes over a decade with a corporate performance marketing firm in Toronto where she designed and produced incentive programs for GM Canada, VW Canada, and BP Oil among others. She garnered live event production experience with ShoCorp International on projects like The Cancun Jazz Festival, Volkswagen Trade Show and the EuroVan Launch.
Gillian represents Bboyizm Dance Company as a tour producer and supports 10 Gates Dancing as the organization's General Manager.
She holds the role of Vice Chair on the CAPACOA Board, and is the Chair of the International Market Development Committee.
Natalie Lue is the Director of the Vancouver Civic Theatres (the Orpheum, a 2,672 seat historic concert hall, Canada’s largest stage, the 2,765 seat Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the 668 seat Vancouver Playhouse, and the flexible 191 seat black box Annex Theatre) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Until June 2019, she was the CEO of the Living Arts Centre (LAC), a multi-arts presentation centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Prior to the LAC, Natalie was the Vice President, Production and Visitor Experience for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) responsible for producing twelve of the annual September Festival. She was also on the build team responsible for the construction, opening and operating of TIFF Bell Lightbox. Prior to joining TIFF in 2005, Natalie held several senior positions at Harbourfront Centre, a ten acre performing arts complex in Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario.