Dennis Chenard is a Business Development & Strategic Project consultant working with the Departure Lounge team. Previously the Director of Industry Relations at the Centre for Digital Media he continues to have a special focus on innovative technologies and applied R&D while making connections that bridge industry with academia. Experienced in board and committee work with associations like DigiBC and the First Nations Technology Council as well as foundational planning community work on events like Canadian Video Game Awards and BCTECH Summit. Dennis is also an external reviewer for funding programs like the CMF and the Supercluster Capacity Building Program. Established a ‘CDM Studios powered by AMPD’ collaboration on Great Northern Way Campus (an industry sponsored startup ‘co-work space’) and was recognized in 2021 as one of Business in Vancouver’s BC500 most influential leaders. https://bc500.biv.com/categories/digital-media/ He is an advisor/mentor/juror for industry/start-ups and students and a presenter at digital media events locally and abroad. In general, a connector who loves bringing good people and ideas together.