2026 Keynote Address Featuring

Duncan Wardle
Disney’s Former Head of Innovation & Creativity

“Embed Innovation into Everyone’s DNA”

Wednesday, September 2 || 8:00 am
Mile High Ballroom

Open to all

So how will businesses compete in the next decade? What skills will technology integrators need to stay relevant in a world shaped by rapid disruption and the rise of AI? Simple. Businesses that will win will be those that leverage the most impactful human traits that A.I. won’t be able to replicate (at least not for the foreseeable future): Creativity, Intuition, Curiosity, & Imagination.

During his time as Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, Duncan Wardle saw how organizations across industries looked to Disney for guidance on how to create a culture of innovation and provide their teams with the tools needed to leverage their most important asset: their people. The same challenge exists today in the custom integration space, where firms are navigating new technologies, rising client expectations, and increasing competition—yet often lack the tools to consistently think differently and stand apart.

But here’s the challenge: until now, no one has made innovation tangible. Many companies hire an innovation consultancy or build an “innovation department,” only to find that they have not truly driven cultural change and embedded innovation across the entire enterprise. The reality is that innovation is often discussed, but rarely operationalized. In an industry where differentiation increasingly comes down to experience, design, and creativity—not just technology—that gap becomes even more pronounced. What if, instead, there was a Design Thinking Innovation Toolkit? One that everyone could use that makes creativity tangible, innovation easy, and the process enjoyable?

Drawing from years spent integrating innovation into Disney’s experiential storytelling, Duncan Wardle shares tools and techniques CEDIA professionals can use to approach projects more creatively, collaborate more effectively, and uncover new opportunities in every client interaction—ultimately embedding innovation into every aspect of your business’s DNA.

As former Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney, Duncan Wardle helped teams at Disney Parks, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, Imagineering and Animation to innovate, creating magical new storylines and amazing experiences for consumers around the globe.

He now brings his Disney experience to audiences around the world, delivering a series of keynotes, masterclasses, and ideation forums, that help people capture unlikely connections, leading to both disruptive thinking and revolutionary ideas.

He is a multiple TEDx speaker and has been featured in many publications including Fast Company, Forbes, INC., and more. He teaches Innovation and Creativity Masterclasses at Yale University, Harvard and Stanford. He also holds the American Citizen Award presented at the White House, an Hons. MBA and Hons. Doctorate from Edinburgh University and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, presented by her majesty, Queen Elizabeth.