Keynote & Speakers

Paul Bannick is an award-winning author, photographer, and leading voice in North American bird conservation. Known for his intimate, field-based imagery, Paul has published five celebrated books—including the best-selling Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls and his newest release, Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers (2025). His photography appears in major bird guides and outlets such as The New York Times, Audubon, Nature’s Best Photography, and BirdNote, and has earned top honors from Audubon Magazine and the International Conservation Photography Awards.

A sought-after presenter, Paul has served as a keynote speaker for festivals and conservation events across the country. Before turning full-time to wildlife and habitat work, he spent 15 years in the software industry and later dedicated two decades to conservation leadership with Conservation Northwest.

Dotty Widmann is an artist and educator widely recognized for fostering community and environmental awareness through art and craft. As the founder of The Net Loft in Cordova, Alaska, she has spent many years sharing her expertise in fiber arts, illustration, and traditional handwork. Her classes are known for their warm, welcoming atmosphere and for inspiring students to explore creativity, connection, and confidence in the making process, while also cultivating a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Julia Zarankin is a Toronto-based award-winning writer, birder and Canadian Ambassador for ZEISS Sports Optics. Her memoir, Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder, is a Canadian bestseller and her writing has been featured in Audubon, Sierra, Birding Magazine, Canadian Geographic, The Walrus, and The Globe and Mail. When not hanging out with a spotting scope at sewage lagoons in hopes of getting a better handle on shorebirds, Julia lectures to lifelong learners in and around Toronto.