CONNECT

Lane Merrifield is one of three co-founders of Club Penguin, one of the largest and fastest-growing virtual worlds for children. Since Club Penguin’s inception, Lane has led the management, operations and business strategy for Club Penguin out of the company’s headquarters in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Lane also oversees development for all the Walt Disney Company’s virtual worlds. Lane helped develop and launch Club Penguin in 2005 and played an integral role in its phenomenal growth and success. The company’s commitment to creating a safe and ad-free online playground helped propel Club Penguin to international acclaim and a partnership with the Walt Disney Company, which acquired Club Penguin in August 2007. Prior to his work with Club Penguin and the Walt Disney Company, Lane held various technical and marketing roles with a range of companies in Canada and the United States, but his most memorable employment experience will always be his first job at Disneyland. Lane has always nurtured a passion for using technology to connect people in new ways. He loves the fact that Club Penguin has the potential to bring kids from around the world together in a fun, creative and safety-focused environment.

8:30-9:15: Made in BC - The inspiring inside story of how an Okanagan startup caught the eye of Disney and the world. (Keynote)