Changemakers Speaker Series starts 2025 season with political panel
The 2025 Changemakers Speaker Series is kicking off its news season with a political panel featuring award-winning journalist Althia Raj and David Coletto, the official pollster of the Toronto Star.
Entering its sixth year, the Changemaker Speaker Series features original speakers and thought-provoking ideas. This community event invites students, professionals, alumni and concerned citizens to attend and be inspired.
The first event of the 2025 season offers an expert look at public opinion and political journalism and find out how both are changing in an age of polarization and misinformation, followed by a panel session moderated by Dr. Philip Steenkamp, President of Royal Roads. Bring your curiosity and your questions and enjoy this lively discussion.
Tickets are $25 per person, available for purchase online.
Featured Speakers
David Coletto
Infinitely curious, passionate, and eternally optimistic — three words to describe David Coletto, the founder, chair, and CEO of Abacus Data. He is one of Canada’s best known and most respected public opinion analysts, pollsters, and social researchers and was recently named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Canadian politics by The Hill Times. With a career spanning over two decades, Coletto is the official pollster of the Toronto Star and considered a leading expert on generational change. In his timely, data-driven keynote presentations, he delivers strategic advice customized to his audiences and the industries they serve.
Althia Raj
Althia Raj is a multiple award-winning journalist, ranked as one of the top 100 most influential people in Canadian politics by The Hill Times since 2015. She is currently a national columnist with the Toronto Star; the host/producer of the podcast, It’s Political; and a regular weekly panelist on CBC’s At Issue panel. Having worked at the heart of Canadian politics for more than a decade, Raj shares a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Ottawa, the state of politics, and what it means for her audience.