CEDIA has announced that former Disney executive Duncan Wardle will deliver the keynote presentation at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 on Sept. 2 at 8 a.m. in the Mile High Ballroom.
According to CEDIA, Wardle’s keynote will focus on innovation, creativity and design thinking, with an emphasis on how custom integration businesses can adapt to evolving technologies and changing client expectations in an increasingly AI-driven market.
Wardle previously served as Head of Innovation and Creativity at CEDIA says Wardle’s presentation will provide attendees with practical tools and techniques designed to help integration firms approach projects more creatively, improve collaboration and identify new business opportunities. The association also noted that design-thinking concepts introduced during the keynote will be expanded upon during a CEDIA workshop later that day.
“I am absolutely delighted to be able to join everyone at this year’s CEDIA Expo in Denver on Sept. 2,” Wardle says in the announcement. “I hope to not only inspire everyone to want to innovate but give them tools that take the intimidation out of innovation to make creativity tangible and the process fun.”
Since leaving Disney, Wardle has presented keynote sessions and workshops focused on innovation and creative thinking for organizations and universities worldwide. He has also delivered TEDx talks and teaches innovation and creativity masterclasses at Harvard, Yale and Stanford.
CEDIA Global President and CEO Daryl Friedman says Wardle’s experience in storytelling and innovation aligns with the smart home industry’s focus on creating personalized user experiences.
“Smart home professionals are in the business of creating experiences that feel a little like magic in people’s homes, which is why Duncan’s perspective on innovation and storytelling is such a natural fit for our community,” Friedman says in the announcement. “As AI continues to evolve, the real differentiator will be human skills like creativity, intuition, and curiosity.”
According to CEDIA, Wardle’s keynote will focus on innovation, creativity and design thinking, with an emphasis on how custom integration businesses can adapt to evolving technologies and changing client expectations in an increasingly AI-driven market.
Wardle previously served as Head of Innovation and Creativity at CEDIA says Wardle’s presentation will provide attendees with practical tools and techniques designed to help integration firms approach projects more creatively, improve collaboration and identify new business opportunities. The association also noted that design-thinking concepts introduced during the keynote will be expanded upon during a CEDIA workshop later that day.
“I am absolutely delighted to be able to join everyone at this year’s CEDIA Expo in Denver on Sept. 2,” Wardle says in the announcement. “I hope to not only inspire everyone to want to innovate but give them tools that take the intimidation out of innovation to make creativity tangible and the process fun.”
Since leaving Disney, Wardle has presented keynote sessions and workshops focused on innovation and creative thinking for organizations and universities worldwide. He has also delivered TEDx talks and teaches innovation and creativity masterclasses at Harvard, Yale and Stanford.
CEDIA Global President and CEO Daryl Friedman says Wardle’s experience in storytelling and innovation aligns with the smart home industry’s focus on creating personalized user experiences.
“Smart home professionals are in the business of creating experiences that feel a little like magic in people’s homes, which is why Duncan’s perspective on innovation and storytelling is such a natural fit for our community,” Friedman says in the announcement. “As AI continues to evolve, the real differentiator will be human skills like creativity, intuition, and curiosity.”