Articulate, straightforward and funny, Dianne Buckner is a respected journalist and television producer. She has hosted programs on both of Canada's major networks, from national newscasts to quirky magazine shows.

Dianne Buckner is best-known to Canadians as the host of CBC Television's hit reality programDragons' Den, where eager entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a group of self-made Canadian millionaire investors. Other viewers may remember her 10 years as the host of Venture, the successful and long-running series that chronicled the adventures of entrepreneurs.

WhenVentureretired from the airwaves in 2007, Buckner co-created a new show,Fortune Huntersfor CBC's news network. It ran for two seasons, focusing on the social and consumer trends that create opportunities for entrepreneurs.

In addition to her role onDragons' Den, Buckner is a member of the Business Team at CBC News. She writes a weekly column about small business for cbc.ca - the number one site for news in Canada. She also appears regularly on CBC's local supper-hour newscasts across the country, reporting on the top business stories of the day.

At the 2012 CCSBE Conference, Dianne will use video excerpts from Dragons' Den and draw on her extensive experience in covering business for CBC News to show how companies are exploiting trends to gain new revenue. She will also provide examples of those who are rising to the challenge of adapting to new ways of doing business to avoid being left by the wayside.