Palmer Simpson

Background

About Palmer Simpson

Palmer Simpson is a keynote speaker, award-winning author, entrepreneur, and globally recognized business leader — currently serving as Vice President, Head of Business Development & Sales at Connect-X. Named one of Canada’s Emerging Leaders and selected to the exclusive Leaders Circle in the Sales & Technology categories, Palmer is reimagining how the world powers and monetizes its buildings through cutting-edge energy technologies and smart building innovation.With a career spanning global asset management, smart buildings technologies, and clean energy innovation, Palmer has earned a reputation for scaling transformational ventures and delivering large-scale impact. His leadership is rooted in purpose: shaped by a childhood helping care for his brother with Down Syndrome, Palmer brings compassion, resilience, and mission-driven focus to every initiative.He is a graduate of Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business, and further honed his global business acumen and perspective through international studies at the Univerzi v Ljubljani, in Slovenia. Previously, Palmer held senior executive roles at HqO, where he led Canadian & Eastern U.S. markets, and at Manulife Investment Management, where he supported global real estate investments and asset management. He also served as VP, Global Head of Sales for a leading energy intelligence firm, helping transform traditional buildings into smart, optimized environments.Outside of his corporate career, Palmer is a visionary entrepreneur, the author of "How Badly Do You Want to Succeed?", and an active volunteer with Special Olympics (basketball, track & field, skiing) and various local charities. His entrepreneurial ventures focus on renewable energy, sustainable technology innovations, and tech-enabled community development — all part of his greater mission to elevate how people live, work, and thrive.Palmer’s vision is clear: to build a brighter, more sustainable, and technologically empowered future for Canada and beyond. His unwavering commitment to clean energy, entrepreneurship, and large-scale innovation fuels his mission to transform industries, redefine possibility, and leave a lasting global impact — one building, one community, and one breakthrough at a time.