Mark Burnett keynote speaker

The genius behind the wildly popular Survivor and Apprentice series and the driving force behind reality television, Mark Burnett is the hottest producer in Hollywood. His well-known history of producing Emmy-nominated adventure television in international locations led CBS chief Les Moonves in 2004 to dub him the most important producer in television. Burnett’s entrepreneurial spirit has helped pioneer the success of the reality unscripted drama series and bring it to mainstream audiences worldwide.

Burnett began his career in unscripted drama by creating the adventure series and two-time Emmy Award-winning Eco-Challenge. In 2000, Burnett broke into primetime network television with the hit reality series, Survivor. Its debut season won two primetime Emmys, and the series continues airing its 16th season this summer to perennially earn multiple Emmy nominations. The Apprentice with Donald Trump was Burnett’s next breakout hit, premiering on NBC; it quickly became the top rated new series of the season. The Celebrity version of Apprentice is currently airing on NBC. In addition to the success of The Apprentice and Survivor, Burnett pulled in another ratings phenomenon with the hit game show Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader, which is currently being produced in 48 countries.

Burnett has received the Peoples Choice Award for an unprecedented four years in a row for Survivor in the Favorite Reality Based Television Program category. He was featured in Entertainment Weekly’s Top 101 Most Powerful People in Entertainment and TIME Magazines Top 100 List of most influential people in the world today. Burnett also held the number one position on TV Guides Most Valuable Players list, was named to Advertising Ages Top 100, received the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, and was named Philanthropist of the Year by Reality Cares Foundation. For Survivor, he received a Special Recognition Award from The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. In 2007 he was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.

In addition to his producing credits, Burnett has authored four books; has served two elected terms on the Board of Directors of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in Los Angeles and is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation and is a major contributor to Operation Smile