2023 Speakers

VP, Products, Waste Robotics

Ziad possesses over 20 years in innovation development in small and large companies. He is passionate about motivating teams to excel in the implementation of technologies that improve human experience.

Executive Director, Ubisoft La Forge

Since he started at Ubisoft in 2004, Yves Jacquier filled many different positions related with the fast growth of the Studio : heading online Services, he then moves to develop the Production Services Studios in 2008 to make them the best of the industry by leading transformative activities such as Performance capture, biometrics or telemetry. In addition, Yves designs the Ubisoft academic R&D strategy with two significant milestones: the creation of a chair in Artificial Intelligence (Deep Learning) in 2011 with Yoshua Bengio and the foundation in 2016 of the first Lab in the gaming industry dedicated to applied academic research: Ubisoft – La Forge, which he’s been leading since then.

Founder and CTO, Ferme d'Hiver

A graduate in Engineering from École Polytechnique, Yves Daoust has devoted his career to solving challenges for industries undergoing drastic changes, such as the telecommunications and information technology industries. Yves founded Winter Farm in 2018 with the ambition to solve worldwide challenges, such as food insecurity and climate change. Since then, he has been leveraging technology to benefit produce growers in order to enhance agricultural work and ensure the sustainable development of our food resources.

President, Soralink

Dr. Yun Yao is a seasoned professional with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from McGill University. With a calm yet determined demeanor, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her endeavors.

During her doctoral studies, Yun delved deeply into the design of vibrotactile devices for haptic applications, a field that would later become a cornerstone of her expertise. Her research paved the way for significant advancements in haptic technology, contributing to a deeper understanding of tactile feedback in electronic devices.Notably, her innovative work during this time resulted in the award of a patent, a testament to her pioneering contributions in the field. This patent stands as a tangible recognition of her ingenuity and the impact of her research on the broader landscape of haptic technology.

Following the completion of her Ph.D., Yun transitioned smoothly into industry, joining Clear-Com, an industry-leading professional intercom system provider. There, she assumed a dual role, leading the engineering team while spearheading innovation initiatives. Her visionary approach played a crucial role in the development of a new generation of wireless intercom systems, marking a significant leap forward in communication technology.

In 2021, Yun ventured into entrepreneurship by co-founding Soralink, a company that has rapidly emerged as a leader in the field of predictive maintenance. Soralink designs and builds a cutting-edge, made-in-Canada solution utilizing the power of AI and IoT. This innovative approach is poised to revolutionize how industries approach maintenance, ensuring that potential issues are identified and addressed proactively, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.

Yun Yao's journey is a testament to her dedication to technology and collaboration. Her understated yet impactful approach has left a mark in academia, non-profit ventures, and industry. With a focus on making meaningful contributions, she continues to shape the landscape of technology.

Full Professor, Université de Montréal, Scientific Director, Canada CIFAR AI Chair, Mila

Recognized worldwide as one of the leading experts in artificial intelligence, Yoshua Bengio is most known for his pioneering work in deep learning, earning him the 2018 A.M. Turing Award, “the Nobel Prize of Computing,” with Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Beslogic Inc.

Enthusiastic problem solver and seasoned entrepreneur, fueled by a passion for cutting-edge technology and transformative solutions that brought him to Silicon Valley. With a fusion of technical expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, Yannick creates visionary products that reshape experiences. Leading a skilled team through the mechanisms of a stakeholder business model, Yannick drives pioneering technology-driven innovations to make a meaningful impact across various domains.

Senior consultant, Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion

Wanda Muñoz is an international consultant with more than 20 years of experience on the rights of people with disabilities, response to gender violence, and international cooperation. She has worked with international NGO and United Nations organizations in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia. 

As a former member of the Human Security Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (SEHLAC), she worked and published on the ethical, legal and humanitarian risks of artificial intelligence from the perspective of International Humanitarian Law and participated in the international forums on AI in situations of conflict at the United Nations in Geneva.

Data scientist, Beneva

Mayor of Montréal, Projet Montréal Leader

First elected city councillor in Saint-Marie district in 2013, Valérie Plante was
chosen by Projet Montréal members to lead the party in 2016. Her contagious
passion and energy have helped her rally people around her progressive vision.
Deeply committed to participatory democracy, Valérie Plante has a bold plan for
Montréal centered on increased access to public transit, improved urban
planning and public services, the economy and the environment. Her
commitment is to bridge the gap on these issues for all 19 city boroughs.
She was first elected mayor of Montréal in the November 2017 municipal
election. The people of Montréal gave her a second term in November 2021. As

mayor of Montréal, Valérie Plante is a member of various advisory committees
and governing boards.
● Chair of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM);
● President of the Big Cities Caucus of the Union des Municipalités du
Québec (UMQ);
● Governing board member of Montréal international;
● Governing board member of Fondation Montréal inc.;
● Member of the Big City Mayors’ Caucus of the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities
● Co-president of Metropolis
● ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mila

Valérie Pisano has over 10 years of experience in talent, leadership, diversity and organizational dynamics. Appointed CEO of Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute – she joins an emerging group of women leading tech companies. She was previously Chief Talent Officer at Cirque du Soleil and cofounded The Mobïus Bias Project, an initiative focused on accelerating the dialogue on female leadership roles by exploring unconscious bias. She began her career at McKinsey & Company after a Master's Degree in Economics at HEC Montreal and is the proud mother of three girls.

Chief IP Officer & General Counsel, Scale AI

Todd is an intellectual property expert who’s dedicated the last 25 years to assisting Canadian companies develop and execute their IP strategies. As Chief IP Officer at the Scale AI supercluster, he’s been involved in over 100 AI projects, giving him unique insights into the IP issues facing Canadian AI today. Todd is a licensed lawyer, registered patent & trademark agent, and holds an engineering degree from the University of Waterloo.

Researcher in Residence, CEIMIA

Thomas Hervé Mboa Nkoudou, a Cameroonian scientist, holds a PhD in Public Communication from Laval University, Canada. With a theoretical grounding in decolonial studies and STS approaches, he is interested in the uses of responsible artificial intelligence in the service of the common good. Dr Thomas Mboa is currently Researcher in Residence at the International Centre of Expertise In Montreal on Artificial Intelligence (CEIMIA), where his main mission is to put in place mechanisms to ensure a better inclusion and representation of Africa in the international ecosystem of Artificial Intelligence. To his record, Thomas Mboa has several publications and keynotes.

Head of Business Development, OSEDEA

Thierry Marcoux has over 15 years' experience in business development, brand management and new market development. His personal path has led him to get involved in competitive sports and travel around the world, shaping his open-mindedness, resourcefulness and leadership skills. With a career spanning more than 10 years in the technology sector, he currently works at Osedea as Director of Business Development, with the mission of meeting the needs of the company's customers in software development and innovation. He is also responsible for the commercial development of the Spot robot in Eastern Canada.

Professor, School of Industrial Relations, Université de Montréal

Tania Saba is the founder and holder of the BMO Chair in Diversity and Governance and is a Full Professor at the School of Industrial Relations at the Université de Montréal. Tania is an expert and has published extensively on issues of diversity management, workforce aging, intergenerational value differences, knowledge transfer, future skills, transformation of employment relations and work organization. Tania works on major research projects with public and private organizations on issues of employment equity and the integration of underrepresented groups in the labour market.

Partner, Innovobot Resonance Ventures

Sylvain Carle is Partner and Tech-for-Good Lead at Innovobot Resonance Ventures. He works alongside Managing Partner Zoya Shchupak to generate outsized returns for investors and make a positive impact on society and the environment. Sylvain Carle helps portfolio companies set and achieve ambitious environmental and social objectives, including the United Nations’ sustainable development goal #13, to combat climate change. He leads the Tech for Good committee and continue to expand Innovobot’s growing innovation ecosystem. Sylvain Carle has spent the last 30 years thinking, writing, building, and investing in emerging technologies. Though he didn’t study computer science, Sylvain has been hacking with computers forever, and spent most of his career as a startup entrepreneur at the confluence of media, technology, data, networks and humans.

CEO, DIGITAL

As CEO of Digital, Sue leads a portfolio of digital innovation and capacity-building initiatives destined to deliver over $3.7 billion in revenue for Canadian companies. By accelerating digital transformation in the health, natural resources and skilling sectors, Digital is supporting the development and delivery of world-leading technologies that advance human health, improve environmental health, and create a skilled workforce for the digital world. Prior to leading Digital, Sue held leadership roles in major Canadian organizations including CEO of LifeLabs, Canada’s largest diagnostic lab where she led major growth and technological advancements across Canada’s diagnostic sector. As CEO of Pharmasave, Sue led the delivery of some of the first online access tools for medication information for patients and as Managing Partner of Fasken Vancouver, Sue drove the merger of three leading Canadian law firms into a Canadian national legal leading firm.

Lead, Data Insights, Semios

Leading a team of high caliber data scientists and data analysts, Stuart has a 20+ year passion for extracting actionable insight from complex datasets. He has a unique ability to understand and balance customer needs, business operations, and analytic excellence. Stuart's team is responsible for transforming IoT data into insight from over 20+ sensors and 500M data points per day. Semios is building AI models on top of IoT data and farming decisions that subsequently advise farmers how to reduce sprays, optimize water usage, and improve harvests. Ultimately Semios is striving to help feed a global, growing population. Stuart works closely with agricultural research, data engineering, and product management.

CEO & Founder, Integrate AI

Steve Irvine is the founder & CEO of integrate.ai, a global leading startup helping organizations integrate AI to solve the world’s most important problems, without compromising the world’s most sensitive data. Prior to founding integrate.ai, Steve led global partnerships for Facebook and Instagram, and successfully built and scaled two technology startups. He sits on the board of Aviva Canada and he is an advisor to the Vector institute for AI and mentor in Creative Destruction Lab’s AI stream. Steve is an academic all-Canadian graduate from York University.

President and CEO, Montréal International

Stéphane Paquet is President and CEO of Montréal International, the economic development agency tasked with attracting foreign direct investment, international organizations, foreign talent, and international students to Greater Montréal. He has held the position since January 2020.

President, Micro Logic

Entrepreneurship has always been firmly rooted in Mr. Garneau’s DNA. At the age of 16, he founded his first company with very limited financial resources. Now president of one of the 300 largest SMEs in Quebec, it goes without saying that his boundless imagination, his vision for greatness and his unique business acumen make him an inspiration for future generations of entrepreneurs.

Executive Director, CEIMIA

Sophie Fallaha is an accomplished business executive with a passion for innovation, sustainability and responsible AI. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the International Centre of Expertise on Artificial Intelligence in Montreal (CEIMIA), a leading international NGO that specializes in the development and implementation of high-impact projects in responsible AI. Sophie has over 15 years of experience in innovation bridging the gap between research and practice in multi-stakeholders environments, having worked with both multinational corporations, governments and non-profit organizations. Her expertise lies in developing and implementing sustainable business strategies that generate social, environmental, and economic value in the field of responsible AI.

Ph.D., CPA auditor, Lawyer, M.Sc., HEC Montreal

Simon Dermarkar is a CPA Auditor, lawyer, and associate professor at HEC Montreal where he leads the Specialized Graduate Diploma in professional accounting. He obtained his master's degree and his Ph.D. in accounting from Laval University. Before starting his doctoral studies, he practiced financial auditing within a large accounting firm. He is a member of the Programs Committee as well as the Disciplinary Committee of the Ordre des CPA du Québec. His research interests focus on the legislative and normative framework for the professional practice of accounting and auditing as well as the governance of organizations that ensure the maintenance and improvement of this framework. He is also interested in the impacts generated by the digital transformation (revolution) on the accounting profession as well as on the evolution relating to accountability mechanisms in terms of sustainable development and, more particularly, the protection of personal information.

Director of Operations, Next AI - Montréal

Passionately curious, Simon has deep international and academic experience. He holds a bachelor of electrical engineering from McGill University, a master's in electronics from the Technical University of Denmark, and a PhD in spacecraft propulsion from EPFL, in Switzerland. He also completed an MBA from HEC Montreal, where he was also president of the MBA student association.  Simon worked as a project manager and process integration engineer at DALSA Semiconductor and was the executive director of EPFL’s Space engineering center. As Director of Operations, Simon is responsible for setting up and running the Next AI – Montreal program. 

President and General Manager, Thales Digital Solutions Inc. & Vice-president, Digital Innovation North America, Thales

Siegfried Usal joined Thales in 2013 and is now President and General Manager, Thales Digital Solutions, and VP, Digital Innovation North America. He is a former colonel of the French Air Force. A graduate of the French Air Force Academy (1989) and the Canadian Forces College (2004), Mr. Usal holds an Engineering Diploma in Aeronautics, a Master of Science in Aeromechanics and a Master of Defense Studies. He is a former fighter pilot of the French Air Force (Mirage 2000), and was embedded within a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter squadron (CF-18). A veteran senior officer of the French Air Force with 65 combat missions in Bosnia, Iraq and Kosovo, he has held multiple executive positions in the military, in the cabinet of the President of the French Republic, as well as in the French Embassy.

Head of AI Education, ChainML

Shingai Manjengwa is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fireside Analytics Inc., a data science education solutions company that develops customized programs that teach digital and AI literacy, data science, data privacy, and computer programming. Clients include corporates, governments, non-profits, higher education institutions, and high schools. Data science courses by Fireside Analytics have over 450,000 registered learners on platforms like IBM’s CognitiveClass.ai and Coursera.

Doctoral Researcher, Stanford University

Co-Founder, Pacefactory

Sean has developed a unique blend of sales, technology, strategy consulting, business and engineering talent. Having worked for the world’s largest manufacturing companies, consulting firms, and technology companies, and for very small early-stage startups, he has a deep understanding of how to leverage advanced technologies to help companies of all sizes remain competitive.
He has a passion for technology, training, learning and continuous improvement methodologies that not only directly impact the corporations he works for, but makes a significant impact on sustainable growth for the overall economy. Sean is a Licenced Professional Engineer (P.Eng), with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, at the University of Western Ontario.

VP, Pre-Construction, Pomerleau

Sean Boyer has worked in the field of construction and more specifically in estimating and construction economics for over 25 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in construction engineering from the École de technologie supérieure du Québec (ÉTS) and a college diploma in civil engineering technology from the Cégep de Joliette.

AI & Climate Lead, Hugging Face

Sasha Luccioni is the AI ​​& Climate Lead at Hugging Face, a global startup in responsible open-source AI, where she spearheads research, consulting and capacity-building to elevate the sustainability of AI systems. Sasha is also a founding member of Climate Change AI (CCAI) and a board member of Women in Machine Learning (WiML), where she organizes events and serves as a mentor to under-represented minorities within the AI ​​community.

CEO, Videns

Sarah Legendre-Bilodeau has been working in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence for nearly 20 years. In 2018, she co-founded Videns, where she serves as the CEO. The company specializes in developing and deploying data and artificial intelligence solutions. Over the past few years, she has assisted several organizations in Canada and France in creating innovative and high-performing solutions based on data and AI.

Director, Center of Expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Analytics and Automation (CEIAAA), Ministère de la Cybersécurité et du Numérique du Québec

Creative Producer, Visiting Scholar, MIT

Sandra Rodriguez, is a creative director (VR/XR and AI) as well as a sociologist of emerging media. For the past 18 years, she has scripted, produced and directed feature-length documentaries, webdocs and VR, XR and AI experiences that have garnered numerous awards, including a Peabody, NUMIX awards and the prestigious Golden Nica at Prix Ars Electronica. She is also a UX consultant and UX lead for game studios, interactive media and renowned institutions such as Radio-Canada/CBC, ArsElectronica, Sodec, CPH:DOX and the United Nations. She founded and directed the Creative Reality Lab for 4 years, focusing on the future of non-fiction, and today extends her explorations from emerging media to fiction, the intersection of performing arts and dance with AI and large-scale, in situ immersive installations and exhibitions. She is a Sundance Institute Fellow and a MacArthur Foundation Fellow. She is also a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she inaugurated MIT's very first official course on immersive media creation: "Hacking XR".

Account Director, Artificial Intelligence, Prompt

Sami Cheref is a passionate professional in artificial intelligence and innovation, recognized for his skills in management, product development and leadership. Currently, he holds the position of account director in artificial intelligence at PROMPT, a support and fiduciary financing organization of the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy of Quebec. Sami holds a bachelor's degree from HEC Montréal, with a specialization in entrepreneurship and marketing. Before joining PROMPT, Sami experienced entrepreneurship in the technology and music fields for four years. It was through his company that he first worked on artificial intelligence projects.

CEO, BrainBox AI

Sam Ramadori oversees the execution of BrainBox AI’s growth-oriented business plan, leads the senior management team, and manages investor relations. As a sustainability enthusiast, he brings a passion for driving impactful change, particularly towards fighting the climate crisis.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Theory+Practice

Rogayeh Tabrizi, PhD is a tech leader helping Fortune 500 companies connect with their customers to create delight and value. Rogayeh studied her Master’s in Experimental Particle Physics and worked on the ATLAS Detector at CERN. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics, focusing on social and economic networks and game theory as a more effective way to engender positive change in the world. Rogayeh saw the need for large enterprises to understand their data to connect with their customers as individuals and do so meaningfully. So she founded Theory+Practice, a data product company uniquely pairing behavioural economics with state-of-the-art AI to enable enterprises to put their data to work.

Co-Host, BetaKit Podcast

Rob Kenedi is a leading voice, advisor, and coach in tech, driving conversations that shape the future of entrepreneurship and innovation. As the creator and host of Decelerator, Rob engages with entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem builders who are redefining the tech landscape by taking a different path. He also co-created and co-hosts the BetaKit podcast, where his insights on the Canadian innovation ecosystem have resonated with a broad audience and created impact since 2015. Rob’s thought leadership is grounded in significant leadership roles. As an executive at TWG, a premier digital product studio, he led its NYC expansion, and played a key role in its acquisition by Deloitte. As CEO of Endloop Studios, one of the first mobile companies, he launched a #1 game on the iTunes App Store. As an advisor and coach, Rob works with companies at key inflection points in their journey from pre-seed to scale-up to unblocking their growth via his extensive network and industry expertise.

CEO and President, Access Copyright

Roanie Levy is an outspoken champion of creator rights, in Canada and abroad. An Intellectual Property lawyer by vocation, she currently serves Access Copyright, a collective that distributes millions of dollars annually in licensing royalties to creator and publisher affiliates, as President and CEO. Roanie has also held key positions on major policy files at Canadian Heritage and Industry Canada and has equally earned distinction in service to the private sector as a management consultant. She has been called to the bar in Ontario was formerly a member of the Quebec bar. She is fluently bilingual.

Executive Director, DistriQ

Richard St-Pierre is the Executive Director of one of the first Innovation Zones in Quebec, DistriQ, Quantum Innovation Zone. His purpose is making an optimistic future happen. Always in the front seat of technology transformation, Richard’s ambition for the Zone is to promote Quebec’s quantum innovation internationally, while creating an effervescent environment in Sherbrooke where industry and knowledge come together for innovations to emerge. Prior to embarking on this exciting adventure in quantum innovation, Richard was a seasoned professional and entrepreneur with extensive experience of over 20 years in international relations and financial administration. He was named a Top10 Innovator of 2017 by BizBash magazine in the United States. His educational background includes Harvard Business School, Oxford University’s Said Business School, HEC Montreal, ESC France, and Beijing University of International Business and Economics (China). He was President of C2 Montreal and C2 International. He has also worked for the Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec, the Global Data Pledge Foundation in Geneva, Ernst & Young (EY) and Bell Atlantic, in addition to providing strategic advice to several companies including Desjardins, BCE and Air Canada.

CEO, Waste Robotics

Eric brings with him a wealth of expertise and knowledge accumulated over more than 25 years. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership in cutting-edge innovations, business management and technology development across diverse industries. Eric's extensive experience in fields including audio-digital software, renewable energy, and waste management, showcases his versatility and ability to excel in different domains. With a proven track record of deploying advanced technologies drives transformative changes. His contributions push boundaries, enabling organizations to achieve groundbreaking advancements.

Chief Information & Technology Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation

Rex is the Chief Information & Technology Officer (CITO), at Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) accountable for technology strategy, architecture, development, operations, and cybersecurity across the CTC family of companies (Canadian Tire, Sportchek, Mark’s, PartyCity, CT Financial Services, Atmosphere, Sports Experts, Pro Hockey Life, Hockey Experts, Partsource, CT REIT, Helly Hansen, and Gas+). His mandate is inclusive of technology operations for 1700+ national retail locations, global corporate facilities, digital, analytics, supply chain, merchandising, marketing, finance, human resources, and other corporate functions.

Scientific Director, SKEMA Business School Canada

With a PhD in economics from Princeton University, René Garcia has devoted his research career to the study of financial markets and their relationship with economic activity. His recent research focuses on the role of financial intermediaries and the analysis of extreme risks. At SKEMA, he leads a research program in portfolio management with reinforcement learning. René Garcia has contributed to the creation of innovative and interdisciplinary higher education programs for professionals.

Co-Founder & CEO & Adjunt Professor, School of Medicine

Rene Caissie is an accomplished entrepreneur, researcher, and former surgeon, currently serving as the CEO and Co-Founder of Medeloop.ai, a company leveraging AI to revolutionize clinical research and trials. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he teaches entrepreneurship in Digital Health and mentors students in the Master of Science in Clinical Informatics Management program. Additionally, he is a lecturer at UCSF's Translational Medicine Program, addressing translational challenges in medicine. Rene also serves as a Venture Partner at OVO Fund.

Country Leader and Managing Director - Canada Public Sector, AWS

With 34 years of global technology expertise, Réjean is a trusted advisor to governments, enterprises and SMBs looking to evolve digitally with cloud computing. He is recognized as a thought leader in enterprise management, business development and engineering.

VP, Engineering, Deveron

EVP, Sales and General Manager, QScale

Pierre is a seasoned tech executive with over two decades of experience in data center and IT sales. He co-founded 4Degrees Data Centers in 2012, where he built the sales organization, assembled multidisciplinary teams, and secured deals with leading hyperscalers and cloud providers. Pierre has previously managed sales departments and channels at Oracle, Cisco, and NetApp, working with clients from Fortune 500 companies to government entities.

Product Owner, Analytics and Applications, BRP

Philippe is passionate about data! Drawing on his experience as a business intelligence consultant and data engineer, he joined BRP, a world leader in powersports, to create innovative digital products that harness the power of artificial intelligence. At BRP, he is responsible for the design, development and deployment of analytical solutions that enhance the customer experience and optimize operational performance. Philippe is always looking for new opportunities to learn and collaborate with experts from different fields. He holds a degree in computer engineering from the Université de Sherbrooke.

Vice President, Global Product Engineering, CAE

Co-Founder, Waverly

Philippe is a venture scientist constantly looking for ideas that can improve society. In 2020, he co-founded Waverly where his team and he are building a mobile reader that lets you follow ideas that really matter to you. Waverly relies on natural language and Empathetic AI to let users express their real human goals. Before that, in 2016, Philippe co-founded Element AI, a world leader in enterprise AI. Philippe holds a Ph.D. from the University of Montreal, was a researcher at the University of British Columbia and spent the last 20 years honing his technological and leadership skills, including half a decade at Google.

Head of AI Policy, Armilla.AI

Phil is Head of AI Policy at Armilla AI, a leading AI assurance platform, and policy advisor at Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society at the University of Toronto. He is an experienced leader and strategist in AI policy, governance and standardization initiatives and has advised governments, international organizations, standards bodies, Big Tech and AI scaleups on Responsible AI.

Phil is an active member of global AI expert committees, including the MIT-BCG International Experts Panel on AI, the OECD Network of AI Experts (ONE.AI), the UN Expert Group on the Governance of Data and AI, and the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on the Future of Human Rights and the 4th Industrial Revolution. In Canada, he co-chairs the Canadian government's AI Standardization collaborative.

Phil is a former Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Carr Center, where he published research on AI impact assessments. Phil's research and comments on global AI policy have been referenced in articles published by the Federal Trade Commission, Chatham House, the World Economic Forum, Bloomberg Law, the Logic, CBC, the MIT Sloan Management Review, Lawfare, the Globe & Mail and CNN.

CTO and co-founder, Flybits

Petar Kramaric, CTO and co-founder at Flybits, with over a decade of experience, led the company's global expansion, fostering innovation in mobile technologies and unifying technology and business.

Executive Director, Société des Auteurs de Radio, Télévision et Cinéma

Pauline Halpern, originally from France, moved in Quebec in 2010 and since acquired 12 years of experience in the audiovisual sector, in two artists associations, an artistes agency, Telefilm Canada and Tele-Quebec. Currently executive director of the Société des Auteurs de Radio, Télévision et Cinéma, Ms Halpern used to work as a labour relations advisor for the Association des Réalisateurs et Réalisatrices du Québec then for SARTEC.

Ms Halpern graduated from the University of Montreal (Bachelor in Law), from the University of Ottawa (Master of Laws – Law and Technologies), from the University Paris X Nanterre ( Bilingual Master in European Law) and from the University Paris I – Pantheon Sorbonne (Master in Ecommerce law and Numerical Economy).

CEO and Co-Founder, Airudi

Pape Wade brings several years of national and international experience in human resources. His background includes managing large-scale projects focused on continuous change and organizational transformation. Before co-founding Airudi, Pape held a leadership position in human resources at a major Canadian company, where he demonstrated strong and inspiring leadership in multiple strategic value-creating assignments.

Chief Technology Officer, Moov AI

Olivier is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Moov AI, recognized as a leader in deploying artificial intelligence solutions in Quebec. Having played a role as an editor of the international ISO standard defining the quality of artificial intelligence systems and leading a team of 50 AI professionals from different countries, he was appointed as the President of the Canadian Committee for Artificial Intelligence (AI) at ISO/IEC.

Director Teseo Press and UNESCO Expert

Octavio Kulesz is a philosopher, digital publisher and director of Teseo, one of Latin
America’s leading electronic publishing houses. As a researcher collaborating
with organizations including UNESCO, OIF, and IFACCA, his work focuses on
issues related to cultural diversity and the creative industries in the digital
age. Some of his articles presciently anticipated the contemporary challenges
associated with the impact of generative AI on the art world by over five
years. In 2020, he was selected by UNESCO, along with 23 other international
experts, to draft the text of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial
Intelligence,