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In person summit

Securing Canada’s AI Future

November 19, 2024 EY Tower, Toronto | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM ET

Securing Canada’s AI Future

Canada— through its governments, private sector and researchers— is making multi-billion-dollar investments in the future of AI. This strategy is key to securing Canada’s lead in AI, driving innovation and productivity.


Join us for a summit that unites entrepreneurs, thought leaders, policymakers, investors and researchers to shape the future of AI. Through panels, keynote speakers and interactive workshops, we will explore:

This summit is more than a one-time event; it’s the launch of a yearly initiative aimed at building on our collective progress and involving you in strategizing for Canada’s AI future. By working together with the community, we’ll ensure that Canada remains a global leader in AI.

 

Hosted by Communitech Good AI and CityAge, this event will set out a blueprint for Canada’s AI leadership and highlight our commitment to ethical and responsible AI. Connect with an influential network, explore collaboration opportunities and join Communitech in co-creating an action plan for Canada’s AI future.

SPEAKERS & WHO YOU WILL MEET

Carole Piovesan

Managing Partner
INQ Law

Stephen O'Reilly

Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships & Engagement
CIHI

Joyce Drohan

Chief AI & Technology Officer
Ontario

Dan Herman

CEO
IPON

Manav Gupta

Vice President & CTO
IBM Canada at IBM

Carly Weeks

VP, Communications
St. Joseph's Healthcare Centre

Pam Snively

Chief Data & Trust Officer
Telus

Peter Shi

Partner
Maverix Private Equity

Francis Bilodeau

Associate Deputy Minister for ISED
Gov of Canada

Salim Teja

Partner
Radical Ventures

Claudia Krywiak

President & CEO
OCI

Tomi Poutanen

CEO & Co-founder
Signal 1

Charles Morgan

Partner
McCarthy Tetrault

Miro Cernetig

CEO & Publisher
CityAge

Yara Elias

AI Risk Leader, Technology Consulting
EY

Kevin Tuer

CTO
Communitech

Ali Saeed

VP Engineering
ESGTree

Tony Gaffney

President & CEO
Vector Institute

J. Paul Haynes

President & COO
eSentire

David Castle

Professor
University of Victoria

THE VENUE

100 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5H 0E2, Canada

Located in downtown Toronto, the EY Tower (formerly known as the Ernst & Young Tower and 100 Adelaide Street West) is one of the signature towers in Canada’s largest city. The event will be held in the EY meeting room at the top of the building, offering a panoramic view.

PROGRAM

7:45 a.m. | Registration Opens

8:25 a.m. | Welcome by MC

  • Andrew Matlock, Founder, Sitrus

 8:30 a.m. | Short Welcome

  • Hon. Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, MPP for Durham

8:35 a.m. | Opening Remarks: What is Canada’s AI Advantage?

  • Speaker: Kevin Tuer, CTO, Communitech

8:45 a.m. | Keynote: Catalyzing AI Adoption for Canada’s Prosperity

Explore how AI can drive productivity and economic growth across key Canadian industries. 

  • Speaker: Joyce Drohan, Chief AI & Technology Officer, Ontario

9:00 a.m. | Fireside Chat: From Vision to Action: Canada’s Path to AI Leadership

  • Speaker: Francis Bilodeau, Acting Deputy Minister for ISED, Gov of Canada
  • Speaker: Kevin Tuer, CTO, Communitech

9:20 a.m. | Panel: Strategic Sectors: Canada’s AI Advantage

AI can be applied in a multitude of sectors. What are the areas where Canada has an immediate edge and how can we catalyze that AI implementation?

  • Panelist: Tomi Poutanen, CEO & Co-founder, Signal 1
  • Panelist: Stephen O’Reilly, Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships & Engagement, CIHI
  • Panelist: Charles Morgan, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
  • Moderator: Carly Weeks, VP, Communications, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Centre

10:05 a.m. | Workshop: Shaping Strategies for Global AI Leadership

  • Workshop Facilitator: Andrew Matlock, Founder, Sitrus

10:45 a.m. | Coffee Break

 

11:15 a.m. | Panel: Catalyzing AI Adoption for Canada’s Prosperity

How AI can drive productivity across industries and turn research into practical, prosperity-boosting applications?

  • Panelist: Manav Gupta, VP & CTO, IBM Canada
  • Panelist: Pamela Snively, Chief Data & Trust Officer, Telus
  • Panelist: Ali Saeed, VP, Engineering, ESGTree
  • Moderated by: David Castle, Professor, University of Victoria

12:00 p.m. | Lunch 

1:00 p.m. | Panel: Building Competitive Levers for AI Leadership

Delving into the critical factors that will help Canada become a global leader in AI, including investment capital, AI literacy, talent development, intellectual property, and trustworthy AI practices.

  • Panelist: Dan Herman, CEO, IPON
  • Panelist: Peter Shi, Partner, Maverix Private Equity
  • Moderator: Claudia Krywiak, President & CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation
  • Panelist: Jeremy Shaki, CEO & Co-founder, Lighthouse Labs

1:45 p.m. | Panel: Shaping AI Policy and Regulation for the Future

Addressing the regulatory landscape needed to support AI innovation while ensuring ethical and responsible AI practices.

  • Panelist: Yara Elias, AI Risk Leader, Risk Consulting, EY
  • Panelist: Richard J. Marinaccio, Partner, Phillips Lytle LLP
  • Panelist: Niraj Bhargava, Co-Founder and CEO, NuEnergy ai
  • Moderator: Carole Piovesan, Managing Partner, INQ Law

2:30 p.m. | Workshop: Shaping Strategies for Global AI Leadership

  • Workshop Facilitator: Andrew Matlock, Founder, Sitrus

3:10 p.m. | Coffee Break

3:30 p.m. | Panel: Investing in AI for Today and Tomorrow

Practical steps and near-horizon opportunities to invest responsibly in AI that will lead to future advantages for Canada.

  • Panelist: Salim Teja, Partner, Radical Ventures
  • Panelist: J. Paul Haynes, President & COO, eSentire
  • Panelist: Tony Gaffney, President & CEO, Vector Institute
  • Moderated by: Safia Rahemtulla, GPS, Risk Consulting Leader for Canada, EY

4:15 p.m. | Closing Remarks: What’s Next for Securing Canada’s AI Future?

  • Speaker: Kevin Tuer, CTO, Communitech
  • Speaker: Miro Cernetig, CEO & Publisher, CityAge

4:30 p.m. | End

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