Innovating for a Digital Future: Navigating Economic Shifts and Global Challenges

President and CEO, ICTC

Namir Anani is the President and CEO of the Information and Communications Technology Council (ictc-ctic.ca). He is the chief strategist and driving force in bringing ICTC’s world-class centre of expertise and services to industry, education and government, shaping Canada’s digital advantage in a global economy.

Before joining ICTC, Namir previously led Policy Development & Research at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Namir has held several executive leadership roles in both the private and public sectors, including the Department of Canadian Heritage (Director General & CEO), CGI consulting, Nortel, and Novartis (Switzerland). Mr. Anani’s experience extends to strategic policy development and implementation, learning and capacity building, business transformation, national/international strategic alliances, economic and market research, and technology innovation.

He has also held numerous board positions and is a frequent keynote speaker at national and international conferences on the digital economy. Namir holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Salford (UK) and a Professional Engineer designation in Ontario (P. Eng.).

•LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/namir-anani-p-eng-b3a4a953/

•Twitter (X): https://x.com/NamirAnani_ICTC

CEO, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries

Ivette Vera-Perez is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in the energy, cleantech, and sustainability sectors. Her expertise spans strategic planning, business development, and advancing low-carbon solutions through multi-stakeholder collaboration. She holds a Master of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from McGill University.

Before joining the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI), Ms. Vera-Perez led the Canadian Hydrogen Association (CHA) as President and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded the association’s rebranding and expanded its national presence, doubling its membership in two years. She worked closely with the Government of Canada to advance the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada and advocated for industry priorities to position Canada as a global hydrogen leader.

Prior to CHA, she served as the National Team Lead for Mitacs’ industry business development group, leading a high-performing national team to drive industry-academia partnerships for cleantech and advanced manufacturing. She also managed over $275 million in program funding as Manager for Greenhouse Gas Reduction programs at the Ontario Centres of Innovation.

Ms. Vera-Perez is an active advocate for clean energy and technology and has served on the board of the Canada Cleantech Alliance, the Ontario Clean Technologies Industry Association (OCTIA) and the Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance (AHA).

Executive Director and Country Head – Canada, Tata Consultancy Services

As Executive Director and Country Head, Soumen manages the Canadian business for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), leading a team of 9,700+ dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to develop innovative IT solutions to make business and society adaptive and future-ready.

For nearly three decades at TCS, Soumen has orchestrated the acquisition of significant new business and built many successful and lasting client partnerships. A passionate advocate for education and skills development, Soumen serves on the board of the Information and Communications Technology Council of Canada (ICTC-CTIC) and is an active member of the Business Council of Canada (BCC) and a CEO Advisor for the Canada India Business Council (C-IBC). He is excited to continue leveraging TCS’ extensive network of ecosystems to guide TCS’ clients through their successful digital transformations.

A champion of health and wellness for both people and the planet, Soumen enthusiastically engages with employees and the community through the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which is on its way to becoming the most sustainable race in Canada.

Vice-President of Research Grants & Scholarships, NSERC

Anne-Marie Thompson is the Acting Vice-President of Research Grants and Scholarships at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, where she champions the power of discovery research, nurtures the next generation of talent, and brings science to the forefront of society. A passionate advocate for innovation and knowledge, she is dedicated to fostering a research ecosystem that empowers scientists and engineers to push boundaries and make meaningful contributions to Canada and the world.

With over 23 years of public sector leadership, Anne-Marie has designed and delivered impactful research and innovation programming. She has led national and international research initiatives and held roles at Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and the Department of National Defence. Previously, she was Chief Programs and Policy Officer at Mitacs and Associate Vice-President at NSERC.

As recognized collaborator, Anne-Marie has represented Canada in international forums, including the London Convention and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Anne-Marie holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in environmental engineering from Carleton University.

National Technology Officer, Microsoft Canada

John Weigelt leads Microsoft Canada’s strategic policy and technology efforts. He helps individuals and organizations across Canada innovate with technology while avoiding the unintended consequences that might arise.

John has contributed to many technological efforts that established the foundation for the electronic services we take for granted today and he continues to lead efforts to evolve technology standards and policy. His extensive experience in technology, business and policy provides him with a unique perspective of our technology enabled economy.

When he’s not thinking about what’s next in technology, you’ll either find John tending his bees, boiling maple syrup or brewing cider at his home or travelling the globe in search of his next culinary adventure.