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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260617T110000
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DTSTAMP:20260612T215512
CREATED:20260521T152237Z
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SUMMARY:Research Integrity in the Era of AI
DESCRIPTION:Register HereThis panel will explore whether AI can meaningfully strengthen research integrity or whether it accelerates existing vulnerabilities in the publishing system\, and what this means for funders\, institutions\, and policymakers who rely on scholarly evidence. Panelists will explore how openness\, governance\, accountability\, and policy frameworks must evolve to sustain trust in an AI-mediated research ecosystem. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Moderator: Dr. Barnaby CrookRegional Engagement Editor\, MDPISee Bio×Dr. Barnaby Crook\nDr. Barnaby Crook completed an MA in philosophy and neuroscience at the Humboldt University of Berlin in 2021 and a PhD in the philosophy of artificial intelligence at the University of Bayreuth in 2025. After moving from Germany to Toronto\, Dr. Crook began working for MDPI as an Assistant Editor with the journal IJERPH. He now works as a Regional Engagement Editor for North America. In this role\, Dr. Crook builds and maintains relationships with academic stakeholders\, fostering collaboration and developing partnerships. He is passionate about scientific communication and research integrity. \nDr. Aneliia (Annie) Chatterjee Open Access and Scholarly Communications Librarian\, NJIT University LibrarySee Bio×Dr. Aneliia (Annie) Chatterjee \nDr. Aneliia (Annie) Chatterjee is the Open Access and Scholarly Communications Librarian at NJIT University Libraries. She works with faculty\, researchers\, and students on open scholarship initiatives\, with expertise in scholarly communication\, open access\, institutional repositories\, research visibility and impact\, research data management\, open access policy\, and the development of open access agreement evaluation rubrics. Her work also explores the use of AI in libraries and strategies that support research dissemination and impact. \nPrior to NJIT\, Dr. Chatterjee held leadership positions in academic libraries and worked in corporate research in New York. She holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Rowan University\, along with Master’s degrees in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute and Sofia University. Her research interests include transformative learning\, open access\, and the evolving role of libraries in higher education. \nMehnaz TabassumCo-founder & CEO @ NL Eats | Building the Future of Food Systems | AI Educator & Strategy PartnerSee Bio×Mehnaz Tabassum\nMehnaz Tabassum is a true embodiment of multipotentiality\, bringing together leadership across entrepreneurship\, technology\, investment\, community impact\, innovation\, and public service. With more than 10 years of professional experience and as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)\, Mehnaz possesses a unique combination of business acumen\, systems thinking\, and social impact leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Certificate in Public Policy from Memorial University of Newfoundland. \nMehnaz previously served as a Senior IT Manager with the Government of Canada\, where she was among the youngest professionals to hold leadership roles of this nature. During her tenure\, she led digital transformation initiatives across multiple branches including the Canada Revenue Agency’s Security Branch (ASB)\, Human Resources Branch (HRB)\, and Assessment\, Benefits and Services Branch (ABSB). She became recognized for driving agile leadership practices\, leading high-impact projects\, and fostering innovation within complex organizational environments. \nToday\, Mehnaz is the CEO of FOOD FORWARD\, a national platform and ecosystem initiative bringing together leaders across food systems\, agriculture\, aquaculture\, technology\, investment\, policy\, and sustainability to accelerate innovation and shape the future of food. Through FOOD FORWARD\, she has helped build partnerships across industry\, government\, academia\, and entrepreneurial communities to advance meaningful conversations and action at national and international levels. \nShe is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of NL Eats Community Outreach Inc.\, a federally registered charity focused on addressing food insecurity\, advancing sustainable food systems\, empowering youth\, and creating opportunities through innovation and agritech. Under her leadership\, the organization has created project opportunities for more than 350 youth and positively impacted over 4\,000 community members. \nIn addition\, Mehnaz is the Founder and CEO of CogniCo AI Consulting\, where she works with organizations to integrate AI\, automation\, digital transformation strategies\, and future-ready workforce solutions. She actively supports organizations in navigating technological change while building practical and human-centered approaches to AI adoption. As a thought leader and angel investor\, Mehnaz is passionate about identifying emerging opportunities\, supporting innovation ecosystems\, and helping build ventures that create both economic and social impact. \nBeyond organizational leadership\, Mehnaz is deeply committed to people development and servant leadership. Through her consulting work\, she coaches individuals on career development\, mentors newcomers in partnership with the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO)\, and supports organizations navigating digital transformation and innovation. Her experience also includes serving as Vice President of Operations with Project Management Institute OVOC and contributing as a board member for the Food Policy Council\, Government of Newfoundland’s Premier’s Youth Policy Council\, and Global Vision. \nMehnaz is also a sought-after public speaker and thought leader\, frequently invited to share insights on leadership\, AI and digital transformation\, entrepreneurship\, innovation ecosystems\, career growth\, and the future of work. She continues to build platforms at the intersection of AI\, technology\, social innovation\, future workforce development\, entrepreneurship\, and ecosystem building. \nMehnaz is also recognized as a QECT100 Leader\, reflecting her contributions to leadership\, innovation\, and community impact. \nHer outstanding contributions have earned numerous awards and recognitions including the 2024 Most Inspiring Immigrant in Atlantic Canada\, CRA Award of Excellence (2022)\, Women of Distinction (2020)\, Young Entrepreneur Award (2019)\, Chancellor’s Undergraduate Leadership Award (2021)\, and the Feeding 9 Billion Award (2018). She has also been nominated for prestigious honors including the IPAC Emerging Leader Award\, Atlantic Top 50 CEOs\, and the Diana Award. \nWith expertise spanning project management\, digital transformation\, business analytics\, public policy\, technology strategy\, leadership\, entrepreneurship\, AI adoption\, social innovation\, investment\, and community development\, Mehnaz Tabassum continues to build impactful initiatives that bridge people\, technology\, and purpose. \nDr. Enric SayasAI Product Owner\, MDPISee Bio×Enric Sayas\nWith a PhD in Molecular Biology\, I bridge the gap between complex scientific research and cutting-edge technology. Currently\, I serve as an AI Product Owner at MDPI\, where I specialize in integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into the scientific publishing industry. My work focuses on developing data-driven solutions that enhance editorial workflows\, optimize peer review processes\, and strengthen research integrity. \nI am deeply committed to the principles of Open Science\, leveraging AI-powered tools to make scientific discovery more transparent\, efficient\, and accessible. By transforming internal tools into high-precision\, commercial-grade platforms\, I aim to foster a more open and trustworthy research ecosystem that accelerates global innovation.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/research-integrity-in-the-era-of-ai/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Sessions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260622T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260622T133000
DTSTAMP:20260612T215512
CREATED:20260610T153533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T231645Z
UID:34121-1782129600-1782135000@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:AI for All? Balancing Innovation\, Sovereignty\, and Trust
DESCRIPTION:Register HereThe official launch of Canada’s renewed National AI Strategy\, “AI for All\,” marks a defining milestone for the country’s digital and economic future. With a multi-billion-dollar framework anchored across six core pillars\, the strategy sets an aggressive roadmap to supercharge domestic compute infrastructure\, accelerate commercial adoption\, and scale Canadian tech champions. However\, as public demand for rigorous safety guardrails\, strict liability frameworks\, and online protections reaches an all-time high\, the critical question has rapidly shifted from high-level policy vision to real-world execution. \nHow will Canada balance the natural friction between rapid economic scaling and the imperative to protect its citizens and democratic values? \nTo capture the ecosystem’s immediate\, unfiltered reactions\, the Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is convening an exclusive virtual panel. We are bringing together a powerful\, multi-sectoral lineup to debate the strategy’s 6 pillars\, balancing the drive for sovereign compute scaling with urgent public demands for strict safety guardrails and liability.  \nThis timely 90-minute session is intentionally designed to bring together a truly cross-sectoral assembly of leaders representing government\, industry\, civil society\, and academia. By uniting the policymakers driving the framework\, the industrial innovators executing it\, the civil society advocates safeguarding the public interest\, and the academic researchers anchoring the science\, this panel will offer a multi-lens post-mortem of the newly released roadmap. \nJoin us for an exclusive virtual panel on Monday\, June 22\, 2026\, for this vital cross-sectoral dialogue: AI for All? Perspectives on Canada’s AI Strategy. This virtual session is built entirely on a cross-sectoral framework\, bringing together the distinct\, essential perspectives of:  \n\n🏛️ Government policy makers framing the 6 pillars. \n💼 Industry leaders driving commercialization and compute scaling. \n⚖️ Civil Society advocates demanding strict safety guardrails and public protection. \n🎓 Academia anchoring the foundational research and talent ecosystem.  \nSpeaker information coming soon!Mark SchaanAssociate Deputy Minister\, Innovation\, Science and Economic Development CanadaSee Bio×Mark Schaan\nMark Schaan is the Associate Deputy Minister at Innovation\, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)\, confirmed in October 2025\, which builds on the direction from the Prime Minister on July of 2025 that he act as the direct Deputy support to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Innovation. In these capacities\, Mark supports Canada’s industrial AI and digital agenda\, working to position the country as a global leader in the responsible development and use of these technologies. \nMark’s career has been highlighted by this cross-cutting policy and framework effort\, including leading major consultations and reforms\, including for telecommunications\, investment review\, intellectual property\, bankruptcy and insolvency\, privacy and AI. Mark’s public service career has included roles across the policy spectrum\, as well as leading on revitalizing the public service through innovative recruitment models. \nMark earned his BA (Honours) from the University of Waterloo\, where he studied as a Loran Scholar. Mark earned his MPhil in Comparative Social Policy\, conferred in 2004\, and his DPhil in Social Policy\, conferred in 2010 from the University of Oxford\, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. Mark is also actively involved in his communities. \nJulien BillotCEO\, Scale AISee Bio×Julien Billot\nMr. Billot is CEO of Scale Ai\, Canada’s artificial intelligence Supercluster dedicated to building the next generation supply chain and boosting industry performance by leveraging Ai technologies. He is also an adjunct professor of HEC Montreal and the Montreal lead for two transformational programs aiming to launch and grow startups in Artificial Intelligence leveraging Montreal tech and business ecosystem\, NextAI and the CreativeDestructionLab (CDL). \nHe also serves as a director in various companies and non-profit organizations. He has extensive experience in the marketing\, media and mobile industries\, with a track record of successfully executing print to digital business transformations. \nUntil recently\, Julien Billot has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Yellow Pages Group Corporation in Montreal\, Quebec. Previously\, he was Executive Vice President\, Head of Media and Member of the Executive Committee of Solocal Group (formerly PagesJaunes Groupe)\, the publicly traded and incumbent local search business in France. Earlier experience includes serving as CEO of the digital and new business group of Lagardère Active\, a multimedia branch of Lagardère Group and 13 years in senior management positions at France Telecom\, notably as Chief Marketing Officer for Orange\, the company’s mobile subsidiary. \nMr. Billot is serving today as a Board Member at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer\, is Chairman of a Montreal based company Jogogo Media and a Board member for DistrictM and a French media group\, Groupe Paris Turf.   \nMr. Billot is a graduate of École Polytechnique (Paris) and from Telecom Paris Tech. He holds a postgraduate diploma (DEA) in Industrial Economics from the University of Paris-Dauphine. \nMélissa M’Raidi-KechichianResearch and Advocacy Fellow\, Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP)See Bio×Mélissa M'Raidi-Kechichian\nMélissa M’Raidi-Kechichian (they/them) is an expert in AI policy\, frameworks\, and regulation currently serving as a Research and Advocacy Fellow at the Center for AI and Digital Policy. Mélissa focuses on AI ethics and governance and has previously worked in civic technology and digital identity. Over the past 5 years\, their research focused on AI policy framework development and implementation\, the ethics of algorithmic recommendations\, and AI regulation in democratic and authoritarian States \nWyatt Tessari L’Allié\nFounder and Executive Director\, Artificial Intelligence Governance & Safety Canada (AIGS Canada)See Bio×Wyatt Tessari L’Allié\nWyatt Tessari L’Allié is the founder and executive director of AI Governance and Safety Canada\, a nonpartisan not-for-profit and a community of people across the country\, working to ensure that advanced AI is safe and beneficial for all. A former engineer\, filmmaker\, and climate advocate\, he has spent the last 10 years researching and writing about advanced AI. He has testified seven times at parliamentary committees in Ottawa\, and is the author of multiple policy papers on what Canada can do to navigate accelerating AI.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/ai-for-all-balancing-innovation-sovereignty-and-trust/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/June22-AI-en-2.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260629T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260629T123000
DTSTAMP:20260612T215512
CREATED:20260601T215231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T161844Z
UID:34063-1782730800-1782736200@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Dementia Prevention in Canada: Individual Risk\, Collective Responsibility
DESCRIPTION:Register HereThis panel will examine dementia prevention in Canada through the lens of a central tension: while growing evidence shows that individuals can reduce their risk through lifestyle and health-related factors\, the ability to act on that knowledge is shaped by the systems and environments around them. Framed by the theme “Individual Risk\, Collective Responsibility\,” the discussion will explore how dementia prevention should be understood not only as a matter of personal responsibility\, but also as a societal and policy imperative that requires coordinated action across healthcare\, communities\, and governments. \nA central focus of the conversation will be where responsibility for prevention should sit\, and how to avoid placing undue burden on individuals\, without ignoring the importance of individual agency. Panelists will consider how Canadians understand modifiable dementia risk\, what can be learned from other public health campaigns\, and how technology may support brain-healthy choices. Informed by a recent international survey of 2000+ adults\, the panel will examine barriers that Canadians encounter when they consider brain healthy choices\, as well as system-level gaps that exist in community design and service access that\, if addressed\, could support population health outcomes and more resilient health systems at scale. \nAttendees will gain insight into how dementia prevention can be framed in ways that are both actionable and equitable\, recognizing individual responsibility while confronting the structural realities that shape people’s options\, including socioeconomic inequality\, geography\, transportation\, and access to care and supportive services. By bringing together perspectives from clinical care\, research\, innovation\, community-based interventions\, and aging policy\, the session will surface the practical and ethical questions at the heart of prevention: what individuals can reasonably be expected to do\, what systems must enable\, and how Canada can build a more brain-healthy society through shared responsibility. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Dr. Allison SekulerPresident & Chief Scientist\, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education\, and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI); Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience\, Rotman Research Institute \n	See Bio×Dr. Allison Sekuler\nPresident & Chief Scientist\, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education\, and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI); Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience\, Rotman Research Institute.  \nDr. Samir K. SinhaGeriatrician & Clinician Scientist\, Sinah Health System & University Health Network; Professor of Medicine\, University of Toronto; Director of Health Policy Research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s National Institute on AgeingSee Bio×Dr. Samir K. Sinha\nDr. Samir Sinha is a Geriatrician and Clinician Scientist at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto\, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto\, the Director of Health Policy Research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s National Institute on Ageing\, as well as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Royal Society of Medicine.  \nA Rhodes Scholar\, Samir is a highly regarded clinician and international expert in the care of older adults. As a former member of the Government of Canada’s National Seniors Council and a current member of its Minsterial Advisory Board on Dementia he helped to develop and now oversee Canada’s National Dementia Strategy and recently led the successful development of Canada’s new National Long-Term Care Services Standard.   \nInternationally\, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the International Centre for Future Health Systems at the University of New South Wales.  Furthermore\, as a longstanding member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and a recently appointed member of the Board of Trustees for HelpAge International\, he remains committed to supporting the implementation and administration of unique\, integrated and innovative models of geriatric care and support that reduce disease burden\, improve access and capacity and ultimately promote health. \nDr. Dallas SeitzChief of Geriatric Psychiatry at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH); Professor of Psychiatry & Director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry\, Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto See Bio×Dr. Dallas Seitz\nDr. Dallas Seitz is the Chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) where he also holds the Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Chair in Late-Life Mental Health Research. He is also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry.  \nHe currently serves as Co-Chair of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health and past president of Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry.  \nHe completed his undergraduate medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan (2003) and his postgraduate residency training in Psychiatry at the Queen’s University in 2008. He completed a research and clinical fellowship at the University of Toronto at Baycrest Centre and Women’s College Hospital. Dr. Seitz completed his PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research from the Institute of Health Policy\, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto in 2014. \nDr. Nicole AndersonSenior Scientist\, Rotman Research Institute\, Baycrest Hospital; Director\, Ben & Hilda Katz Interprofessional Research Centre in Geriatric and Dementia Care\, Baycrest; Associate Scientific Director\, Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health & Wellness\, BaycrestSee Bio×Dr. Nicole Anderson\nDr. Anderson is a Senior Scientist\, Director of the Ben & Hilda Katz Interprofessional Research Program in Geriatric and Dementia Care\, and Associate Scientific Director of the Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health and Wellness in the Rotman Research Institute at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education. She is a Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Medicine (Psychiatry) at the University of Toronto.  She is a registered clinical neuropsychologist.  Her research focuses on how memory is affected by healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment\, and on cognitive and lifestyle interventions to promote brain health and reduce dementia risk. \nDr. Saskia SivananthanCo-Founder & Chief Executive Officer\, The Brainwell Institute See Bio×Dr. Saskia Sivananthan\nDr. Saskia Sivananthan\, an internationally recognized strategy and policy advisor on dementia care\, is the co-founder and CEO of the Brainwell Institute – a nonprofit dementia policy think tank.  She is also an Affiliate Professor at McGill University. \nShe was formerly Chief Research and KTE Officer at the Alzheimer Society of Canada where she oversaw a tripling of funding for dementia research\, and created multiple platforms for people living with dementia to engage in research\, advocate and co-design programming for their needs.  In 2020 she was appointed by the Federal Minister of Health to the ministerial advisory board on dementia. \nPreviously\, Dr. Sivananthan served as a senior strategy and policy advisor consulting for the World Health Organization (WHO) on its overall global dementia strategy. Dr. Sivananthan co-drafted the WHO’s Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia which was unanimously adopted at the 170th World Health Assembly by all 194 member-states. This plan served as the template for Canada’s National Dementia Strategy. It identified key priorities and established international goals to fight stigma and advance dementia care.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/dementia-prevention-in-canada-individual-risk-collective-responsibility/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Virtual Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/June29-en-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260706T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260706T143000
DTSTAMP:20260612T215512
CREATED:20260317T212415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T165503Z
UID:33462-1783342800-1783348200@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Clean Power\, Smart Sovereignty:  Driving Canada's competitive AI and quantum future
DESCRIPTION:Register HereCanada stands at a pivotal moment: how can we lead in AI while powering this infrastructure sustainably? This panel explores the strategies for building sovereign\, next generation compute systems that harness Canada’s clean energy advantage. Leaders on this panel will examine how competitiveness can be unlocked at the nexus of sovereignty\, sustainability\, and security\, ensure that AI technologies scale without compromising Canada’s leadership. Join us to discover how Canada is turning its renewable power into a foundation of tech strength\, resilient digital sovereignty\, and a sustainable future. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Joy JohnsonPresident and Vice-chancellor\, Simon Fraser University See Bio×Joy Johnson\nJoy Johnson is president and vice-chancellor of Simon Fraser University\, and professor in its Faculty of Health Sciences.  \nAs president\, Joy is committed to carrying out SFU’s vision to be a leading research university\, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. \nPrior to her appointment as president\, Joy served as SFU’s vice-president\, research and international\, and oversaw the evolution of cutting-edge research\, innovation\, and international engagement across eight faculties.  \nUnder her leadership\, SFU’s achieved the fastest growth of any Canadian university research income of any university in Canada\, with a focus on mobilizing knowledge to enhance the social\, economic and environmental wellbeing of its communities.  \nPrior to SFU\, Joy had a distinguished career in academics and research. She is an elected Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences\, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada\, and has co-authored more than 180 peer-reviewed articles. \nProfessor Johnson is a director and current vice-chair on the Universities Canada board. \n \nPhil HarrisPresident and CEO\, CerioSee Bio×Phil Harris\nPhil has been in the networking and data center industry for over 35 years at market-leading companies including Intel and Cisco. Prior to joining Rockport\, he led the strategy\, roadmap\, and lifecycle for Intel’s differentiated systems-based solutions. He drove the market and industry adoption of Rack Scale Design as the leading platform for Hyperscale applications\, as well as service development and deployment.  \nPhil also served as a Vice President and Senior Vice President for Riverbed Technologies\, BMC Software\, and Cisco Systems. He led groups within those companies in a variety of projects featuring cloud services\, automation\, and innovative service provider models. Phil holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Willesden College of Technology in the UK. \nCraig TavaresPresident & COO\, BUZZ High Performance Computing See Bio×Craig Tavares\nCraig Tavares is a seasoned leader with over 20 years in digital infrastructure and energy. As President of BUZZ HPC\, he drives the company’s Sovereign AI Cloud and high-performance data center strategy\, expanding Canada’s GPU capacity for demanding AI workloads. \nHe has held senior leadership roles at Cogeco\, Aptum (DigitalBridge)\, and Apple\, where he built and scaled global cloud\, data center\, and hybrid infrastructure businesses. Earlier\, he co-founded Kingston Co-gen\, leading M&A and development of 300MW of power generation while pioneering one of North America’s first HPC-enabled power-plant data centers. \nRecognized as an innovator and growth driver across telecom\, cloud\, energy\, and AI\, Tavares combines technical depth with strategic vision. At BUZZ HPC\, his leadership is instrumental in positioning the company as Canada’s leading sovereign AI cloud provider. \nDiego MandelbaumChief Development Officer\, Corix See Bio×Diego Mandelbaum\nAs Chief Development Officer\, Diego leads the company’s efforts to drive organic growth and develop new district energy systems across North America. Prior to joining Corix\, Diego held various leadership roles in the energy\, engineering and construction industries\, overseeing strategic direction\, partnerships\, and development.  \nHe brings over 15 years of experience in the energy sector\, with deep expertise in district energy\, electrification\, and alternative investments. An active contributor to both industry and community\, Diego serves on the Board of the UBC Alumni Association and previously served on the Board of the BC Construction Roundtable. In 2021\, he was recognized as one of Canadian Construction’s 40 Under 40.  \nDiego holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia\, a Certificate in Alternative Investments from Harvard Business School\, and is a registered Professional Engineer. \nJaethan ReichelChief Operations Officer\, Bel Fabric  See Bio×Jaethan Reichel\nJaethan Reichel is COO of Bell AI Fabric\, where he helps lead the development of Canada’s sovereign AI infrastructure. \nHe’s spent his career at the intersection of technology and critical systems: energy grids\, communications networks\, and disaster response. He has founded three companies\, worked with governments on accelerators and policy\, and advised companies and funds on challenges in climate\, democracy\, and security. He thinks we can still fix things. \nAt AI Fabric\, he works to extend Bell’s nation-building tradition by creating infrastructure Canadians can trust\, supporting researchers and companies\, and ensuring that future technologies reflect shared values and strengthen the country’s role in the digital world.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/clean-power-smart-sovereignty/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Virtual Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/July6-EN.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260721T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260721T150000
DTSTAMP:20260612T215512
CREATED:20260512T141611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T210217Z
UID:33775-1784640600-1784646000@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Canada’s AI Advantage: Why It Exists—and What It Will Take to Scale It
DESCRIPTION:Register HereCanada has established itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence research and talent development. Yet despite these strengths\, translating that advantage into broad-based economic and societal impact remains uneven. \nThis panel will examine how Canada can more effectively move from discovery to deployment—closing the gap between research excellence and real-world adoption. Bringing together leaders from academia\, national AI institutes\, and industry\, the discussion will explore where the system is working\, where it is falling short\, and what it will take to scale impact. \nA central focus will be on how talent\, research\, and industry can be more tightly connected—ensuring that students\, researchers\, and companies are working together on real-world challenges earlier and more often. Drawing on practical experience\, panelists will highlight models that accelerate adoption\, strengthen talent pipelines\, and enable organizations to apply AI in meaningful\, measurable ways. \nAttendees will gain insights into: \n\nWhat is actually driving AI adoption in practice\, including approaches that embed talent within real-world environments to accelerate innovation and reduce barriers to implementation \nHow Canada can better align its research\, training\, and industry needs\, ensuring that highly qualified talent is equipped to contribute to applied AI and commercialization \nWhat systemic changes are needed to scale impact\, from institutional incentives within academia to national strategies that support adoption\, competitiveness\, and long-term growth \n\nThis session will move beyond potential to focus on execution—highlighting how Canada can convert its AI leadership into sustained economic and societal advantage. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Eva ReddingtonVice President\, Policy\, Program Development & Government Relations\, MitacsSee Bio× Eva Reddington\nVice President\, Policy\, Program Development & Government Relations\, Mitacs \nElissa StromeExecutive Director of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy\, CIFARSee Bio×Elissa StromeElissa Strome is the Executive Director of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy at CIFAR. She works with leaders at Canada’s three National AI Institutes in Edmonton (Amii)\, Montreal (Mila)\, and Toronto (Vector Institute) and across the country to advance Canada’s leadership in AI research\, training and innovation. She is a champion of equity\, diversity and inclusion in science\, and an ambassador for Canada’s position in AI research\, innovation\, and policy internationally. Elissa is a member of the federal government’s AI Advisory Council\, a member of the OECD’s Network of Experts on AI and Expert Group on AI in Health\, a member of the Health Canada Expert Advisory Committee for AI in Health\, and sits on the Advisory Board of York University’s Centre for AI & Society.Margo SeltzerCore Member\, AI@UBC Working GroupSee Bio×Margo SeltzerMargo Seltzer is a core member of our AI@UBC working group and department co-Head\, Canada 150 Research Chair in Computer Systems\, and the Cheriton Family chair in Computer Science at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests are in systems\, construed quite broadly\, including algorithms and systems for constructing optimal and interpretable machine learning models. One particularly novel stream of this work is the production of Rashomon Sets\, the set of all good models\, which give users the ability to select models that best reflect their domain expertise. \nDr. Seltzer was a co-founder and CTO of Sleepycat Software\, the makers of Berkeley DB\, the recipient of the 2021 ACM Software Systems award and the 2020 ACM SIGMOD Systems Award. She is a member of the Royal Society of Canada\, the National Academy of Engineering\, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.Youssef Helwa\nCEO and Co-founder\, FluidAI MedicalSee Bio×Youssef Helwa\nYoussef Helwa is the CEO and Co-founder of FluidAI Medical\, the world leader in postoperative care\, transforming how hospitals detect and prevent surgical complications through AI-powered patient monitoring. Built from his graduate research at the University of Waterloo\, FluidAI has grown into a globally deployed medtech company with regulatory clearances across multiple jurisdictions and clinical partnerships with some of the world’s most respected institutions\, including Cleveland Clinic\, Mayo Clinic\, and UHN. The company’s Stream Platform combines nanosensor technology and artificial intelligence to detect complications up to 80% faster than the standard of care\, backed by the world’s largest general surgery dataset spanning millions of patient records\, a strong IP portfolio\, and a suite of tools to optimize patient engagement\, clinical documentation\, and surgical billing. Youssef is on a mission to make surgical recovery smarter\, safer\, and more predictable for patients worldwide. \nCam LinkeCEO\, Alberta Machine Learning Institute (Amii)See Bio×Cam Linke\nCam Linke\, is the CEO of Alberta Machine Learning Institute (Amii) is a longtime leader in Canada’s technology and startup community. Over the past 10 years\, he has worked as a CEO\, investor\, community builder\, product manager\, software entrepreneur\, academic\, and developer. \nPast roles include Co-founder of Startup Edmonton\, Founder of Flightpath Ventures\, CEO of Touch Metric\, Product Manager at Nexopia.com\, and Founder of DemoCamp Edmonton. Linke is a sought-after speaker and mentor and has been recognized as Avenue Magazine Top 40 Under 40. \nHe holds a Master’s degree which was supervised by Dr. Richard Sutton and Dr. Adam White. His research\, which focused on AI adapting behaviours to improve their own self-learning\, has been published at top conferences. \nCory JanssenCo-Founder and CEO\, AltaMLSee Bio×Cory Janssen\nCory Janssen is Co-Founder and CEO of AltaML\, an applied AI company recognized for delivering agentic AI solutions that unlock measurable organizational value and elevate human potential. A seasoned technology entrepreneur\, Cory previously co-founded Investopedia in 1999 and developed it into a leading global financial education site before its sale to Forbes Media in 2007. \nChad CogarVice President of AI\, Creative Destruction LabSee Bio×Chad CogarChad Cogar is the Vice President of AI at Creative Destruction Lab\, where he leads AI initiatives and serves as a technical advisor to CDL’s enterprise AI adoption program “Putting AI to Work”. With over a decade of experience in AI strategy and implementation\, Chad specializes in developing AI systems that drive measurable business impact. Prior to joining CDL\, he led product management for the machine learning teams at Kindred AI and oversaw large-scale AI transformation initiatives for enterprise clients across multiple industries. Chad holds degrees in Law (JD)\, Business (MBA)\, and Computer Science (BSc) from the University of Toronto.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/canadas-ai-advantage/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Sessions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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