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SUMMARY:AI for All? Balancing Innovation\, Sovereignty\, and Trust
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingThe 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!Moderator: Dr. Charmaine DeanVice-President\, Research and International\, University of Waterloo See Bio×Charmaine B. Dean\nDr. Charmaine Dean (Ph.D.\, University of Waterloo) is Vice-President\, Research and International at the University of Waterloo. In this role\, she provides\nstrategic leadership in the areas of research and innovation\, commercialization\, and internationalization. She is also responsible for building\nstrategic alliances and partnerships with other academic institutions\, governments\, businesses\, and industries at the regional\, national\, federal\, and\ninternational levels. \nSeveral key collaboration portfolios are managed by her office\, including the university-level Centres and Institutes and several major industrial partnerships\nspanning various units in the university. She has drawn a focus to ethics and social impact related to technology developments through various initiatives\nand is a key driver for equity and diversity in the context of research and internationalization. \nPrior to joining the University of Waterloo\, Dr. Dean served as the Dean of Science at Western University from 2011 to 2017. She also played a major role in establishing the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University\, as the Associate Dean of that Faculty\, and was the founding Chair of the Department\nof Statistics and Actuarial Science at Simon Fraser University. \nDr. Dean has been awarded numerous honours for her work including Fellowships with the Institute of Mathematical Statistics\, the Fields Institute\, the American Statistical Association\, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2023\, she was awarded the Statistical Society of Canada\nGold Medal. In 2024\, she was bestowed the rank of Chevalier in the prestigious Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French government for her work advancing research connections between Canada and France. \nAdditionally\, Dr. Dean has held several editorships and served in numerous leadership roles internationally and nationally\, related to equity and inclusion\, statistics and data science\, research\, and computing infrastructure. In Canada\, she served as President of the Statistical Society of Canada and serves on several Boards of Directors. She is currently Chair of Council for NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada). \nMark 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. \nDr. Doina PrecupAssociate Professor\, School of Computer Science\, McGill University and Head of DeepMind\, Montreal officeSee Bio×Doina Precup\nDr. Doina Precup combines teaching at McGill University with fundamental research on reinforcement learning\, in particular AI applications in areas of significant social impact\, such as health care. She is interested in machine decision-making in situations where uncertainty is high. \nIn addition to heading the Montreal office of Google DeepMind\, Precup is a Senior Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. \nHer areas of speciality are artificial intelligence\, machine learning\, reinforcement learning\, reasoning and planning under uncertainty\, and applications.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/ai-for-all-balancing-innovation-sovereignty-and-trust/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/June22-AI-en-6.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260629T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260629T123000
DTSTAMP:20260730T192644Z
CREATED:20260601T215231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T192644Z
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SUMMARY:Dementia Prevention in Canada: Individual Risk\, Collective Responsibility
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingThis 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 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/jpeg:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/June29-en-1.jpg
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:20260730T193220Z
CREATED:20260317T212415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T193220Z
UID:33462-1783342800-1783348200@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Clean Power\, Smart Sovereignty:  Driving Canada's competitive AI and quantum future
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingCanada 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 ComputingSee 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. \nSeychelle CushingExecutive Director\, Partnerships Hub\, Simon Fraser UniversitySee Bio×Seychelle Cushing\nSeychelle Cushing champions innovation through partnerships with industry and government\, driving economic growth and positioning Canada as a leader in AI\, quantum\, and advanced technologies. As founder of the Big Data Hub\, she empowered organizations to leverage AI and data-driven solutions to scale.  \nDr. Nancy RossVice-Principal Research\, Queens UniversitySee Bio×Dr Nancy Ross \nDr. Nancy Ross is Vice-Principal Research at Queen’s University\, where she leads the institution’s research strategy\, operations\, and governance across key centres and institutes. Since 2021\, she has advanced Queen’s research mission\, including launching the Strategic Research Plan 2025–2030 and strengthening the university’s national research profile. She also contributes nationally through leadership roles with the U15 and the Council of Ontario Universities research committees. \nDr. Ross holds a BA and MA in Geography from Queen’s University and a PhD in Geography from McMaster University. Dr. Ross is a leading researcher in population health and health geography.  Her research excellence has been recognized through major awards\, including a Tier I Canada Research Chair in the Geo-Social Determinants of Health\, and in 2023\, she received the Melinda Meade Distinguished Scholarship Award for outstanding contributions to health and medical geography. \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/jpeg:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CleanPower-July-6-Panel-en-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260721T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260721T150000
DTSTAMP:20260730T193803Z
CREATED:20260512T141611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T193803Z
UID:33775-1784640600-1784646000@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Canada’s AI Advantage: Why It Exists—and What It Will Take to Scale It
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingCanada 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
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/July-21-Panel-en.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260916T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260916T133000
DTSTAMP:20260922T163420Z
CREATED:20260826T151833Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T163420Z
UID:35376-1789560000-1789565400@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:The Role of Social Sector Organizations in National Defence & Resilience
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingCanada is in the midst of a radical transformation to ensure Canadians’ safety and security. Climate emergencies\, geopolitical instability\, misinformation\, social fragmentation\, Arctic and Northern vulnerabilities\, and pressures on public institutions all point to the need for a broader whole-of-society approach to defence and resilience. Community non-profits are a key part of Canada’s resilience infrastructure. They support vulnerable populations\, mobilize volunteers\, respond to crises\, serve veterans and military families\, operate in remote and Northern communities\, and hold trusted relationships that governments and formal institutions may not always have. Yet their role in and contributions to Canada’s defence and security ecosystem remains unexamined and underutilized.  \nSpeaker information coming soon!Moderator: Tim DraiminBoard member and past Chair of Social Innovation Canada (SIC) and Founding CEO of Tides Canada Foundation (now MakeWay)See Bio×Tim Draimin\nTim Draimin is board member and past chair of Social Innovation Canada (SIC). His work focuses on social and environmental causes through the lenses of social innovation\, philanthropy and social change. He was founding CEO of Tides Canada Foundation (now MakeWay) and convened the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance. He wrote Canada’s first study of social entrepreneurship and his articles appeared in Stanford Social Innovation Review\, The Globe & Mail\, Cooperation South\, The New Internationalist\, Philea\, and The Hill Times. He led Social Innovation Generation (SiG) National and is a frequent advisor to non-profits\, government and business. Past board roles include: Trico Foundation\, Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)\, Green Economy Canada (GEC)\, Partnership Brokers Association (PBA)\, Institute on Media\, Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS)\, Social Innovation Exchange (SIX)\, Philippines-Canada Human Resource Development (PCHRD). \nRahim Rezaie Executive Director of the Institute for Collaborative Innovation (ICI Canada)See Bio×Rahim Rezaie\nDr. Rahim Rezaie is Executive Director of the Institute for Collaborative Innovation (ICI Canada)\, where he leads work on innovation policy\, community resilience\, and the role of civil society in addressing complex national challenges. He currently co-leads ICI Canada’s Department of National Defence-funded MINDS project\, Strengthening Canada’s Defence and Security through Social Sector Partnerships\, which examines how community-based and nonprofit organizations can contribute to Canada’s whole-of-society approach to defence and resilience. \nDr. Rezaie is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and has extensive experience in research\, program development\, and strategic consulting across academic\, nonprofit\, and government sectors. He holds a PhD in technological innovation\, a Master’s in Biotechnology\, and a BSc from the University of Toronto\, as well as management training from York University’s Schulich School of Business. His research and writing have appeared in academic journals including Nature Biotechnology and PLOS One\, as well as Canadian media. \nGwendolyn JoyInterim CEO\, Social Innovation CanadaSee Bio×Gwendolyn Joy\nGwendolyn brings insights from a 20+ year career spanning the non-profit\, public and private sectors\, where she’s worked locally\, regionally and internationally alongside community and elected leaders\, policy makers\, academics\, youth\, non-profit and corporate leaders to develop organizational capacity to drive social impact and innovation.   Gwen comes to SI Canada most recently from the financial sector\, where she acted as subject matter expert at a leading North American bank for their Environmental\, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy\, disclosure and impact management approaches. In addition to her leadership roles\, Gwen has held volunteer governance and advisory roles at a number of non-profit organizations in both the UK and Canada \nDanya PastuszekPresident & CEO\, Tamarack InstituteSee Bio×Danya Pastuszek\nA mother\, community-builder and runner\, Danya supports a network cross-sector\, place-based partnerships focused on the interconnected outcomes of climate\, education\, and economic equity\, and on social connection. A dual US and Canadian citizen\, she worked first with resettling refugees and then with people impacted by systems of criminal justice. In 2012\, she began a decade with Promise Partnership of Salt Lake\, co-designing school\, neighborhood\, city and regional partnerships accountable to education outcomes. Since February 2022\, she’s stewarded Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement. She is an inaugural Schwab Foundation collective social innovation awardee and holds a BA and MA from Stanford University and an MBA from New York University. \nGeraldine CahillFounding Director of UpSocial CanadaSee Bio×Geraldine Cahill\nGeraldine Cahill is the founding Director of UpSocial Canada\, facilitating social lab projects with diverse stakeholders to address systemic social challenges. In Alberta\, she is engaged in a community wealth building strategy with Drayton Valley\, deepening her understanding and appreciation for the unique and innovative work happening in rural communities across the country. As of January 2025\, Geraldine is also co-managing Catalyst Community Finance\, weaving relationships with community finance intermediaries that are enabling a place- and identity-based ecosystem for social impact in Canada. Geraldine has long championed social innovation field building\, and is motivated to explore and integrate that learning with the growing mission-oriented innovation community. In 2017\, she co-authored the book\, Social Innovation Generation: Fostering a Canadian Ecosystem for Systems Change\, which showcases the partnership’s field building efforts.   \nSara LyonsChief Program and Strategy Officer\, Volunteer CanadaSee Bio×Sara Lyons\nSara Lyons is based in Montreal and has worked in the not-for-profit and charitable sector for over 20 years. She has spent many years working on large-scale\, national projects that bring together multiple sectors around new ideas. Before coming to Volunteer Canada\, Sara was a Senior Director at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities\, a Vice President at Community Foundations of Canada\, and in 2021 did a secondment with the Equality Fund.   \nA graduate of McGill and the University of Toronto\, Sara has been a frequent public speaker on philanthropy\, social innovation\, and social finance. She is currently a board member of Exeko\, in Montreal and is the former Chair of the Circle on Philanthropy —two roles that have allowed her to live out her passion for transformation\, social inclusion\, and creating innovative spaces. \nSara loves cycling\, playing tennis and spending time with her two teenage daughters. \nDavid WattersBoard Member\, Institute for Collaborative InnovationSee Bio×David Watters\nDavid Watters is a former Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Corporate Finance in the Department of Finance\, the founder and former CEO of the Global Advantage Consulting Group\, and the founder and current President of the not-for-profit Institute for Collaborative Innovation. He has been a CSPC Board member since its inception.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/the-role-of-social-sector-organizations-in-national-defence-resilience/
CATEGORIES:Innovation Virtual Series,Innovation Virtual Series 2026,Virtual Sessions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260921T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260921T133000
DTSTAMP:20260922T154005Z
CREATED:20260819T154700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T154005Z
UID:35215-1789992000-1789997400@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Braiding Knowledges towards Federal Science Priorities
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingMeaningful knowledge braiding is grounded in accountability to place and relationships\, guided by shared values\, attentive to multiple ways of knowing\, and supported through equitable governance\, creative methods\, and sustained resourcing. When these conditions are met\, knowledge braiding moves beyond Indigenous knowledge inclusion and towards approaches that are relationally-grounded\, place-based\, and enduring. But how can the essential elements and relational accountabilities defining knowledge braiding translate into the structures and processes governing science and decision-making at regional\, provincial\, territorial\, federal\, and international levels? How can we help policies and procedures\, funding systems\, and science evolve to support\, rather than undermine\, the relationships through which knowledge is generated and applied. This panel will invite contributions and reflections from end-users with experience working at the connections and disconnects between knowledge braiding and government policy. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Moderator: Paulina JohnsonAssistant Professor of Sociology; Adjunct Professor\, Department of Environment and Civil Engineering\, University of AlbertaSee Bio×Paulina Johnson\nSîpihkokîsikowiskwew nitisiyihkâson ekwa Nêhiyawiskwew nitohciyan Nipisihkopahk.  My name is Blue Sky Woman\, and I am a Four-Spirit Woman (She\, Her\, Hers) from Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacîs\, Alberta. Currently\, I am an Assistant Professor of Sociology and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environment and Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta. \nI am an Indigenous scholar with over a decade of experience in developing insights and tools grounded in traditional law that help communities with consultation\, community engagement\, and Indigenous-settler relations. My areas of expertise are in traditional law and governance\, Indigenous legal traditions\, Indigenous-Settler relations\, Consultation\, and Community Engagement. Much of my research is directed towards Indigenous research methods and includes how Indigenous research should be conducted\, how relationships with community and Nations should be maintained\, and building the voices of Indigenous Elders and knowledge holders I have come to know. My hope is to build more resilient learning communities that are rooted in sharing truths\, transparency\, and humility. And though my work often lacks one clear path\, I have faith that my culture and teachings will guide me. \nIn my culture\, we believe in relationality and reciprocity and as Co-Research Director I will extend my sense of duty and care to mountain systems and the seven hubs already established. \nAdditionally\, I am bound to my Treaty obligations of my grandfathers. I am a descendant of the signatories of Treaty 6\, and with that\, we are taught as children to be there for our brothers and sisters and in this position\, I aim to uphold that knowledge with Dr. Humphries as Co-Research Directors but importantly the integrity of relationships created and maintained in BKC. \nModerator: Murray HumphriesWildlife Ecologist\, McGill University\, Montréal\, CanadaSee Bio×Murray Humphries\nMurray Humphries is a Canadian wildlife ecologist based at McGill University in Montréal\, Canada\, whose research has successfully linked fundamental ecological research to the priorities and engagement of Indigenous communities in northern regions. Murray was born and raised in Brandon\, Manitoba\, has degrees from University of Manitoba (BSc\, hons)\, University of Alberta (MSc) and McGill University (PhD)\, and was an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Aberdeen\, Scotland before returning to McGill to commence a faculty appointment in 2003. He is currently an Associate Professor of Wildlife Biology in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences at McGill University. \nSince 2010\, Prof. Humphries has served as academic director of McGill’s Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment\, an inter-disciplinary research centre dedicated to community-based research on food and the environment. Murray also holds the McGill Chair in Northern Research\, funded by the Institut Nordique du Québec. In this role\, Murray initiated and currently leads McGill North\, a network of northern and circumpolar researchers at McGill\, including professors\, post doctorates\, and graduate students from 9 faculties and more than 20 departments/units. The objective of McGill North is to promote\, mobilize\, and interdisciplinize northern\, arctic\, and circumpolar research at McGill\, and to assist McGill researchers in northern community engagement and knowledge co-production. In 2017\, Murray received an outstanding alumnus award from the University of Manitoba and was a member of the expert panel that generated the Council of Canadian Academies 2014 report on Aboriginal Food Security in Northern Canada. Murray co-led with Stan Boutin the Environmental Innovation NSERC-CREATE graduate training program based at McGill and the University of Alberta\, which partnered with more than 75 non-government\, government\, industry\, and Indigenous organizations to train 50 graduate students and postdocs for careers in wildlife conservation and environmental impact. Murray is currently serving as a returning co-chair of the Ecology and Evolution Review Panel for NSERC Discovery Grants\, is a member of the synthesis team and serves on the board of directors for the NSERC Strategic Network ResNet\, and sits on the Board of Directors for Wildlife Conservation Society Canada\, a leading wildlife research and conservation NGO in Canada. \nMurray’s career teaching contributions at McGill combine his love of teaching\, passion for wildlife\, and respect for people and livelihoods that depend on natural resources. Murray teaches under-graduate classes in organismal biology\, natural history\, and wildlife management. Most recently his teaching has expanded to a new Indigenous success pathway program\, developed in partnership with Cree organization based in northern Quebec\, to provide professional development training in fish and wildlife sciences for community officers. \nMurray’s research focuses on environmental determinants of wildlife physiology\, behaviour\, and trophic interactions\, as well as the contributions of wildlife conservation to the traditional food systems of Indigenous Peoples. This focus has led him to studies of the evolution of participatory methodologies in the natural sciences\, the nature of community-university research partnerships\, and documentation of the food knowledge and wildlife stewardship of northern Indigenous Peoples. As a scientist and researcher\, Murray extends beyond academia by engaging Indigenous\, government\, and non-government organizations\, in partnered research and graduate training that includes the knowledge and addresses the priorities of local people. \nChris PaciFinance\, Audit and Risk Committee\, Braiding Knowledges CanadaSee Bio×Chris Paci\nChris Paci\, PhD joined the Braiding Knowledges Canada board in 2025 and serves on its Finance\, Audit and Risk Committee. He brings extensive governance experience\, including previous board roles with the Great Lakes Water Quality Board\, Sierra Club of Canada Foundation\, Sport North Federation\, Folk on the Rocks\, and Friends of Gatineau Park. \nChris is an educator and senior leader with more than ten years of experience in the college sector\, where he served as Vice President\, Dean\, and Chair. He is currently contracted with an Indigenous government in the Northwest Territories and previously served as President of Deep Consulting Inc.\, working primarily with Dene governments. \nHe holds an interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Manitoba. His work focuses on bringing together Indigenous knowledge and western science to strengthen environmental and natural resources decision-making. \nDr. Emily Missyabit McAuleyDirector\, Science Programs\, Ecosystems and Oceans Science\, Fisheries and Oceans CanadaSee Bio×Dr. Emily Missyabit McAuley\nDr. Emily Missyabit McAuley is a member of Lake Manitoba First Nation and Director of Science Programs at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. She holds an M.Sc. in Biology from Carleton University and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Simon Fraser University. Her work spans federal science policy and modernization\, Indigenous Science\, research governance\, AI-enabled systems analysis\, and environmental research. Previously\, she led the AAFC-hosted interdepartmental Indigenous Science\, Technology\, Engineering\, and Mathematics (I-STEM) Cluster\, which brings federal science departments together to increase and expand support for Indigenous priorities in environmental stewardship and research.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/braiding-knowledges-towards-federal-science-priorities/
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:20260928T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260928T150000
DTSTAMP:20260928T163909Z
CREATED:20260901T171043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T163909Z
UID:35491-1790602200-1790607600@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:AI\, Quantum\, Cybersecurity and Space: Leveraging Dual-use Tech for Defence & Sovereignty
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingTo achieve true strategic autonomy\, Canada must secure and control digital pipelines that collect\, process\, and transmit national security data. This panel features leading commercial innovators operating at the cutting edge of Canada’s digital transformation. Focusing on the core sovereign capabilities outlined in Pillar 2 of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS)\, the discussion will examine the integration of next-generation commercial technologies\, including low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communications\, tactical AI data processing\, and quantum-resistant cryptographic security. Industry executives will share insights on how Canada can leverage its world-leading commercial tech ecosystem to build surge capacity\, protect intellectual property within global value chains\, and overcome the traditionally complex procurement barriers that often slow the adoption of dual-use innovations. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Moderator: Matthew da Mota Research Director\, Emerging Technology and National Security\, Canadian Shield InstituteSee Bio×Matthew Da Mota\nMatt is an interdisciplinary thinker and researcher with a background that spans industries from construction to academia to policy. His work explores how emerging technologies and shifting geopolitical dynamics reshape security\, governance\, knowledge\, and sovereignty — with a focus on the implications of AI and digital infrastructure. \nMatt previously worked on international AI governance and security at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. His Ph.D. research examined the relationship between historical narrative\, written evidence\, and political power. \nMatt is also a fellow in Technology and Security at Queen’s University’s Centre for International and Defence Policy\, and he serves on multiple standardization technical committees. \nMina MitryChief Executive Officer & Co-Founder\, Kepler SpaceSee Bio×Mina Mitry\nMina leads Kepler with a vision to extend the human reach into space by building a modern Internet infrastructure on-orbit for the future space economy. Under Mina’s leadership\, Kepler has raised over $200 million USD in funding and achieved notable industry recognition as the largest satellite operator in Canada\, one of the most innovative companies in space by Fast Company\, and ‘top10 in satellite’ by Via Satellite in 2023. \nRafal JanikChief Operating Officer\, Xanadu\nSee Bio×Rafal Janik\nRafal Janik is the Chief Operating Officer at Xanadu\, where he leads the commercialization of Xanadu’s quantum computing technology. He has over 13 years of experience leading software and machine learning teams in both large enterprises and high growth startups to bring cutting edge technologies to market. Rafal works closely with national governments and large enterprises to develop quantum adoption strategies and policies.  \nAtefeh MashatanDirector of the Cybersecurity Research Lab and Canada Research Chair at Toronto Metropolitan UniversitySee Bio×Atefeh Mashatan\nDr. Atefeh (Atty) Mashatan is the founding director of the Cybersecurity Research Lab (CRL) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and recognized as a leading expert in cryptography\, blockchain technology\, quantum-resistant solutions\, enterprise security architecture and Internet-of-Things (IoT) security. \nSince 2016\, Dr. Mashatan has been a professor at the Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management and holds the prominent position as a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Quality of Security (QoS) Framework for Internet-of-Things (IoT) as of September 2021. She investigates new threats that have emerged due to the  widespread adoption of IoT\, develop new security systems for these networks\, and recommends best practices for users\, technical audiences and policy-makers. Her CRC program focuses on enhancing the quality of security of smart yet small IoT devices in the specific context in which they are being deployed. The aim of this multidisciplinary research program is to make a solution as secure as possible\, given the contextual parameters and limitations of its use-case. \nDr. Mashatan’s remarkable contributions to cybersecurity have been globally recognized as she continues to be an innovative leader and researcher at the forefront of the field. She has been acknowledged with many prestigious awards some of which include being recognized as the Top 25 Women of Influence (2024) by Women of Influence+\,  Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award 2023 under the Executive Leader category awarded by Women’s Executive Network (WXN)\, Canada’s Cyber Security Research Expert of the Year (2023) by Wealth & Finance International and the Top 5 Women of Influence in Security 2019 by SC Magazine. Furthermore\, her achievements include receiving the University Blockchain Research Initiative Innovator Award from Ripple in November 2021 and winning the Hyperledger Challenge by the Hyperledger Foundation in August 2022. \nPreviously\, Dr. Mashatan was a Scientific Collaborator at the Security and Cryptography Laboratory of School of Computer and Communication Sciences\, EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology\, Lausanne)\, where she conducted research into cryptographic protocols\, followed by a position at CIBC\, where she was a Senior Information Security Consultant and Solutions Architect focusing on cryptography and enterprise architecture. \n\nDina Tzirakos-Hawker \nManaging Director\, Sandbox CentreSee Bio×Dina Tzirakos-Hawker\nDina Hawker is the Managing Director of the Sandbox Centre. She brings more than 17 years of experience across finance\, operations\, manufacturing\, strategy\, and law\, and has built a reputation for connecting entrepreneurs\, industry\, and government to drive economic growth and commercialization outcomes.  \nUnder her leadership\, Sandbox\, one of Ontario’s newest Regional Innovation Centres\, has evolved into a collaborative hub supporting founders and scaling companies\, with a growing focus on dual-use technology\, manufacturing\, and defence-sector commercialization\, helping companies move from early-stage development to scale. Over the past three years\, Dina has deepened her involvement in the Canadian and U.S. defence ecosystems\, working alongside a mentor\, as a Canadian partner to Fuse Ventures (a global dual-use hub)\, and other defence industry experts to build the sector knowledge behind Sandbox’s defence programming. Her focus has been creating programming that bridges innovation and industry and helping bring Canada’s capabilities to the world stage.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/ai-quantum-cybersecurity-and-space-leveraging-dual-use-tech-for-defence-sovereignty/
CATEGORIES:Innovation Virtual Series,Innovation Virtual Series 2026,Virtual Sessions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261013T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261013T143000
DTSTAMP:20261005T165212Z
CREATED:20260914T172612Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T165212Z
UID:35888-1791896400-1791901800@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:The Arctic & Northern Sovereignty: Infrastructure as a Catalyst
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingCanada’s northern vastness is facing unprecedented geopolitical scrutiny and climate-driven transformation. Under Pillar 5 of the DIS\, federal defence investments in the Arctic must serve a dual purpose: expanding continental defence readiness and NORAD modernization while acting as a structural catalyst for long-term economic self-reliance in Northern and Indigenous communities. This panel moves past high-level sovereignty rhetoric to examine the tangible deployment of remote infrastructure. Focusing on overland and community-level assets\, panelists will discuss the scaling of remote telecommunications\, ruggedized green energy microgrids\, and multi-purpose transportation corridors capable of operating in severe permafrost conditions. Industry leaders and Northern stakeholders will analyze how to navigate complex jurisdictional overlaps and fast-track permitting timelines to build a resilient\, secure\, and self-sustaining Canadian North. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Moderator: Dr Ryan Connon (GNWT)Senior Knowledge Advisor for the Government of the Northwest TerritoriesSee Bio×Dr Ryan Connon (GNWT)\nDr. Ryan Connon is the Senior Knowledge Advisor for the Government of the Northwest Territories\, where he leads the development of long-term strategic research initiatives and territorial science policy. He works closely with territorial and federal departments\, Indigenous governments and organizations\, academic institutions\, and industry to promote collaborative research projects to support the integration of scientific\, Indigenous\, and other knowledge systems into government priorities. Ryan holds a Ph.D. in cold regions hydrology\, as well as adjunct faculty positions at Queen’s University and Wilfrid Laurier University. \nDr. Jessica M. Shadian President and CEO – Arctic360See Bio×Dr. Jessica M. Shadian\nDr. Jessica M. Shadian is President and CEO of Arctic360\, Canada’s Arctic think tank. She gained international recognition as an academic and researcher living in the Nordic Arctic after completing her dissertation research at the Scott Polar Research Institute\, Cambridge\, UK and Ph.D. (International Relations)\, University of Delaware (2006). Since moving to Canada in 2013\, her thought leadership on Arctic geopolitics\, infrastructure\, critical minerals\, and innovation has been sought by Canadian and European governments\, institutions\, industry\, and media. \nTracy St-DenisAssistant Deputy Minister\, Defence Coordination\, NWTSee Bio×Tracy St-Denis\nTracy St. Denis is a seasoned public service executive currently serving as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Defence Coordination for the Government of Northwest Territories\, where she leads strategic planning and territorial alignment for anticipated investments by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Based in Yellowknife\, Canada\, she has spent decades driving public sector programs and economic development in the region. Her extensive career history with the territorial government includes senior leadership positions such as Assistant Deputy Minister of Programs and Services\, Assistant Deputy Minister of Economic Development\, and Director of Economic Diversification. In addition to her civil service achievements\, she actively supports community impact in the Canadian northwest as the Past Chair of the Board for the United Way Northwest Territories. \nKendra MacDonaldChief Executive Officer\nCanada’s Ocean Supercluster See Bio×Kendra MacDonald\nKendra MacDonald is the CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster\, responsible for the accelerated development and commercialization of innovation that will solve some of the world’s biggest challenges in ocean.  Kendra is leading the change in the culture of doing business in ocean from coast-to-coast-to-coast\, increasing collaboration across ocean sectors and growing Canada’s ocean economy in a digital\, sustainable\, and inclusive way. In recognition of her leadership in building the Ocean Supercluster from the ground up\, Kendra has named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Business Magazine for the last five years and one of Canada’s Top Sustainability Leaders by Clean50 in 2022. \nPrior to leading Canada’s Ocean Supercluster\, Kendra was a Partner in Deloitte’s Risk Advisory practice and the Chief Audit Executive of Deloitte Global. \nKatherine Alivaktuk (Minich)Director of Inuit Qaijisarvingat at Inuit Tapiriit KanatamiSee Bio×Katherine Alivaktuk (Minich)\nKatherine Alivaktuk is the Director of Inuit Qaujisrvingat (cow-yee-sar-ving-at) at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Currently Katherine oversees research partnerships that connect across Inuit Nunangat\, organizes ethics review for the Qanuitpitaa National Inuit Health Survey while promoting Inuit research priorities outline in the National Inuit Strategy on Research. \nJoseph Galimberti Director of Inuit Qaijisarvingat at Inuit Tapiriit KanatamiSee Bio×Joseph Galimberti \nJoseph Galimberti joined the PAL Group of Companies in 2018 as Senior Vice-President of Public Affairs. Prior to joining PAL\, Mr. Galimberti held a variety of executive positions\, including President of the Canadian Steel Producers Association\, Vice-President of Public and Corporate Affairs at Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada\, Director of Government and Community Relations at Air Canada\, and various roles with the Government of Canada. He is also the co-owner of a family business\, Broad Street Cycles\, in Victoria\, British Columbia and a former Trustee on the Board of Pearson College UWC. 
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/the-arctic-northern-sovereignty-infrastructure-as-a-catalyst/
CATEGORIES:Innovation Virtual Series,Innovation Virtual Series 2026,Virtual Sessions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261015T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261015T140000
DTSTAMP:20261008T205915Z
CREATED:20260914T215149Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T205915Z
UID:35539-1792067400-1792072800@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Who Defines Research Impact?
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingThis panel convenes leaders from academia\, policy\, and research administration to address a central question in Canadian higher education: what counts as meaningful research performance\, and who defines it? Metrics\, rankings\, and funding outcomes are extensively used as proxies for quality. Yet evaluation systems do more than measure performance; they shape research agendas\, career trajectories\, funding decisions\, and institutional priorities. \nFormal assessment frameworks establish expectations\, while informal practices influence how those expectations are interpreted and applied. Panelists will examine how these systems distribute recognition\, opportunity\, and resources\, and how they affect equity\, researcher well-being\, curiosity-driven inquiry\, interdisciplinary collaboration\, and the broader public value of research. \nTim Evans will moderate a discussion to explore practical alternatives that align evaluation with diverse forms of research contribution while maintaining rigor\, accountability\, and public trust. \nThe discussions will be illuminated by panelists with diverse expertise and experience including research policy\, global reform initiatives like DORA\, funding systems\, and community‑engaged research. This range allows a direct examination of how concepts like excellence\, impact\, knowledge mobilization\, return on investment\, viz. valorisation\, are defined and operationalized in practice. The session invites a candid exchange on how research assessment can evolve to better recognize diverse forms of excellence\, support healthy research cultures\, and strengthen the contribution of research as a public good in Canada. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Tim Evans Vice-President\, Research\, Innovation and Impact at Concordia UniversitySee Bio×Tim Evans\nTim Evans is Vice-President\, Research\, Innovation and Impact at Concordia University. He earned a medical degree from McMaster University and a DPhil in agricultural economics from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. \nBefore joining Concordia\, Evans was the inaugural director and associate dean of the School of Population and Global Health at McGill University\, where he also served as associate vice-president of global policy and innovation. He was executive director of Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force and held senior leadership roles at the World Bank\, the World Health Organization and BRAC University. \nThroughout his career\, Evans has played a key role in advancing global health initiatives. He co-founded Gavi\, the Vaccine Alliance\, led the World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health and worked to expand access to HIV treatment and midwifery training in Bangladesh. \nDr. Kelly CobeyScientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of OttawaSee Bio×Dr. Kelly Cobey\nDr. Kelly Cobey is a scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa. She is currently Co-Chair of the international Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)\, the leading global initiative promoting the reform of how research and researchers are evaluated. Her research focuses on meta-research\, open science implementation\, research integrity\, and responsible metrics\, with particular expertise in the health sciences. [sfdora.org]\, [ottawaheart.ca] \nDr. Nadine CaronAdvocate for marginalized peoples’ rights in health care and researchSee Bio×Dr. Nadine Caron\nDr. Nadine Caron is an advocate for marginalized peoples’ rights in health care and research. Her scholarly and professional activities centre on optimizing Indigenous and northern Canadians’ health\, and addressing inequities in access to surgical services\, cancer care\, prescription medications and research. \nJesse Vincent-HerscoviciPresident and Chief Executive Officer of AxelysSee Bio×Jesse Vincent-Herscovici\nJesse Vincent-Herscovici is President and Chief Executive Officer of Axelys\, the organization mandated by the Government of Québec to support the development and transfer of innovations stemming from public research. He has nearly 20 years of experience in leadership\, strategic development\, and partnership building across the research and innovation sector. \nIn Québec\, he actively contributes to discussions with government and key ecosystem stakeholders on strategic directions and public policies shaping research and innovation. His expertise spans the commercialization of public research\, intellectual property\, technology maturation\, technology transfer\, and bringing innovations to market. \nAt the Canadian level\, he also engages with decision-makers and government bodies on the conditions needed to increase the economic and societal impact of research. He appeared on several occasions before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research. \nCarole JabetVice-president Research\, Scientific Direction – Life Science SectorSee Bio×Carole Jabet\nCarole Jabet is Vice-president Research\, Scientific direction – Life Science sector\, for the Fonds de recherche du Québec\, where she works to support excellence in health research\, recognized worldwide and which contributes to the well-being of the population. During her career\, she participated in the establishment of research funding programs and structuring projects and in the establishment of partnerships with high added value with private\nand public actors in the health sector. She actively contributes to the definition and implementation of initiatives facilitating the development and implementation of innovations in the health care network. \nCarole Jabet is an engineer from the Ecole Centrale de Lyon and a PhD in molecular biophysics from the École Centrale de Paris\, a postdoctoral fellow in the Biophysics department of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has held positions for technical and economic evaluation of innovations and for strategic management of scientific affairs (VP\, Scientific Affairs – Genome Québec; partner at CapCOGITO; Deputy Director of Research at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal – CHUM). Madame Jabet sits on the boards of FRQ\, CQDM\, QIS\, Montreal InVivo\, Axelys and Mères avec Pouvoir. \nDaniel W. LangEmeritus Professor in the Department of Theory and Policy Studies\, University of TorontoSee Bio×Daniel W. Lang\nDaniel W. Lang is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Theory and Policy Studies at the University of Toronto\, where he previously was Vice Provost\, Planning and Budget\, Vice-President\, Computing and \nCommunications\, and Senior Policy Advisor to the President. He is a recipient of the Palgrave Prize from the International Association of Universities\, the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education\, Distinguished Member Award\, the University of Toronto Arbor Award\, and the Papal Order of St. Gregory. His governing board memberships include the Center for Research Libraries (Treasurer)\, Algoma University\, the Toronto School of Theology\, Saint Augustine’s Seminary\, Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning\, and King’s University College (Vice-chair and Treasurer). He was editor of the Canadian Journal of Higher Education\, 1976-1980. As head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity baseball team\, he was named OUA Coach of the Year twice and All-Star Coach once. He is a member of the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame and recipient of the OUA John McManus Award.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/who-defines-research-impact/
CATEGORIES:Virtual Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Oct15_en.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261019T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261019T143000
DTSTAMP:20261015T154111Z
CREATED:20261005T155849Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261015T154111Z
UID:36282-1792414800-1792420200@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Accelerating Innovation: Modernizing R&D Support and the BOREALIS Mechanism
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingCanada possesses a world-class research ecosystem across its post-secondary institutions and polytechnics\, yet translating raw R&D into scalable\, defence-grade commercial products remains a persistent challenge. This session focuses on the operationalization of Pillar 3 of the DIS\, specifically analyzing the mechanisms of federal research support and the deployment of the new BOREALIS defence innovation model. Bringing together leaders from BOREALIS/DRDC\, the U15 research universities\, and Polytechnics Canada\, this panel will critique current funding and technology-transfer pipelines. The conversation will focus on how to build highly coordinated sandboxes\, optimize rapid prototyping pathways\, and align government innovation programs to better match the commercial speed of industry. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Dr. Marlies RisePresident and Chief Executive Officer \nGenome Atlantic See Bio×Dr. Marlies Rise\nDr. Marlies Rise has more than 20 years of leadership experience in research administration\, innovation\, and industry partnerships. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Genome Atlantic\, she is focused on strengthening strategic partnerships\, deepening alignment with government and industry priorities\, and expanding opportunities for researchers\, academic institutions\, and companies commercializing genomics innovations across the region and beyond. This includes a recent partnership with Vimy Forge to develop dual-use applications that meet civilian and defence needs\, connecting Atlantic Canada’s research strengths with emerging national security and economic opportunities. Dr. Rise has supported university research portfolios of up to $270 million annually and holds a PhD in Forest Biology from the University of Victoria.  \nSarah Watts-RynardChief Executive Officer \nPolytechnics Canada See Bio×Sarah Watts-Rynard\nSarah Watts-Rynard assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at Polytechnics Canada in July 2018.  Prior to this role\, she served as Executive Director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum\, supporting Canada’s apprenticeship community with research\, promotion and by connecting stakeholders across trades\, across sectors and across Canada.  \nSarah has a degree in Journalism and English from Carleton University.  Since graduating\, she has built a career that includes time in government\, the private sector and at skills-focused non-profit organizations.  She has experience related to non-profit governance\, fundraising\, advocacy and marketing.  She leads a team of passionate and dedicated employees committed to high-quality skills and innovation policy\, reflecting the strengths of polytechnic education in Canada.  In 2018\, Sarah was awarded an honorary diploma in the Skilled Trades by Niagara College.  \nSarah is Chair of the CWB Welding Foundation and Vice-Chair of the Canadian Centre for Women in Science\, Engineering\, Trades and Technology (WinSETT Centre). \nJulie St-PierreVice-President\, Research and Innovation\nUniversity of Ottawa See Bio×Julie St-Pierre\nJulie St-Pierre is the Vice-President\, Research and Innovation of the University of Ottawa. \nShe was awarded BSc and MSc degrees from Laval University before earning her doctorate at the University of Cambridge\, England. As a post-doctoral fellow\, Julie St-Pierre conducted research in both Europe and the United States\, including at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. From 2008 to 2017\, she was an assistant professor and then full professor at McGill University\, where she co-established a core facility in metabolomics and co-led it for eight years. \nIn 2017\, the University of Ottawa recruited her and she established a similar core facility at the Faculty of Medicine. Today she is a full professor in the Faculty’s Department of Biochemistry\, Microbiology and Immunology. \nHer research deals with metabolomics\, a science based on powerful technology that serves to deepen our understanding of the metabolic states of physiological and pathological conditions. Julie St-Pierre is especially interested in how metabolic adaptations in breast cancer can fuel therapeutic resistance. \nBefore her appointment as Interim Vice-President\, Julie St-Pierre had been Associate Vice-President\, Research Support and Infrastructure within the Office of Vice-President\, Research and Innovation since 2023. \nShanti JohnsonVice-President\, Research and Innovation\nUniversity of WindsorSee Bio×Shanti Johnson\nDr. Johnson’s research focuses on aging and health\, specifically falls and injury prevention\, aging in place in rural commnunities\, and social isolation among immigrant and refugee seniors. \nEffective July 1\, 2023\, she was appointed to the position of vice-president\, research and innovation. The position reports to the Unversity’s president and vice-chancellor. In her vice-president role\, Dr. Johnson is responsible for advancing UWidnsor’s research culture by enhancing the development of interdisciplinary research teams\, expanding partnership opportunities\, capitalizing on strategic research funding\, and supporting student and community-engaged research. Before joining the University of Windsor\, Dr. Johnson served at the University of Alberta as professor and dean of the School of Public Health. \nMartin ChampouxActing Director\, Strategic Partnerships\nDRDC See Bio×Martin Champoux\nMartin is a seasoned public servant with over 30 years experience in the areas of defence\, national security\, and public safety. This experience includes various roles in the Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada\, emergency management policy and operational roles with Public Safety Canada and policy positions within the Privy Council Office’s Security and Intelligence Secretariat and Democratic Institutions Unit. In addition to his work with the federal government\, Martin served as a civilian senior officer with the Ottawa Police Service.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/accelerating-innovation-modernizing-rd-support-and-the-borealis-mechanism/
CATEGORIES:Innovation Virtual Series,Innovation Virtual Series 2026,Virtual Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Oct19-en.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261027T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261027T133000
DTSTAMP:20261020T193748Z
CREATED:20260930T144914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T193748Z
UID:36285-1793102400-1793107800@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Foundation of the Base: Securing Supply Chains for Critical Minerals\, Steel\, and Aluminum
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingAdvanced defence manufacturing—from aerospace alloys and naval hulls to military-grade energy storage and munitions—is entirely dependent on secure access to raw materials and intermediate processing. Moving beyond extraction\, Pillar 4 of the DIS underscores the strategic necessity of domestic refining and supply chain resilience. This panel brings together executives from Canada’s critical minerals\, steel\, and aluminum sectors to address vulnerabilities stemming from foreign input dependencies and geopolitical supply shocks. The discussion will map out a roadmap to build domestic production capacity\, accelerate infrastructure investments for strategic processing\, and establish closer alignment between continental defence procurement and Canada’s broader critical industrial materials strategies. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Moderator: Isabella ChenSenior Assistant Deputy MinisterSee Bio×Isabella Chan\nIsabella Chan has over 20 years of experience working in the public sector at the federal and provincial levels. She joined Natural Resources Canada in April 2024 as the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of the Lands and Minerals Sector. Prior to this role\, she worked at the Privy Council Office as the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet\, Social Development Policy\, and as the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch at Health Canada. Isabella has also occupied a number of executive positions at Finance Canada and Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat\, including the role of Director General\, Intergovernmental Tax Policy\, Evaluation and Research Division in the Tax Policy Branch\, and Executive Director\, Social and Cultural Sector. \nHeather Exner-PirotSenior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources\, Energy\, and Environment\nMacdonald-Laurier Institute See Bio×Heather Exner-Pirot\nHeather Exner-Pirot is a Senior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources\, Energy\, and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. She  serves as a Special Advisor to the Business Council of Canada\, and Managing Editor of the Arctic Yearbook. She is an internationally recognized scholar and policy expert whose work focuses on natural resource development\, energy security\, critical minerals\, Arctic governance\, Indigenous economic participation\, and Canadian competitiveness. \nDr. Exner-Pirot has held board and fellowship appointments with Indigenous\, Canadian and international institutions and is a frequent contributor to public policy discussions on resource development\, trade\, energy\, and northern affairs. Her research emphasizes practical approaches to strengthening Canada’s economic prosperity\, resilience\, and strategic position through responsible development of its natural resources. \nJean SimardPresident and CEO\,\nAluminium Association of Canada See Bio×Jean Simard\nAs President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) since 2009\, Jean Simard is the industry’s official representative and spokesperson with governments\, business associations and the media\, as well as with international organizations linked to the industry. \nMr. Simard holds a degree in Civil Law from the University of Ottawa and is a member of the Barreau du Québec. He possesses extensive professional experience in public policy and government relations\, mainly in sustainable development\, energy and environmental affairs. Prior to joining the AAC\, he was Vice-President Sustainable Development\, Public and Governmental Affairs\, at Gaz Métro\, a Quebec-based energy company. \nMr. Simard represents the AAC at the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) and at the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). He is a member of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of the Quebec Industrial Aluminium Cluster (Alu Québec)\, as well as a member of the Board (Treasurer) of the Conseil patronal de l’environnement du Québec (CPEQ). Co-founder and member of the Board and Steering committee of SWITCH\, the Alliance for a greener economy\, he is one of the Leaders of the Canadian Smart Prosperity initiative. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices.He recently founded and co-chairs the Canada US Trade Council (CUSTC) focused on U.S. tariffs\, and CUSMA renewal. He was recently appointed by the Government of Canada to the new Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations. \nHe received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in January 2025. This distinction was awarded in recognition of his contribution to promoting Canadian aluminium. \nAmanda HallCEO and Founder\,\nSummit Lithium Technologies See Bio×Amanda Hall\nAmanda Hall is the CEO and Founder of Summit Lithium Technologies\, a Canadian technology company advancing direct lithium extraction (DLE) to meet rapidly growing demand from electric vehicles and large‑scale energy storage. With more than 20 years as a professional geophysicist\, she leads the development of high‑performance\, responsible extraction technology built for modern battery supply chains. Amanda holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology/Physics (University of Toronto) and Geophysics (University of Calgary. She was the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of The Year® Prairies Winner\, a Business Insider Climate Action 30 honouree\, and the top innovator in the MaRS Women in Cleantech Challenge.  \nBlair DickersonPresident and Chief Executive Officer\,\nCanadian Steel Producers Association of Canada (CSPA) See Bio×Blair Dickerson\nBlair Dickerson serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Steel Producers Association of Canada (CSPA). \nPreviously in her career\, Blair held leadership roles in the natural resources and mining sector in the areas of sustainability\, Indigenous and community relations\, and corporate affairs. She has also held leadership roles in the Forestry sector as VP of Public Affairs at Domtar. \nBlair has a passion for developing and nurturing high-performing teams. \nThroughout her career Blair focused on assignments in highly regulated sectors as well as in government. She worked at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as VP of External Relations. At Natural Resources Canada she served as Chief of Staff to the Minister working closely with the forestry\, energy\, and mining sectors. Early in her career Blair also served as the press secretary for the Minister of National Defence. \nBlair Dickerson currently serves on the Board of Directors at 5N Plus\, a leading global producer of specialty semi conductors and critical performance materials. \nShe has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce\, the Mining Association of Canada\, and the Canadian American Business Council. Blair has a degree in political science and economics and a master’s degree in business from Queens University.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/foundation-of-the-base-securing-supply-chains-for-critical-minerals-steel-and-aluminum/
CATEGORIES:Innovation Virtual Series,Innovation Virtual Series 2026,Virtual Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Oct27-en.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261117T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261117T133000
DTSTAMP:20261104T194619Z
CREATED:20261023T191334Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261104T194619Z
UID:37630-1794916800-1794922200@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:CSPC 2026 Virtual Short Talks session - Tuesday
DESCRIPTION:Register HereThe Canadian Science Policy Centre is pleased to present a special virtual showcase leading up to the CSPC 2026 conference\, featuring six selected short talks. This dynamic 90-minute session highlights fast-paced\, high-impact presentations on pressing science\, technology\, and innovation policy topics. Join us online to explore innovative ideas from leading voices in the community and engage directly with the speakers during interactive Q&A segments. \nAnu Shukla-Jones\, Non ProfitDirector\, Knowledge Mobilization & Strategic PartnershipsBioCanRx – Canada’s Immunotherapy NetworkSee Bio×Anu Shukla\nBioCanRx accelerates the development of cancer immunotherapies by funding and supporting translational research — the stage that bridges lab discoveries and real-world patient treatments. \nWith a model tailor-made for Canada’s health research system\, we ensure our public funded research delivers true patient benefit and strengthens the life sciences economy. \nI officially joined BioCanRx in 2026 after 20 years of federal public service in eight departments and agencies where I contributed to health\, research\, innovation\, economic\, administrative\, and strategic policy\, regulation and legislation. At BioCanRx I create and support connections among the BioCanRx Network and the broader health\, research\, and innovation community\, including holding relationships with many people with lived and living experience\, patient support organizations\, caregivers\, and people who are interested in immunotherapy and the future of health. \nI have contributed to my local community as a Board Member with the local school and school board\, and with YouTurn Youth Support Services that provides services to youth and their families who are in conflict with the law or at risk of becoming involved in the justice system. \nMy post-secondary education in the late 90’s and early 2000’s resulted in a Human Biology HBCs from the University of Toronto\, and MSc in Neuroscience from the University of Ottawa.  I am a trained facilitator and contributed to the development and deployment of anti-racism courses at the Canada School of Public Service. \nDeanna Burgart\, AcademiaAssociate Dean – Indigenous Inclusivity and ReconciliationUniversity of Calgary Schulich School EngineeringSee Bio×Deanna Burgart\nDeanna Burgart is a Cree Dene engineer\, educator\, and Associate Professor (Teaching) at the University of Calgary\, where she serves as Associate Dean of Indigenous Inclusivity and Reconciliation. With over two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry spanning operations\, regulatory affairs\, and risk management\, her work now focuses on transforming engineering education through Indigenous methodologies. She is the creator of Indigeneering\, a framework that integrates Indigenous ways of knowing\, being\, and doing into professional formation. Through teaching\, scholarship\, and leadership\, she advances relational\, ethical\, and inclusive approaches to engineering in both academic and policy contexts. \nGustavo Henrique de Andrade\, PrivateResearch AnalystElsevier CanadaSee Bio×Gustavo Henrique de Andrade\nMr. Gustavo Henrique de Andrade is a Research Analyst in bibliometrics at Elsevier Canada. After building his professional career as a public servant\, he relocated to Canada\, where he completed a master’s degree in Political Science at Concordia University. His combined experience in public policy\, project management\, stakeholder engagement\, and evaluation provide a vital complement to the skill set of the broader Analytics and Data Services team. Mr. de Andrade demonstrates a commitment to the scientific method and its capacity to utilize data in the formulation of evidence-based public policies. In his current role\, he contributes to bibliometric reports and analyses\, performing diverse activities from data preparation and computation of indicators to reporting and statistical analysis. \nDavid CampbellHead of Research Analytics\, AmericasElsevier CanadaSee Bio×David Campbell\nDavid Campbell is Head of Research Analytics with Elsevier’s Analytical and Data Services team. He was formerly Chief Scientist of Science-Metrix\, the Montréal-based firm he joined in 2004. In over 20 years he has contributed to more than 150 bibliometric assessments and evaluation studies. In Canada\, he has performed work for the three federal granting agencies (CIHR\, NSERC and SSHRC) and for most federal science-based departments and agencies. Internationally\, his clients include the European Commission\, UKRI\, Research England\, Wellcome Trust and the Moore Foundation. For the Commission\, he led a four-year study that produces the bibliometric\, patent and other intellectual property indicators used to inform EU research and innovation policy. Results from that study are featured in the Commission’s Science\, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU 2026 (SRIP) report. His work on indicator development has produced several indicators now used routinely in Elsevier/Science-Metrix studies\, notably on cross-disciplinary research and on how science is taken up in social media and policy documents. He is a lifetime member of ISSI and presents and publishes regularly in the research evaluation community. \nMaushumi Bhattacharjee\, AcademiaAcademic AssociateCenter of Genomics and Policy\, McGill UniversitySee Bio×Maushumi Bhattacharjee\nLocated within the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine at McGill University\, the Centre of Genomics and Policy (CGP) advances research on the legal\, ethical\, and policy dimensions of genomics and health data. A core focus of its work is the development of data governance frameworks\, tools\, and standards to support responsible\, equitable\, and interoperable data sharing across jurisdictions. Through research\, education\, and international collaboration\, CGP contributes to major global initiatives and capacity-building efforts. Its work is grounded in three human rights: the right to science\, the right to non-discrimination\, and the right to health\, across diverse areas of biomedical innovation. \nEncieh Erfani\, AcademiaResearch Policy & Research Systems | Program ManagementGlobal Scientific CollaborationSee Bio×Encieh Erfani\nEncieh Erfani is an Iranian physicist in exile and a science-policy professional based in Canada. Her work bridges scientific research\, public policy\, international collaboration\, and science diplomacy\, informed by her lived experience of threats to academic freedom and the displacement of scholars. She is developing Frontier Physics\, Policy & Diplomacy\, an initiative examining how governments and international institutions can engage with frontier science early enough to anticipate its societal and geopolitical implications. Drawing on her experience in research\, program development\, stakeholder engagement\, and international academic communities\, Encieh works to strengthen connections among scientists\, policymakers\, and civil society while advancing responsible\, inclusive\, and internationally cooperative approaches to science and technology. \nJessica Zhang\, AcademiaPolitical Science Honors Student Researcher (Arctic Health Justice)University of California\, Irvine (UCI)See Bio×Jessica Zhang\nJessica Zhang is a recent graduate of the University of California\, Irvine\, where she studied Political Science and completed an honors thesis on Inuit food insecurity\, nutritional colonialism\, and Indigenous digital advocacy. Her research focuses on Arctic governance\, Indigenous health justice\, and digital media. She designed and taught a 10-week undergraduate seminar on climate change and the Arctic. Her work explores how Indigenous knowledge and digital platforms inform policy discussions surrounding Arctic food sovereignty and community well-being. \nSee all CSPC 2023 Virtual Events
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/pre-conference-virtual-short-talk-session/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Short Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sciencepolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Nov-17-Short-talks-session-EN.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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