Alfonso Licata
Alfonso is the President and CEO of ORION. He has a strong track record in the design and launch of new and disruptive enterprises in the technology space and across multiple market segments. At ORION, Alfonso helps drive the organization’s strategy forward in a highly collaborative and strategic manner.
He brings his unique blend of experience in user-first service, teamwork, and strategic alliance-building to bear on solving the complex problems faced by Ontario’s research, education, and innovation community.
Alfonso sits on the board of ORION and OCAD University’s Digital Futures Advisory Board, serving as an Adjunct Professor in this graduate program. He serves as a Volunteer Mentor and Entrepreneur in Residence, supporting teams and companies at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Digital Media Zone (DMZ), Communitech, and MaRS. He previously held a similar role at Deloitte, after co-founding several technology-based companies over the last 20 years.
Arbab Khan
Arbab Khan is an accomplished Research Manager with over 13 years of experience in project management, research, and business development across academia and the private sector. His expertise spans multiple industries, including construction, infrastructure, product development, healthcare, and information technology, with a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives, fostering innovation, and advancing technology adoption.
Arbab holds a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia University and has earned several post-graduate certificates, including Construction Project Management and Building Information Modeling (BIM) from Fanshawe College and George Brown College, where he consistently achieved top honors. He is currently pursuing a Professional MBA at Carleton University, enhancing his skills in business strategy and leadership.
Since joining George Brown College’s Office of Research and Innovation in 2016, Arbab has led multiple federal and provincial grant initiatives, leading over 100 applied research projects. His work has significantly impacted Canadian SMEs, enabling them to adopt cutting-edge technologies and improve competitiveness. Notable projects under his leadership include the Mitacs Quantum Resistant Blockchain Project and the Autonomous Stair-Climbing Robot (ROSA) in collaboration with Quantum Robotic Systems Inc.
Beyond his research management, Arbab has been instrumental in building research capacity at Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping Labs at George Brown College, mentoring students and faculty, and leading research programs. His efforts have provided over 85 students with experiential learning opportunities, cultivating the next generation of leaders in Canada's innovation economy.
Arbab is recognized for his innovative approach and commitment to solving real-world challenges. He continues to push the boundaries of applied research, delivering impactful solutions that benefit businesses, communities, and society at large.
Bala Kathiresan
Bala Kathiresan is the President and CEO of BCNET and a member of the British Columbia Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Administrative Services Consortium.
He brings over 25 years of experience in information systems and strategic leadership across both the public and private sectors. He has a proven track record of facilitating strategic vision, managing execution, and achieving organizational excellence. Bala has successfully led the development of strategic alliances with a diverse range of stakeholders, fostering a shared vision. He has served on several not-for-profit and public sector boards and currently serves on the BCNET Board and Health Claims for Auto Insurance Board. Additionally, Bala is the past-chair of the National Research and Education Network Governance Committee, Ontario Council of Chief Information Officers and Treasurer of the Canadian Council of Chief Information Officers. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, an MBA, and a certificate from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Barb Carra
Dr. Barb Carra was appointed President and CEO of Cybera, Alberta’s Research and Education Network in 2019. She is a respected leader and collaborative partner within Canada’s National Research and Education Network (NREN) landscape.
Barb is a champion for the digital needs of Canadians and frequently meets with all levels of government to ensure that Albertans have access to a connected, secure, and equitable digital future. Provincially, Barb works to strengthen how Alberta’s public sector organizations collaborate with each other through trusted partnerships to collectively increase impact, relevancy, and value. Barb also spearheaded the development of Cybera's policy, and strategic and operational initiatives, including programs that are strengthening the cybersecurity posture of Alberta’s education sector.
In 2018, Barb was selected to join the Government of Alberta’s Talent Advisory Council on Technology, which provided advice and input on strategies, investments, and outcomes to grow Alberta’s tech talent. Barb currently sits on the Boards for The Calgary Zoo and Wilder Institute, CANARIE, and in 2022 received a Governor in Council appointment to The Canada Revenue Agency Board of Management. Barb earned her Master's of Science at the University of Calgary and her Doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Charmaine Dean
Dr. Charmaine Dean is Vice-President, Research and International at the University of Waterloo. In this role, she provides strategic leadership in the areas of research and innovation, commercialization, and internationalization. She is also responsible for building strategic alliances and partnerships with other academic institutions, governments, businesses, and industries at the regional, national, federal, and international levels.
Several key collaboration portfolios are managed by her office, including the university-level Centres and Institutes and several major industrial partnerships spanning various units in the university. She has drawn a focus to ethics and social impact related to technology developments through various initiatives and is a key driver for equity and diversity in the context of research and internationalization.
Prior 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 of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Simon Fraser University.
Dr. 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 Gold 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.
Additionally, 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).
Dan Desjardins
Dan Desjardins is the CEO of Distributive, an ambitious deep-tech software company based in Kingston, Ontario. Distributive is reimagining how the world computes. Dan has a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, and was formerly a military pilot and a Physics professor at the Royal Military College of Canada.
Dan Michaluk
Dan Michaluk is a long-time higher education sector lawyer who co-leads BLG’s national privacy and cyber security practice. Dan helps universities and colleges respond optimally to security and cyber incidents, defend security and privacy complaints, claims and grievances, handle complex freedom of information matters and appeals and address security and other operational issues while minimizing privacy risks.
Dan has maintained a privacy and security practice since 2003 and has acted as a security incident “coach” since 2006. He has represented clients in significant privacy, security and freedom of information litigation, including at the Ontario Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.
Debra Christmas
Debra Christmas is a seasoned leader in the high-tech field. Her 40 plus year career has encompassed sales, consulting, support channels and managing all aspects of information technology. Debra is a Senior Executive Partner with Gartner, working with senior executives on executing their strategies, developing their teams, making technology investment decisions and their own personal leadership development. Prior to joining Gartner Canada, Debra was Vice President of Hewlett-Packard Software Technical Sales for North and South America.
She is the co-author of Please Stay: How Women in Tech Survive and Thrive released in the fall of 2020 and “We Rise In Power: Amplifying Women of Color and Her voices for Change” released on IWD, March 8th, 2023. Two additional books “Get Smarter Faster” and “Please Join: There’s No Place Like Tech” are targeted for release in 2024.
She has travelled the world as a facilitator for Manager Milestones, an innovative leadership development program and recipient of the Brandon Hall Gold Excellence Award for Learning. She has engaged with hundreds of leaders across continents and cultures to help them develop leadership skills to drive business results and enhance employee engagement. She is the Co-Creator of PACE an award-winning presentation and communications program.
She is the founder of Stiletto Gladiators, a not-for-profit organization delivering mentorship services, leadership assessment, professional development and diversity coaching and a co-founder of Women in Tech Tribe, focused on helping women in technology excel in the field. Her goal is to see equity and inclusion in this field. Debra has been involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion work in the corporate world since 1990 sitting on working groups, DEI committees and ERGs like WOW (Women on the Way Up). She is a trained Co-Active and John Maxwell Leadership Coach and is certified in Tilt365 and The Leadership Circle, a comprehensive leadership assessment framework based on the book “Mastering Leadership”. She is currently Chair of The Canadian Black Standard and on the Board of Trustees for Women of the Future.
Doris Stamml
Doris Stamml is a seasoned legal professional and executive with more than 30 years of experience working in a leading professional and consulting services organization. She recently retired from a lengthy career as Chief Legal Counsel and Executive Committee Member of Ernst & Young LLP (EY) and was honoured with a Canadian General Counsel Lifetime Achievement Award.
Doris is highly respected for her strong business acumen across functions with deep expertise in governance, DEI, risk management, legal and regulatory compliance, strategy and business planning and execution, and talent management.
She is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and is a Certified Corporate Director (ICD.D). She is a member of the Board of Directors of ORION and The Canadian Canoe Museum and the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of Fleming College.
Doris is deeply passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and has been recognized for her long track record of championing the next generation of female leaders. She is a past member of Cabinet of the United Way of Toronto and York Region where for several years she co-chaired its Women United Initiative.
Doris is most proud of her initiatives in support of coaching, mentoring, sponsoring and advancing the careers of women in law and business. In 2017, Doris received the Women’s Law Association of Ontario’s General Counsel Award for her active leadership and commitment to the success of women in law. She strives to help others achieve the often sought after “work life” balance. As a mother of four, she understands the incredible challenges working parents face every day and generously gives her time and shares her networks to assist the next generation to advance their careers.
Duncan Stewart
Duncan Stewart is the Director of TMT Research for Deloitte Canada, a member of Deloitte's US Center for Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT Center) and is a globally recognized expert on predicting the future of consumer and enterprise technology, media and entertainment & telecommunications. He has been the co-author of Deloitte Global’s annual Predictions report on trends in TMT since 2008. He is also the lead researcher on semiconductor and telecom topics for the US TMT Center and for Deloitte Global.
Duncan meets with hundreds of the top tech, media, and telecom companies globally each year, and incorporates their insights into his work. He presents regularly to companies and at conferences, has a high-profile media presence, and is frequently interviewed on the future of everything.
Duncan has 34 years of experience in the TMT industry. As a portfolio manager, he made investments in the tech and telecom sector, and won the Canadian Technology Fund Manager of the Year award in its inaugural year. In his time as an investor, he deployed a cumulative $2 billion of capital into global TMT markets, in public and private companies.
He is a CFA® charterholder and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Fereydoon Diba
Dr. Fereydoon Diba is the lead Research Scientist at Fleming College Centre for Applied Machine Intelligence and Integration Technologies (CAMIIT). He leads the strategic direction of the centre along with business development activities; his scientific leadership, passion for research, and superior networking capabilities have been instrumental in the creation of CAMIIT and shaping it into the prominent research centre it is today. Dr. Diba received his Ph.D. in Mechatronics Engineering from Ontario Tech University, his master’s degree in automotive engineering and his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology.
Dr. Diba is a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario and registered Project Management Professional (PMP). He is also serving as adjunct faculty at Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science of Ontario Tech University. Dr. Diba has an immersive record of research accomplishments and has conducted and managed more than 40 applied research projects in a variety of industrial fields and collaborated with more than 25 different industrial partners. Dr. Diba’s research works have contributed to securing more than $7 million in research funding for Fleming College in the past years through NSERC, CFI and other funding agencies. Dr. Diba has published more than 20 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
Iliana Oris Valiente
Iliana Oris Valiente is an accomplished corporate executive, innovation and emerging tech pioneer, startup investor, respected board member, published author, and sought-after global public speaker. With a clear vision and unwavering determination, she is a thought leader on a mission to build a future humans want to live in.
She’s making waves with her Digital Twin, Laila, who’s helping her with productivity by reducing monotonous tasks and increasing output. As Iliana describes it: What I’m looking forward to? Saving time to reinvest into meaningful activities – like coaching my teams, having proper conversations over meals with clients and industry leaders, digging into the latest research reports, and actually thinking/strategizing! That’s productivity.
Iliana is currently the Managing Director and Innovation Lead at Accenture Canada, working with senior executives and boards to support their strategic transformation journeys. She leads multi-disciplinary teams across design, data, and technology, focusing on emergent areas such as metaverse/blockchain/web3, sustainability, AI, and cross-industry initiatives.
A CBP (Certified Bitcoin Professional), Iliana is widely recognized for her trailblazing contributions to the blockchain industry, having advised corporations, government leaders, regulators, and startups as a translator between the web2 and web3 worlds.
Her expertise and perspective have expanded, now encompassing overall technology and societal trends, particularly emphasizing the future of work, life, and human-centred approaches. She helps audiences understand The Human Side of Innovation & Tech Trends: Creating a Future Humans Want to Live In.
Beyond just the technology – navigating climate concerns, shifting values, the loneliness epidemic, and the reshaping of communities and the search for meaningful connections – Iliana explores profound impacts on society, urging a forward-thinking approach. She aims to leave audiences optimistic and better prepared for what comes next.
As a published author and frequent speaker at global conferences, Iliana has been featured in various media outlets, including television, radio, and print. Additionally, she’s an active board member at Sunnybrook Hospital, CPA Ontario, and DIACC and mentors startups through incubators such as CDL.
Iliana is a global citizen who speaks English, Russian, Spanish, and French and enjoys connecting dots (ideas and people). Through Iliana’s unique life experiences and contributions, she has developed an ability to see the bigger picture and drive toward meaningful outcomes.
Jamie Oresar
Jamie Oresar is the General Education Curriculum Coordinator and a Professor of Sociology and Equity Studies in the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Niagara College. Teaching courses centred on equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility over the past 13 years, Jamie is deeply committed to social justice, rooting her approaches to teaching and learning in anti-oppressive, intersectional, and decolonial lenses. With over 20 years of teaching and working across the globe, she has been able to teach and learn alongside students and educators across 4 continents, in Canada, Australia, China, Mexico, Jamaica, and Kenya.
Jennifer Lane
Jennifer Lane is an IT Executive and Innovation Strategist with over two decades of pioneering leadership in technology. Holding an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Jennifer excels in driving digital transformation and technological advancements across various sectors. Her extensive expertise encompasses executive leadership, AI integration, enterprise architecture, strategic planning, and cybersecurity, with a particular focus on enhancing education and connectivity in remote regions.
One of Jennifer's standout achievements has been the implementation of the Canadian NREN in Nunavut utilizing advanced LEO technology. This project has garnered federal and global recognition for its significant impact on remote connectivity and educational infrastructure for Inuit in Canada. In her role as Executive Consultant and Acting CIO for Nunavut Arctic College, Jennifer has spearheaded key technological initiatives, including comprehensive IT strategies, organizational AI adoption, and policy development.
As an Industry thought leader, Jennifer has shared her insights at numerous conferences, highlighting the role of decolonization through technology in governance, education, and infrastructure planning. Her work has been pivotal in developing innovative solutions that support indigenous knowledge sovereignty and resiliency building through digital platforms, in Canada.
Jim McEwen
Jim McEwen is an Adaptive Technology Specialist at Niagara College, assisting students with disabilities by facilitating their use of technology to improve and accommodate their educational experience. He has been working 1:1 with students, recommending and training them on adaptive technology, and delivering workshops and presentations to faculty and staff on accessibility for over 20 years. McEwen is passionate about XR (extended reality) in education and is a certified Virtual Reality Educator. He believes that it can provide students with engaging and explicit learning experiences to deepen their understanding. He has co-created a virtual reality simulation that addresses inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) and worked on the Niagara College Accessibility Hub, a website that provides resources on document and digital accessibility.
Julia Le
Julia Le is the Senior Manager of the Cyber Security Centre of Excellence at the Government of Ontario, where she spearheads initiatives within the Cyber Security Division. Her role involves overseeing Ontario's Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, offering strategic guidance and fostering collaboration to enhance the province's cyber resilience and meet the evolving digital service needs of Ontarians.
Julia is a distinguished professional with a Bachelor of Law and Criminology from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Waterloo. Drawing on her extensive experience across all levels of government, she has held progressive positions in key areas including cyber security, innovation & economic development, and immigration.
Recognized for her outstanding leadership and contributions, Julia was honored with the Women in Leadership Award in 2023. She plays a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing partnerships for the Ontario government in the realm of cyber security, driving impactful collaborations and advancing the province's cybersecurity agenda.
Junaid Siddiqui
Junaid Siddiqui is a Software Developer at VCycene, a start-up company operating out of IBM’s start-up incubator VentureLab. Despite being at the company for less than a year, he is currently integrating the flagship product with AI in embedded software. He has also taken up and contributed to some of the many responsibilities required at a start-up company ranging from software and AI development to project management and marketing. Despite being early in his career, he has gained the confidence of the VCycene team through his contributions and work ethic.
He completed his undergraduate degree in 2020 at the University of Waterloo’s Nanotechnology Engineering program, then completed his Master’s degree in 2022 in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at McMaster University, graduating with the highest distinction. During his degree, he published his thesis “Biodegradable asparagine–graphene oxide free chlorine sensors fabricated using solution-based processing,” and as a first author, he published 2 review papers and 2 research papers on integrating electrochemical sensors and artificial intelligence.
Outside of his technical roles, he enjoys his ongoing studies in literature and ethics which have been invaluable in his contributions to both technical and non-technical environments.
Kevin Parent
Kevin Parent brings 25+ years of experience to his position of Director, ON-CHEC Cybersecurity. Kevin has worked with all levels of government, as well as organizations such as Nortel Networks, VON Canada, and CANARIE prior to joining ORION. Kevin spent several years delivering training for corporate clients as well as at the college level. Kevin turned his focus to cybersecurity in 2016 and has been involved in incident response for more than half a dozen organizations.
Luc Roy
Luc Roy is the Associate Vice President of IT (CIO) for Laurentian University since 2010. As CIO, Luc is responsible for all on-campus digital infrastructure and digital operation for the university. In 1987, Luc graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Science, Computer Science. Luc started his career in Ottawa then moved to Silicon Valley for 8 years, and 7 years in Toronto (total of 6 startups) with positions from director to vice-president in Product Management and Marketing. More recently, Luc Roy initiated and co-led the ON-CHEC collaboration that offers a shared Chief Information Security Officer for Ontario Universities and Colleges. Luc survived 3 cyber incidents at Laurentian University.
Director of Product Marketing for Bay Networks (acquired by Nortel Networks), Director of Marketing for Greenfield Networks (acquired by Cisco) and Director of Product Management and Product Marketing at Extreme Networks. He continued to work in the computer networking industry in Toronto as Vice President - Product Planning for Chantry Networks Inc. (acquired by Siemens), Vice President - Wireless Strategy for Siemens Enterprise Communications, Vice President - Market Management for Siemens Canada, Vice President - Wireless Strategy for Enterasys Networks (acquired by Extreme Networks) and Vice President - Product Management and Marketing for BlueCat Networks.
Patrick Bourk
Patrick is the Cyber & Professional Lines Practice Leader for Navacord, Canada's fastest growing insurance brokerage. As a specialty insurance expert, he collaborates with Navacord’s 50+ National Broker Partners to build and support the strategic direction of specialty insurance product lines including professional liability and directors’ & officers’ liability insurance but with an emphasis on cyber liability insurance. Patrick helps shape business development and client experience while providing technical expertise in the analysis, negotiation, and placement of these coverages. Patrick’s cyber liability insurance practice includes advising clients on how best to align breach response planning with insurance and risk mitigation solutions. He also provides claims expertise and assists clients by managing and advocating on their behalf.
A graduate of Windsor Law School in 1997, Patrick began his career as an associate lawyer with a commercial litigation focus. After moving to Toronto to work for a national law firm, he joined the Legal and Claims Department of London Guarantee Insurance Company, specializing in all forms of management risk insurance coverage. Prior to joining Navacord, Patrick led the Global Breach Services Practice at Equifax after which he established an insurance consulting practice providing advisory services to several insurtech start-ups. He is a licensed lawyer and Member of the Law Society of Ontario, a licensed insurance broker, and has been a part-time instructor at both Sheridan College and Humber College, where he has taught courses on law for business managers. Patrick is a Strategic Advisor to NetDiligence as well as a member of the NetDiligence Summit Advisory Council. He has authored several publications in the areas of commercial insurance coverage and is a frequent speaker at conferences and symposiums focusing on cyber liability insurance both in Canada and the U.S. Patrick also holds a Cyber COPE Insurance Certificate designation after completing an executive certification in Cybersecurity through Heinz College of Carnegie Mellon University. He is currently a Faculty Advisor to the Program.
Priya Mouli
Priya Mouli is a thought leader and seasoned technology executive with an impressive ~20-year career in IT Risk Management, covering the areas of Cyber Security, Privacy, Regulatory Compliance, and Resiliency.
She is currently the Director, IT Security & Information Security Officer at Sheridan College, a premier post-secondary institution in Canada.
Before moving to Toronto, she spent close to a decade advising global Technology and Financial Services organizations in the Bay Area and New York, respectively.
She has a commendable history of both collaborating with Senior Leadership and the Boards of large global companies to formulate robust and agile cyber risk strategies, and working with the operational teams to implement them.
She has authored global publications, and keeps herself active in the industry e.g. ISACA, ISC2 conferences / forums on sharing industry insights and perspectives and spreading awareness on cyber risk and women empowerment / DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) topics.
Rebecca Jamieson
Rebecca Jamieson, Tuscarora, serves as President and CEO with Six Nations Polytechnic, located in the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory (the largest by population First Nation in Canada). Rebecca contributes locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to Indigenous controlled and quality assured education and training. Rebecca serves as Chair of the Indigenous Institutes Consortium (Ontario), the National Association of Indigenous Institutes and the Six Nations Language Commission. She is a board member of National Indigenous Accreditation Board, the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium Board of Accreditation and CICan (Colleges and Institutes Canada).
Acknowledgements of Rebecca’s contributions include honorary doctorates from Western University and Laurier University, Honorary Applied Degree from Niagara College, Six Nations Community Treasure, Dreamcatcher Foundation Education Award, David Baxter Memorial for Outstanding Individual Achievement, Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. Given the tenacity of SNP staff and the open mindedness of the ORION officials, SNP was the first Indigenous owned and governed institution to join the ORION network.
Richard Lacombe
Richard Lacombe is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Réseau d’informations scientifiques du Québec (RISQ). He has more than 30 years of experience in the management of Information Technology, including 25 years in the higher education sector as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Collège Ahuntsic and HEC Montréal.
At the same time, he has been very involved at the federal and provincial levels in higher education, notably with the Canadian University Council of Chief Information Officers (CUCCIO), as Vice Chair of the Association des informaticiens des Collèges du Québec (AICQ) and Chair of the Regroupement des dirigeants de l'information des universités québécoises (RDIUQ).
Mr. Lacombe was a member of the board of directors and a member of the finance committee of CUCCIO, member of the board of directors and the executive committee of Collège Ahuntsic and a member of the Information Technology Advisory Committee of Investissement Québec. He has also served as Chair of the National Research and Education Network Governance Committee (NREN GC).
Mr. Lacombe graduated with an Executive MBA from McGill-HEC Montréal and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BAA) from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). He also completed two online certifications, one in Strategic Innovation from Oxford University and one in Artificial Intelligence from MIT Sloan and MIT CSAIL.
He also holds the titles of administrateur de société certifié (ASC) from Université Laval and Chartered Director (C.Dir.) from McMaster University.
Sandra Cascadden
Sandra Cascadden has over 25 years of experience in leadership roles, specializing in digital leadership, strategic thinking, and innovation. She is the Executive Director at Atlantic Canada Organization Research Networks in Nova Scotia (ACORN-NS) and consults within the healthcare industry.
She has worked in various industries, including healthcare, telecommunications, and broadcasting, and has held positions in large private companies, provincial government, federal crown corporations, and small entrepreneurial ventures. She is applying her knowledge and skills to and learning about the higher education sector.
Previously, Sandra was an Associate Deputy Minister at the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, focusing on leveraging digital solutions to enhance healthcare delivery, the patient experience, provider workflow and decision-making processes. She also held the role of Associate Deputy Minister and Chief Information Officer at the Nova Scotia Department of Internal Services, where she spearheaded the establishment of an IT Shared Service organization to deliver consistent, cost-effective, and high-quality services to thousands of clients within government, education and healthcare.
She believes in trying things out, experimenting, learning, innovating, and "just doing it." She has led many "firsts"—the first provincial Electronic Health Record for Nova Scotians, Innovation Garage, IT/IM Shared Service, and province-wide digital solution for COVID-19 immunization in Nova Scotia, enabling a person-based digital immunization record. She has a strong track record of achieving operational excellence and is passionate about delivering high-quality, client-centred solutions.
Sandra Cascadden holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia(now Dalhousie University) and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science from Dalhousie University. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Workplace Innovation from Royal Roads University and a Certificate in Garden Design and Landscaping. She is a strong believer in continuous learning and, in 2023, completed her Master of Digital Innovation at Dalhousie University.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Sandra owns SLC Creative Consulting in Nova Scotia, where she resides with her husband and four-legged companion, Coel. Emphasizing a continuous learning and innovation culture, Sandra is dedicated to advancing the digital landscape and delivering high-quality services for her clients.
Steven N. Liss
Steven N. Liss is Ryerson’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and a professor of Chemistry and Biology in the Faculty of Science. Professor Liss returned to Ryerson, in April 2017 following a decade of distinguished service at the University of Guelph and at Queen’s University, where he served as Vice-Principal (Research) and a professor of Environmental Studies and Chemical Engineering.
For his contributions to Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem, Steven was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
He has also held numerous positions on a number of boards and councils and continues to play an important leadership role nationally in the advancement of support for digital infrastructure. Professor Liss has been instrumental in advancing Ryerson’s significant research growth and the development of partnerships and collaborations in support of scaling and accelerating scholarly, creative and research activities across the university. He leads a bold research plan. In his role he has been instrumental in the creation of the Rogers CyberSecure Catalyst, Ryerson’s role in the establishment of the Future Skills Centre, harnessing the university’s strengths in city building, through the launch of City Building Ryerson, and advancing Ryerson’s role as a leader in health and well-being.
Sarah Baldeo
Sarah Baldeo is an experienced neuroscientist, technologist, global corporate strategist and entrepreneur, closing on 20 years of leadership experience. In 2023 Sarah graced more than 50 stages, and gave 24 keynotes, was featured on 960AM radio, and most recently nominated for the DMZ 2024 Women of the Year Award & the Top 25 Women of Influence Award. You may have even seen her on TV during the Wimbledon Open Commercials!
Sarah is a recurring guest on Canadian National News for CTV The Social in Toronto, and CTV Morning Live in Edmonton and Winnipeg. She has also been featured across FOX News in the USA.
As a lifelong Innovator, Sarah has successfully founded and exited two consulting firms, while helping three companies IPO. A winner of the 2023 Global Business Elites Top 40 Under 40 Awards. Sarah is currently CEO at IDQ Advisory Group, a boutique IT firm founded in 2010. Sarah holds an Executive MBA via University of Toronto, a neuroscience degree from York University, and certifications from Princeton, Ryerson, and University of Illinois.
You can find Sarah speaking at events like TED Conferences, Venture Cafe Miami, Venture Cafe St Louis, ELEVATE Festival, CBC News, Women Enterprise Organizations of Canada, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs, and guest lecturing at University of Toronto Rotman Business School and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Steve Prentice
Steve Prentice is a consultant, author, university lecturer, and keynote speaker. For thirty years his expertise has focused on the place where people and technology crash into each other in the workplace. With a professional background in organizational psychology and project management, his clients bring him in to learn how to work with new technologies and techniques, which most recently have included hybrid workplaces, cybersecurity, and generative AI, but which stretch all the way back to the introduction of Windows computers and the global threat of Y2K in the workplace.
His key skill is the ability to explain the complexities and ambiguities of technology in ways that people can easily understand and become comfortable with.
In 1994 he founded the Bristall Company, which continues to deliver professional development workshops and soft-skills education to busy corporate teams across North America and around the world through innovative online and asynchronous teaching methods.
Steve is the author of three business books and one novel and has ghost-written 10 other books for industry leaders. He lectures regularly in the Continuous Education Department at Ontario Tech University and is the host and producer of podcasts for some of his corporate clients, as well as his own, called CoolTimeLife.
Academically, Steve graduated from Concordia University in Montreal in 1989 with a B.A. in Communications Studies and was Valedictorian of the 1989 graduating year. Steve attended Law School in Toronto between 1989 and 1991 and was the official Rhodes Scholarship Candidate for York University for 1991. He returned to York University 10 years later and obtained his degree in Psychology.
He also works regularly as a musician, playing in the corporate events band Absolutely Jack, as well as performing as a solo singer and guitarist.