THINK 2024 Agenda – Conference Day 1: October 16 8:00 – 9:00 am | Registration and Breakfast 9:00 – 9:05 am | Welcome and Opening Remarks Speaker: Steve Orsini (President and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities). 9:05 – 9:45 am | Opening Keynote – Navigating the Future: Tech, Media and Telecom Predictions for 2024, 2025, and beyond! Duncan Stewart, lead author of Deloitte’s annual TMT Predictions report since 2007, will present a tailored version of the 2024 report, with some sneak peeks of the 2025 topics. While touching on telecom advancements like 5G, 6G, Open RAN, Fixed Wireless Access, and satellite connectivity, he will also look at the emerging tech trends that drive the need for connectivity and their implications for the research, education, and innovation sectors. From generative AI use cases to quantum encryption, Duncan will explore their transformative potential and how they can drive innovation and growth within the community. Keynote Speaker: Duncan Stewart (Director of Research, Technology, Media, Telecommunications (TMT), Deloitte) Suggested Reading: Telecoms tackle the generative AI data center market 9:45 – 10:15 am | Journey to ORION 3.0: Empowering Collaborative Innovation Discover how ORION is shaping the future of research and education through community-driven initiatives and technological advancements. Join ORION’s President and CEO, Alfonso Licata, as he highlights our commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation within the community. Learn about progress towards ORION 3.0, including pivotal milestones and updates on the GTAnet amalgamation. Speaker: Alfonso Licata (President and CEO, ORION) 10:15 – 10:45 am | Break 10:45 – 11:45 am | The Intersection of Higher Education and Cybersecurity Explore the critical intersection of higher education and cybersecurity with a unique blend of perspectives on how research, investment, and strategic collaboration foster progress in the sector. Session Speakers: Dr. Charmaine Dean (VP Research and International, University of Waterloo; Board Chair, National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC)), Steven N. Liss (VP Research and Innovation, Toronto Metropolitan University; Board member, National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC); Board Chair, Rogers CyberSecure Catalyst), and Jonathan Newman (VP Research, Wilfrid Laurier University) Moderator: Steve Prentice (Emcee) 11:45 – 12:45 pm | Lunch 12:45 – 1:45 pm | Empowering Excellence: Community Innovation Showcase A showcase of transformative research and innovation within ORION’s vibrant community. This session celebrates the pioneering spirit of our constituents, featuring institutions who will share their groundbreaking projects and impactful initiatives. It’s an IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility): Learning to Foster Authentic Inclusion for Accessibility Through VR Speakers: Jim McEwen (Adaptive Technology Specialist, Niagara College) and Jamie Oresar (General Education Curriculum Coordinator, Professor of Sociology & Equity Studies, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Niagara College) College, University, and Industry Collaboration, A Success Story: Development of Fan-in-Wing System Speaker: Fereydoon Diba (Lead Research Scientist, Fleming College, Centre for Applied Machine Intelligence and Integration Technologies (CAMIIT)) Future Concepts for Distributed Research Computing Speaker: Dan Desjardins (CEO and co-founder, Distributive) VCycene and George Brown College: Cultivate the Future with AI Speakers: Junaid Siddiqui (Software Developer, VCycene) and Arbab Khan (Business Development Manager, Manufacturing and Prototyping (AMP) Labs, George Brown College) 1:45 – 2:30 pm | What Can AI Teach Us About What It Means to Be Human? Thriving In a World of Human-Machine Collaboration Join Iliana Oris Valiente, Managing Director and Head of Innovation at Accenture Canada, for a keynote session that explores the transformative impact of AI on our daily lives. Drawing from her extensive experience with Fortune 500 clients and her active role in venture capital, Iliana will discuss how AI is reshaping the way we work and play, as well as the broader societal changes it brings. In this session, Iliana will introduce Laila – her AI-powered digital human twin – and share lessons learned about what it means to be human, uncovered through building an AI. This is part of a broader trend of agentic computing and future collaborations between humans and machines, where three-quarters of workers are likely to interact with an AI agent in the near future. Iliana will also share recent trends from the Accenture Tech Vision report and provide insights on where Fortune 500 companies are focusing their AI efforts. She will delve into the economic impact of Canada fully embracing the AI opportunity, based on recent collaborative research with Microsoft, highlighting a $187 billion uplift to the Canadian economy by 2030. Audience members will walk away with an understanding of how to embrace AI to augment their personal and professional lives, in addition to comprehending societal-level impacts. Prepare to engage in a forward-thinking dialogue about the opportunities and challenges presented by AI and connect with fellow leaders in shaping the future of education and research. Session Speaker: Iliana Oris Valiente (Managing Director and Innovation Lead, Accenture Canada) 2:30 – 3:00 pm | Break 3:00 – 4:00 pm | Breaking Barriers: Insights from Women Leaders An empowering panel discussion where women leaders from the research and education sector share their journeys, insights and strategies for breaking barriers. The session will explore key themes such as navigating challenges, developing leadership competencies, fostering mentorship, and elevating underrepresented voices. With a focus on growth and progress, our panelists will discuss the evolving role of women in leadership and the impact we all can have in advancing diversity and equity. Session Speakers: Doris Stamml (Board Member (ORION, Fleming College), Retired Executive and Chief Legal Counsel, EY), Debra Christmas (Vice President, Executive Partner, Gartner), Julia Le (Senior Manager, Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (MPBSDP)), and Priya Mouli (Director, IT Security & Information Security Officer, Sheridan College) 4:00 – 4:15 pm | Recognizing Impact: ORION Community Leaders Awards ORION proudly presents the ORION Awards of Excellence 2024. These awards recognize the valuable contributions of community leaders within the research and education sector. Please join us in congratulating our 2024 winners for their exceptional dedication and achievements. 4:15 pm | Closing Remarks 5:30 – 9:00 pm | Community Connect: Networking Social Join us at Rusty’s, 150 Jozo Weider Blvd, Blue Mountains, from 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm for the THINK 2024 Networking and Social Event. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of networking and camaraderie at Rusty’s, amidst the picturesque setting of Blue Mountain Village. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, make connections and build community relationships within the research and education sector. Agenda is subject to change. THINK 2024 Agenda — Conference Day 2: October 17 8:00 – 9:00 am | Registration and Breakfast 9:00 – 9:05 am | Welcome and Opening Remarks 9:05 – 9:50 am | The Power of Partnership: Exploring the Research and Education Network (REN) Landscape An engaging and thought-provoking session, where leaders from Canada’s Research and Education Networks (REN) come together for a dynamic conversation. Moving beyond the traditional Q&A format, this panel will offer a conversational exploration of how REN partners collaborate, the successes achieved, and the challenges they face. As a nod to the developments that are happening all around us, we will be using generative AI to both create questions pertaining to the REN discussion, and to assign the questions to speakers based on their LinkedIn profiles. Attendees will then be asked to vote on the questions that interest them the most, making the session truly dynamic and relevant to attendees’ needs. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to demystify the REN, gain insights into its pivotal role in innovation, and hear thoughts from the panelists on the future of the network. Panelists: Bala Kathiresan (President and CEO, BCNET), Barb Carra (President and CEO, Cybera), Jennifer Lane (Executive Consultant and Acting CIO, Nunavut Arctic College), Richard Lacombe (CEO, RISQ), Sandra Cascadden (CIO, ACORN-NS), Alfonso Licata (President and CEO, ORION) What questions do you want the panel to answer? Cast your vote at slido.com #1217 480. 1. How has NREN collaboration evolved, and what key factors have driven these changes over the years? 9:50 – 10:20 am | Break 10:20 – 11:10 am | Confronting a Cybersecurity Incident: A First-hand Experience Gain insights from Laurentian CIO, a cyber breach coach on effective incident response and post-incident support. Learn about the critical role of cybersecurity insurance including understanding its importance and risk mitigation benefits. This session is essential for anyone involved in protecting research and education networks, offering practical advice and innovative solutions. Panelists: Luc Roy (AVP of IT, Laurentian University), Dan Michaluk (Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais), Patrick Bourk (Vice President of Cyber and Professional Lines, Navacord). Moderator: Kevin Parent (Director of ON-CHEC, ORION) 11:10 – 11:55 am | The Science of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Bias is one of the most troublesome aspects of human interaction. It plagues communication and reinforces archaic modes of thinking, but what is the neuroscience behind inequity and stereotypes? Neuroscientist & 3-time TEDx Speaker, Sarah Baldeo, takes you on a journey of understanding the brains’ proclivity for bias, navigating power dynamics, and rebuilding a brain that embraces diversity. Keynote Speaker: Sarah Baldeo (CEO, ID Quotient) 11:55 – 12:00 pm | Closing Remarks Agenda is subject to change. Conference Workshops: October 17 (Afternoon) 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch 1:10 – 1:45 pm | Workshop 1: Building a Fortress in the Cloud: Security Essentials Please note: Preregistration is required for each workshop; space is limited. Preregister for the Cloud Security Workshop. Overview: Enhance your cloud security expertise and stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of cyber security. Hosted in collaboration with Ontario’s Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, this workshop delivers essential insights into securing cloud environments and managing associated risks. Key Takeaways Who should attend? Presenter: Julia Le (Senior Manager, Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement) 1:55 – 2:55 pm | Workshop 2: Cybersecurity Incident Simulation: Tabletop Exercise Please note: Preregistration is required for each workshop; space is limited. Preregister for the Cybersecurity Incident Tabletop Workshop. This afternoon workshop is deigned to complement the insights from the morning’s Confronting a Cybersecurity Incident: A First-hand Experience session. Attendees will have the opportunity to apply the learnings discussed through this interactive incident simulation. Overview: This interactive tabletop exercise simulates a real-world cybersecurity incident scenario, allowing participants to experience the critical decision-making process in a controlled environment. Attendees will work through the breach lifecycle, from incident detection to response and recovery, alongside industry experts. Participate with peers of all levels from analysts to executives and see how your decisions impact the direction of an incident. There are no right or wrong answers, just an opportunity to gain experience, learn, and have fun. Key Takeaways Who should attend? Presenters: Kevin Parent (Director, ON-CHEC, ORION) and ON-CHEC Support Team 2:55 pm | Closing Remarks
2. How do NREN partners balance local priorities with national collaboration goals? Can you share a challenge or success story?
3. What recent technological innovations have had the most impact on NREN, and how has collaboration played a role in these advancements?
4. As cyber threats grow, how are NREN partners collaborating to strengthen cybersecurity? What challenges have you faced?
5. How have shared services improved efficiency and reduced costs in NREN collaboration? What challenges come with managing these efforts?
6. How are NREN partners working together to provide digital access to underserved regions, and what impact has this had on those communities?
7. What exciting opportunities do you see for future collaboration within NREN, and how can NREN partners continue to innovate?