Keynote: Eli Enns

Co-founder and President | Iisaak Olam Foundation

Eli Enns is the great-grandson of Na’waas’um (historian and public speaker for Wickanninish) from Tla-o-qui-aht on his father’s side. On his mother’s side, Eli is a second-generation immigrant from the Netherlands, grandson of Peter Enns (Dutch Mennonite). Eli is a happy father and a grateful grandfather.

Eli is also an internationally recognized expert in bio-cultural heritage conservation and Indigenous economic development. He is a nation builder and Canadian political scientist focused on constitutional law, geopolitics, and ecological governance.

Co-founder of the Ha’uukmin Tribal Park in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Vancouver Island, Eli was Co-Chair for The Indigenous Circle of Experts for The Pathway to Canada Target 1 (Aichi Target 11). He is CEO and President of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation and Eli co-founded and provides strategic guidance for the IPCA Development Fund and IPCA Innovation program at MakeWay Canada. He serves on the Leadership Circle of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership.

Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership: We Rise Together!

The Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership (CRP) is an Indigenous-led network that brings together Indigenous thought leaders, conservation practitioners, and researchers to advance Indigenous-led conservation and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) across Canada. This talk will discuss the origins and intent behind the CRP and explain how successful collaborations used new and old ways of thinking. The speakers will provide an overview of how working together – and rising together – can foster change using examples from their economics, infrastructure, and finance streams of work.

Keynote: Dr. Bill Hunter

President & CEO | Canary Medical Inc.

Dr. Bill Hunter has spent his career examining ways to make medical devices safer, smarter, and more effective. He has 30 years of experience in healthcare as a former practicing physician, serial medtech entrepreneur, and chief executive. Dr. Hunter is also an innovator and inventor with over 200 patents and patent applications.

His latest venture, Canary Medical, uses implanted sensor technology to enable medical devices to self-report on function, activity, wear, complications, and patient outcomes.

Previously, Dr. Hunter served as CEO of Correvio, and prior to that, he was Founder/CEO of Angiotech, a world leader in the emerging field of drug-loaded medical devices and implants.

He has been awarded with the 2006 Principal Award from the Manning Foundation (one of Canada’s highest awards for innovation); BC Innovation Council’s Cecil Green Award for Science and Technology Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneur of the Year from the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association; and Canada’s 40 Under 40. He has a BSc from McGill University and a MSc and MD degree from the University of British Columbia.

Convergence – Bringing Technologies, Academia, and Companies Together

Imagine if technology could make medical devices safer, smarter, and more effective. For the past 30 years, Bill Hunter has established and grown Canadian health care companies – and worked with universities and industry partners – to create medical devices that better predict patient outcomes. In this talk, Bill will discuss the collaborations, technologies, and challenges that are unique to Canada, as well as the role of governments and grants in the process.  

Keynote: Dr. Gihan Kamel

Principal Scientist and Team Supervisor | SESAME (Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East)

Dr. Gihan Kamel is the SESAME Infrared Beamline Principal Scientist/Team Supervisor, (on leave) from the Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt, where she is a lecturer in biophysics.

Dr. Kamel obtained her Ph.D. in 2011 from the University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy, and held a researcher position at the Italian INFN’s Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati from 2014 to 2015.

In 2015, she took up the position of the Infrared Beamline Scientist at SESAME. Dr Kamel is also involved in the preparatory phases for the establishment of the African Light Source (AfLS). She is noted for her lectures on science for peace and science diplomacy, as well as women in science. She was acknowledged at the International Women’s Day 2017 by the President of the Italian Republic for her engagement at SESAME. She is the joint 2020 Laureate of the Eurêka Rive Sud Prize of the French organization, amcsti.

The Transformative Impact of Scientific Collaborations in the Middle East

What if scientific collaborations could inspire international cooperation, bridge peace, and provide opportunities to female scientists? The Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) was inspired by scientists and diplomats through their substantial cooperation in a turbulent region. SESAME was developed with no specific identity, making it an exceptional and motivating scientific facility – the first of its kind in the region.

Scientific discoveries, human capacity building, diaspora networking, science for peace, and science diplomacy allowed SESAME to be a pioneer scientific research Centre, as well as a bridge of peace between its diverse cultures and societies. SESAME also welcomed women scientists in the region, allowing them to break stereotypes.

The presentation will highlight how SESAME is – and will always be – the unforgettable experience of the Middle East scientists.

Keynote: Clynt King

Independent Indigenous Environmental Consultant

Keynote: Dr. Beau Lotto

Neuroscientist, Entrepreneur, and Author of Deviate

Beau Lotto is a neuroscientist and the founder and CEO of two companies – Lab of Misfits, the world’s first neuro-design studio, and Ripple, which holds several highly influential patents in Augmented Reality (AR). Beau and his Lab have published over 70 peer-reviewed articles across multiple disciplines, including augmented and virtual reality, human perception, physiology, molecular and cellular development, animal (including human) behavior, digital music, graph theory, complex systems theory, computational evolution, artificial intelligence, architecture, theatre, and design. In addition to TED, Beau has spoken at the G8, Google’s Zeitgeist, Wired, World Economic Forum, Cannes Lions Creativity Festival, Burning Man, and the Oslo Freedom Forum, among many others. 

Beau earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Berkeley and his PhD in Neuroscience from University Medical School, Edinburgh. He was a professor at University College London for 20 years, and is now a professor at University of London, and a visiting scholar at New York University. 

Leadership unMastered

The world is increasingly uncertain. When faced with uncertainty, we typically respond by ‘standing still.’ And yet in nature the most successful systems are adaptable. Leaders are essential for creating an ecology that enables themselves and their teams to become adaptable. This talk will discuss the barriers to adaptability and the principles that will enable you to overcome these barriers. The key is to become Perceptually Intelligent.

Keynote: Jayson Myers

Chief Executive Officer | Next Generation Manufacturing Canada

Jayson Myers is the Chief Executive Officer of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, an initiative funded by the Government of Canada that will leverage more than $500 million over the next three years in collaborative, industry-led projects aimed at building world-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities in Canada. 

Jay is an award-winning business economist who specializes in industrial and technological change.  Between 2007 and 2016, he served as President & CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Canada’s largest industry and trade association.  

Jay has been widely recognized as one of the most influential economic policy advocates in Canada. He is an advisor to both private and public sector leaders, and has counselled Canadian prime ministers and premiers, as well as senior corporate executives and policymakers around the world.   

He is a member of the Advisory Board of the World Manufacturing Forum and a leading advocate on the world stage on behalf of advanced manufacturing in Canada.  

World-leading Advanced Manufacturing in Canada:
Powered by Collaboration

Collaboration is at the heart of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada’s strategy (NGen) to develop and commercialize innovative solutions for the industry and connect and strengthen Canada’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Collaboration isn’t always easy to achieve, but NGen has achieved significant results as Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing. Jayson’s talk will highlight the importance of collaboration for NGen, as well as the accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned that can help build future collaborative innovation initiatives.

Keynote: Dr. Tom O'Neill

Professor and Director, Individual and Team Performance Lab | Department of Psychology, University of Calgary

Tom is a global research leader in the areas of high-performance teamwork, virtual team and leader effectiveness, flexible remote and hybrid work, human-autonomy teaming, conflict and conflict management, personality, and assessment. Tom has published over 75 peer-reviewed journal articles, and through consulting and speaking engagements he has translated the science of high-performance teamwork and flexible remote work into practice. He founded Work EvOHlution, which supports organizations with hybrid work. He created ITPmetrics.com, which is the leading Canadian teamwork assessment and development software platform used in post-secondary student learning teams. More than 500,000 assessments have been taken. Tom edited a book with co-authors that is coming out this fall, called The Handbook of Virtual Work.

How do Modern Teams Succeed? The Evolution of Research and Discovery from Individual Thought to Teaming

Tom O’Neill will discuss high performance teamwork and collaboration – a key factor in the future of scientific and commercial discoveries – especially with the complex problems facing humankind. Collaboration is pervasive in educational, research, and entrepreneurial environments – yet teams rarely reach their full potential and some fail spectacularly. As global challenges grow, we must improve collaboration. Tom will explore key factors underscoring effective collaboration from scientific literature and the “Science of Team Science.”

Keynote: Dr. Robin Roth

Professor, Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics | University of Guelph

Dr. Robin Roth is a first generation Canadian of mixed European and American heritage and serves as a member of the Leadership Circle and Principal Investigator of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership.

She is a Professor in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Geomatics at the University of Guelph. Her teaching, research, and service are focused on supporting the transformation of biodiversity conservation both in Canada and globally. Dr. Roth is widely published on the social science dimensions of biodiversity conservation and has helped establish the Masters in Conservation Leadership at the University of Guelph.

Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership: We Rise Together!

The Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership (CRP) is an Indigenous-led network that brings together Indigenous thought leaders, conservation practitioners, and researchers to advance Indigenous-led conservation and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) across Canada. This talk will discuss the origins and intent behind the CRP and explain how successful collaborations used new and old ways of thinking. The speakers will provide an overview of how working together – and rising together – can foster change using examples from their economics, infrastructure, and finance streams of work.

Keynote: Cheryl Schmitz

Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President, Administrative Services | Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Cheryl Schmitz is proud to have built her career at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. She is passionate about Sask Polytech’s mission of educating students and providing skilled and successful graduates. Cheryl is excited to lead the Administrative Services’ team as Sask Polytech continues to evolve and grow to meet student and employer needs.

Cheryl’s practical and thoughtful approach to planning, problem-solving, operations and team-building are among many reasons she is respected and valued as a senior administrator, project leader and strategic advisor to organizational leaders, policy makers and boards of directors. Executive-level professional development, in a range of relevant disciplines, complements her masters degree in Educational Administration, focusing on post-secondary educational leadership, Chartered Professional Accountant/Certified Management Accountant (CPA/CMA) designation and Commerce degree from the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan.

Cheryl joined Sask Polytech (then SIAST) in 1995 as the manager of payroll systems and services. In 1996, she was appointed as director of financial planning. In 2006, Cheryl assumed the role of associate vice president, financial services. She was appointed as chief financial officer and vice president of Administrative Services in 2019. In this role, she is currently responsible for: Communications and Marketing; Facilities Management; Financial Services; Human Resources; Information Technology Services; and Strategy.

Cheryl made significant contributions towards transforming and positioning Sask Polytech to become a first-choice polytechnic in Canada.

Prior to joining Sask Polytech, Cheryl served as the first director of finance for a large rural health district in Saskatchewan; a position that was created in response to the province’s health care reform in the early 1990s.

C3 Panel: Community Collaborations in Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity threat landscape is a constant and evolving challenge for the people who protect the data and other assets at research and education organizations across Canada. As the threat landscape has evolved, so too has the sector’s approach toward a culture of sharing that recognizes that the security of the whole is stronger than the security of each part. As a more coordinated sector-wide approach evolves, what do organizations gain – and potentially lose – by sharing threats, missteps, and wins? Can inspiring collaborations breach the barriers that exist in a highly decentralized, heterogeneous, and at times, competitive landscape? And are the stakes too high not to give it our best shot? Leaders from the community will lead this engaging discussion.

Keynote: Isaac Straley

Chief Information Security Officer | University of Toronto

Isaac has held this inaugural position at U of T since December 2018, where he oversees the Information Security program. He is responsible for ensuring that U of T’s networks, systems, and information are protected and meet regulatory and policy requirements. He also identifies, evaluates, and reports information security risks to the Information Security Council and the university’s senior administrative team.

Previously, he held the dual post of CISO and privacy officer at the University of California, Irvine, where he worked for 13 years. In 2021, Isaac was named CISO of the year at the CISO Forum Canada.

C3 Panel: Community Collaborations in Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity threat landscape is a constant and evolving challenge for the people who protect the data and other assets at research and education organizations across Canada. As the threat landscape has evolved, so too has the sector’s approach toward a culture of sharing that recognizes that the security of the whole is stronger than the security of each part. As a more coordinated sector-wide approach evolves, what do organizations gain – and potentially lose – by sharing threats, missteps, and wins? Can inspiring collaborations breach the barriers that exist in a highly decentralized, heterogeneous, and at times, competitive landscape? And are the stakes too high not to give it our best shot? Leaders from the community will lead this engaging discussion.

Keynote: Amy Starzynski Coddens

Strategic Partnership Manager | REN-ISAC

Amy Starzynski Coddens is the Strategic Partnerships Manager for the REN-ISAC. As a graduate of the Indiana University School of Education (M.S. ’06 & M.S. ’09), Amy came to the REN-ISAC from Indiana University’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research, with a background in P-16 education, research, assessment, and outreach.

She has worked in government, industry, and academia. Through that work, Amy has contributed to projects with the CMMC-Accreditation Body, National Science Foundation, TrustedCI, NASA Education, the New England Research Institute, Harvard’s PEAR Institute, the United States Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, and the IU Kelley School of Business.

C3 Panel: Community Collaborations in Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity threat landscape is a constant and evolving challenge for the people who protect the data and other assets at research and education organizations across Canada. As the threat landscape has evolved, so too has the sector’s approach toward a culture of sharing that recognizes that the security of the whole is stronger than the security of each part. As a more coordinated sector-wide approach evolves, what do organizations gain – and potentially lose – by sharing threats, missteps, and wins? Can inspiring collaborations breach the barriers that exist in a highly decentralized, heterogeneous, and at times, competitive landscape? And are the stakes too high not to give it our best shot? Leaders from the community will lead this engaging discussion.

Keynote: Dr. Rashid Sumaila

University Killam Professor, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs | University of British Columbia

Rashid Sumaila is a University Killam Professor at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia. His research focuses on bioeconomics, marine ecosystem valuation, and the analysis of global issues such as fisheries subsidies, marine protected areas, illegal fishing, climate change, marine plastic pollution, and oil spills. Simply put, the whole world is Sumaila’s workplace, as he has experience working in six continents.

Dr. Sumaila received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Bergen and his B.Sc. (Quantity Surveying) from the Ahmadu Bello University. Sumaila is widely published and cited. He won the 2017 Volvo Environment Prize and was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2019. His interest in the environment started early in life, his grandfather used to say that people should, “walk as if the ground feels pain.”

Tackling Complex National and Global Issues through Collaboration: OceanCanada Case Study

With increasing global challenges like marine biodiversity decline, global warming, and more frequent extreme weather, it has never been more crucial for large-scale diverse, inclusive, and collaborative teams to work together to solve problems. In this talk, Rashid will present OceanCanada’s award-winning partnership, and explain how 22 organizations came together to ensure that people in Canada are ready to protect, manage, and ensure a sustainable ‘blue economy’ – to benefit current and future generations.

Keynote: Peter Wilenius

Vice President, Cybersecurity Programs and Services

Peter Wilenius was appointed CANARIE’s Vice President, Cybersecurity Programs and Services in 2022, after serving eight years as Vice President, Business Development. 

Peter draws on more than 30 years of experience in leadership roles in Canada’s information technology sector, where he has led initiatives in corporate strategy, product line management global marketing, and mergers and acquisitions, and has extensive experience guiding emerging technology companies in business planning and go to market strategies. In his current role, Peter is focused on advancing the overall cybersecurity capabilities of Canada’s research and education sector by evolving existing cybersecurity services and the research and development of new services. 

During his tenure at CANARIE, Peter led the development of the Cybersecurity Initiatives Program, evolved the Digital Accelerator for Innovation and Research (DAIR) Cloud Program, and created and evolved relationships with partners in the private and not-for-profit sectors. Peter was also central to the launch of the Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN), where he was a Board member for seven years.  

Peter holds a BA Honours (Economics) from Carleton University and an MBA from Queen’s University. A former competitive triathlete, in his off hours Peter can be found on the rink or on the green, depending on the season. 

C3 Panel: Community Collaborations in Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity threat landscape is a constant and evolving challenge for the people who protect the data and other assets at research and education organizations across Canada. As the threat landscape has evolved, so too has the sector’s approach toward a culture of sharing that recognizes that the security of the whole is stronger than the security of each part. As a more coordinated sector-wide approach evolves, what do organizations gain – and potentially lose – by sharing threats, missteps, and wins? Can inspiring collaborations breach the barriers that exist in a highly decentralized, heterogeneous, and at times, competitive landscape? And are the stakes too high not to give it our best shot? Leaders from the community will lead this engaging discussion.