GOOD25 Panel:
AI Futures
Dr. Karen Louise Smith
Associate Professor, Brock University
Dr. Karen Louise Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film at Brock University. Dr. Smith’s research focuses on bringing community, and public interest perspectives to bear on the design, use, and governance of digital technologies. Her published work includes a recent submission to federal policy-makers to comment on a privacy and AI draft bill, the exploration of pandemic connectivity for K-12 learners, and a study of advocacy in privacy software design. Through her work, Dr. Smith strives to better understand the tensions between openness, privacy, and participation in technologically mediated culture.
Amy Bihari
Innovation Lab Leader, ONresources
Amy Bihari (she/her) leads an Innovation Lab within the Ontario Government. With nearly 20 years of experience in the Ontario Public Service, she specializes in artificial intelligence, data initiatives, and digital transformation. Amy has effectively managed complex challenges such as whole-of-government reporting, open data publication, and the utilization of advanced technologies, including super-computing. Her efforts have been recognized with awards such as the Canadian Open Data Excellence Award and two Ontario Amethyst Awards for Digital Disruption. She is a strong advocate for data literacy and is infectiously optimistic about tech for good.
Ryan Hilimoniuk
Senior Data Research Programs & Projects Manager at Rel8ed Analytics, a subsidiary of Coface Group
Ryan Hilimoniuk is Research Programs & Projects Manager at Rel8ed Analytics, a subsidiary of Coface Group, where he leads research & development teams on projects involving sustainability and risk data for integration into AI embedded solutions. Ryan also supports Rel8ed’s strategic business partnership with IBM bridging AI & cloud capability with public and private sector use cases. Through his passion for translating business and public policy challenges into technical use case development and solutions delivery, Ryan helps organizations unlock value through smarter data use and insight for decision making.
Steven De Costa
Chairman and Executive Director,
Link Digital
Steven has worked in the internet and multimedia industry since 1997, founding Link Digital in 2001. He has been providing leadership from his extensive experiences in all areas of digital operations, including technical direction, management, governance, and strategy.
As the owner and executive director at Link Digital, his focus is on the strategy and execution of complex digital projects over the long term, including the development of community and market opportunities surrounding the public cloud and open data.
He is a co-steward of the CKAN open source project, a former national organiser of GovHack.org, and in 2018 stepped down from his position as Secretary and Treasurer for the Board of Open Knowledge Australia. A strong communicator, Steven holds a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University and is a long-standing contributor within open data and open knowledge initiatives, regularly co-organising and presenting at related events.
Connie McCutcheon (Facilitator)
Connie is the President of MISA Canada (Municipal Information Systems Association) and a past President of MISA Ontario. She was an inaugural member of the Canadian Open Data Society.
Connie holds a degree in Urban Geography from the University of Western Ontario as well as a certificate from Brock University in Urban and Environmental Studies. She is passionate about citizen engagement and the opportunity open government provides for new innovations and insights.
