Past Speakers

Maria Parysz is an AI entrepreneur and educator who leads multiple AI-focused ventures, including Elephant AI (digital transformation and AI education) and LogicAI (AI technology). She’s also known for creating Kaggle Days, a series of in-person events for the Kaggle/data science community.

Jon Lister is the President and Co-Founder of Satstreet, a Canadian digital-asset brokerage/trading platform. His background includes earlier crypto-market roles such as co-founding BlockEQ (later acquired by Coinsquare) and working in wealth/OTC leadership at Coinsquare.

Manolis Kellis is an MIT professor and computational biologist who leads the MIT Computational Biology Group and is affiliated with CSAIL and the Broad Institute. His research centers on large-scale genomics and epigenomics—using computation to map regulatory elements in the genome and interpret how genetic variation contributes to disease.

Nafeh Shoaib is a co-founder of Humine Labs, a project positioned around privacy-centric health research and clinical trials. Humine has been described as a marketplace/platform for health data used in research, with technical work exploring privacy-preserving approaches (including zero-knowledge proofs) for auditing and trial integrity.

Pavel Abdur-Rahman is a Managing Director and co-founder of Bluevale Capital Group, where he works on strategic initiatives tied to housing and urban economic development. He also has deep experience in data and analytics leadership (including senior roles at IBM Canada) and is involved with analytics/AI community and advisory efforts.

Dr. Nirosha Murugan is an Assistant Professor in Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Tissue Biophysics. Her work focuses on how biophysical signals (mechanical, electrical, magnetic/optical) shape cell fate and disease processes, with applications spanning regenerative medicine and cancer biology.

Gabe Dublin is a graduate student in the University of Toronto Department of Physics (Quantum Optics group) and a co-founder/CEO of Psycraft. Psycraft describes its work as building software tools and runtime environments to enable autonomous UAV operations, and Dublin has discussed defense and drone technology trends in public interviews.

Ben Su is the co-founder of Capita, a startup building AI-driven tooling aimed at making fundraising and startup legal workflows faster and less expensive. His background includes legal work advising startups, and he’s been active in founder/accelerator communities discussing modern fundraising mechanics.

Peter Herman is a Professor of Photonics in the University of Toronto’s Electrical & Computer Engineering department and leads a research program in advanced laser processing and beam-delivery systems. His lab develops laser-based fabrication methods for photonic devices and 3-D micro/nanofabrication, with applications spanning optical circuits, microfluidics, and biophotonic sensing.

Christina Plahouras is affiliated with the University of Toronto Institute of Medical Science and has presented research at IMS Scientific Day. Her work (with supervisor Rebecca Gladdy) has included studying how DNA damage response inhibitors combined with chemotherapy might target homologous recombination deficiency in leiomyosarcoma, aiming to improve treatment strategies for this aggressive cancer.

Dr. Jennifer Quon is a paediatric neurosurgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and an Assistant Professor for the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. She is also an Associate Scientist-Track Investigator in the Neurosciences and Mental Health program at the SickKids Research Institute. Dr. Quon has broad clinical interests in paediatric neurosurgery including the surgical treatment of brain tumours, particularly through endoscopic endonasal approaches, as well as vascular disorders in children. Her research interests including improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care using Ai, as a yale graduate she is passionately interest in improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care using AI.

Dr. Mehran Anvari is a professor of surgery and holds the Chair of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Surgical Innovation at McMaster University. He is a pioneer in robotic and telerobotic surgery, completing the world's first series of remote surgeries and the founder of the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery and the McMaster Institute for Surgical Invention, Innovation, and Education. With over 200 publications, multiple patents, and numerous awards, Dr. Anvari continues to lead advancements in surgical innovation, robotics, and education worldwide.

Jaime Leverton is a Canadian technology executive who navigates the ever-changing landscape of digital assets and high-performance computing. As CEO of Ulys Holdings, she is dedicated to making crypto more accessible and transparent, while at her advisory firm, she guides organizations through digital transformation. Jaime leads from her key roles that include chairing the board at Synteq Digital, mentoring innovators through the Creative Destruction Lab's Web3 stream, and formerly leading Hut 8, one of North America's first large-scale Bitcoin mining companies. Rooted in a background spanning data centers, capital markets, and telecommunications, Jaime's work connects infrastructure, emerging tech, and inclusive mentorship to shape the future of digital ecosystems.

Julie Claveau is a program scientist at the Canadian Space Agency that blends her passions in physics and astronomy. She has played key roles in important projects like the James Webb Space Telescope and the RADARSAT missions. An advocate for diversity, Julie co-chairs CSA’s Women in STEM Committee and is a mentor for future space leaders. A former naval warfare officer and science communicator, she inspires others with her story, love for space, and belief in following one’s dreams. Julie also enjoys creative pursuits, gaming, and sharing knowledge with global audiences.

Dr. Jason Berman serves as the CEO and Scientific Director of the CHEO (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario) Research Institute. At CHEO, Berman also serves as Vice President of Research, where under his leadership, CHEO has launched initiatives to integrate technology and foster collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and businesses to bring solutions to healthcare challenges. In addition, Berman also teaches at the University of Ottawa as a full professor in the Department of Pediatrics.

Derek is a serial entrepreneur and a prominent figure in Toronto's startup scene, known for founding multiple ventures and leading Founder Poker Toronto, the city's largest in-person founder club. As co-founder of Suncayr and co-inventor of SPOTMYUV, he helped secure patents, launch retail sales in 10,000+ stores, and win over 50 awards before its acquisition in 2020. After supporting founders at Entrepreneur he has helped launch 20 companies valued at $200M+

Jessica Delfino is a Principal at Altas Partners in Toronto, joining the firm in September 2021. She has an impressive background in private equity and investment banking. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, where she graduated with Great Distinction, and an MBA from Harvard Business School where she achieved Baker Scholar status. Before joining Altas, Delfino built her career at Arsenal Capital Partners over several years, progressing from Associate to Principal. She began her career as an Analyst at Deutsche Bank.

Dr. Michele Mosca is the co-founder of the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on quantum computation, cryptography, and cybersecurity. He got his doctorate in Mathematics in 1999 from Oxford working in Mathematics and the Foundations of Computer Science. Dr. Michele Mosca’s awards include 2010 Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, SJU Fr. Norm Choate Lifetime Achievement Award, and Knighthood in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Lisa Kimmel is co-founder of Lantern Media LLC, a media and content company; she is a vice chair for the Toronto Region Board of Trade and a board director at CivicAction. She has been inducted into the Women’s Executive Network Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada Hall of Fame and is a recipient of a 2019 YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction award for Corporate Leadership. She was the chair and CEO of Edelman Canada and Latin America for over seven years and was widely regarded as one of their most effective business leaders.

John Ruffolo is one of Canada’s most renowned venture capitalists and business leaders, known for his visionary approach to innovation and entrepreneurship. As the founder of OMERS Ventures, he spearheaded investments in transformative companies such as Shopify, Hootsuite, and Wattpad, shaping Canada’s tech ecosystem. Currently, John leads Mavericks Private Equity, focusing on mid-market growth companies with a commitment to sustainable, long-term impact. A sought-after speaker and advocate for innovation, John’s passion for fostering entrepreneurial success is matched only by his dedication to building a thriving future for Canadian businesses.

Celina Caesar-Chavannes is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and former Member of Parliament for Whitby, known for her fearless advocacy for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Her memoir, Can You Hear Me Now?, explores her journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the challenges she faced navigating politics, systemic racism, and personal growth. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor and Lecturer at Queen’s University, inspiring others through her leadership and authenticity.

Dr. Yi Sheng, an Associate Professor of Biology at York University, Toronto, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 2003 after completing her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Zhongshan University. She joined York University following a postdoctoral fellowship with the University Health Network and became Associate Professor in 2013. Her research focuses on the ubiquitin system in cancer pathways and developing novel cancer therapeutics.

Abbas Qassim is the founder of Handi-Fuel, a company that promotes awareness about unique challenges that people with disabilities face every day. Handi-Fuel’s goal is to provide accessible options to refuelling vehicles and they specialize in creating fuel systems that cater to specific needs.

Milica Radisic is a Serbian Canadian tissue engineer and professor at the University of Toronto's Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry. She co-founded TARA Biosystems and serves as a senior scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute. Her research focuses on creating functional cardiac tissues using human-induced pluripotent stem cells, advancing drug screening and regenerative medicine.