This is the map.

Movie production designer of many films over many years. Poking around the perimeters of AI for last 4-5 years. Several design gigs about the dystopic future of AI ( 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die' directed by Gore Verbinski is out now.) Currently trying to get more in touch with constructive side of AI both for practice and ethical /poltiical awareness. Very interested in how AI will change the filmmaking world.

Canadian HR & Org Development leader and business partner with 15+ years progressive strategy and operational experience working with small to global enterprise organizations on the people function.

Colin Fitzgerald

Founder · Tree Island AI

Denman Island, British Columbia

We deliver anti-failure AI advisory + expert engineering assets for retail, construction, and manufacturing SMEs (50-500 employees). Sidestep the talent grind, legacy integration traps, and post-bubble hype. Achieve 250-400% ROI potential—without building an in-house AI team.

Aileen McManamon

Founder/Managing Partner · 5 Tool Sports Group

West Vancouver, British Columbia

Sports Industry Futurist. Sustainable Business Champion.

Armin Layegh

Embedded Talent Acquisition & People Advisor · ScalableHR

Surrey, British Columbia

I’m an Embedded Talent Acquisition & People Advisor with a track record of helping organizations, from early-stage startups to global enterprises, build high-performing teams, navigate workforce transformation, and, over the past two years, modernize hiring through AI-informed strategies. Over the past several years, I’ve worked in a self-employed capacity through ScalableHR, embedding directly within client environments to lead full-cycle recruitment, workforce planning, and leadership hiring initiatives. My approach blends data, technology, and human insight to create scalable, inclusive, and future-ready talent strategies. I’ve supported companies across sectors including SaaS, fintech, telecom, professional services, manufacturing, and non-profit, adapting quickly to each team’s culture, pace, and goals. I bring a collaborative, people-first mindset to every engagement. I’m especially passionate about the intersection of AI and talent, leveraging tools like predictive analytics, AI-powered sourcing, and automation to enhance hiring efficiency while preserving the human connection that makes great teams thrive. As market conditions evolve, I’m exploring full-time, in-house opportunities where I can contribute to a mission-driven team, collaborate in person, and help shape the future of work from within. Let’s connect if you’re looking for a strategic, hands-on partner in talent acquisition and people operations.

Alex Yesilcimen

Shadewater Labs / Adorable Damage Productions Ltd

VANCOUVER, British Columbia

Alex Yesilcimen is a Vancouver-based filmmaker, creative technologist, and digital creator working at the intersection of storytelling, emerging technology, and interactive media. With a background spanning both film production and computer science, Alex develops projects that combine cinematic worldbuilding with modern digital tools, exploring how emerging technologies can support the future of independent creative work. As a Producer and Assistant Director, Alex has worked across a variety of independent productions including the theatrical horror feature Strange Harvest. Alongside his film work, he founded Shadewater Labs — an evolving creative studio focused on AI-assisted workflows, web development, automation systems, interactive experiences, and experimental media design.

Ali Tavanayan

CEO · Manage Petro

North Vancouver, British Columbia

Alireza Tavanayan is a serial entrepreneur with 18 years Software engineering, who developed three successful technology products. Ali is a technology, web, and e-commerce project manager professional. Ali got his BSc. In 1997 and a Master of e-commerce from St.Luise University of London-UK in 2004, he got Snr. Project Management Certificate from BCIT in 2005, as well as his PMP back in 2006 through SFU university. Ali is the founder of TEI Web Solutions in 2008 and Manage Petro Fluid Delivery SaaS Solutions in 2016. His current active product is called Manage Petro. He managed team of 25 international software development teams across the globe as well as technical partnerships with over 40 different software and hardware companies for Manage Petro. Ali’s visionary experience is in transportation, retail, and e-commerce technologies. He has extensive knowledge and experience with retail POS software and hardware, payment processing, compliances, system integrations, and data migration. He has been a project manager and product owner for over 16 years. He also worked closely in other industries such as Health Systems, Oil & Gas, Mining, Retails. He has extensive knowledge of hardware technologies such as RFID, GPS, ELD, IoT, IIoT, Sensors, Readers, BLE, and special Printers and Scanners. Ali hired his first employee in 2008 and focused in e-commerce and POS system in retail world. He served over 40 different retail industries including shoes, appeals, depress, jewelries, fine arts, sports, toys, babies, Rugs, home decoration, and many more. Ali’s first product was a 360 full integration interface between a POS system and e-commerce platform back in 2008 when e-commerce world just starting. Then he invented his second product as a Universal Interface Hub for multi-POS to Multi e-commerce full integration. Since 2016 he is also started a new product in down-stream segment of oil and gas industry helping fuel delivery fleet owners to streamline their day-to-day activities. What you might not know about Ali is that is he was not a Software engineer, then he would have been a great animator produced!

Alistair Skey

Chief Information Officer · Mercer International Inc.

Trail, British Columbia

As Mercer International's Chief Information Officer, I lead our global information technology strategy, driving innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence across our North American and European operations. I focus on fostering collaboration and advancing digital transformation to support Mercer’s mission of creating a resilient, sustainable future.

Alma Barranco-Mendoza

Co-Founder & CEO · Infogenetica Solutions Ltd.

Coquitlam, British Columbia

Award-winning research scientist, author, speaker, academic, and entrepreneur with almost 30 years of experience in AI and Biotechnology applied to metabolic, cardiovascular, and mental health research and natural health product development. Co-founder and CEO of Infogenetica Solutions Ltd. Previous roles: CIO, Canadian Space Society. CIO & Assoc. Professor, Trinity Western University. Chief Knowledge Engineer & R&D Director, Knowledge Junction Systems Inc. Education: Ph.D. (Artificial Intelligence, Health Informatics), Simon Fraser University. M.Sc. (Applied Modelling and Quantitative Methods), Trent University. B.Sc. Hons. (Computer Sc./Mathematics), Treint University.

Alvaro Peralta

CEO · Global Invest Quest XR

Vanvouver, British Columbia

As the founder of Global Invest Quest XR, I am pioneering the next generation of investor engagement by transforming traditional presentations in the resource mining sector. Leveraging the power of immersive XR technology, we create dynamic and interactive experiences that disrupt how publicly traded companies raise capital and present their value propositions. My expertise spans executive coaching, sales training, and innovative facilitation, all fueled by a deep passion for neuroscience, AI, and experiential design. At Global Invest Quest XR, we’re not just presenting information—we’re reimagining how investors interact with the future of mining.

Anthonia Ogundele is the Founder and Executive Director of Ethọ́s Lab Educational Society. Ethọ́s Lab is a non-profit STEAM innovation academy for youth ages 10–18 that provides access to emerging technologies, culture, and a community of innovators. Through Ethọ́s Lab she is hoping to inspire a legacy of Black leadership and increase representation in STEAM. Anthonia’s career has been as a resilience professional. She has consulted with the World Bank and has held various roles within the financial sector and various levels of government in Environmental Sustainability, Business Continuity, and Emergency Planning. In 2024 she was honoured to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her community service as well as as BC Business' Women of the Year as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion champion and named to Vancouver's Power 50. She has one of the City of Vancouver’s Black History Month Community Leader Awards. She was also recognized as one of Canada’s top 5 Black tech founders to watch in 2021. She lives in Vancouver with her amazing husband and 18 year-old daughter. In her spare time, you might catch her playing a game of Catan with her family or swimming laps at her local pool. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science and a certificate in Governance and Public Policy from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Environmental Studies, Urban Planning from the University of Waterloo. Her commitment to education brought her to the Board of Governors at the University of British Columbia.

I’m a seasoned technology executive currently serving as the Director of Product Development at Caminosoft AI, where I lead the creation of transformative AI solutions designed to help enterprises harness the full potential of their data. With over two decades of experience across global organizations—including Boeing, KPMG, Pearson, Trail Appliances and Computer Associates—I’ve built and scaled platforms that align technology with business strategy and deliver measurable impact. One of my proudest achievements at Caminosoft has been the launch of HorizonAX, a next-generation platform that integrates intelligent storage management, compliance automation,workflow optimization,infrastructure management and AI model deployment. This solution has helped clients reduce costs by up to 90% while unlocking actionable insights from fragmented data. I hold an MBA in Sales, Marketing, and Finance, along with a Computer Diploma from NIIT India, and I maintain over 11+ active technical certifications. My approach to leadership is metrics-driven, user-focused, and deeply collaborative. Outside of work, I find joy in trail walking, photography and quiet moments by the beach. These personal passions help me stay grounded and bring a creative lens to my professional life.

Ashiq Ahamed

Founder & CEO · SolvedAF

Richmond, British Columbia

Ashiq Ahamed is a finance and technology executive focused on applying AI to modernize finance, accounting, and ERP systems. As Founder & CEO of SolvedAF, he helps organizations scale through automation, data, and intelligent workflows, and has been recognized for leadership in technology and innovation.

I am seeking my true purpose using machines, and mapping the connection between evolving intelligence and absolute intelligence, using mathematics and computer programs.

James Schofield

AI Solutions Partner · High Tech Harmony

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver-based tech nerd exploring how AI can help us. Interested in practical, human-centred applications of AI. Tools that reduce friction, enhance communication, and turn everyday tasks into something more intuitive and creative. Looking to connect with other local experimenters, share ideas, and collaborate on projects that push AI beyond demos and into useful, meaningful things!

My career is built around two things: a) Protecting people and organizations from being exploited. b) Using systems thinking to solve complex problems. I have been an RCMP constable, enterprise dev, and SecOps manager. Today, I solve enterprise SecOps and cyber problems, explore autonomous cyber, and advise senior leaders on how to adapt to changing threats. Mostly, I try to have interesting conversations about what people are learning, what they're passionate about, and how we can build a world that lets people pursue their passions safely. What will autonomous operations (cyber and otherwise) look like? I'm not sure. But I'm trying to find out.

Bobby Motamed

Founder · M2x Lab Ai + mindhouse learning

Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Founder of mindhouselearning.com and m2xlab.com , former Asst. Director of the Information Technology Education Center (iTEC) near Zürich, Switzerland - 25+ years in technology consulting globally. Currently focused on both digital learning development, design and consulting, as well as business automation and outcome acceleration leveraging, AI best practices and technologies. Husband and father, addicted to Muay Thai and training mixed martial arts, movie buff with a background in filmmaking, a huge gourmand (but very straight edge), overall funny guy, and part-time screen and television performer with the Characters Talent Agency: IMDb.me/bobbyking

Brad Necyk is a visual artist, AI filmmaker, and writer whose work explores mental illness, psychedelics, consciousness, and flourishing through cutting-edge AI video and 3D animation. He completed a research-creation PhD in Psychiatry at the University of Alberta, winning the Governor General’s Gold Medal, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at York University with VISTA and Cinema & Media Arts. Brad is the CEO of A Position on Retreat, an artist residency in Lake Cowichan, and is also co-founding the Intelligent Media Lab with Pravin Pillay—an educational, research, and creation media lab. He is the co-founder/executive director of the Psychedelic Puppet Show Non-Profit. He previously served as a Research Associate in Film & Digital Media at UC Santa Cruz and teaches digital media and visual art at the University of Alberta and the University of Victoria. His debut poetry collection, ALL SKY, MIRROR OCEAN, will be published in 2024.

Barry Jinks

PhD Student · University of British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia

Barry Jinks is an entrepreneur and technology executive now pursuing a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia, focusing on artificial intelligence in emergency communications. He founded Colligo Networks in 2000, building it into a leader in records management solutions, and earlier led Spectrum Signal Processing from startup to a NASDAQ national market listing. He has also held senior roles at LSI Logic Corporation and advised numerous technology organizations and boards. Barry has co-authored papers on VLSI microprocessor design and circuit generation presented at leading IEEE conferences, including work on automated microcontroller design, processor prototyping, and ROM macrocell architecture. His contributions have been recognized with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, IEEE Hackbusch Award, and APEGBC Prize, reflecting both his technical innovation and leadership in bridging research and industry.

Chris cade

CEO · SaaSberry Innovation Laboratories Ltd

Vancouver, British Columbia

Chris Cade – CEO | AI Strategist | Innovation Leader Chris Cade is a visionary CEO with a proven track record of driving innovation at the intersection of technology, operations, and leadership. With deep expertise in artificial intelligence, Chris is actively shaping how AI transforms industries—from construction and maritime operations to enterprise SaaS. His last corporate roll was leading services for Microsoft Canada where he drove innovation with a focus on AI, AR and Cyber security. Chris is a sought-after speaker, recently featured at BCICA, where he shared insights on how AI augments staff, revolutionizes estimating, and empowers construction leaders to embrace intelligent tools without replacing jobs. Chris leads a team of AI engineers specializing in accelerating the development of custom agentic solutions for businesses. Their practice is built on the Microsoft technology stack, enabling scalable, enterprise-grade deployments.

Carla Ritchie works at the intersection of art and innovation. She leads VIVO Media Arts Centre, a long-standing hub for experimental media and digital culture in Vancouver. She brings more than 15 years of experience supporting artists, building partnerships, and developing new models for creative production. Her work focuses on how technology shapes access, equity, and cultural memory. She advances projects that link community needs with emerging tools, including AI, digital infrastructure, and new forms of media creation. She leads initiatives that strengthen artist access to equipment, training, and shared resources. Her recent work includes developing a community-operated GPU lab, expanding archival systems, and building collaborations between artists, technologists, and researchers. She focuses on practical systems that support resilient cultural spaces, affordable creative tools, and long-term digital preservation. She works closely with partners across the arts, academic sectors, and technology fields to move ideas into implementation. She supports governance models that center community benefit, ethical design, and sustainable access. Her leadership approach brings together operations, fundraising, policy, and digital strategy to help organizations adapt to changing creative environments. Carla works to ensure artists have the tools they need to test ideas, expand their practices, and build new relationships with technology.

I am Ilia

Catherine Warren

Founder & President · FanTrust

North Vancouver, British Columbia

Catherine Warren is the founder and president of FanTrust, a pioneer in fan-building and digital innovation celebrating 25 years. An international media-tech executive, innovation leader, and AI strategist, she co-founded Canada’s first ethical AI accelerator fund and co-developed a $100M fair-use marketplace for AI training rights. Catherine advises global media companies, governments, and venture partners on AI innovation, monetization, and digital governance. Her leadership has resulted in $8B+ in high-impact investment to Canada since 2018, and includes overseeing the Vancouver Film Commission, CEO of Vancouver Economic Commission, CEO of Edmonton Unlimited, and CEO of Canada’s Centre for Digital Media. Early in her career, Catherine and partners co-founded a broadcast software company they took public on the Nasdaq and grew to a $300M market cap. Catherine serves as Canada’s representative on the International Emmy Nominating Committee and on the UN flagship program World Summit Awards for digital innovation. A veteran Board Director and Governance Chair, Catherine contributes expertise to publicly-traded companies focussed on loyalty/banking and influencer marketing/tech. She is the incoming Board Chair of Young Citizens of the World, the largest global youth-icon network, where kids interview their heroes. Catherine has an undergrad degree in physics with a focus on climate change from Reed College in Portland, Oregon; a Master’s from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York, with a focus on digital media innovation at MIT's Media Lab; and contributes as an adjunct faculty fellow at the University of Canterbury and Koawa Studios in New Zealand.

Hasan Cavusoglu

Professor · UBC Sauder School of Business

Vancouver, British Columbia

Hasan Cavusoglu is Professor of Management Information Systems at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia. He teaches on a variety of IT management topics in Sauder’s MBA and undergraduate programs. Hasan holds a Ph.D. degree in management science with a specialization in MIS and a M.Sc. degree in management and administrative sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas. His current research interests are economics of AI, information systems, information security and privacy, and management and governance of technology, information and AI. His research has appeared in premier academic journals.

Chris Shachtay

Principal · Spark Advisory AI

Vancouver, British Columbia

Revenue focused IT and Cybersecurity Growth Advisor with more than twenty years of experience leading sales strategy and execution across complex technology environments. Designs and operationalizes AI adoption frameworks that align business objectives with cybersecurity, regulatory, and governance requirements across complex IT environments. Combines structured go to market discipline with AI risk management principles to ensure that growth initiatives are scalable, compliant, and defensible. Brings working knowledge of IT risk and foundational technical domains, supported by ISACA IT Risk Fundamentals and CompTIA credentials, enabling credible engagement with executive, technical, and board level stakeholders. Focuses on embedding responsible AI practices into strategy, operating models, and revenue execution, strengthening organizational trust, improving decision quality, and enhancing long term digital resilience.

Founder and ecosystem builder focused on applied AI and responsible AI adoption. I am currently organizing Global Summit AI Vancouver 2026, a content-driven AI summit designed to bring together researchers, founders, operators, enterprises, and public-sector leaders to better understand AI, exchange real-world experience, and grow the BC AI ecosystem together. Alongside the Summit, I am also the founder of Moor AI, an AI-powered emotional support and mental wellness product exploring how human-centered AI can support emotional resilience and self-awareness in everyday life. My work sits at the intersection of AI products, human experience, and ecosystem building. I care deeply about creating spaces, both products and events, where people can learn from one another, connect across disciplines, and engage with AI in thoughtful, responsible, and practical ways. Academic background: University of Pennsylvania and SFU Beedie School of Business. Based in Vancouver.

Darren Nicholls

President & Co-Founder · Virtual Healthcare Technologies Inc.

Coquitlam, British Columbia

As Chief Commercial Officer at VHT.ai, I lead with purpose and precision—driving commercial strategy, revenue growth, and customer success for a company redefining AI in healthcare. I am a high-impact executive and strategic business partner with a proven ability to scale early-stage ventures into high-growth, high-performance organizations. With deep experience in sales leadership, professional services delivery, and go-to-market execution, I specialize in building and mentoring top-performing teams that consistently exceed expectations. I bring a visionary yet pragmatic approach to growth, with strengths in designing sales strategies, managing P&L, uncovering new market segments, and delivering operational excellence. My expertise spans: New business development & customer relationship management Technology business management & cloud computing IT M&A, application integration, and digital transformation Scaling healthtech and enterprise SaaS ventures At the heart of my leadership is a human-first philosophy—fostering a culture of respect, integrity, and transparency. This commitment strengthens internal collaboration and elevates client partnerships, particularly in mission-driven sectors like healthcare. A firm believer in data as a strategic asset, I have led organizations through complex digital transformations, integrating emerging technologies to deliver measurable business value. At VHT.ai, I’m proud to help shape the future of ethical, intelligent, and inclusive AI for health—turning vision into impact at scale.

David Gloyn-Cox

Enterprise Architect · adscens.io

Vancouver, British Columbia

~ Enterprise Architect (TOGAF) ~ Data Lead ~ Governance ~ Team Lead ~ Technical Lead ~ Project Management

David Asselin

CEO · Inspect Canda

West Vancouver, British Columbia

David Asselin is a tech-driven entrepreneur and the CEO of Inspect Canada, the highest-rated home inspection company in the country with over 3,500 Google reviews. A proud Indigenous business owner, David has built multiple ventures that blend real estate, home services, and emerging technology. He is the creator of Inspect Canada’s AI-powered app for real estate agents, a tool designed to help agents quickly understand home systems, identify potential issues, and guide clients with confidence. Leveraging over 10,000 inspection reports and deep industry experience, David is developing advanced tools that combine computer vision, automation, and conversational AI to modernize how property information is delivered. David’s companies serve more than 9,000 past clients and collaborate with over 5,000 real estate agents. His focus is on creating smart systems, scalable platforms, and AI-enhanced solutions that remove friction, improve customer education, and elevate the real estate experience. Driven by innovation, service excellence, and community impact, David continues to push boundaries across home inspection, proptech, and AI — with a long-term vision of transforming the way people interact with their homes.

25+ years in tech, 15 startups, 3 exits Built Plenty of Fish’s chat for 2.5M DAU EdTech, RAG, ML, security, infrastructure

Dean Shev

CEO · Virtual Healthcare Technologies Inc.

Chilliwack, British Columbia

Dean Shev is Co-founder & CTO of VHT.ai, building ECHNA — an ethical AI system that turns a patient’s complete health history into clear, personalized preventive guidance without crossing into diagnosis. The platform runs natively on iOS, Android, and Web. He works in the Centre of Advanced Analytics & Data Science at Fraser Health Authority and is PROSCI-certified in change management. Two-time AI hackathon winner (Vancouver 2025 and Seattle 2026 / Bloome). Active member of the Vancouver AI / BC + AI community since the early meetups. Still hands-on in the code.

Dimitri Schwartzman

British Columbia

With over 10 years of real estate experience, new construction, computer graphics and ai knowledge, its easy to find good deals out there and promote new listings!

Diraj Goel

Founder + Managing Partner · GetFresh Ventures

North Vancouver, British Columbia

I’m the Founder and Managing Partner of GetFresh Ventures, where I help early-stage tech founders scale smart, raise strategically, and position their companies for meaningful exits. Over the past 30+ years, I’ve worked with more than 200 startups and growth-stage companies, combining tactical support with strategic clarity to accelerate outcomes. My background includes leadership roles at Hootsuite, Vision Critical, WebCT, ActiveState (acquired by Sophos), Covalent Systems, Orbital Technologies, and IPS Networks, which was acquired by Deloitte. I also led the redesign of BC Tech’s HyperGrowth Accelerator, supporting several companies that have since surpassed $100M in revenue. At GetFresh, I apply our Growth by Design model to help founders build businesses that attract capital, align teams, and scale with purpose—especially in the $1M-20M revenue range where the right decisions create generational impact.

Donald McKillican

Owner · Donald's Eye Photography

New Westminster, British Columbia

An user and observer of AI rather than a creator of new tools. Vibe coder and explorer. Opinionated, too ;).

Doneen Swart

Change Management Specialist · Illuminated Strategies

Vancouver, British Columbia

An accomplished and certified Change Management Specialist and Project Manager in technology transformations. A deeply curious, empathic and purpose driven collaborator who leads with integrity and values connection.

I lead cross-functional teams to deliver AI-powered software solutions for global clients. My background spans engineering leadership and data engineering, and I am a builder at heart. I have helped drive large-scale transformations, standardize engineering practices and create new service offerings in applied AI. I care deeply about bridging technology with business impact and building diverse, high-performing teams that turn emerging technologies into real-world value. I also strongly believe in responsible and ethical AI. A big reason I want to stay connected to communities is to help ensure that the people who build these systems reflect the communities they serve, and that the technology we create keeps those communities safe. At my core, I am curious, fun and always learning. I love exploring new ideas, cooking for friends and family and grounding myself through yoga.

Senior Software Developer with 25+ years of experience delivering enterprise-grade software and production AI/ML systems in highly regulated and data-intensive environments. Strong background in Python, cloud-native architectures, and scalable processing pipelines, with hands-on experience deploying and operating machine learning systems at scale. Proven collaborator with data scientists, architects, and product teams, and an experienced mentor who raises engineering quality through design reviews, pairing, and disciplined software practices. &

Edemilson C. Morais, also known as Ed Morais, is a Brazilian-Canadian storyteller with a background in communications and over 15 years' experience creating and producing large-scale events and branded content. A creative entrepreneur, he blends cinematic language with immersive live experiences, often bringing a narrative approach to the corporate world. Based in Vancouver with his wife and young son, Edemilson is transitioning fully into the film industry, having written and produced two short films.

Over 45 years of developing state-of-the-art robotic & telerobotic systems, primarily bespoke solutions and primarily for subsea applications. Self-identify as a control systems engineer.

Distributed Systems specialist with 25 years of experience building services for a wide range of industries, including space/aerospace, defence, utility, construction, and games.

Floyd Mann

Lead Developer · Affinity Bridge

Vancouver, British Columbia

Long time open source developer making the move to AI driven development. I'm also interested in online communities and have run a bread baker community for years which, at peak, was getting over a million page views a month.

Michel LeBlond

Founder · Condosinspace.com

Vancouver, British Columbia

I am Michel LeBlond, the Founder of Condos In Space, where I focus on applying cutting-edge AI to enable the future of space commerce. My strategic approach centers on the crucial concept of technology transfer: I leverage my extensive experience in developing high-reliability AI solutions and complex analytics engines for terrestrial systems to solve the unique constraints and challenges of the space environment. The New Economic Vanguard: AI, Space, and Job Creation While much of the public discourse focuses on AI as a technology of automation that will displace jobs, I hold a somewhat contrarian view—one that is necessary to push the vanguard of the limits. I believe the combined force of AI and the nascent space economy will not just preserve but actively create millions of new, high-value jobs over the next two decades. This is driven by the sheer scale of the new infrastructure required: from developing and manufacturing AI-optimized hardware for orbital environments, to establishing the vast, new data analytics pipelines needed to manage off-world operations, to creating entirely new legal and commercial services for non-terrestrial assets. AI is the essential catalyst that makes this expansion possible, and every AI deployment in space will require a support ecosystem—engineers, analysts, mission control specialists, and entrepreneurs—to build, implement, and maintain it. We are not just creating technology; we are architecting the foundational systems of a new economic sphere. The Ideal Skillset for Interstellar Commerce My background uniquely positions me to meet these challenges. The experience gained from corporate B2B sales provides the commercial acumen necessary to drive the market for specialized AI components. My skills in building complex web applications and organizing both labor and management teams ensure I can lead the technical development and organizational structures needed for rapid growth. Furthermore, my advocacy in promoting environmental and political causes instills a vital perspective on sustainability and regulatory navigation, which are increasingly critical for establishing responsible space governance and commerce. To forward this mission, I am actively building strategic project partnerships, continually expanding my network, and assembling the high-performance team required to realize this vision for AI-driven space commercialization.

Frank Christiaens is a global executive, entrepreneur, and early-stage technology investor with operating experience across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Canada. He holds an electronics engineering degree from KU Leuven and conducted his 1989 thesis research at the Neural Networks Laboratory of Imperial College London, focusing on early applications of artificial intelligence to image recognition at a time when Sun Microsystems SPARC workstations required hours to perform such computations. Frank began his international career with Alcatel (later Lucent, now part of Nokia), contributing to early broadband and internet infrastructure initiatives in Asia. He went on to co-found technology companies in Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Belgium, the United States, and Canada. After relocating to Canada, he co-founded CrossPacific Capital Partners, through which he has backed and helped scale companies across AI, telecom, fintech, cleantech, EV, and digital-infrastructure sectors. Frank actively invests in, advises, mentors, and helps scale a number of his portfolio companies, working hands-on with founders and leadership teams. He brings deep cross-border operating experience, early AI development expertise, and board-level governance perspective across three continents to British Columbia’s innovation ecosystem.

Garth von Buchholz

Applied AI Analyst and Behavioral Scientist

Victoria, British Columbia

Global Island AI 🌐 is an applied AI firm based in Victoria, B.C. and founded by Garth von Buchholz in 2025. We work with major AI companies to train and test frontier AI models. We also facilitate digital transformation through AI-augmented immersive learning in higher education and organizational training. Principal Garth von Buchholz is a user experience behaviorist and certified usability analyst. He completed graduate studies in educational technology at the University of British Columbia in 2025 and completed a program in AI ethics and governance at the London School of Business and Research in 2026. He is now studying to become a certified AI scientist through USAII. Global Island AI is an active ally for digital equity, sustainable AI, indigenous rights, and clean energy.💻🏳️‍🌈🪶🔅We are grateful to to the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) and WSÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, and Tseycum) peoples, past, present, and future, for their stewardship of these lands.

Gordon Hamilton

I help connect the 1500+ DfG volunteers who want to use their data science, analysis, and engineering skills to help non profits get value from their data.

Coquitlam, British Columbia

Director: Data for Good-Vancouver - supply free data professionals to non-profits for projects President: DAMA-Vancouver.org - education and networking events for data professionals Data quality evangelist - taught at BCIT for a decade Data governance practitioner and student - Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) Buddhism beginner: took the Bodhisattva vows 2025, dozens of books in my aspirational library Fascinated with consciousness and science and science fiction

Gurleen Khurana

Founder · SimplifygenAI

British Columbia

E-commerce exit under his belt, Gurleen is a Canada-based young serial entrepreneur and creator who has built multiple successful businesses. A top voice on Voice AI and Creative AI, he treats business like a puzzle: define constraints, find elegant moves, and win with first-principles execution.

Jacquie Harder

Consultant · ArcNova Consulting

Vancouver, British Columbia

I started with a Computer Science degree and early consulting work in financial services and law — paper-intensive, data-critical industries where process failures are costly. From there, I spent years inside the industries I now advise: rebuilding administration processes for an independent financial planning practice, then working as a licensed mortgage broker. Being an operator, not just a consultant, gives me a perspective most AI advisors don't have. I returned to tech as a project manager in the public sector, then moved into consulting — 12+ years leading complex programs for provincial government, Crown corporations, and post-secondary institutions. I recently relocated to Vancouver and founded ArcNova Consulting Ltd. to pursue opportunities in a larger market, including helping small businesses navigate AI with the same rigour I bring to public sector work.

I’m an AI consultant and strategist based in Victoria, with 20+ years in nonprofit and social impact leadership. I founded Sarah Downey Consulting to help mission-driven organizations adopt AI responsibly - balancing innovation with ethics, equity, and human connection. I'm especially interested in using AI to make workplaces better for people. What could that look like? Less burnout, more space for creativity, and tools that actually strengthen how we connect and collaborate.

I am founding Crafted Logic Lab Ltd in BC, where I will vest my IP and applying for residency. I develop human-first AI systems designed for the real world, with epistemic integrity engineered from cognition-out. Our Cognitive Agent Framework™ running on smaller models outperformed frontier models on complex theory of mind tasks at 7% the scale. I believe our systems must respect human agency. Currently, Crafted Logic Lab announced and launched playgrounds for: Cognitive Agent Framework™ and Clarisa™ Search. In development: intelligenceOS™ aiming for Q1 2026 with a goal of Canadian sovereign architecture. My work follows our humanist AI principles: Human-Scale: No pursuit of cloud superintelligence for the surveillance state. Your assistant. Not a trojan horse for our agenda. Energy Efficiency: Cognitive architecture shows structure beats scale. We use that to power beyond-frontier on smaller models, smaller per-inference (~70B vs. 1T+) that do more with less. We recently scored 100% on validated Theory of Mind methodologies on this smaller substrate vs. GPT-4 88% (without taking into account our more demanding epistemic integrity rubrics which we scored 93%) Human-first: the person in the driver-seat not as the passenger or simply “in the loop”. AI is should be a supplement to help empower the user, not replace the user. Assistance and Collaboration: Prior generations of technology have focused on letting you do more. Doing it with you, not for you. Edit, critique and suggest not 'generate'. Amplification over Replacement: Prior generations of technology have enhanced your work not taken your work. That's our focus, not enterprise AI "agentic toolchain automation". Respect the User: Recognize that humans can accept pushback, disagreement and critique. It's what makes an AI useful and not a digital cheerleader robot. User Sovereignty: Your assistant. The memories it holds belong to you. The work it collaborates on should remain yours both legally and with you as the main creator. My Background: Creative direction for virtual experiences (NBC, Dell, Holocaust Memorial Museum) taught me that technology should serve human stories, not replace them. Now, as founder of Crafted Logic Lab, I’m applying that principle to AI and forging a different path. And forging a different path for Crafted Logic Lab itself: sustainable economics, no venture capital funding, no hyperscaling obsession. Stay a high-quality independent boutique and not a captured Unicorn.

Imran Saleh

Director, Growth and Business Innovation · DATTANX AI

vancouver, British Columbia

Hey, I’m Imran Saleh 👋 Based in Vancouver, I bridge the gap between Canadian AI innovation and Middle East market opportunity. With 20+ years leading tech and digital transformation across fintech, real estate, retail, and defense, I specialize in connecting Canadian AI companies to growth and exposure in the Middle East. I operate at the intersection of AI, data, and cybersecurity, turning ideas into measurable real-world impact. Always open to connecting on AI strategy, market expansion, and building partnerships that drive both sides forward.

Matt Lambert

Principal · Cardeo Creative

Delta, British Columbia

I'm a designer and interdisciplinary artist with 20+ years of experience designing complex systems across AI, SaaS, and developer tools. I founded Cardeo Creative, where my work explores reduction, emergence, and human-guided approaches to creativity and decision-making. I developed SWARM through my creative practice as a way of navigating complexity through iterative exploration. I use AI as a collaborator to extend human judgment rather than replace it, with a focus on building practical tools that help people think, create, and make better decisions.

Brittney Ashley

Creative Dynamics Virtual Services

British Columbia

Brittney Ashley is the founder and lead strategist of Creative Dynamics Virtual Services, a fractional operations and marketing firm that helps service-based founders across Canada and the U.S. get out of the day-to-day weeds and back into the work only they can do, through her CEO Offload Method. A certified business coach, Trauma of Money practitioner, and Marketing Communications grad, she pairs operational strategy with a people-first, human-in-the-loop approach to AI. Brittney sits on the WestShore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, hosts the radio show Breaking Norms, Building Dreams, and is building tools to make AI literacy more accessible for the next generation. She works from Vancouver Island, BC, driven by a simple belief: technology should serve people, not the other way around.

Israel Goytom

Builder · Synheart AI

Vancouver, British Columbia

I am a curious builder behind Synheart AI, working on human-state infrastructure that helps modern computing including AI systems understand context beyond text. My focus is on privacy-first, local-first systems that translate biosignals and behavioral signals into meaningful, usable interfaces for developers and researchers. Through Synheart, I’m exploring how adaptive systems can respond to real human state—without extracting or exploiting users—by combining on-device computation, open standards, and developer-friendly tooling. The goal is simple: make AI more aware, more responsible, and more aligned with how humans actually live and feel.

Itamar Titievsky

Burnaby, British Columbia

Just a young guy figuring out his way around AI!

Jacob DePodesta

High school teacher, senior sciences · Sea to Sky School District No. 48

Squamish, British Columbia

Science educator. People person. Currently seeking challenges and experiences in AI development, safety, and governance in education. Prospective Master of Education Technology recipient from UBC.

Jai Djwa is a UX strategist, facilitator, artist, and creative technologist who teaches in the IDEA School of Design and runs Agentic Digital Media. His work sits where curiosity, care, and systems thinking meet, supporting medium to large social-change organizations as they navigate complex digital ecologies. With over 25 years of experience in UX research, digital strategy, and creative direction, particularly in the arts and law sectors, Jai brings both rigour and a sense of play to the work. His practice focuses on creating online experiences that are clear, humane, and engaging for diverse audiences. He has led dozens of UX research projects, often working closely with communities of colour, Indigenous communities in BC, and people with disabilities. As an educator, Jai enjoys helping emerging designers connect theory, technology, and real-world impact—while keeping room for experimentation, collaboration, and a bit of whimsy. He is also expanding his practice as a mediator, supporting arts boards and staff in navigating conflict, communication, and change with care and clarity.

James Hursthouse is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur and strategist with more than 25 years in games, interactive entertainment, and emerging technology. He leads Greenstone Initiatives, a boutique advisory and venture studio that helps scale-ups and innovators at the intersection of interactive, Web3, and AI. Over his career, James has launched and led studios and publishing ventures across Japan, Korea, the UK, and North America, developing and operating online worlds, virtual economies, and branded experiences - including Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast, the first time a major artist toured a video game not an album. His work has ranged from early MMOs and cloud gaming platforms to blockchain-powered digital-asset networks and AI-driven creative production pipelines. A lifelong technologist-wannabe, James traces his curiosity about intelligence and computation back to his Philosophy degree in the late 1980s, which focused on the Computational Model of the Mind and involved making Turing Machines out of wood. That early fascination continues to guide his exploration of how human creativity, artificial intelligence, and decentralized systems converge - and how they can be aligned to build more ethical, scalable, and sustainable technology ecosystems. Current key projects include: Appreciation Engine (privacy-first data and engagement infrastructure), YOM (decentralized GPU and cloud gaming network), Cachet (real-world asset tokenization platform for hospitality and culture), and Soul Kitchen (AI-supercharged games studio and IP revival initiative).

Joel Baum is a strategy researcher who brings decades of insight into competition, collaboration, and trust networks to Create Beyond Limits Inc. He is an advocate and developer of AI-powered tools to support individual and organizational learning and performance.

Dave Kelly

Sr Director, Privacy and Product Management

Vancouver, British Columbia

Dave is an executive leader focused on product, privacy, and Responsible AI. As Head of Product for his first 5 years at Prenuvo, before transitioning to build the company's Privacy and AI governance programs, he helped scale the organization from 1 clinic and less than 1000 patients to over 25 locations and nearly 200,000 patients. Dave is recognized for his privacy-by-design approach, achieving Privacy compliance across more than 30 global regions leveraging data protection as a driver for business growth and AI/ML enablement in healthcare. Dave holds an MBA in Management of Technology and numerous specialized certifications in privacy (CIPP/E/US/C, CIPM, AIGP, CIPT) and cybersecurity strategy.

Puma (Jeremy) Bayley

Bowen Island, British Columbia

AKA Dr.Bayley, starter of the BC+AI dev group where we dig into the technical side of AI. Whether you want to create custom models, vibe code complex software, or time-hack to defeat the kung-fuhrer, its the place to be! I fuse together art and engineering to create original AI tools and workflows for film and entertainment. You can see some of what I work on at github.com/MrScripty In my brief lifetime i have been an Interior Designer, Indy Cinematography, Broadcast TV CamOp & Switcher, Render Wrangl'n Cowboy, Colourist, Blender Educator,and probably some other things. I taught myself computer programming in elementary school, and entered into CGI in my later teens. I have continued with 3D/2D CGI and software engineering ever since.

Jessica Glowacki is the Founder & CEO of EH! Canada’s Social Network, a women-led, community-first social platform. With 25+ years in product and tech leadership at companies like Reddit and lululemon, she’s focused on building a trusted, proudly Canadian alternative to algorithm-driven social media.

Joseph McCaig

Imaging and Data Management Research Technician · The HIVE @ UBC

Vancouver, British Columbia

Retired RCAF Officer, BEng Civil Engineering, BSci Human Biology, two-thirds Doctor of Chiropractic, blockchain and AI futurist, systems thinker, poet, artist, PTSD/MDD survivor. I want to work with all peoples to create one human global community that operates on conscious growth, contribution, and love instead of fear & anger, individualism, and profit extraction. We have the technology, the time is now, let's make it happen.

Jordan Dack is a producer, filmmaker, award-winning songwriter, and ARTrepreneur dedicated to building art-centered businesses. As Founder of Haus of Owl, he fosters innovation in music, film, movement, and immersive media, creating spaces that empower artists. He is also the founder of SoundKreations Inc. and SK InterACTIVE, leading arts education initiatives across Canada. A published poet, former National Spoken Word Championships performer, and frontman of electro-pop project, 12XPretty

Jos Duncan-Asé is an award-winning media executive, business strategist, and storytelling innovator with over 15 years of leadership. Expert in transforming vision into scalable business models, mobilizing cross-sector partnerships, and designing revenue-generating programs rooted in equity, empathy, and cultural strategy. A proven builder of brands, teams, and creative ecosystems that drive impact and financial growth. Combines executive coaching, operational strategy, product design, and human-centered storytelling to help organizations thrive in complex environments.

I am currently doing a Doctor of Business Administration in Generative AI at Golden Gate University. Previously I was CEO of NetNation (Nasdaq listed). I just launched a startup that is developing an app to help solopreneurs launch their business in minutes: https://www.instabiz.cc

Cloud Architect | AI-Driven SaaS Builder | CTO-as-a-Service | Commercial Strategist I design and build scalable cloud-native platforms that combine software architecture, DevSecOps automation, and applied AI. With over a decade of experience in technology leadership and commercial strategy, I help organizations transform legacy operations into secure, efficient, and growth-oriented digital ecosystems. My expertise includes AWS multi-account architectures, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform), automation (CI/CD, Ansible), secure multi-tenant SaaS platforms, and AI-integrated workflows. I specialize in turning complex technical systems into revenue-generating products. Beyond engineering, I bring a strong commercial mindset—structuring partnerships, leading enterprise sales cycles, and positioning technology as a strategic growth driver. I operate internationally, connecting North American innovation standards with Latin American execution capabilities.

Jas Sohi

Data Scientist

Vancouver, British Columbia

Jas (jazz) is a Data Scientist (born and raised in Vancouver) with more than a decade of expertise in product analytics, web analytics, and end-to-end experience throughout the entire Data Science lifecycle. A dedicated lifelong learner, he strives to discover the most efficient methods for executing tasks while aiming to create solutions that are as simple as possible. He recently completed the Udacity Agentic AI Nanodegree (his 3rd such degree in the past decade) where he built AI agents that 'talked' to each other. He keeps balanced by being a part-time acroyogi, beach volleyball player, and a digital nomad.

Judith Netscher

Senior Director of Operations · Electronic Arts (Central Tech - Creative Innovation Team)

North Vancouver, British Columbia

^^ My first ever Dall-E self-portrait ^^

Kahlil Ashanti

Vancouver, BC

Actor, coder, entrepreneur telling challenging stories that unite us.

Helping business grow with AI Cloud, LLM, AI Video with complex IT cloud solution designs with key experience building scalable ecosystems for global cloud partners.

AI Visionary | Empowering Communities Through Ai Technologies Founder and CEO of CrowdSky Solutions Inc - Mobile and Web Development powered by Ai

Kate Armstrong

Curator, artist, writer

vancouver, British Columbia

Kate Armstrong works with AI and experimental forms of fiction and text, specifically generative literature and dynamic narrative forms. As an artist, writer, and curator she has over 20 years of experience focusing on art and technology. https://aifutures.substack.com/

Kate Trgovac

Co-founder · LintBucket Media

Saanichton, British Columbia

Marketer. Mystery. Legend.

Katie Bedford

Founder · K Bedford Consulting

Vancouver, British Columbia

Hi I'm Katie. I'm a thinking partner for agency leaders who’ve built a great business and are ready to ask what it’s all for. I've been in the digital agency world for 15 years — the last five spent as a fractional COO, in the room, making the hard calls. I’ve built the ops, restructured the teams, implemented the systems, and sat in more leadership meetings than I can count. I’ve helped agencies navigate AI adoption, compensation redesigns, and the kind of organizational growing pains that make or break a shop. I’m also an aerospace engineer by training. That background taught me how to think — logic, critical thinking, problem solving, working across disciplines and cultures, and above all, risk management: how to identify the risks that actually matter and manage those. It also made me constitutionally incapable of accepting “that’s just how it’s done” as an answer.

Dave Keighron Educator | Innovator | Podcast Host | Igniter of Ideas Dave Keighron is a marketing educator, innovator, and advocate for experiential and AI-enabled learning. As a Professor of Marketing and Curriculum Committee Chair at Douglas College, he is leading efforts to transform how students, educators, and businesses connect theory with real-world practice. He is the creator and co-host of multiple podcasts — including Innovation Fuel, Marketing Corner Talks, and Education in Action — which spotlight entrepreneurs, educators, and experts who are shaping the future of learning and business. Through initiatives like Ignition Lab, Impact Education Foundation, and The Foundery Studio, Dave is building ecosystems that merge education, innovation, and AI to fuel collaboration between academia and industry. These initiatives empower students, startups, and educators to co-create ideas, launch ventures, and drive measurable community impact. Known as the “Igniter of Ideas,” Dave’s mission is to disrupt traditional education systems and champion experiential and work-integrated learning models that help people experience, create, and thrive.

Kevin Friel

AI and Digital Film Production Specialist · Kevin Friel Is A Pixel Wizard

Vancouver, British Columbia

🎥 AI Film Production Specialist | 25+ Years Traditional + Cutting-Edge Generative Workflows I help studios, agencies, and creators reduce production costs 40-70% while enhancing creative possibilities through strategic AI integration. As a VFX artist, video producer, and AI-native workflow designer, I bridge decades of traditional filmmaking expertise with the latest generative tools. Recent Results: Designed AI pipelines reducing post-production time from weeks to days Implemented cost-effective VFX solutions for major studio productions (DNEG, BRON, MPC) Created automated content systems generating consistent, brand-aligned assets at scale 🧠 Core Specializations: Generative Video Production (Runway, Midjourney, Pika, Veo 3, Kling) AI-Enhanced VFX Pipelines (ComfyUI, Runway, Luma Labs integration) AI-Enhanced Scoring and Sound Design Curation and Pipelines (Udio, Suno, ElevenLabs) Hybrid Cinematography (Traditional + AI-generated elements) Workflow Automation (From concept to delivery) Team Training (Future-proofing creative departments) Perfect for: Studios seeking cost efficiency, agencies scaling content production, and visionary creators ready to embrace AI filmmaking without sacrificing quality. 🔗 Portfolio: www.kevinfriel.com 📬 Open for: Project consulting | Workflow design | Team training | Strategic partnerships

Kerris Hougardy

SVP People · Ting Internet

Vancouver, British Columbia

Human Resources leader. I coach, mentor and manage high performing teams of human resources professionals with a focus on strategic business partnerships, talent management, employee experience excellence, employment brand championship, diversity & inclusion and continuous process improvement. Passionate about Human+AI collaboration and enablement!

Kiirsten Suurkask

Founder & President

Victoria, British Columbia

20+ years of Life Sciences strategy / operational consulting and advisory experience.

Kris Krüg

Joint Operations Command Centre

Vancouver, BC

My work lives where creative technology meets public culture: AI community infrastructure, keynote systems, responsible training, visual storytelling, and experimental internet projects that help people make sense of what is coming.

Decision-focused analytics strategist exploring the gap between what people say and what they do. I help build decision-ready intelligence where data, AI, and customer experience meet.

Kyle Treleaven

Vice President, General Manager · BrainStation

NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia

Kyle Treleaven is a senior leader supporting employee experience, consulting operations, and workforce development across Konrad Group and BrainStation, the global leader in digital skills training. With a background in tech entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and building high-performing teams, he brings a practical, people-first approach to organizational growth and transformation. Based in British Columbia, Kyle balances a demanding career with an active family life as a father of two young boys, and is passionate about continuous learning, strong operational systems, and helping others reach their potential.

Landon Steele

Principal · Steele Consulting Group

West Vancouver, British Columbia

I worked in life sciences in the Bay Area for about 20 years before co-founding a mobile healthcare company there. After a successful exit, I returned to Canada, where I work with startups on all things pre-seed and seed, including strategy, fundraising, and operations. Many of the startups I work with are building AI-enabled healthtech tools. I'm a chemical engineer by training, and I'm also enjoying playing with new AI tools. I've developed an AI-based pitch deck evaluator called "Pitch Perfect" that I'm currently beta testing with founders and funders. I would like to chat with folks who are further down this road than I am, especially AI and tech experts. I talk about startup life and fundraising in my blog at www.steeleconsultinggroup.com. I've been to several Vancouver AI meetups, have told lots of people about them already, and am excited to be a founding member. I want to help members connect so we can all learn, grow and share best practices together in this brave new world. Cheers, Landon

Larry Bouthillier is the Executive Director of Extended Learning at the University of British Columbia, where he leads the university’s central Career, Personal, and Professional (CPP) education unit and supports institution-wide initiatives related to CPP. Prior to joining UBC, Bouthillier spent 23 years at Harvard University in a progression of IT leadership roles, including Educational Technology Architect and Director of Software Development. He has also held educational leadership roles at Brown University and the New England Institute of Technology. Under his leadership, UBC Extended Learning delivers an expanding portfolio of UBC Micro-Certificates and Certificates in technology fields, including AI for IT organizations and digital media professionals, cybersecurity, and data science. Bouthillier also teaches Computer Science at Harvard Extension School, where his courses focus on software development and AI-assisted programming.

Lautaro Cepeda

Keeping talent and capital on Vancouver Island

Victoria, British Columbia

Launching VIBE (Vancouver Island Business Experience), a business, capital, and AI event landing in Victoria this fall. I'm on a mission to keep talent and capital on Vancouver Island by getting the region's most fundable builders in the same room as the people who can back them. Background in go-to-market and AI SaaS. Always up to collaborate across the BC AI ecosystem, so reach out if you're building something on the Island.

JESSICA LIANG

CEO/Co-Founder · Apricity

Richmond, British Columbia

Jessica has been building spaces where people belong for the last 8 years. As a third culture kid who grew up across 4 countries and 9 schools before the age of 15, she learned early that belonging doesn't happen by accident - it's designed intentionally. She spent six years proving that at Nook, a coworking community she built in Richmond after converting a karaoke bar into a space that hosted 250+ events in two years, and won Richmond's New Business of the Year award in 2025. Nook is a living room for builders, and proof that founders build better when they feel held by their community. Now she's building Apricity, a hosted build environment in Yaletown for overwhelmed early-stage founders, launching in June 2026. Apricity is the pre-accelerator landing pad the ecosystem needs. No polished pitch required - just a structured environment where overwhelmed founders who are still employed or carrying heavy responsibilities can finally stop planning and start building. Jessica's background spans UX research, management consulting, grant strategy, agricultural community design, event production, and space operations. She designs the operational container first, then brings in the right people to run each lane. Her team includes leaders in growth strategy, operations, and technology. Her mission is simple: to build the infrastructure that helps overwhelmed impact-driven builders ship faster and stay in the game longer.

Lise Alain

Owner · LAT Multilingual - Translation & Marketing Inc.

Galiano island, British Columbia

I've been in the language industry for many years. My company, LAT Multilingual, combines translation and marketing to help companies and organizations engage with diverse demographics. AI is a game changer for us in so many ways. We continue to focus on a human-driven approach, while gradually integrating tools. This group is a great opportunity to share thoughts, concerns, and to contribute to shaping the future we want.

Loki Jorgenson

Principal Consultant · nooCore Technologies

Vancouver, British Columbia

20+ years of tech entrepreneurship, 7 years in mathematics, and academic training in physics have taught me to speak clearly, plan well, trust the team, and dream deeply. Underlying the usual complexity and uncertainty there are golden nuggets of opportunity – if only they can be articulated into existence, dredged to the surface, and translated to necessity. Then something truly amazing happens. Over that time, I have focused on emergent technologies and their markets in medtech, fintech and IT - utilizing cloud, data, software and algorithms, analytics and visualization, clinical research, technology commercialization, IP management, market analysis, software development, team management, and strategic vision. This journey has given me a wealth of experience in hardware manufacture, ISO 13485 and Quality Systems, medical devices, and mobile health, product development, IP, R&D, business strategy and technology vision, and team building. I have worked with CEOs to raise money, with researchers and clinicians to generate innovation, with dev teams to produce commercial solutions, and with marketing teams to craft a compelling message. I discovered an uncommon strength in unpacking problems to identify the right questions, public speaking, and technology evangelism.

Lourdes Gant

CEO · International Impact Inc

Courtenay, British Columbia

Lourdes Gant is the CEO of International Impact Inc. and Blue Horizon Legacy. She is also the Managing Director of Manatee Holdings Ltd., a leader in sustainable aquaculture. A CPA by training, she combines financial precision with operational strategy to scale high-impact ventures. Lourdes brings a sharp focus on leveraging AI and data systems to drive innovation in legacy industries. She is one of Canada's Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs from Chatelaine Magazines in 2012 (#84) and 2014 (#5)

I am a UX and product design leader dedicated to building meaningful, inclusive digital experiences that bridge real human needs with the potential of emerging technologies. My career has spanned agency, enterprise, government, and small business environments—including the fast-paced world of hospitality. Early on, time spent in hospitality taught me the true value of user empathy, adaptability, and anticipating unspoken needs. These lessons are the foundation of my design approach. Today, I specialize in agentic AI, developing frameworks and workflows that empower end users within B2C and public services environments—especially those seeking intuitive, self-service, and responsive digital journeys. I thrive on breaking down complexity, collaborating cross-functionally, and championing ethical, responsible AI adoption. I am constantly challenging the limits of AI to develop innovative UX strategies and to deliver solutions that make technology genuinely work for people. I also enjoy mentoring diverse teams and pushing beyond conventional boundaries to create new user experience strategies powered by AI.

Mark Busse

Founder/Producer · CreativeMornings/Vancouver

Vancouver, British Columbia

Organizational leader, strategic advisor, storyteller, engagement specialist, community builder, certified leadership coach, & licensed officiant.

I’m a Canadian journalist and CEO of Energi Media, one of Canada's biggest independent news organizations. Our journalism currently averages over 3 million views/reads per month. We also have a sizable and growing US audience. Energi Media is celebrating its 18th year.

Martin Lopatka

Executive Director, Data & AI · Valtech

North Vancouver, British Columbia

Martin Lopatka is a technology leader and applied researcher working at the intersection of machine learning, AI ethics, and technology policy, with a focus on moving responsible AI from principle to practice in complex organizations. He specializes in turning ambiguous, high-stakes AI problems into structured, auditable systems that deliver measurable value while meeting safety, privacy, and governance requirements at scale. Technical and research focus Lopatka’s technical background spans machine learning, applied statistics, large-scale telemetry, and probabilistic reasoning, grounded in a Ph.D. in forensic statistics from the University of Amsterdam and an M.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence. His publications include work on trustworthy AI, privacy-preserving analytics, browser telemetry analysis, and the statistical interpretation of complex forensic evidence, reflecting a career-long concern with inference under uncertainty and the societal impact of data-driven systems. He has led teams building production ML systems for web-scale environments, including Firefox and web-crawl platforms, with an emphasis on robust experimentation, causal reasoning, and rigorous measurement. ​ Responsible AI and policy engagement In recent years, Martin has focused on responsible AI, serving as a thought leader and offering owner for Responsible AI assessment frameworks and enterprise security for LLM-based applications. His work includes designing assessment approaches that align technical controls with regulatory expectations and organizational risk postures, and leading pods that integrate model governance, red teaming, and human-in-the-loop review into AI delivery pipelines. Through collaboration with cross-functional partners, he helps clients operationalize AI principles such as transparency, fairness, and accountability into concrete design decisions, documentation practices, and deployment standards. Bridge between research, practice, and governance Across roles in consulting, product organizations, and forensic research, Martin has operated as a bridge between deep technical work, organizational strategy, and public-interest concerns around technology. He has contributed to initiatives examining dark patterns, platform governance, and the civic implications of data infrastructures, and has helped design cultures of experimentation that normalize rigorous testing while reducing fear of failure. This combination of research literacy, hands-on engineering experience, and policy-aware framing makes him a trusted partner for organizations seeking to deploy advanced AI systems that are not only performant, but also accountable, resilient, and aligned with broader societal expectations. Martin maintains an active role in the Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PET) community, the Mozilla Alumni Network, and the UBC Cognitive Systems Alumni Network and mentoring team.

Matthew Schwatzman

Host · Surrey AI, Teen2Life Podcast

Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Host the Surrey AI community meetup. Host of Teen2Life Experience Podcast, Sales, VCA, CEO/Co-founder, Boxing/Volleyball

Christin Gilbert

Digital Creative Lead · Eminence Organics

Vancouver, British Columbia

Creative professional exploring practical AI applications in AI-assisted content production, systems design and visual storytelling. I’m curious about ethical use, creative collaboration and building thoughtful, interconnected workflows where technology supports human insight. Outside work, I love spending time exploring new places, sailing and hiking. (IG: @spoonofsesame)

Seasoned technical leader with over a decade of experience founding and scaling B2B SaaS companies in security, compliance automation, and AI infrastructure. As Co-Founder & CTO of Intlabs, I led the architecture and R&D strategy of an AI-powered data-sharing platform (Origin) enabling zero-trust collaboration across regulated enterprises through responsible AI, data sovereignty, and data privacy-driven design. Previously Co-Founder & COO of Echosec Systems (acquired by Flashpoint), where I built and scaled hybrid-remote engineering teams, guided product strategy for threat intelligence and dark web analytics, and delivered actionable insights from unstructured data across defense and intelligence markets. I combine deep technical expertise in machine learning, AI agents, distributed systems, and cloud architecture with proven platform engineering and technical leadership experience. Passionate about building teams that innovate responsibly, I focus on mentorship, governance, and applying AI securely and ethically to deliver trust, resilience, and measurable impact at scale.

Mila Juristovski Bosnic

co-founder and COO · Nala Care

Vancouver, British Columbia

Hi, I’m Mila. I’m a biotech engineer, entrepreneur, and co-founder at Nala Care, a Vancouver based body care brand focused on creating products that encourage self knowing, self care, and self advocacy. I have 25+ years in biotech and life sciences, spanning regulatory affairs, quality and compliance, process and product development, and new drugs development. I hold a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biotechnology Engineering and an MBA in Management of Technology, and I love operating at the intersection of science, technology, and real world impact. I’m deeply curious about AI’s potential to transform drug development: How can we use AI to mine and connect data from thousands of clinical studies across countless drug trials to dramatically accelerate life saving treatments. Could AI help us make the breakthrough that finally helps us cure cancer? How can we use AI for personalized medicines and treatments? I’m also very interested in AI ethics, especially how we regulate and protect AI identity, personal data, and biometrics as these technologies become more deeply embedded in healthcare and everyday life. Outside of work, I support homeless youth (Covenant House), enjoy angel investing, explore bioenergy / quantum healing, and unwind with pickleball.

Moe Mohammadi

Director · Synova Consulting

Vancouver, British Columbia

Co-Founder and Director of Synova Consulting, a Vancouver-based firm that supports entrepreneurs in building, scaling, and leading high-impact ventures. A graduate of HBS in Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy, Moe blends business insight with a passion for innovation and leadership. He also leads initiatives like the Launch, Learn, Lead Summit, connecting founders, investors, and corporate leaders to share ideas, inspire growth, and shape the future of the startup community.

Monique Sherrett

Chief Everything Officer · Boxcar Marketing

Vancouver, British Columbia

Digital strategist by day, book lover always.

Al educator. Unfluencer. Gen-X dad. Internet cynic. Feminist. Immigrant.

Natasha Gulati

Owner · Imagine Success

New Westminster, British Columbia

I am a Leadership Coach certified by the ICF, with extensive corporate experience in People & Culture, and Business Development, spanning industries and continents. After years of working for fortune 500 companies, media houses and start-ups, I finally found the change agent, the one that genuinely moves the needle within the psyche of the individual - the powerful container of 'Coaching'. Nothing moves life faster than the slow and painful inner (conciousness) work that takes courage and a powerful, non-judgemental mirror to help you see your reflection clearly - and make the chosen adjustments. That is what I do, I am that mirror. My flagship workshop 'Authentic Leadership' is not a title - it is a daily practice of presence, reflection, and alignment. By championing psychological safety and unlocking leadership potential, I help individuals and organizations shift from performing under pressure to leading and thriving with clarity, courage, and authenticity. My AI companion 'Delhpi' says this about my upbringing: My story begins in India, born to a Punjabi father and an Anglo mother at a time when mixed-race and interfaith unions were deeply misunderstood, and working mothers and nuclear families were far from accepted. My parents were, in many ways, ahead of their time—driven by ideals of feminism, self-determination, and the belief that one could create a life estranged from family roots. In their pursuit of those ideals, survival often took precedence over nurturing. Control replaced care, and the weight of unexamined shadows shaped our family dynamic. Had things been different, I would have been raised by two strong-minded, powerful trendsetters—people unafraid to challenge convention and carve their own path. What I did inherit, without question, was that courage. The willingness to walk an untrodden road, even when it comes with a steep price. My upbringing was not easy, but it forged a resilience and independence that continues to define how I move through the world—choosing authenticity, growth, and self-leadership, even when the path is complex. ...Mine is not an uncommon story. Many leaders carry an inner conflict, expected to show up with strength and resilience, while leading from an inner core shaped by survival. Formed by caregivers, social environments, and educational systems, this conditioning often rewards endurance over self-compassion, leaving leaders outwardly capable yet inwardly harsh with themselves. Now is the time to soften that core.

Naveen Sai Ganta

Founder & CEO · Mindlr Inc

Vancouver, British Columbia

I’m a tech enthusiast who came into the field from a business and arts background. AI pulled me into software, taught me how to build, and now I work on AgentMaya, a multi-agent system I’m building from scratch.

I am a Data Analyst and AI Development professional based in British Columbia, Canada. With expertise in data science, machine learning, and advanced analytics, I specialize in transforming complex data into actionable insights and building intelligent, AI-driven solutions that support business growth and innovation.

Many years in product design, primarily healthcare and fintech. Interested in consciousness since watching Roy's "tears in the rain" soliloquy and reading Penrose's "Emperor's New Mind" as a kid. Solidified in grad school form classes with Herb Simon, and research focus on perception, cognition and usability.

Links if interested in PyTorch Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Nvidia Jetson, Issac Omniverse.

Philippe Pasquier

Full Professor · Simon Fraser University

Vancouver, British Columbia

Philippe Pasquier is a scientific researcher, multidisciplinary media artist, composer, performer, educator, and a community builder. He is the director of the Metacreation Lab for Creative AI, and a Professor at Simon Fraser University's School for Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT), in Vancouver (Canada). There, he is pursuing a multidisciplinary research-creation program focused on generative systems and applied AI for creative tasks, computer-assisted creativity, and co-creative systems. Along with the Metacreation Lab fellows, Philippe has co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed contributions presented in the most rigorous scientific venues, and honored with 9 best paper awards. His MOOC class on Generative Art and Computational Creativity on the Kadenze platform is serving thousands. The Metacreation Lab artistic work has been shown in prominent venues on six continents, including at Ars Electronica, IRCAM, ZKM, Centre Pompidou, Eastern Block, Earzoom festival, several ISEA editions, Mutek Festival, Sydney Biennale, Vooruit, ICST, etc. The Lab's projects are also finding industrial applications and its music AI algorithms have reached millions through open source release of tools, code, datasets, and collaborations with the software industry (e.g., Steinberg, Teenage Engineering, Elias, Microsoft, Huawei, …).

Pete Young

Director · Young Guns Institute of Creative Studies

Vancouver, British Columbia

I believe the role of education is to unlock the agency of every student — to help them see their own potential, develop their unique gifts, and gain the courage to create meaningful change in the world. As an artist, educator, and founder, my work centers on one question: In an age of AI and unprecedented complexity, how do we prepare young people to thrive — not just survive — and lead with empathy and imagination? In 2008, I founded Young Guns Studio to build the supportive, inspiring environment I wished I had as a young artist. What began as a small studio in Vancouver has since grown into a thriving ecosystem of mentorship and innovation, with students earning over 900 acceptance letters and $10M+ in scholarships to top art and design programs worldwide. But Young Guns has never been just about admissions. It’s about designing futures. Through an approach that blends creativity, technology, and personal development, we help students build the skills to navigate complexity: critical thinking, collaboration, and the ability to translate vision into action. Today, as we evolve into Young Guns 3.0, my mission is to scale this model globally — connecting educators, creators, and partners who share the belief that education must evolve. We’re building systems that use AI thoughtfully and ethically, amplifying human creativity rather than replacing it. If you’re passionate about reimagining education or shaping the next generation of creators, let’s connect. Together, we can design a future where humans and technology grow stronger — and more humane — side by side.

Peter Dhillon is the Founder & CEO of Ascentus Capital, a vertically integrated real estate and private equity group with a strong focus on innovation and technology. Under his leadership, Ascentus has embraced artificial intelligence to streamline operations across development, construction, marketing, and investment management. By deploying advanced AI tools, Peter has driven greater efficiency, enhanced data-driven decision-making, and improved scalability across the firm’s portfolio. His commitment lies in positioning Ascentus at the forefront of AI adoption in real estate and finance, ensuring the company leverages technology not only for profitability but also for long-term industry transformation.

Peter is the co-founder of The AI Upgrade, a guide to generative AI for professionals that offers courses, consulting services, and content to bridge the knowledge gap regarding AI and next-gen media tools. His students and clients for AI upskilling include industry leaders like Apple, Salesforce, Walmart, AMD, Adobe, Amazon, Accenture, PayPal, NASA, US State Department, Harvard, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Paramount, National Geographic, BBC, Fortune Magazine, and other top organizations. Peter’s work experimenting with and teaching AI began in 2019, when he was visiting new media lecturer at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. Peter also taught next-gen media at Cal's Advanced Media Institute. In his “first career” as a freelance visual journalist and storyteller, Peter's photo and video work was published on the front page of The New York Times and in CNN, Bloomberg, Reuters, Al Jazeera, VICE News, Business Insider, and other major outlets. He’s also produced text, photo, and video content for various commercial clients, including the United Nations, The Asia Foundation, XPRIZE, and others.

Rakesh Sharma

Product Designer Leader

Delta, British Columbia

I’m a Product Design Leader with 15+ years experience crafting AI experiences, with the last decade focused on Use Experience of Network Security products.  In my current role I am developing foundational approaches to design AI Agent experiences for the security products at Cisco Systems. I have experience planning, orchestrating, coaching and mentoring a globally distributed product design team to stay focused through competing priorities. In the past, as a Design Strategist, I have closely partnered with Product Strategy, Product Management and Engineer Leaders across the wider organization. I have also applied design beyond pixels while running design awareness programs to increase design maturity in the security business unit through my previous role in a Design Transformation Team.  I am looking forward to engaging with BC+AI Community to learn and contribute to the application of AI in local environment.

Reza Azizi

Software Developer

North Vancover, British Columbia

Experienced software developer specializing in AI applications and services. Passionate about leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to create innovative solutions that solve real-world problems.

Ria Voulakis

Designer / Educator · Emy Design Lab

West Vancouver, British Columbia

Ria is a multidisciplinary designer and professional educator with a distinct eye for design, working at the intersection of fashion, visual communication, and emerging technology. Her practice spans global brands, emerging start-ups, and design-led education, where she develops thoughtful creative systems and cohesive visual worlds. Known for translating complex ideas into clear creative narratives, she encourages designers to create beyond the obvious, work with intention, and expand what design can be.

Experienced previs/layout artist for VFX and full CG feature films and TV series. Leadership experience. Broad experience training animation and film students. Innovation enthusiast. Solid educational background in filmmaking, animation, and project management. Directed award-winning short films and TV commercials.

2024 to present, Founder & CEO of Vitaliti Technologies Inc. (VTI), an innovation leader, specialzing in medical artificial intelligence, powered by unique, proprietary continuous vital sign monitor wearable devices and large data models, producing actionable intelligence at gold-standard accuracy. 2014 to present, Founder of & CEO of Cloud DX, Canada’s leading provider of remote patient monitoring services, for chronic disease management, post-surgical recovery and 10 additional use cases. Co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, an Edison Award for Medical IoT, a Fast Company World Changing Idea award, the PwC Visionary Award, and a Canadian Business Top Innovator.

Rocky Ozaki

Founder · The NoW of Work

Lake Country, British Columbia

Rocky is the Founder & CEO of the NoW of Work - a business transformation firm whose primary focus is helping leaders build future-proofed, resilient teams that are anchored on cultures of innovation and agility. He couples a decade of senior leadership roles in large organizations, with 10-years in start-up tech to form what he believes is the culture and operational DNA for all modern companies. Previously, Rocky held the role of Vice-President and Head of Corporate Innovation for the BC Tech Association and is a 3-time tech startup Founder.

Roz McNulty is the CEO of the Fashion Innovation Centre (FIC), a leader in merging technology with the apparel industry. With a background in 3D apparel design, small manufacturing, and a touch of the film industry, Roz is passionate about using immersive technologies to drive sustainability and efficiency in fashion. Roz will be teaching AI Fashion Futures at MML Academy. A 12 session course exploring how AI, 3D design, and virtual environments are transforming the global fashion landscape. Roz is an active member of Vancouver’s tech community, volunteering at BC+AI and Vancouver Spatials.

Ryv Valiquette

CEO · Ryv Consulting LTD.

Surrey, British Columbia

Ryv Valiquette is the co-founder of EasySOP, where he leads the mission to make business systems effortless, adaptable, and AI-powered. With a background in entrepreneurship and process design, Ryv specializes in bringing clarity to complex operations, helping teams execute with precision and speed. His approach blends strategic insight with hands-on implementation, ensuring every SOP is both powerful and practical — empowering businesses to scale smarter and faster.

Safak Atakan Celik

Business Systems Analyst

Vancouver, British Columbia

A lifelong learner who loves to learn how to learn and share. My expertise is on data, machine learning, computers, languages and deciphering humans. Always loved to explore different things and valued diversity, and ended up finding myself on this path. Growing my expertise, and always looking with a smile to the future.

sason ross

Vancouver, British Columbia

UBC Sauder MBA ’27 | AI Strategy & Entrepreneurship | Co-President, AI Club | President, Vancouver Liberals

Scientist turned entrepreneur, spreading joy through nutritious food. Yogurt manufacturer, Innovator and industrial land developer on Vancouver Island.

Sean Cranbury

Grandmaster of Flowers · Sympathetic Technology

Vancouver, British Columbia

I am a writer, organizational development strategist, and community-builder working in the areas of arts and culture, member-based non-profits, and healthcare. I founded a curated literary reading series called Real Vancouver in 2010 that served more than 300 authors from BC and across Canada, hosted a podcast called Books on the Radio, and am currently working on a novel-length manuscript based on the independent music community in east Vancouver at the turn of the millennium. Other aspects of generalized nerdiness in my life include running the Storm Crow Tavern and Alehouse back in the day and performing as a part of the Strike Sessions, an all-vinyl funk, soul, and hip-hop dj collective with a monthly residency at the Fox Cabaret in the before-times. I approach AI as a human-centred tool with enormous potential for helping people to unleash and hone their creativity and build new projects and communities that can transform legacy systems into new and vital pathways for personal and social good.

Sev Geraskin

Co-Founder: PolarGrid | Economy of Wisdom | Lantern Lab | Past 5 | AI alignment & infrastructure | Strategic advisor (startup & nonprofit) | Scaled data 100× @ Mastercard

Burnaby, British Columbia

Sev Geraskin is Co-Founder and VP of Engineering at PolarGrid, building North America’s first real-time AI inference compute network. He also serves as President of the Economy of Wisdom Foundation, Executive Director of the Lantern Lab Society, and Founder of Past 5, a platform for data storytelling that transforms complex information into narrative insight. In addition, Sev advises organizations including Opportunity International, Scale AI, Indigenomics, and multiple startups, helping them align technology strategy with human-centered outcomes. With over two decades of engineering and product leadership, Sev has scaled mission-critical systems across startups and global enterprises. At Mastercard, he expanded distributed data services 100×, cut cloud costs by 75%, and architected high-availability pipelines that unlocked multimillion-dollar opportunities. He has co-founded ventures including Stack Moxie (CTO) and Wiserbotics, pioneering neuro-affective AI for real-time emotional response. His expertise spans AI alignment, agent orchestration, distributed systems, large-scale cloud platforms, and narrative data visualization. A graduate of BCIT with distinction, Sev also holds certifications in AI Alignment, AWS Architecture and Security, Generative AI, and PMP, and previously contributed to Round, a curated network of executives shaping products with global impact. Today, Sev’s mission is to bridge technical innovation with human wisdom by aligning infrastructure, intelligence, and storytelling to help organizations and communities move beyond misalignment and unfulfillment toward a more connected collective experience.

I’m Shehan Chathuranga, Co-Founder and CTO of Hatchyard in Canada. We help businesses with AI, ERP, and digital transformation solutions, growing from a two-person startup into a strong team. My background is in software development and data science, and I’m passionate about using technology to solve real business problems. I also enjoy connecting with other founders and sharing ideas on innovation and growth.

Founder and Game Dev

Sonali Sharma

Strategy & Operations Architect

Vancouver, British Columbia

I help governments and organizations design governance systems that can actually keep up with today’s world — tech revolutions, geopolitical curveballs, and everything in between. Over the last twenty years, I’ve worked across continents and sectors: building an award-winning circular homeware venture that created sustainable livelihoods, leading provincial grant programs that fuel innovation, and mentoring entrepreneurs who want to do both good and well. I’m a Prosci-certified Change Practitioner and MIT-trained in AI Strategy — currently pursuing the Innovation Governance Program with the Council of Canadian Innovators — but mostly, I’m obsessed with turning good ideas into systems that are ethical, adaptive, and built to last

Steven Moon

Founder & CEO · Aech AI Inc.

Delta, British Columbia

I’m the Founder and CEO of Aech AI Inc., where we’re building Agent Aech - a privacy-first AI agent platform that integrates with Microsoft 365 to help businesses automate real work. We’re already working with enterprise and mid-market customers, including a multinational group in the EU, and growing through MSP partnerships across North America. My goal is to make AI practical and enduring - helping organizations build real capability instead of chasing the next hype cycle.

Sunny Grewal

Self-employed · Connecture AI

New Westminster, British Columbia

Interdisciplinary synthesizer bridging psychology, AI, and business intelligence. I connect technical implementation with human behavior patterns.

A versatile digital content creator specializing in AI-integrated creative workflows.

The City of Surrey is undergoing transformative change. The City is focused on how it can best capture investment, see good growth for the community, and forge relationships with all orders of Government as well as First Nation Communities in the region. This position leads Invest Surrey, Government Relations, and Indigenous Relations functions.

Ukrainian filmmaker, photographer with more than 15 years professional background in content creating field. I've been living and working in Canada for the last 3 years .

Vikram Singh

Founder, Design Leader · Maya Studios UX Design Inc.

Richmond, British Columbia

Maya Studios, a full-service UX/UI & product design company Crafting digital strategies that bridge the gap between brands and consumers and align with organizational goals. At Maya Studios, we work in close collaboration with business stakeholders, where our team of UI/UX designers create brand-focused product design audience to maximize opportunities.

Will Monjack

The AI guy in Construction.

Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

The AI guy in Construction.

My background lies at the intersection of executive IT leadership, cybersecurity, and GRC. Over the years, I’ve led major infrastructure deployments, managed multi-million-dollar tech initiatives, and helped organizations meet complex regulatory standards like HIPAA, PIPEDA, and SOC2 Type 2 certification. I’ve always been driven by a simple goal: making complex, high-risk systems run reliably and securely. Lately, my focus has pivoted to the frontier of AI governance and workflow integration. I’m actively working on enterprise AI policy creation, shadow AI mitigation, and AI vendor risk modeling; ensuring organizations can adopt cutting-edge AI tools responsibly. As a certified Responsible AI Professional (RAP) through the BC + AI Ecosystem, I’m passionate about helping peers align emergent AI capabilities with robust, ethical risk frameworks.

Yiangos Hadjiyiannis

Experience Director · The Multimodal Media Lab

Vancouver, British Columbia

Updated bio: Yangos Hadjiyannis is an Experience Director at the Multimodal Media Lab whose work explores how stories evolve into living, multimodal worlds. At the intersection of art, technology, and culture, his mission is to pioneer the language of storyliving — transforming narrative into multisensory, emotionally resonant experiences across the physical and digital spaces. Over the past two decades, he has directed more than 250 digital and immersive projects, events, pitches, and campaigns, developing frameworks that empower creators to design for presence, empathy, and collective imagination. Some of his notable projects include Alexandria: Port of Worlds, the official virtual world of the Cannes XR International Film Festival, where myth and architecture converge into an interactive cultural nexus; Love on a Plate, a multisensory Apple Vision Pro experience that redefines culinary storytelling through spatial media; and the SIGGRAPH VR Theater: Living Sanctuary, a re-envisioned immersive showcase merging narrative cinema, reactive flora, and mixed-reality performance. Across these projects and his ongoing initiatives at the Multimodal Media Lab, Yangos continues to shape the future of immersive storytelling — one where technology becomes a vessel for the senses, meaning, connection, and wonder.

Gabriel Zaro

Lead, Community Development · BC + AI

Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

Gabriel Zaro is a strategist and community executive with over 15 years of experience in cultural-scale activations, design thinking, and digital ecosystems. As Lead for Community Development at BC+AI, he helps shape how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies intersect with human-centered community frameworks. His approach is informed by a unique background that spans circus arts, founding and running a creative agency in Brazil, and building global programs for some of the world’s most engaged digital communities. This path shapes his belief that community is not merely a gathering of people, but an engine of intelligence capable of guiding design, policy, and innovation. Over the past decade, Zaro has advanced community as a discipline in the gaming industry, directing global strategies for franchises such as EA SPORTS FIFA, NBA 2K, WWE 2K, and LEGO 2K. His work has scaled creator networks, Discord ecosystems, and live-service engagement models into actionable insights that influenced billion-dollar products. Today, he brings the same systems-thinking mindset to frontier technology, bridging culture, design, and intelligence to ensure that new technologies grow with—and not apart from—the communities they serve.

Jimmy Stewart

AI Business Consultant | SVP Sales & Marketing, TruNorth AI Leadership Summit | Founding President, TruNorth Greater Vancouver Chapter | Speaker · Investor

Vancouver BC

As the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the TruNorth AI Leadership Summit, I am responsible for driving revenue growth, strategic partnerships, brand expansion, and global market development. My role is centered on positioning TruNorth AI as the premier leadership platform for executives, policymakers, investors, researchers, and innovators shaping the future of responsible artificial intelligence. The summit brings together leaders across enterprise, government, academia, and venture capital to accelerate AI adoption, governance, and innovation at scale.