mesh agenda
December 6-7, 2023 • Toronto
Location: The Symes
day 1 • december 6
10am – 10:30am
registration check-in and networking breakfast
10:30am – 10:45am
welcome to mesh | land acknowledgment
10:45 am – 11:35am
Canada’s digital policy has gone off the rails. What should the engaged community be doing?
with Dr. Michael Geist (Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law, University of Ottawa) and Tyler Chisholm (clearmotive marketing)
Join us for an engaging discussion with Dr. Michael Geist. During this session, we’ll discuss the Meta ban on news, Google’s upcoming search updates that are expected to do the same and podcasting regulations. He will explain why he has described the law as a “total policy disaster” and an “epic policy blunder” by the government. On the heels of him testifying before the CRTC, he’ll share his insights and what we may be expecting next and what engaged communities should be doing. Together, we’ll gain a greater understanding of the policy landscape and its impact on how we live and work.
Speakers:
11:35am – 12:10pm
the mesh innovation showcase
Showcasing the 2023 recipients followed by a mesh moment with recipient Christa Hill (Tacit Edge), Alicia Kalozdi MacMillan (mesh), and Amber Mac (AmberMac Media)
The mesh innovation showcase recognizes innovation and digital transformation leaders from under-represented communities across Canada.
Speakers:
12:10pm – 1:10pm
Networking lunch.
Head upstairs to connect and share over lunch. Decor sponsored by: LEAFF Circular Gifting
1:10pm – 2pm
Leveraging AI to create a more diverse and inclusive tech industry
with Marissa McNeelands (Toast) and Amber Mac (AmberMac Media)
During this session, Marissa McNeelands will discuss how her company is working to eliminate gender bias in tech hiring. TOAST, Canada’s first female-focused talent partner, uses a unique AI-driven recruitment tool to help organizations diversify their tech teams and support women in tech careers. In this session, we’ll explore the role that data and algorithms could play in fostering a more inclusive workforce.
Speakers:
2pm – 2:50pm
AI, Creativity, and Inclusivity: Empowering Tomorrow’s Marketing Leaders
with Natalie Black (Mia), Liberty White (CHOZEN MEDIA), Prieeyya Kaur Kesh (Mia), and Anne-Marie Enns (Mia)
In this panel discussion, we’ll explore how AI and creativity can foster economic empowerment through tech skills training and career growth. The panel will delve into the impact of AI on marketing, the importance of diversity and inclusivity in its design, and the role of continuous education. The session aims to understand economic empowerment through tech skills training, career growth, and a nurturing environment for everyone.
Speakers:
2:50pm – 3:20pm
Networking break
3:20pm – 4:10pm
Innovating for Canada’s Competitive Edge
with Dana O’Born (CCI), Tracey Bodnarchuk (Canada Powered by Women), and Stuart MacDonald (Narrative Fund)
Join Dana O’Born and Tracey Bodnarchuk as they discuss the future of Canadian competitiveness through the lens of innovation and transformation. This session will explore both the technology and energy industries and why innovation is a team sport. Looking at sectors that are both growing and transitioning, we’ll explore how Canada can leverage its strengths and overcome challenges to maintain a competitive edge in the global market and create a sustainable, prosperous future.
Speakers:
4:10pm – 4:55pm
Why ‘de-extinction’ is vital to fighting climate change
with Ben Lamm (Colossal) and Chris Hogg (DJG)
Join us as we speak with Ben Lamm, founder of Colossal Biosciences, for a riveting discussion on de-extinction and its role in combating climate change. Could the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo bird be agents of change? Learn about Colossal’s groundbreaking work in reviving extinct species, and how this contributes to biodiversity restoration. We will delve into the technology behind halting extinction, preserving animal DNA, and reversing human-induced environmental damage. Explore how de-extinction can restore lost ecosystems, increase biodiversity, and contribute to environmental sustainability. This session promises to spark insightful discussions on the future of biotech and environmental conservation.
Speakers:
5:00pm-6:00pm 🍻
The mesh social sponsored by Mia
day 2 • december 7
10:00am – 10:15am
registration and networking breakfast
10:15am – 10:40am
welcome to mesh | land acknowledgement
mesh moment with Elena Yunusov (Human Feedback Foundation)
10:40am – 11:30am
AI in Marketing: Magic Wand, Double-Edged Sword or Pandora’s Box
with Darnel J. Moore (Distinct.ly) and Elena Yunusov (Human Feedback Foundation)
Darnel Moore will explore customer marketing strategies in the context of AI. We will delve into how AI can personalize content at scale and analyze customer behaviour while also highlighting the importance of human insight and intervention in marketing. Have we crossed the line when the computer tracks, predicts and influences customer behaviours? Where and when is it best to deploy machine learning and AI in your marketing strategy? At what point in the process is it still best for humans to drive the process? How do we ensure that AI supports the customer journey and that the tools we deploy do not undermine an authentic, transparent relationship? Join us as we aspire to find where the balance is best placed between AI tools and human intention, avoid repeating the mistakes of social media and aim to harness the power of AI responsibly.
Speakers:
11:30am – 12:20pm
The Almighty AI: Friend or Foe for the Sustainability Agenda?
with Amy Peck (EndeavorXR) and Rika Nakazawa (NTT).
While headlines are dominated by both the thrill and alarm of the rise in Artificial Intelligence applications and utility across industries, they have overshadowed another existential hot topic: Sustainability / ESG. In this fireside chat, we will examine the role that AI fundamentally plays in the Sustainability agenda for communities, businesses, and national states, and in what ways leaders across sectors are taking action today for impact tomorrow. And we might even imagine new kinds of futures where artificial and collective intelligence collide in this unique chat forum.
Speakers:
12:30am – 1:30pm
Networking lunch
Head upstairs to connect and share over lunch. Decor sponsored by: LEAFF Circular Gifting
1:30pm – 2:15pm
Amplifying Community Actions: Case Study of the Second Harvest Food Rescue App
with Lori Nikkel (Second Harvest), Winston Rosser (Second Harvest) and Mark Evans (Marketing Spark)
Join Lori Nikkel and Winston Rosser from Second Harvest as they discuss their innovative approach to combating food waste and insecurity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and in its aftermath. They’ll share how their technology platform has facilitated partnerships between food donors and non-profits, enabling them to scale the redistribution of surplus food from coast to coast to coast. Learn about the increased efficiency that allowed them to connect 5,600 donors with 3,400 non-profits–rescuing 24 million pounds of food, averting 79.3 million pounds of greenhouse gases, and saving 13.2 billion litres of water in the last year alone.
Speakers:
2:15pm – 3:05pm
AI & Procurement: The Intersection of Innovation, Risk and Law
with Colleen Pound (Proxure), Mary Jane Dykeman (INQ Law) and David Potter (Vog)
Join Colleen Pound and Mary Jane Dykeman for an enlightening session on the transformative role of AI and technology in professional services. They will delve into how these tools are levelling the playing field, particularly in procurement and legal services. Colleen, with her expertise in automation and predictive analytics, will shed light on procuring AI solutions. Mary Jane, a seasoned health and data lawyer, will discuss the legal and risk management aspects of AI adoption. This session promises to be a rich blend of insights from the tech startup and healthcare sectors.
Speakers:
3:05pm – 3:35pm
Networking break
3:35pm – 4:25pm
What the chaos at OpenAI, misinformation, and fake AI journalists mean for our future
with Mathew Ingram (Columbia Journalism Review) and Chris Hogg (mesh)
Join Mathew Ingram (CJR) and moderator Chris Hogg as Ingram explores the chaos that has been the world of AI this year. From executive shakeups, to fast-vs-slow AI, to misinformation and deepfakes, this session will explore the current state of AI and what it means for our future.
Speakers:
