About the Summit
This event will bring together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and community advocates to explore how Responsible AI can advance equity, strengthen democratic accountability, and serve the public good. Our goal is to connect global expertise with local action, ensuring that the future of AI reflects fairness, transparency, and community impact.
Big questions. Real impact. The Ottawa Responsible AI Summit 2025 brings policymakers, researchers, technologists, and community leaders together to shape how AI can serve equity, public good, and democratic accountability. Backed by civic leadership. Driven by collaboration. Built for action.
Why Attend?
Against the backdrop of Ottawa's role as both a leading tech hub and the seat of Canada's federal governance, this summit offers a unique opportunity to engage with the future of Responsible AI.
Gain insight into Canada's and Ontario's approaches to governing data and AI for equity and the public good
Engage directly with senior policymakers, researchers, and community leaders shaping Responsible AI frameworks
Explore grassroots and Indigenous perspectives on data justice and community-centered innovation
Learn from real-world case studies on operationalizing AI ethics in healthcare, public policy, and enterprise practice
Connect with diverse stakeholders to co-develop governance frameworks that ensure AI serves equity, accountability, and democratic values
Register for the Summit
Be part of a landmark gathering. The Ottawa Responsible AI Summit 2025 convenes diverse voices to explore how Responsible AI can transform healthcare, policy, and community well-being. Register your interest today to stay informed and secure your place at this pivotal event in Ottawa.
The Speakers
From leading voices in AI to grassroots innovators, the Ottawa Responsible AI Summit 2025 stage will feature the voices shaping the future of AI governance. Hear firsthand from leaders across policy, technology, and civil society — and discover how Responsible AI can advance equity and social good.
Sonya Shorey
President and CEO, for Invest Ottawa, Bayview Yards, and Area X.O
Sonya is a strategy executive and management consultant with more than 22 years of leadership experience with private and public organizations. With expertise in regional, national, and global technology, entrepreneurial, economic development, and innovation-based organizations, she specializes in corporate and communications strategy development and execution.
Honourable Jenna Sudds, P.C., M.P
Member of Parliament for Kanata—Carleton House of Common
The Honourable Jenna Sudds, P.C., M.P. is the Member of Parliament for Kanata.
Somto Mbelu
Founder & Program Lead, Ottawa Responsible AI Hub
Somto Mbelu, PMP is the Founder and Program Lead at the Ottawa Responsible AI Hub and the Convener of the Ottawa Responsible AI Summit, a flagship event advancing ethical, inclusive, and community-centered approaches to artificial intelligence in Canada's capital region.
Prof. Graeme Auld
Professor in Carleton University's School of Public Policy Administration and the Co-Editor of Regulation & Governance
Graeme Auld is a Professor in Carleton University's School of Public Policy and Administration and the Co-Editor of Regulation & Governance. He has broad research experience in regulatory governance in the fields of natural resources, sustainability, climate change, risk, and emerging technologies. His recent work has focused on Artificial Intelligence to consider the adoption of audit and risk assessment practices in this emerging area of risk regulation.
Gina Soparlo
Senior Advisor for International Relations, Mitacs
Gina Soparlo is the Senior Advisor for International Relations at Mitacs, where she leads the organization’s Horizon Europe portfolio and International Industry Strategy. Based in Ottawa, she works across government, academia and industry to design programs that help Canadian innovators connect with international partners and opportunities. Gina uses partnerships with Global Affairs Canada, foreign and Canadian embassies, and other government departments to strengthen Canada’s participation in global innovation networks and to support collaboration in areas such as AI and advanced technology.
Hammed Afenifere
Co-Founder and CEO of Oneremit
Hammed Afenifere is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oneremit, a Canada-based cross-border payments company leveraging blockchain and AI to simplify international transactions for African businesses. Through Oneremit, he empowers African enterprises to overcome payment barriers, access global markets, and compete confidently on the world stage. Passionate about financial inclusion and emerging technologies, advocates for the use of blockchain & AI as catalysts for a more connected and borderless African economy
Brett Tackaberry
Principal Architect at Google Cloud
Brett Tackaberry is a Principal Architect at Google Cloud with over 20 years of experience in technology leadership and innovation. Based in Ottawa, he supports federal, provincial, and local public sector organizations in deploying cloud and AI solutions. Brett is a renowned problem solver and purpose-driven leader, bridging advanced technology with community impact, championing ethical, inclusive innovation
Mante Molepo
Founder & CEO, Mante Molepo Consulting
Mante Molepo is the founder and CEO of Mante Molepo Consulting, where she advises organizations on navigating complex challenges that often arise during periods of organizational change or crisis. She works closely with boards and senior leadership teams on how to respond to conflict, manage reputational risks and restore trust. Mante served as the 2022–2023 Innovator in Residence with the Ontario Bar Association. She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Ottawa Hospital and Board of Directors of The Women's Legal Education and Action Fund.
Marcos Rezende
Senior Product Designer, Microsoft
Marcos Rezende is a Senior Product Designer at Microsoft, designing AI-powered experiences that drive SharePoint engagement through Copilot. With 15+ years of experience, he applies systems thinking to make complex AI decisions clear and accountable at scale. Outside Microsoft, he prototypes AI tools that blend design, code, and model behavior to solve emerging problems.
Vance Lockton
Senior Technology Policy Advisor, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Vance Lockton is the Senior Technology Policy Advisor for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC). In that role since 2023, he is focused on ensuring that privacy is built into the design, development and deployment of new technologies, with current key files including artificial intelligence, digital identity, online age assurance, and immersive technologies. Vance has worked in the privacy field since 2008, including a prior stint with the OPC from 2012-2019.
Isadora Hellegren Létourneau
Head, Mila AI Policy Fellowship and AI Policy Research, Mila — Quebec AI Institute
Isadora Hellegren heads the Mila AI Policy Fellowship and AI Policy Research at Mila — Quebec AI Institute. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI expertise and policy by advancing responsible, evidence-based AI policy research and practice. Isadora’s work at Mila actively promotes interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder collaborations to address the complex societal challenges of AI development and governance. Her commitment to fostering equity and meaningful participation in AI is informed by her background in internet governance, social change, and policy development.
Prof. Christoph Brunner PhD
Assistant professor, Erasmus University Rotterdam
His work concerns the intersection between media, the politics of perception, and processes of sense-making. He has been working on the use of digital media technologies in social and political movements and more recently on critical perspectives on the forms of engagement immanent to popular AI-platforms. He has obtained his PhD from Concordia University in Montreal and was a visiting professor at McGill University and the Université du Québec à Montréal
Melanie Gilbert
Executive Partner, IBM Consulting
Melanie Gilbert is an Executive Partner with IBM Consulting where she leads a team of technology experts dedicated to supporting the Canadian Federal Government achieve its mandate to better serve the people of Canada through the adoption of technology. She takes immense pride in her team's delivery and growth of some of IBM Canada's most strategic services engagements.
Michael Karlin
Senior Advisor Canadian Digital Service
Michael Karlin is a Senior Advisor at the Canadian Digital Service, where he specializes in public policy considerations of deploying public technology products. He has worked in AI policy since 2017, advising the government in the safe deployment of this technology at CDS, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and the Department of National Defence.
Dr. Chikezirim Nwoke
International Development Specialist & Researcher at Queens University
Dr. Chikezirim Nwoke is an international development specialist and researcher at Queen's University, where he examines the dynamics of youth, technology, and social mobility. He graduated with a PhD from Carleton University in 2025, receiving the prestigious Governor General's Gold Medal.
Ruth Bankey
Senior Advisor Artificial Intelligence and Business Intelligence, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Ruth Bankey, B.Arch, MA, Ph.D. has been a board member and chair of a variety of Boards of Directors for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), nonprofits, and environmental NGOs since 2004. She currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Ottawa Responsible AI Hub (ORAH). Her recent work in these organizations intersects around issues of innovation for the environmental sector — supporting organizations whose vision is to equip the environmental nonprofit sector with the crucial tools and resources needed to overcome capacity constraints and foster community resilience.
Mr. Harsh Sahni
Manager AI Risk and Governance, PwC Canada
As a leader in Responsible AI, Harsh Sahni specializes in translating complex global policies and standards into tangible enterprise action. He architects and implements firm-wide AI governance and risk management programs that enable organizations to innovate with integrity. His approach involves embedding security and ethical principles directly into the AI solution pipeline, from initial design to final deployment.
David Rodas-Wright
Sr. Business Development Manager, Software & AI, at Invest Ottawa
David Rodas-Wright is currently leading AiCEs, the agency’s AI Champions & Experts strategy which strives to rally the sector into partnerships and projects that generate jobs and investment. David has spent 25 years supporting growth in the national capital region, from legal recruitment to university-employer relations, fundraising to economic development.
Prof. Fola Adeleke
Executive Director and co-founder, Global Center on AI Governance.
Prof. Fola Adeleke is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Global Center on AI Governance. He is also an Assistant Professor in Commercial Law at the Sobey School of Business, St Mary's University, Halifax. He holds a PhD in international investment law and human rights and completed his post-doctoral research as a Fulbright Scholar at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, Columbia University and the Human Rights Program, Harvard University.
Our Partners & Sponsors
