CIOCAN: The Future of Tech in Canada

Description

The last few decades have seen explosive growth in technology innovation. Technology is advancing exponentially and shows no signs of slowing down. What was previously only fiction is becoming the reality of our everyday experiences, like the metaverse, quantum computing, agrivoltaics, carbon capture technologies and many more. Innovation and technology is literally disrupting all areas of our existence and no industry will be left untouched.

With all this innovation around us, the world is looking for the next great innovation. Canada should not be left behind on this very important journey as the world begins to realize the importance of building tech that works for everyone.

We are excited to discuss the future of innovation in Canada at this inaugural Black History Month event for the CIO Association of Canada. Please join us.

Key Takeaways

1. Identify key technologies Canada can lead at the cutting edge
2. Meet innovators in the Canadian ecosystem
3. Learn how the CIO association and the government of Canada can make this future real

Panelists:

Zeze Peters
Founder & CEO
Beam.city

Zeze is a Cornell educated Rocket-scientist and former Director of Product engineering, who spent the last 15 years making simple solutions to complex problems in Applied AI, eCommerce, Consumer goods and Big data systems for private and Fortune 1000 companies.

He is the founder & CEO of Beam.city, a Toronto based AI-tech startup that provides an ads buying and data analysis platform as a service for advertisers. Their DNA ads platform helps businesses publish ads on top advertising channels in minutes, and then AI kicks in to optimize targeting automatically. The company has quadrupled revenue in 2021 and is helping advertisers get to awesome results faster.

He's an EIR at the DMZ, Partner in residence with Elevate, and regularly mentors and other entrepreneurs, and speaks at technology, start-up and diversity oriented events.

Doria Manico-Daka
Manager, IT
Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)

Doria Manico-Daka is an innovative business and technology leader with more than 15 years of experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors. She is passionate about digital transformation and modernization. An effective collaborator and negotiator, Doria currently leads cross-functional teams of technology professionals at Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). She is responsible for the delivery and support of all aspects of IT and cyber security strategy.

Prior to joining PEO, Doria worked for tech and managed services companies such as BlackBerry, Eastlink and CentriLogic. A strong believer in the power of technology, she uses her tech background to help her organization make the most out of technology investments as they modernize.

Doria is a member of the board of directors at CIO Association of Canada. She holds a Master of Engineering in Internetworking and a Bachelor in Computer Science.

Gbemi Akande
Director of Capital & Venture Programs
Elevate Toronto Inc

Gbemi Akande is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Pacer Ventures and Director of Capital & Venture Programs at Elevate Toronto Inc. At Pacer Ventures, he is focused on investing in early-stage African tech Founders who are solving the most critical problems across Africa. In addition to his work at Pacer Ventures, Gbemi also manages Canada’s first e-commerce accelerator; eCommerce North at Elevate Toronto. 

Prior to Pacer Ventures and eCommerce North, Gbemi designed and implemented one of the first tech accelerators in the UAE, and managed FinTech Innovation for MENA’s largest bank, Emirates NBD. He launched Toronto-based Tribalscale Venture Studio in 2017 which achieved an exit 12 months later. He subsequently managed the Accelerator Program at the DMZ, and was the Program Manager of the Black Innovation Program at the DMZ. 

Gbemi is a frequent speaker at innovation and venture-related conferences across Africa, North America and the Middle-East. He holds a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from Hult International Business School. 

Christelle Francois
Founder
Untold & Co Agency

Christelle Francois is a bilingual executive and entrepreneur who has the pulse on the leaders of business, innovation and advocacy. She possesses extensive experience as a Strategy Consultant where she specializes in growth acceleration, revenue model design and optimization solutions for various companies and organizations.

She is the Founder of a firm titled; Untold & Co Agency, where she and her team service an array of clients in securing corporate and government partnerships, curating digital strategies and executing 360 integrated PR campaigns. Her passion for civic engagement led her to assist in leading the 2019 and 2020 Lobby Day initiative with our current Prime Minister. In January of 2021, she was appointed as the President of the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, where she led a strategy that successfully secured over $5M in funding in less than six months. Ms.Francois was most recently appointed as the VP of Operations at the Federations of African Canadian Economics. Christelle is also passionate about her community and has volunteered and sat on the board of numerous organizations, such as Apathy is Boring and Head & Hands and is a fellow of the Black Wealth Club.

Boyd Reid
Co-founder & COO
Hop In Tech

Boyd is the Co-founder & COO of Hop In Tech. He attended James Madison University in the US on a full soccer scholarship and graduated with a BSc in Communications & a minor in French Studies. Boyd is driven by a passion to help people get access to opportunity whether it's through transportation with Hop In Tech or through mentorship. Boyd is a member of the Black Professionals in Tech Network, the Brampton Board of Trade, the Northumberland Manufacturers Association, and alumnus of the DMZ Black Innovation Fellowship. He is the Brampton BEA 2021 Innovation Award recipient and an advisor with Lupus Ontario.