Skip to main content

This event is now complete

Agenda

Digital Leadership Day Alberta 2025

 Wednesday, 08 Oct 2025
 8:00AM - 5:30PM MT

Sessions

8:00AM

Registration & Networking

8:00 AM - 9:20 AM (80 mins)

9:20AM

Welcome from Public Sector Network

9:20 AM - 9:30 AM (10 mins)

Room 109

Andrew Jensen
Co-Founder & Chief Partnerships Officer, Public Sector Network
9:30AM

Welcome from Chair

9:30 AM - 9:40 AM (10 mins)

Room 109

Dale Oldford
Vice President, CGI
9:40AM
Industry Insights

From Algorithms to Attitudes: Guiding People Through the AI Shift

9:40 AM - 10:00 AM (20 mins)

Room 109

Chantal Ritcey
Public Sector Industry Lead, AltaML

In this session, Chantal will provide participants with an overview of some of the common AI adoption challenges often encountered, and how to mitigate for these.

10:00AM
Panel Discussion

People-First Transformation – Empowering Teams to Drive Culture and Innovation

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM (50 mins)

Room 109

Jocelyn Baker
Deputy Minister, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manitoba
Alexis Milinusic
Director, Digital Strategy Engagement and Outreach, Government of Alberta
Brad Smid
Assistant Deputy Minister, Alberta Infrastructure
Dale Oldford Moderator
Vice President, CGI

People are the catalysts of culture and the drivers of innovation. As technology continues to reshape how we work, public sector leaders must focus on creating cultures where individuals feel empowered, supported, and inspired to lead change. This panel will explore how to foster environments where people and culture evolve together—where innovation thrives because teams are engaged, values are clear, and technology is introduced with purpose. When culture is strong, transformation becomes sustainable—and people lead the way.

This session will show how you can apply new approaches on how to strengthen people-led cultures that drive innovation and sustain digital transformation.

  • Build cultures that nurture innovation through inclusion and trust
  • Empower teams with the mindset and tools to lead change
  • Align leadership and workforce values to guide transformation
  • Use technology to elevate collaboration, creativity, and engagement
10:50AM

Morning Tea Break

10:50 AM - 11:20 AM (30 mins)

Room 108a

11:20AM

Chair: Summary of Session One and Intro Session Two – Process

11:20 AM - 11:30 AM (10 mins)

Room 109

Greg Thorsley
Regional Vice President, CGI
11:30AM
Panel Discussion

Strategic Leadership: Streamlining Processes for Digital Excellence

11:30 AM - 12:20 PM (50 mins)

Room 109

Sean Murphy
Assistant Deputy Minister, and Chief AI Officer, Ministry of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta
Ken Klassen
Vice President Corporate Services & Chief Financial Officer, Shared Health - Manitoba
Wendy MacDermott
Chief Experience Officer, Department of Social Development, Government of New Brunswick
Jan Bradley
Chief Information & Technology Officer, City of Calgary
Greg Thorsley Moderator
Regional Vice President, CGI

The path to digital excellence isn’t just about upgrading systems—it’s about rethinking the way government works. Public sector leaders are increasingly being asked to do more with less, all while staying compliant and citizen-focused. This panel will examine how to balance strategic vision with operational delivery, ensuring digital initiatives are agile, collaborative, and outcomes-driven.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can reduce complexity, improve cross-departmental coordination, and embed efficiency into every layer of government services.

  • Build inter-agency trust to remove silos and drive shared outcomes
  • Align digital strategy with policy goals while maintaining transparency
  • Promote agile thinking to modernize outdated systems
  • Manage resources to maximize project impact
  • Strengthen vendor partnerships to accelerate innovation
12:20PM

Lunch

12:20 PM - 1:20 PM (60 mins)

Room 108a

1:20PM
Roundtables

Interactive Roundtables

1:20 PM - 2:20 PM (60 mins)

Room 109

Split into specialized conversation areas and join engaging discussions to dive deeper into your innovation priorities.

Roundtable 1: Harnessing AI for Public Sector Efficiency Facilitated by: Curtis Nybo, Director, Consulting Expert - Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing, CGI

Roundtable 2: Guiding Teams in Times of Challenge and Change Facilitated by: Chantal Ritcey, Public Sector Industry Lead, AltaML

Roundtable 3: Data-readiness for Trustworthy AI Facilitated by: Chris Robinson, Principal Architect at AOT Technologies

Roundtable 4: Modernizing Government: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Public Sector Transformation Facilitated by: Blair Reid, Sr. Professional Services Account Executive, AWS + Riphay Al-Hussein, Artificial Intelligence & Data Leader, Deloitte

2:20PM

Short Break

2:20 PM - 2:30 PM (10 mins)

Room 109

2:30PM

Chair: Summary of Session Two and Intro Session Three – Technology

2:30 PM - 2:40 PM (10 mins)

Room 109

Graham Aberg
Director Consulting Services, CGI
2:40PM
Industry Insights

AI-Driven Connected Services for the Public Sector

2:40 PM - 3:00 PM (20 mins)

Room 109

Chris Robinson
Principal Architect, AOT Technologies

In this session, Chris will introduce AOT and share how emerging advancements in artificial intelligence are transforming the delivery of connected services. He will examine opportunities from multiple perspectives—staff, citizens, and systems—illustrating both the strategic potential and the operational realities. Grounded in AOT’s extensive experience collaborating with provincial and international government agencies, the discussion will blend big-picture vision with practical lessons learned, offering participants relevant insights they can apply within their own organizations.

3:00PM
Panel Discussion

Visionary Leadership: Navigating the Technological Landscape

3:00 PM - 3:50 PM (50 mins)

Room 109

Chief Information Security Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister for Cybersecurity, Government of Alberta
Chief Executive Officer, Code for Canada
Hilary Faulkner
Assistant Deputy Minister - Innovation, Privacy and Policy, Ministry of Technology and Innovation
Graham Aberg Moderator
Director Consulting Services, CGI

Digital disruption isn’t slowing down, and public sector leaders need to be ready for what’s coming next. From AI to data interoperability and cloud-native services, emerging technologies are reshaping how government operates and how citizens interact with services. This panel will look ahead—discussing how to remain adaptive, inclusive, and forward-thinking in a landscape defined by rapid change.

This session will show you how to apply new approaches on how you can embed long-term public value into your transformation strategies while ensuring innovation is accessible and equitable for all.

  • Anticipate tech trends to stay ahead of service demands
  • Design forward-looking systems that are inclusive and citizen-centric
  • Weave long-term public value into your digital investment plans
  • Champion a culture of curiosity and learning to drive transformation
3:50PM

Closing Remarks

3:50 PM - 4:00 PM (10 mins)

Room 109

4:00PM

Networking Reception

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (60 mins)

Room 108a

Questions?

See our FAQs or get in touch