As artificial intelligence reshapes every facet of how we work, serve, and innovate, organizations stand at a pivotal crossroads. In this keynote, we’ll explore where organizations are heading through the lens of the AI paradigm—shifting from automation for efficiency to intelligence for impact. We'll delve into how modern enterprises must prioritize exceptional user experience (UX) as the foundation of digital transformation, using AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for human-centred modernization. Discover how forward-thinking leaders are rearchitecting systems, culture, and services to build agile, responsive, and intuitive organizations fit for the future.

Alberta’s investment in advanced data centres is not just about infrastructure—it’s about building the foundation for an AI-powered public sector and a more competitive economy. With new projects underway, the province is setting the stage for smarter services and broader economic impact.

This session will unpack the strategic value of data centres, highlighting how they’re enabling AI transformation in government while fueling growth across Alberta’s innovation ecosystem.

• Unpack how new data centres are designed to support scalable, AI-ready environments
• Understand how improved data infrastructure can transform government responsiveness and service delivery
• Examine the economic ripple effects—jobs, investment, and innovation—these builds will catalyze
• Discover how Alberta is positioning itself as a national leader in digital infrastructure
• Learn what this means for future-ready government operations and resilient communities

Manitoba’s journey to modernize its finance systems offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the strategy, investment, and impact of shifting a provincial level financial system. From capital decisions to long-term resourcing, this transition reveals the real costs—and gains—of taking control of your financial tech stack.

This session will unpack the considerations and trade-offs involved in software licensing, capital investment, and internal team structures, so you can apply new approaches on how you manage, scale, and fund future transformation.

• Evaluate the financial and strategic trade-offs in moving to a provincial system that attempts to address a wide variety of user needs
• Understand the full lifecycle costs of system modernization, including hidden operational impacts
• Explore how licensing and ownership affect long-term budget planning
• Assess the impact of finance system changes on internal team structures and resourcing
• Learn how to align finance modernization with broader modernization strategies

As digital services become the primary way citizens interact with government, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity is more critical than ever. Without intentional design, technology can widen equity gaps instead of closing them. This session will explore strategies to create digital solutions that serve all communities effectively.

• Design digital services that are accessible and user-friendly for all citizens
• Leverage data and AI to identify and address equity gaps in service delivery
• Foster cross-agency collaboration to create inclusive technology policies
• Ensure representation and diversity in digital transformation initiatives

Digital platforms are redefining how governments connect with citizens, making engagement more accessible, transparent, and responsive. By leveraging the right tools and strategies, agencies can foster stronger relationships, increase public trust, and improve service delivery.

This session will provide practical approaches to designing digital engagement strategies that drive participation and improve citizen experiences.

• Implement multi-channel strategies to reach diverse audiences effectively
• Improve accessibility and inclusivity in digital citizen interactions
• Leverage data and analytics to personalize engagement and enhance responsiveness
• Strengthen public trust through transparent and two-way communication"

Alberta’s Ministry of Technology and Innovation is setting the pace with its new AI Maximalists (AIM) pilot—a bold initiative designed to cultivate internal AI champions and push the boundaries of innovation in the public sector. As governments everywhere wrestle with responsible AI adoption, Alberta is investing in expertise, leadership, and collaboration to lead with confidence.

This session will explore the AIM program’s early vision, goals, and how it’s shaping a forward-looking AI strategy—featuring voices from the program’s first sprints sharing practical lessons and early outcomes.

• Understand the strategic drivers behind Alberta’s AI Maximalists pilot
• Explore how AIM is identifying and empowering internal AI leaders
• Examine how public trust and ethical guardrails are embedded from day one
• Learn how Alberta is positioning itself as a national AI thought leader

Canada’s growing dependence on foreign technologies—particularly from the U.S.—raises pressing questions about long-term digital resilience, economic autonomy, and national security. In this moment of global instability, there is a critical opportunity to take a strategic pause and rethink how we approach procurement, infrastructure, and innovation to better serve Canadian interests. From data center ownership to AI adoption, the time is now to develop a collective, forward-thinking strategy that empowers local technology ecosystems.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can champion Canadian-built solutions, strengthen long-term digital sovereignty, and lead behavioral change across government and industry.

• Rethink procurement frameworks to favour Canadian-made technologies and innovation
• Explore how sovereign data centres can increase trust, control, and national alignment
• Investigate the structural reasons for Canada’s limited tech ecosystem and how to fix them
• Examine how global supply chain shifts and tariffs can unlock opportunities for local innovation
• Promote a shared responsibility across sectors to adopt a “buy local” mindset and drive systemic change

As technology rapidly evolves, public sector employees must continuously adapt to new tools and digital processes. But upskilling isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a leadership one. Ensuring teams are prepared for a digital-first future requires clarity of vision, strong communication, and a culture that embraces continuous learning. Without this foundation, agencies risk falling behind in both service delivery and operational impact.

This session will explore how leaders can drive workforce transformation by aligning skills development with broader digital goals, inspiring confidence through change, and embedding adaptability at every level.

• Identify critical digital skills and competencies for the future of public service
• Develop training programs that reflect evolving technology and team needs
• Inspire transformation by communicating purpose and building team resilience
• Foster a culture of trust, learning, and digital adaptability
• Leverage partnerships and platforms to scale capability-building across departments

Organizational change efforts and unanticipated disruptions in our work environments will often promise transformation—but the real shift starts with people, the ground-floor view. From varying leadership styles and complex team dynamics to communication gaps and diverse personality preferences, human factors are often the biggest influence on whether innovation efforts stall or succeed.

This fireside chat offers us reminders in what specifically is driving the show here. That is:

• Reminders in how we can address transformational efforts with intention,
• Navigate human complexity with empathy,
• Center real human needs when it comes to planned and unanticipated changes and disruptions in our work environments.
• We will reflect on the real-life messiness of change and how to work through it with focus, intention, customization and consistency.

Alberta Health Services has saved over 250 years of manual work through intelligent automation—this session unpacks how they did it. Learn the top 20 steps to build a program that’s strategic, sustainable, and scalable from day one.

This session will give you a clear roadmap to accelerate automation success in your organisation and apply new approaches on how you can drive measurable value, manage risk, and embed automation across teams.

• Set a clear vision and define measurable goals for automation success
• Establish a governance model that enables growth and oversight
• Select high-impact use cases that maximize ROI from the start
• Navigate risk, ethics, and privacy committees with confidence
• Embed change management and scalability into every phase of your program

Cloud adoption is a critical driver of digital transformation, enabling public sector organizations to enhance agility, scalability, and security. However, navigating migration complexities, compliance requirements, and operational changes can be challenging. This session will provide you with strategies to maximize the benefits of cloud adoption while minimizing disruption.

• Develop a roadmap for seamless cloud migration and modernization
• Ensure security, compliance, and data sovereignty in a cloud-first environment
• Optimize cloud investments to improve efficiency and reduce costs
• Foster a cloud-ready workforce through upskilling and change management

Alberta’s investment in navigation and support centers is reshaping how homelessness is addressed—placing collaboration at the core. Through a strategic partnership between Edmonton Police Services and the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services, the province created the Navigation and Support Centres that blends access with collaborative problem solving to support individuals more effectively. This model is redefining how people connect to supports while reducing barriers, improving trust, and driving long-term change both inside and outside of the centres.

This fireside chat will demonstrate new approaches to partnering across agencies and how data is incorporated and used in design, delivery and evaluation.

• Unpack how Alberta Seniors, Community and Social Services, EPS and other government and community partners are aligning safety and social support to better serve vulnerable populations
• Examine how navigation centers are centralizing access and connecting with more individuals to services
• Explore how lived experience and data are shaping service design and future data needs
• Discover how Alberta is setting a benchmark for partnership-led homelessness solutions

Across Alberta, the Technology and Innovation team is building smarter, faster, and more human-centred digital services for Government of Alberta—from making Digital ID the default, to launching standardized payments, to rethinking how services are designed from the ground up. With a design-first approach and a culture of experimentation, Alberta is setting the standard for what digital government should look like. This session will showcase what’s working, what’s next, and how you can plug into the province’s bold digital transformation.

• Discover how Alberta is using Digital ID as the foundation for seamless digital service
• Explore the rollout of standardized payments and what it unlocks for design and delivery
• Learn how human-centred design is being embedded across services and platforms
• Understand the shift toward reusable tools, patterns and platforms that scale
• See how a culture of test-and-learn is turning prototypes into production-ready wins

Transform data into AI-driven insights with strategic data product management. This keynote explores navigating robust data management, contextual enrichment, and generative AI to deliver on-demand insights, enabled by invisible governance for scalable, enterprise-wide impact.

This session will help you consider new approaches on how you can move from raw data to powerful AI outcomes:

• Transform siloed government data into AI-ready products through strategic management and governance frameworks that enable intelligent public services.
• Build semantic data architectures that understand relationships and  context, creating foundations for effective government AI applications.
• Enhance productivity through reusable data assets
• Optimize domain-led ownership to reduce bottlenecks
• Balance the tension between control (shift left) and experimentation (shift right)

Alberta has long led the country in public-private partnerships (P3s), but today’s procurement landscape demands a fresh approach. Competition for skilled designers and builders is at an all-time high. At the same time, Alberta’s economic growth is fuelling the need for new and modernized public infrastructure to handle current and future demand. Alberta Infrastructure is rethinking how it structures partnerships to ensure competition and long-term value. That includes re-evaluating delivery models—from traditional P3s to hybrid and innovative financing options—to better align with current market conditions and public expectations.

This session will explore how Alberta Infrastructure is adapting its P3 model in response to shifting market dynamics and public expectations, to deliver high-impact, partnership-driven projects. Topics include:

• How the evolving the economic climate is reshaping procurement strategies
• How Alberta Infrastructure attracts and evaluates private-sector partners in a highly competitive market
• Adapting our project delivery models to balance qualitative and quantitative outcomes
• Understand the role of collaboration in building investor confidence and strengthening project outcomes

Digital solutions are reshaping the transportation and trucking industry, enhancing safety, efficiency, and collaboration between industry and government. This session will explore Alberta’s Class 1 Learning Pathway, a policy-driven digital transformation initiative that strengthens accountability, compliance, and service delivery while reducing operational risks.

This session will:

• Examine how Alberta’s Class 1 Learning Pathway improves accountability for students, driving schools, commercial carriers, and TEC.
• Highlight how digital transformation supports regulatory oversight and enhances safety standards
• Explore the economic and operational benefits of integrating policy with technology
• Provide insights on replicating successful digital transformation initiatives in transportation and trucking sectors

Creating digital platforms that are accessible and inclusive is essential for ensuring all Albertans, regardless of ability or background, can engage with public services. By integrating inclusive design principles from the start, you can improve user experience, enhance accessibility, and meet regulatory requirements.

This session will provide practical strategies to design digital services that remove barriers, prioritize usability, and create equitable access for all.

• Apply inclusive design principles to enhance accessibility and user engagement
• Improve compliance with digital accessibility standards and regulations
• Reduce digital divides by addressing the needs of diverse user groups
• Optimize service delivery by incorporating user feedback and continuous improvement

As Alberta transitions from FOIP to the new Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and Access to Information Act (ATIA), public bodies are exploring how AI can transform internal operations and service delivery. But not all data is created equal—agencies working with sensitive health, justice, or social data face greater risks and responsibilities when integrating AI. This panel brings together leaders managing everything from innovation to oversight, discussing how legislation must account for varying data sensitivities, while enabling safe, effective AI adoption. As society embraces AI at pace, government must respond with tools, protections, and policies that match the moment.

• Unpack Alberta’s legislative shift from FOIP to POPA and ATIA
• Explore how AI is being piloted in contexts with varying data sensitivity and citizen impact
• Understand how the type of data—health, justice, social—shapes AI risk and readiness
• Examine how societal AI use is influencing public sector urgency and expectations
• Learn how Alberta is crafting legislation to support both innovation and protection

As public sector organizations modernize IT systems and embrace cloud solutions, cybersecurity risks continue to evolve. A strong security strategy is essential to protect sensitive data, ensure compliance, and maintain public trust. This session will provide actionable insights to safeguard your department while driving digital transformation.

• Strengthen cybersecurity frameworks to protect against emerging threats
• Ensure compliance with evolving regulations while adopting cloud technologies
• Implement zero-trust architecture to enhance security across all systems
• Balance innovation and risk management for a resilient IT environment

Public sector leaders often navigate complex approval processes, role clarity issues, and a deep sense of accountability when implementing new initiatives. While these systems are in place to ensure oversight and alignment, they can also create friction—slowing progress and making it harder to act on new ideas, even when the opportunity is clear.

This session will explore how to maintain integrity within governance structures while finding smart, safe ways to move with greater pace. You’ll gain practical tools to engage the right stakeholders, manage risk, and create momentum for change without overstepping the boundaries of your mandate.

• Uncover the subtle drivers of organizational friction and how they impact delivery
• Clarify roles and approval pathways to better navigate internal processes
• Apply risk-informed decision-making to move forward with confidence
• Strengthen your ability to advocate for change and inspire timely action