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Digital transformation must serve everyone. This session explores how the City of Kingston is embedding equity, accessibility, and inclusion into its technology strategy—ensuring digital services reflect and support the full diversity of the public.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can design inclusive systems, build representative teams, and deliver services that work for all.

• Integrate equity principles into digital strategy and planning
  
• Design services that meet the needs of diverse communities
  
• Build inclusive teams to drive more representative innovation
  
• Champion accessibility and trust across digital touchpoints

AI in government isn’t a gadget, it’s a promise. This session delves into the challenges and opportunities of introducing strong data governance practices in the public sector, and how it is the decisive factor in whether AI becomes a defensible service or a stalled pilot.

We will explore:

• What makes data governance a unique challenge in the public sector
• How we can build foundations without getting overwhelmed
• Why it matters for successful AI adoption

Modernization is no longer optional—it’s essential for responsive, effective public service. This session explores how government leaders are rethinking legacy systems, adopting new technologies, and enabling smarter operations to meet today’s demands.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can streamline infrastructure, boost agility, and lead innovation that delivers measurable impact.

• Retire outdated systems without disrupting service delivery
  
• Build modernization roadmaps that align with organizational goals
  
• Drive cultural change to support digital transformation
  
• Enhance agility through modern tools and integrated platforms

AI is changing the game for digital experiences—and your website’s platform will determine whether you lead or lag. This crucial, digital foundation has become more than just your online presence—it’s the central hub of your department’s constituent-facing experiences. The platform you choose to build on determines how well you can deliver engaging content, scale for growth, integrate with other systems, and keep pace with the evolving expectations of Canadians. 

We’ll examine the latest factors that must be considered and best practices from both the public and private sectors. Attendees will learn what it takes to ensure your site is secure, scalable, and ready to harness the full potential of what the future has to offer—so your department can deliver smarter, faster, and more connected constituent experiences in the years ahead.

• Using AI to analyze large datasets and inform policy decisions
• Automating routine tasks to improve efficiency in governance
• Enhancing predictive capabilities to forecast public needs and trends

Organizations across Ontario face a critical challenge: how do you modernize operations to meet rising taxpayer expectations while upholding the highest standards of security, privacy and compliance? The answer lies in unified platforms that transform compliance from an obligation into a driver of innovation and trust.

This session explores how Microsoft's unified cloud ecosystem enables public sector entities to deliver smarter and more secure services. Discover how organizations are leveraging the integrated power of Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure platforms with AI built-in to create seamless experiences while exceeding regulatory requirements.

We'll demonstrate how Microsoft's unified ecosystem eliminates traditional technology silos, enabling organizations to accelerate innovation through connected workflows and built-in AI, enhance compliance with comprehensive governance tools and zero-trust architecture, improve service delivery through connected intelligent operations, and maximize taxpayer value for money by leveraging a single consolidated and trusted platform.

As citizens increasingly expect faster, more personalized interactions, governments must rethink how they communicate and deliver services. This session explores how public sector teams are expanding digital channels to build trust, boost responsiveness, and improve the overall service experience.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can strengthen citizen engagement, simplify access, and deliver better outcomes across platforms.

• Expand self-service options to increase accessibility and efficiency
  
• Personalize digital touchpoints based on user needs and feedback
  
• Coordinate messaging across departments and delivery channels
  
• Build public trust through transparent and consistent communication

Danielle Seraphim

Executive Director, Head of Customer Experience Division, City of Toronto

Alrick A. Grange

Director, Business Transformation Office, TTC

Lohit Laksman

Global Services Executive, Lenovo, Digital Workplace Solutions

Todd Merritt Moderator

Senior Director, Enterprise Applications, Technology Consulting Services, Maximus

As governments explore the power of AI, ethical frameworks must guide every step—from development to deployment. This session explores how public sector leaders are embedding transparency, fairness, and accountability into AI systems while driving innovation.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can operationalize ethical principles, manage risk, and maintain public trust in automated decision-making.

• Embed ethical guardrails into AI design and implementation
  
• Align AI use with human rights, privacy, and policy goals
  
• Build internal capacity to assess and monitor algorithmic bias
  
• Engage stakeholders to ensure responsible and inclusive innovation
  

Cheryl-Ann Rodriguez

Chief Information Officer / Assistant Deputy Minister, Central Agencies Cluster, Treasury Board Secretariat, Government of Ontario

Sumon Acharjee

Chief Information Officer, City of Markham

Mohammad Reghabi

Chief Digital Officer, Ontario One Call

Dalia Hanna

Director, IT Services, Sheridan College

Scott Bradley

VP Government Relations, OpenText

Tarek Said Moderator

IBM Principal Account Technical Leader, Ontario Public Sector, IBM Technology, Canada

Modernizing legacy systems is essential—but rarely simple. This session explores how public sector leaders are navigating common challenges in IT transformation, from budget constraints and technical debt to stakeholder alignment and change management.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can drive modernization efforts that are agile, secure, and outcomes-focused.

• Navigate competing priorities and evolving technology needs
  
• Build buy-in across departments and leadership teams
  
• Manage risk while accelerating project delivery
  
• Sustain modernization through cross-functional collaboration

Michael Amato

Chief Information Officer/Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Technology Services, Government Information Technology Ontario, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

Kalyan Chakravarthy

Chief Information Officer, Electrical Safety Authority Ontario

Dorothy Eng

Chief Executive Officer, Code for Canada

Edward Marootian, Jr.

Vice President, Product Management | Infrastructure Modernization, Rocket Software

Cliodhna O’Hagan Moderator

Business Development Manager, Kainos

Meeting citizen expectations means moving fast—without compromising quality or inclusion. This session explores how the Ontario Public Service is applying agile methods and user-centered design to create services that are responsive, accessible, and built around real needs.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can deliver faster, smarter services while keeping users at the core of every solution.

• Apply agile frameworks to rapidly improve service delivery
  
• Use research and feedback to design citizen-first experiences
  
• Balance speed and accountability through iterative development
  
• Build internal capacity for agile and human-centered innovation

AI has moved beyond experimentation—but scaling it successfully requires structure, strategy, and accountability. This session explores how public sector organizations are embedding AI into operations to drive efficiency, improve decision-making, and deliver better services.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can turn pilots into practice, manage AI risk, and unlock real value at scale.

• Move from proof-of-concept to enterprise-level deployment
  
• Integrate AI into core systems and service delivery
  
• Establish governance and oversight for responsible use
  
• Build cross-functional teams to sustain AI innovation

As public sector IT environments grow more complex, innovation must be strategic, secure, and citizen-focused. This session explores how Alberta Health Services is integrating emerging technologies to modernize infrastructure, improve service resilience, and strengthen governance.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can future-proof operations, elevate security, and deliver value through smart IT transformation.

• Modernize legacy infrastructure while managing risk
  
• Adopt emerging tools to boost agility and responsiveness
  
• Align IT transformation with clinical and operational outcomes
  
• Strengthen oversight and accountability in complex environments

• Leveraging AI-powered chatbots to provide faster, more efficient customer support
• Using data analytics to continuously monitor and optimize digital services

Data leaders worldwide are now being directed to pursue GenAI and AI agents to drive innovation, top-line revenue growth and productivity — but without the right data, AI projects might be stuck in experimentation. Discover how AI-ready data fuels relevant, responsible, and robust AI that scales.

Join your peers to learn: 

• Common pitfalls of GenAI and AI agents
• Key considerations for AI-ready data
• Real-world AI-ready examples
• Recommendations to get started

Understanding Technical Debt and Its True Cost

• Explore how technical debt accumulates in legacy government IT systems, the hidden costs on budgets and IT operations, and why addressing it is crucial for sustainable modernization.

Targeted Modernization with Cloud-Native, Hybrid Cloud and Kubernetes

• Learn practical strategies to refactor and migrate legacy apps using containerization, cloud-native technologies, and hybrid cloud to increase agility, reduce complexity, and optimize resource use.

Harnessing AI and Automation to Accelerate Debt Reduction

• Discover how AI-driven tools can automate code analysis, vulnerability detection, and remediation, amplifying limited IT resources while maintaining rigorous cybersecurity standards.

This session delivers actionable steps and measurable outcomes to help government IT leaders tackle technical debt strategically, ensuring resilient, efficient, and future-ready digital services.

Modern public services demand modern data systems. This session explores how iGaming Ontario is transforming its data infrastructure to drive smarter decisions, strengthen oversight, and support a more transparent, responsible gaming environment.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can modernize data systems, align digital goals with public value, and govern data for impact.

• Modernize data infrastructure to support real-time decision-making
  
• Align digital strategy with mandates for transparency and trust
  
• Enable insights through integrated and secure data governance
  
• Deliver responsible innovation through better data stewardship
  

Unstructured data holds untapped potential—but unlocking it takes the right tools and strategy. This session explores how Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is using AI to extract insights from complex documentation, driving efficiency, transparency, and better-informed decision-making.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can turn unstructured data into actionable intelligence and deliver measurable value through AI.

• Apply AI to analyze and extract insights from unstructured content
  
• Improve decision-making and operational efficiency with smarter data
  
• Build internal AI capability for scalable impact
  
• Enhance transparency and access to labour-related information

Cities are at the forefront of digital transformation—where technology directly shapes how residents live, work, and connect with their communities. The City of Markham is demonstrating what this future looks like by blending heritage preservation with modern innovation—leveraging AI, mobile apps, and modernized IT systems to create smarter, more responsive services.

This keynote will explore how municipalities can use technology not just to streamline operations, but to strengthen identity, trust, and citizen engagement.

• Leverage AI and data to drive personalized, efficient services for residents
  
• Build mobile-first platforms that connect citizens with city services in real time
  
• Balance heritage and cultural preservation with modern IT infrastructure
  
• Transform city operations through cloud-enabled and agile IT modernization
  
• Position municipalities as innovation leaders driving smarter, sustainable communities

• Introducing CityCloud, our ServiceNow solution for violation & penalty management workflows
• How Toronto is using CityCloud to both modernize legacy systems and adopt new penalties
• The Impact of CityCloud, data-driven insights for better citizen experiences

• Integrating data across platforms to enable seamless collaboration between departments
• Using centralized data management tools to improve data accessibility and sharing
• Ensuring real-time data updates for more effective inter-agency collaboration

AI is no longer on the horizon. It is here. Governments everywhere are under pressure to modernize services, improve efficiency, and deliver better results for citizens. The challenge now is simple: how do you turn policy and strategy into real-world results, and do it quickly?

In this fast-moving, 20-minute session, you will see how to turn ambition into action and start creating impact right away:

• Understanding Policy Impact Learn how federal, provincial, and municipal AI policies are shaping priorities and funding and how to use these developments to align your programs for success.
• Seeing AI in Action Watch demonstrations of how Gen AI is already solving government challenges and delivering measurable impact in real-world situations.
• Getting Started with Confidence Discover the clear steps to build a solid data foundation, create effective governance, and launch AI projects that can grow quickly and sustainably.

You will leave inspired, informed, and ready with practical next steps to start or speed up your AI journey and deliver meaningful results for the people you serve.

Digital government is constantly evolving—but which trends are shaping what’s next? This session brings together forward-looking leaders to explore the technologies, models, and mindsets transforming public service delivery for the next decade.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can anticipate change, scale innovation, and build digital services that are ready for tomorrow.

• Identify emerging trends driving digital service transformation
  
• Align innovation with long-term citizen and policy outcomes
  
• Experiment safely while maintaining public trust
  
• Build internal capacity to adopt and scale new technologies

Jason Verbovszky

Associate CAO, Information Technology Services and Transformation, Victoria University within the University of Toronto

Daphnee Nostrome

Former Director, CX Standards and Governance, Government of Canada

Steve DeJarnett

Sr. Director of Product - Security Solutions & Ecosystems, Omnissa

Todd Merritt Moderator

Senior Director, Enterprise Applications, Technology Consulting Services, Maximus

As data becomes central to service delivery and policy, strong governance is essential to safeguard privacy and maintain trust. This session explores how governments are building frameworks that ensure data is accurate, secure, and used responsibly.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can strengthen data integrity, manage risk, and embed privacy into every stage of the data lifecycle.

• Build data governance structures that support innovation and accountability
  
• Align privacy frameworks with public expectations and legal standards
  
• Enable data sharing without compromising protection
  
• Foster a culture of responsibility across data-driven teams

Mandeep Flora

Director, Governance and Standards, Governance and Standards Branch, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, Government of Ontario

Manuelita Cherizard

Chief Human Resources Officer, Royal Ontario Museum

Kimberley Hill

Director, Data Governance and Enterprise Analytics, North York General Hospital

Kevin Tucker

Advisory Practice Lead, Info-Tech Research Group

Tarek Said Moderator

IBM Principal Account Technical Leader, Ontario Public Sector, IBM Technology, Canada

Emerging technologies offer new ways to solve old problems—but only if deployed strategically. This session explores how government leaders are assessing, adopting, and integrating tools like AI, blockchain, and edge computing to transform services and boost efficiency.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can evaluate new technologies, align them with public value, and lead innovation that lasts.

• Identify where and how emerging tech can improve public services
  
• Evaluate readiness and value before implementation
  
• Integrate new tools into legacy environments without disruption
  
• Balance innovation with oversight, trust, and long-term goals

Skerdi Cerga

Chief Technology and Security Officer, Trillium Health Partners

Eamonn Moriarty

Chief Technology Officer, Cúram by Merative

Kyle Thompson Moderator

Head of Technology, North America, Kainos