Speakers

Chief AI Officer, Western University

Mark is the chief AI officer at Western University and a full professor in the Department of Computer Science with cross-appointments in five other departments, the Rotman Institute of Philosophy and the Western Institute for Neuroscience. He is also a faculty affiliate of Toronto’s Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

Mark has previously served as the vice-president of research at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), and chief digital information officer, special advisor to the president and associate vice-president of research at Western.

Mark is the past chair of Compute Ontario and serves on several other boards.

City Librarian, Toronto Public Library

Vickery Bowles is the city librarian at Toronto Public Library (TPL), which delivers services through a network of 100 branches and online channels. She believes passionately in the difference public libraries make in the lives of individuals, in communities and cities. Vickery is advancing TPL’s strategic plan to support opening public spaces, digital access and inclusion, workforce development, democratic values and civic engagement and an innovative service culture.

Vickery is a former chair of the Urban Libraries Council based in Washington, D.C., a member of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council and a board member for the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries.

Director, Digital Strategy & Chief Information Officer, Toronto Public Library

Steve Till-Rogers is the director of digital strategy and chief information officer with TPL, Canada’s largest public library with 100 branches located throughout Toronto. Steve provides the vision for delivery of TPL’s digital strategy to support service innovation and digital access and inclusion.

Prior to TPL, Steve was the director of technology services with Edmonton Public Library (EPL). During his time at EPL, Steve deployed new technologies and digital experiences within the library including the Wall, a digital installation at the Stanley A. Milner Library.

An experienced executive leader with expertise within public libraries and financial services, Steve has been acknowledged as a creative pioneer of emerging technologies, skilled in IT strategy, project management and business process improvement.

Toronto Region Cyber Unit, Strategic Partnership & Outreach, Canadian Security Intelligence Service

Terry Tschirhart is the acting head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s (CSIS) Toronto Region Cyber Investigations Unit. He has nearly 20 years’ experience as a professional intelligence officer, with a proven track record conducting several successful counter espionage and terrorism related operations. Previously, Terry has taught courses on offensive counter espionage techniques. For the past several years, Terry has been building his cyber technical knowledge as a member of the CSIS’s Cyber Operations team. Terry also leads the unit’s strategic partnerships and engagement efforts throughout southern Ontario and the GTA, working with critical infrastructure providers to increase overall cyber resiliency.