home 10 - Canadian EdTech LeaderShip Summit

09 June 2022

#The leading startup event

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Day Long Meetup

How you transform your business as technology, consumer, habits industry dynamic

Meet the Leaders

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Christopher Usih

Chief Superintendent of Schools, Calgary Board of Education

Dr. Tracey Burns

Chief Research Officer, Senior Analyst, OECD (Seconded) , National Center on Education and the Economy

Dr. Mario Chiasson

Director of Research, Innovations and Change Management at District scolaire francophone Sud

Dr. Mario Chiasson

Director of Research, Innovations and Change Management at District scolaire francophone Sud

Dr. Mario Chiasson is known for his practical insights on learning innovation. He is experienced and equipped to make big things happen. As the founder of My Learning My Space, Mario has helped countless organizations and institutions (schools, districts, ministries, colleges, universities, business and communities) to navigate through disruptive change, develop innovation capabilities and drive continuous improvement. From startups and small projects to educational and community reform.
Mario is a researcher that focuses on the design of spaces that influence the learning and the teaching process of new skills aligned with the innovative society. He holds a Bachelors degree in Physical Education with two concentration (Math and Science), a Masters in school administration with a focus on ICT and a Ph.D in Education at Université de Moncton, New-Brunswick, Canada. He is a Microsoft Innovative Teacher, a Cisco IT Essential Teacher, an Apple Distinguished Educator, an Apple Certified Trainer.

Dr. Rumeet Billan

Award-winning, internationally recognized entrepreneur, learning architect, speaker, author, humanitarian, and Canada’s top 10 power women 2020.

Maxim Jean-Louis

Chief Executive Officer of Contact North | Contact Nord

Maxim Jean-Louis

Chief Executive Officer of Contact North | Contact Nord

Maxim Jean-Louis is President – Chief Executive Officer of Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education and Training Network, headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Maxim worked in senior management roles for over 15 years at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada’s open university.
He is also a member of the Comité consultatif en matière d’éducation postsecondaire en langue française dans les régions du Centre et du Sud-ouest.
Maxim is a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the World University Service of Canada and of the Optical Regional Advanced Network of Ontario, as well as a past member of Ontario’s Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board, and he served as a member of the Canadian Advisory Mission to support the implementation of the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by the South African Qualifications Authority. He also served as President of Collège des Grands Lacs, one of Ontario’s three French-language community colleges.
In 2011, Maxim was appointed Special Advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for an Ontario Online Institute, producing a 125-page report and recommendations to the Minister on opportunities for online learning in the province.

Steve Brown

President & Chief Executive Officer, NELSON

Steve Brown

President & Chief Executive Officer, NELSON

Steve Brown has made his mark in Canada and Internationally by leading organizations through digital transformation. His career spans a diverse mix of industry and technology experience from multi-media entertainment, logistics services, automotive, and now to learning solutions.
Since joining NELSON in September 2016, Steve has transformed the vision for this 104-year-old company by reimagining the role and purpose of a publisher in 2017 and beyond. Introducing a matrix driven view to the management culture, and unifying a K20 student-centric business division is at the core of this shift to a cohesive customer focused structure. He has reframed the organization’s digital competency by instituting a technology department comprised of some the world’s best and brightest talent based in Silicon Beach California. Additionally, over the past 12 months the company has engaged in various M&A activities, including the acquisition of one of its largest competitors, as well as signing numerous agency and partnership deals to ensure NELSON offers a world class portfolio of learning solution and for all its markets.
Steve’s passion and commitment to transforming education, and the student learning experience, continues to fuel the innovation pipeline at NELSON.

Robert Martellacci

Founder & Conference Chair

Robert Martellacci

Founder & Conference Chair

Robert Martellacci (MA EdTech) is president of MindShare Learning Technology, Canada’s leading EdTech strategy, news & events company he founded in 2001. Mr. Martellacci is also president & co-founder of C21 Canada—Canadians for 21st Century Learning & Innovation.

Mr. Martellacci is a lifelong learner who is committed to connecting business and education to transform learning in the 21st century to support student success. He completed a transformational learning journey as a mature student earning a master’s in educational technology from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California which inspired the creation of the MindShare Learning Report—Canada’s Learning & Technology eMagazine.

Mr. Martellacci has over 25 years of expertise and thought leadership in education as a former university administrator at York University; he also launched The Learning Company School Division for Kevin O’Leary which was the catalyst to forming his start-up MindShare Learning following the Mattel acquisition.

One of Martellacci’s signature slogans, “until next time, keep the learning curve steep.”

GET EXPERIENCE

Shift your perspective on digital business

How you transform your business as technology, consumer, habits industry dynamic s change? Find out from those leading the charge.

First Day Oct 28
Second Day Oct 29

12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

REGISTRATION & CAMPUS DESIGN THINKING SITE TOURS.

University of Toronto Mississauga Campus & Mindshare Workspace
Room: Rotunda
Locations:
1. University of Toronto Mississauga, Address: 3359 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga

2. MindShare Workspace, Address: 5100 Erin Mills Pkwy, Suite I3, Mississauga
The visit to MindShare Workspace will highlight Canada’s first shopping mall-based coworking and innovation hub, where startups, educators, and business leaders collaborate. Participants will see how the space fosters creativity, digital literacy, and future-ready skills through a flexible, tech-enabled environment.
10:00 AM- 2:00 PM

Taking AIME for AI in Education: A National Research-Policy Framework for Advancing Ethical and Inclusive AI Integration in Canadian Education Think Tank outcome report

Room- KN 112 (Kaneff)
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Dr. Gina Cherkowski

Pre-Conference Wellbeing & Flourishing Symposium

1:00–2:00 PM | Keynote: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada: Navigating an AI-Enabled World (Speaker: Michael Cooper, Mental Health Research Canada)
- Michael will explore the current state of youth mental health and well-being in Canada, sharing new research on how AI is impacting youth well-being.
2:00–2:10 PM | Break
2:10–3:00 PM | System-Wide Universal Mental Health in the Age of AI: Building Human Skills Through SEL (Speakers: Former Superintendent Deb Crawford & Christine Preece)
- Designed for school and system leaders, this session explores how universal mental health promotion through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) can strengthen the human skills students need to thrive. Participants will discuss how a system-wide approach fosters belonging, empathy, resilience, and critical thinking.
3:00–3:10 PM | Break
3:10–4:00 PM | Leading Healthy Systems: Psychological Safety, Well-Being, and Belonging (Speaker: Dr. Gail Markin, Workplce Wellbeing Speciaist and Authout of Beyond Self-Care)
- Gail will shift the focus to the adults and systems supporting young people. She will explore how leaders can intentionally create safe, healthy workplaces where staff feel valued and connected, offering practical leadership practices to strengthen trust and relationally healthy school systems.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Networking & STEM, AI & eSports Discovery Zone

An interactive recharge zone where delegates can connect, explore hands-on EdTech, AI tools, STEM maker demos, and wellbeing innovations.
Room: Rotunda

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

REGISTRATION, LIGHT BREAKFAST & NETWORKING /EXPLORE THE EDTECH STEM AI Esports PLAYGROUND

Room: Rotunda
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM

WELCOME, FIRST NATIONS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND OFFICIAL GREETINGS

Room: KN 137
8:50 - 9:00
Andreas Schleicher

Welcome & Global Perspective: The State of AI in Education

Andreas Schleicher
Director for Education and Skills at the OECD. He initiated and oversees the Progrmme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and created a global platform to innovate and transform education and skills policies
9:00AM - 9:30 AM
Minister Evan Solomon

OPENING KEYNOTE

Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Evan Solomon is Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Before entering politics, he was a well-known Canadian journalist, television host, and publisher, working with CBC, CTV, and GZERO Media. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre in the 2025 federal election and appointed to Cabinet by Prime Minister Mark Carney, where he now leads Canada's AI and digital innovation agenda while also supporting economic development in Southern Ontario.