Brian Ritchie is a member of Chapleau Cree First Nation and the Founder and CEO of the Indigenous Artificial Intelligence company, Kama.AI. He possesses a Bachelor of Engineering from Lakehead University and an MBA from Lake Superior State University. Prior to founding Kama.AI, Brian held VP and Director level sales and marketing positions with ChangePiont, ZTE, Ericsson and Oracle. Brian sits on the Advisory Councils of the accelerator, Ingenuity, at Lakehead University, and the Ted Rogers School of Management MBA Program. He is a board member of Kerry’s Place, Canada’s largest Autism agency, and several Indigenous economic development corporations.
Craig Carpenter, Director of Talking Owl Technologies and a digitization specialist at the En’owkin Centre since 2020, is a driving force in applying AI for Indigenous language revitalization. An Emmy-winning sound specialist, he is actively working to decolonize the development of speech technologies and champion community-led language initiatives. His MA thesis produced the first interactive digital edition of Kʷu Sqilxʷ /We are the People: A Trilogy of Okanagan Legends in nsyilxcən, using automatic speech-to-text alignment and critiquing colonial practices embedded in computer science and linguistics. He has published papers at LREC 2024’s Special Interest Group for Under-resourced Languages, the Audio Engineering Society’s 2023 Conference, and the 2022 Sound and Music Computing Conference. He plans to pursue his PhD at UBCO beginning in the fall of 2025, focusing on expanding his exploration of generative AI and multimodal language learning technologies alongside decolonizing frameworks that emphasize data sovereignty and Indigenous-led development.
Hanna Paul is Métis and Beaver First Nation on her dad’s side and Ukrainian and French on her mom’s side. Hanna’s family names are Paul, Lizotte, Lambert, Lafleur, Andruik and Routhier. Her Métis community is locally known as Buttertown (North Vermilion Settlement), although, she grew up in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Hanna wanted to bring her moon time and body image research idea back to her Métis community since Indigenous youth and women’s confidence is often affected by colonial body shame and taboos. She recently obtained her Master of Arts Degree at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. Her Master’s research project discusses Métis women’s stories about moon time and colonial body shame through visiting and berry picking in Buttertown, Alberta. She was the 2023 Master’s Researcher of the Year and received the 2023/24 Thesis Award for this work. Hanna now works in the Office of Research Services as the Indigenous Research Facilitator at UBCO.
Jon Harrison, a member of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, brings both industry insight and cultural perspective to discussions on data sovereignty. Born in Sioux Narrows, Ontario, Jon moved to Alberta in 1978 to begin his career in the oil and gas sector, starting as a welder and progressing to pipeline supervisor. His experience led him to co-found Northridge Energy Development Group in Calgary, and later establish Makwa7, a company dedicated to information management and geospatial mapping, especially for Indigenous communities. Jon is the founder and CRO at MAKWA7, where he emphasizes partnerships that help First Nations manage and protect their data. His work at Makwa7 aligns with his commitment to providing tools that foster Indigenous self-governance and cultural preservation.
Outside of his professional life, Jon is dedicated to his family, his wife Laurel and two daughters, Carlee and Lauren. His family, heritage, and mission combine to shape his ongoing commitment to Indigenous community empowerment.
Neil Glazenburg is an accomplished technology executive with a robust background in leading and developing high-performing teams. As Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at MAKWA7, Neil has been instrumental in crafting innovative strategies for delivering culturally sensitive Information Management services to First Nation and Indigenous communities. His leadership in establishing a sovereign data center on Indigenous land underscores his commitment to data sovereignty and community empowerment. Before joining MAKWA7, Neil held senior roles at Apple and Vintri Technologies, where he consistently demonstrated his ability to manage large teams, drive operational excellence, and execute strategic initiatives that enhance customer satisfaction and business growth. His experience spans various industries, including retail and Oil & Gas, with a focus on developing and implementing advanced SaaS solutions and operational frameworks.
Neil was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to Canada as a teenager. He currently resides in Calgary with his wife Rayna and son Oliver.
Dr. Madjid Mohseni is a professor of chemical and biological engineering at UBC Vancouver. As a world-leading expert in drinking water quality and treatment, he has pioneered several water treatment technologies for the removal emerging contaminants in water. As the Scientific Director of the ‘Community Circle on Scaling Business Innovation for Humanity’—a non-profit funded by ISED with support from industry, government, NGOs, and community partners—he is dedicated to advancing socioeconomically and technologically sustainable water-health solutions for Indigenous and rural communities. Through fostering open learning and collaboration across traditionally siloed sectors, Madjid has made invaluable contributions to water quality and Indigenous community health. Under his leadership, the Community Circle has launched programs that lifted several long-standing boil water advisories in Indigenous communities.
Dr. Ramon Lawrence serves as the Department Head of Computer Science and is the former Academic Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning. He is a leading voice at UBC, establishing guidelines and innovative approaches for the effective use of AI in education. Dr. Lawrence’s commitment to teaching has earned him numerous accolades, including UBC’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation (2017), the Killam Teaching Prize (2020), and nine placements on UBCO’s teaching honor roll, recognizing the top 10% of instructors. His research focuses on the pedagogical impact of artificial intelligence and the use of automated systems to enhance student support, feedback, and assessment. His latest work introduced the HelpMe system, a tool that enables students to receive real-time assistance from instructors and teaching assistants, leveraging AI for chatbot-driven responses and discussion support. In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Lawrence is the founder of Unity Data Inc., a company specializing in consulting and software solutions for data management, integration, and reporting.
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