Agenda: Mission on Artificial Intelligence

The Canadian Chamber’s fourth U.S. mission of 2024 will be on AI, with a focus on business growth and AI adoption in the context of the U.S.-Canada relationship – especially relevant as we approach the 2026 USMCA/CUSMA renewal. We will also leverage this mission to help guide the AI policy direction that Canada will be putting forth as it takes on the G7 presidency, and as the Canadian Chamber begins planning to host the 2025 “Business 7” or B7 in the spring.

Mission program overview

All times and session topics subject to change.

Monday, September 16 (Day 1)

Location: Amazon Offices, 7 West 34 Street, 11 floor, New York
Program emcee: Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, Senior Director, Digital Economy, Technology & Innovation, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Welcome remarks Aissata Camara, Deputy NYC Commissioner for International Affairs, NYC Mayor’s Office The U.S. tech policy landscape Presented by Kelle Wicker, Science and Technology Innovation Program, The Wilson Centre The future of AI policy in North America Fireside chat with Kevin Allison, President, Minerva Technology Policy Advisors and Murad Hemmadi, Journalist covering AI and technology, The Logic Panel: The potential of AI partnerships across North America Bill Syrros, Partner / Leader, BDO Exponential Labs, BDO Lixar Liz Culley-Sullo, Director of Public Relations, Brainbox AI Parker Sheedy, Global Partnership & Business Development, Techstars Moderator: Yana Lukasheh, Senior Principal, Canada Public Policy, AWS
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Onsite group lunch
1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.	Fireside chat: Leveraging the G7 opportunity to create world-leading AI policy in Canada, against the backdrop of the 2026 CUSMA review: Josh Meltzer, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Brookings Institution Marlene Floyd, Senior National Director, Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Canada Facilitated brainstorming: Guided discussion for participants to express how Canada can take advantage of the G7 platform in 2025 to announce meaningful and impactful AI-related measures that will contribute to economic growth, enhanced productivity, and increased innovation. Moderator: Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, Vice President, Strategic Policy & Global Partnerships, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Panel: The Geopolitics of AI: from regulation to energy, managing business risks and opportunities in North America Kevin Allison, President, Minerva Technology Policy Advisors Marc-Etienne Ouimette, Principal, AI/ML, Global Public Policy, AWS Xiaomeng Lu, Director, Geo-Technology, Eurasia Group Rachel Chernaskey, Director, Microsoft Threat Analysis Centre (MTAC) Moderator: Scott Bradley, Director, Global Government Relations, OpenText Presentation: US-Canada collaboration in the development and management of tools in the convergence of advanced computing, AI, and biotechnology. Presented by Chandresh Harjivan, Special Advisor to the President (White House), Domestic Preparedness and Response to Biological Threats
7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.	Group dinner at NYC restaurant

Tuesday, September 17 (Day 2)

Location: Consulate General to Canada in the United States, in New York, 466 Lexington Ave, 20 floor, New York
Program emcee: Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, Senior Director, Digital Economy, Technology & Innovation, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	The AI narrative across North America: where it’s been and where it’s going Murad Hemmadi, Journalist covering AI and technology, The Logic Krystal Hu, Venture Capital & Startup Correspondent, Reuters Moderator: Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, Vice President, Strategic Policy & Global Partnerships, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Briefing and Q&A with Consul General and Consulate Staff Fireside Chat: Understanding human dynamics of AI workforce adoption Stephanie Bell, Chief Programs and Insights Officer, Partnership on AI (PAI) Gabe Batstone, CEO, Contextere Moderator: Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, Senior Director, Digital Economy, Technology & Innovation, Canadian Chamber of Commerce Panel: Prioritizing productivity: Lessons learned on AI adoption from leading U.S institutions in the NYC area. Alex Foard, Executive Director, New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Aila Yamanaka, Senior Manager, Data Technology & Innovation, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Liz Grennan, Partner, Global Co-Leader, AI Trust, McKinsey & Company Moderator: Christine Guyot, Director of Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Canada
1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.	Group lunch at nearby restaurant
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.	Public Program: AI for Economic Growth in the Lead Up to the G7 Canadian Presidency (followed by a networking reception) Opening Remarks Tom Clark, Consul General in NYC Edward Mermelstein, NYC Commissioner for International Affairs Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce David Brulotte, Quebec’s Delegate General in New York Panel: Partnering on AI for economic growth in the lead up to the G7 Canadian Presidency. Julien Billot, CEO, Scale AI Laura McGee, Founder & CEO, Diversio The Hon. David Lametti, Counsel, Fasken Dr. Joseph Yun, CEO, Bluefoxlabs AI Moderator: Kris Reyes, Foreign Correspondent, CBC in New York