IEEE Smart World Congress 2025

Keynote Presentation

The City of Calgary is leading the way in technological innovation for municipal services. In this keynote, Jan, joined by a team of City of Calgary IT engineers and Engineers-in-Training (EITs), will spotlight the City's advancements in leveraging emerging technologies to improve service delivery. The presentation will feature practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI), Calgary's award-winning Internet of Things (IoT) network, robotic process automation (RPA), and other state-of-the-art tools driving smart city initiatives. Key strategic frameworks, including Calgary's AI Strategy and Enterprise Data Strategy, will be highlighted to demonstrate the City's forward-thinking approach. The keynote will also underscore Calgary's sustained investment in digital infrastructure, notably its city-wide fibre optic network, which now stretches over 650 kilometers—enabling smart city capabilities and promoting digital equity across the city.

Biography

Jan Bradley is the Director and Chief Information Technology Officer at The City of Calgary.

As the Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO), Jan's role is to enable City business units to use technology to deliver services to citizens. The CITO oversees the investment, delivery and sustainment of The City's technology infrastructure and leads planning for the development and growth of City business applications and communication systems. Jan has worked for over 30 years in the information technology industry and has been working with the City since 2006. During her time with the City, Jan has held progressively more responsible roles including project manager, Leader and Manager of Client Solutions where she provided leadership to project managers, digital strategy, enterprise architects and foundational eGovernment development teams.

A visionary and a strategic thinker, Jan believes in supporting her teams to be solution-focused in their service to the many business units Information Technology serves every day. Her number one priority is to position Information Technology as a strategic partner to business units in order to deliver on the City's purpose, “Making life better every day”.

Keynote Presentation

Martin's keynote will provide a comprehensive overview of Alberta's evolving cybersecurity landscape, emphasizing its critical importance to the province's digital resilience. It will highlight the growing threat of ransomware, phishing, APTs, and DoS attacks, along with recent incidents that underscore the urgency of robust defenses. Key threat actors—including nation-states, cybercriminals, hacktivists, and insiders—will be examined to contextualize Alberta's risk environment. The Government of Alberta's CyberAlberta program will be showcased for its strategic initiatives, partnerships, and measurable impact. The address will also explore the province's efforts to cultivate cybersecurity talent through education, training, and professional development, with a vision of positioning Alberta as a global hub for cyber excellence. The session will conclude with a call to action for collaborative innovation to strengthen Alberta's cybersecurity posture.

Biography

Martin Dinel is a trusted information technology and cybersecurity professional with over 35 years of leadership experience. As Chief Information Security Officer for the Government of Alberta (GoA), Martin is defining the organization's cybersecurity vision and strategy to counter cyber threats and ensure the protection of Alberta's digital assets. His recent key achievements include:

• 2024 Featured in the Public Sector Network's top 40 Global Innovators Publication
• 2024 Alberta Premier's Award - Service Delivery Innovation for Albertans, CyberAlberta Program
• 2023 Alberta Premier's Award - Service Delivery Innovation for the APS, Cybersecurity Toolset Modernization
• 2022 Featured in the Public Sector Network's top 40 Global Innovators Publication
• 2021 Founder of the CyberAlberta Community of Interest
• 2015 to present, Member of the National CISO Committee on Information Protection (NCCIP)
• Cybersecurity Champion and Speaker at various Cybersecurity and Privacy related events

Throughout his career, Martin worked in leadership positions in information technology and cybersecurity with various public and private sector organizations. In 2015, he joined the GoA as Chief Information Security Officer, taking on a mentorship role to develop a new cybersecurity centre of excellence, ensuring that Albertans can benefit from a strong, safe and secure Alberta cyberspace.

For over a century, Alberta Innovates has supported researchers, entrepreneurs, and industries in fueling, feeding, and building the province. Today, we are focused on advancing bold innovations that will prepare Alberta for a digital, net-zero future. As the province's most comprehensive research and innovation agency, we are uniquely positioned to accelerate transformative ideas and improve the lives of Albertans—now and for generations to come.

Biography

Andrea Urbina is a strategic leader with a decade of experience spanning operations, communications, and program development across the non-profit, post-secondary, and healthcare sectors. As CEO of ELIXR Simulations, Andrea has led the organization's growth from a grassroots initiative into a nationally recognized non-profit advancing immersive technology in education and training.

Under her leadership, ELIXR has expanded its flagship Protégé Program, creating over 30 paid work-integrated learning opportunities for students and recent graduates entering the extended reality (XR) field. She is passionate about talent development and actively champions initiatives that provide emerging professionals with the mentorship, resources, and industry exposure they need to thrive.

Andrea previously helped launch the Peter Lougheed Leadership College alongside the Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, solidifying her track record in building impactful programs that foster leadership and innovation. At ELIXR, she continues to drive the adoption of immersive technologies while cultivating the next generation of talent shaping the future of work.

Biography

Bob Wold is the CEO of Quantum Rings, a company dedicated to making quantum computing accessible for enterprises, today, through their record breaking quantum simulation technology. Bob is a serial entrepreneur and a longtime technology leader with a 25-year track record of bringing emerging technologies to market through award winning products both in the startup ecosystem and within large enterprises. Most recently serving as Vice President of Technology Innovation at Trimble Inc., where he led company-wide innovation and technology strategy.

Biography

With over 37 years' experience in engineering, management, and project management, Byron has spent the last 26 years of his career applying this knowledge to Rocky View County.

Having started as a Transportation Roads Supervisor with Rocky View County, Byron has held many different roles with the County and progressed to his current role of Chief Operating Officer. The role oversees a full scope and range of operations for the County including transportation, utility services, capital engineering and building operations. Ensuring that infrastructure is planned, constructed and managed are key components to some of Rocky View's current success for economic development across the Calgary region.

Biography

Dr. C. Ashiq Rahman is a distinguished Engineer leading the AI team within the Emerging Technologies division of the City of Calgary's IT department. With over 20 years of industry experience in areas including image and video processing, video analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, Dr. Rahman is recognized for his innovative engineering, adaptability, flexibility, and commitment to enhancing technological solutions. He possesses extensive expertise in product development, technology evaluation, solution architecture, customer engagement, and project management across various platforms. Dr. Rahman has authored and co-authored more than 20 journal articles and peer-reviewed conference papers and holds 3 issued patents in the United States and Canada. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, a licensed Professional Engineer in Alberta, and a certified Project Management Professional.

Biography

Chris is the President of IN-FLIGHT Data, one of Canada's foremost leaders in beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations, compliance, and training. As a certified Indigenous entrepreneur, Chris has led award-winning initiatives that combine cutting-edge aviation technology with regulatory precision, delivering innovative RPAS solutions across national security, public safety, and environmental sectors.

Chris' company was the first in Canada to be certified under Transport Canada's new RPAS Operator framework, and he remains at the forefront of shaping national policy and implementation strategies for drone-enabled smart operations. Under his leadership, IN-FLIGHT Data has trained hundreds of commercial drone pilots, conducted some of Canada's most complex drone missions, and built foundational RPAS training programs for Indigenous youth, law enforcement, and emergency responders.

With over a decade of operational experience and a strong record of industry collaboration, Chris is recognized as a trusted advisor in the deployment of long-range drones for smart city applications, infrastructure inspection, and wildfire intelligence. His expertise bridges aviation safety, Indigenous economic development, and practical field implementation of smart technologies.

Chris is a returning voice at national and international events, bringing a uniquely grounded, forward-thinking perspective to the future of drone-powered smart systems.

Biography

Colin has over twenty years of experience and has worked in product and service development inside and outside of the City Of Calgary in Telecommunications Engineering, Software Development and Intelligent Transportation Systems. As a team lead, he oversees Industrial Internet Of Things, Telematics and Robotic Process Automaton programs.

Biography

Diego Magalhaes is Principal Technologist for AWS Canada, focused on Education and Research, where he drives strategic customer relationships, executive partnerships, and technical excellence within his customer base. With over 18 years of experience in platform development, system integration, tech team management and development, he brings deep expertise in cloud computing, serverless architectures, and SaaS solutions. As a leader of multiple worldwide engagements, Diego has established himself as a seasoned professional speaker and content creator, regularly presenting at industry conferences including the AWS Re:Invent, AWS Summits, the Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit. Prior to his current role at AWS, Diego led engineering teams responsible for the worldwide deployment of a Mobile App Subscription marketplace serving over 25 million customers across 60+ telecom carriers globally.

Biography

Girish is an independent AI consultant specializing in public-sector transformation. Drawing on a deep background in AI, analytics, and digital innovation, he helps government agencies operationalize AI through practical strategy, rapid prototyping, ethical governance, and capacity building. He brings both technical depth and field-tested insight, having studied modern AI at Stanford as deep learning began reshaping the field. His work helps public institutions navigate complexity, scale responsibly, and build enduring, AI-literate teams that deliver measurable value.

Biography

Greg is the co-founder and CEO of Open Quantum Design, a nonprofit organization designed to scale quantum computing through radical transparency. Prior to co-founding OQD, Greg was a senior executive at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He is also the founder and Principal at RESILIENT, an agency dedicated to helping organizations develop pro-active resiliency through leadership diversity.

Biography

Henry Leung (Fellow, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from McMaster University, Canada, in 1991. He was previously with the Department of National Defense (DND), Ottawa, ON, Canada, as a Defense Scientist. He is currently a professor in the department of Electrical and Software Engineering at the University of Calgary, Canada. His research interests include information fusion, machine learning, the Internet of Things, nonlinear dynamics, robotics, and signal and image processing., He is the Associate Editor of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine. He is the Topic Editor on “Robotic Sensors” of the International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems. He is also an Editor of the Springer book series on “Information Fusion and Data Science”. Dr. Leung is also a Fellow of SPIE, Fellow Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada.

Dr. Henry Leung has over 500 publications and 15 patents in his research areas of information fusion, nonlinear processing, IoT/sensing, and machine learning. Leung has held leadership roles in over (20) conferences related to signal/image processing, sensor fusion, and artificial intelligence. Examples: Track chair: IEEE ISCAS, 2010, Nonlinear Circuits and Systems; IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Informatics and Cognitive Computing, 2011 and organizing committee of 10th (2007) and 15th International Conference on Information Fusion, 2012. He has been in program committees of over 50 conferences.

Biography

Jamie Pompu is the Chief Information Officer at Tressl, where he leads the company's technology strategy and innovation roadmap. With over a decade scaling Agile interoperable systems across industries, from rapid-growth startups to billion-dollar defense contracts for foreign ministries, Jamie specializes in building scalable, resilient systems in high-stakes environments. At Tressl, he's enabling intelligent systems that deliver real-time control, seamless stakeholder collaboration, and data integrity. His leadership in spatial intelligence and AI positions Tressl as a catalyst for digital-first asset stewardship.

Biography

Coming soon

Biography

Jordan is a quantum physicist and repeat founder, and his background includes theoretical and experimental work in quantum neuroscience and quantum communications. Jordan has previously founded multiple businesses in the industrial sector, and he is dedicated to realizing QTi's mission to build a quantum internet and to secure today's networks against quantum-enabled threats. He shares QTi's vision to create an interconnected world that provides quantum advantage for all, and Jordan is passionate about tackling society's largest information, network, and security challenges, solving them at the smallest (i.e., quantum) scale.

Biography

Karam-Ali serves as Director of Partnerships at Platform Calgary, leading engagements with corporate, ecosystem, strategic partners, and the organization's valued donors. His diverse background includes five years as a corporate securities lawyer. Most recently, Ali was a founding executive team member at a Calgary tech company, where he played a crucial role in their operational, partnership, investment, and IP strategies, contributing to the growth of a 35+ person team. A seasoned business advisor and strategist, he has actively built and advanced both private and volunteer organizations. Ali's strategic foresight and proven ability to lead and execute complex, cross-functional projects make him a significant asset to any team he's on. A hardcore Calgary Flames fan, he enjoys travelling and spending time with his wife and two young daughters.

Biography

Katanya B. Kuntz, PhD is CEO of Qubo Consulting Corp, and a Research Associate at the Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Canada. Qubo Consulting helps businesses, non-profits, and government organizations make informed decisions about emerging disruptive technology by training business leaders and the future quantum workforce on quantum technologies. She is also the QEYSSat Science Team Coordinator for Canada's first quantum satellite mission: Quantum EncrYption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat), which will demonstrate the distribution of encrypted keys (i.e. Quantum Key Distribution) between ground and space. She is an excellent public speaker, where she is known for explaining difficult concepts in easy-to-understand language.

Biography

As the manager of I&C, Kelly oversees the City's telecommunications infrastructure and services; from business mobility and the City's internal audio/visual ecosystem to its contact centres and extensive fibre infrastructure. Her team of engineers and technology experts also work together to solution The City's carrier class network and advance technology innovation through a Smart Cities approach.

Kelly has worked for the Information Technology Business Unit at The City of Calgary for 18 years, starting as an IT Engineer leading the voice communications team and progressively taking on additional roles leading to manager of the division.

With a degree in Applied Mathematics and Electrical Engineering from Queen's University, Kelly is a strategic and analytical thinker. Working with her peers in IT and across the organization, Kelly helps manage and prioritize the funding required to provide safe and secure technology solutions that enable City business units to deliver services to a diverse and growing city.

Biography

Lindsay LeBlanc is an experimental atomic physicist working with ultracold atoms and quantum technologies. Lindsay earned her BSc in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta in 2003 and her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Toronto in 2011, after which she joined the Joint Quantum Institute in Maryland in 2013 as a postdoctoral fellow, before returning to join the University of Alberta where she is Professor in Physics and Canada Research Chair in Atomic Quantum Science and Technology. Her research laboratory focuses on fundamental research and practical applications using atomic physics techniques, leveraging the interactions between light and matter. Using precision laser systems, custom electronics, and ultrahigh vacuum systems, the team is engaged in a variety of research topics related to quantum computing, quantum memory, and quantum communications.

Biography

Marc is a seasoned entrepreneur and business development leader with over 25 years of experience across telecom, technology, hyperscale cloud, and modular data centers. At Denvr, he leads business development and government engagement initiatives, drawing on his deep expertise in public sector procurement and infrastructure sales.

Biography

Martin Ferguson-Pell completed a BSc in physics at Exeter University in the UK and then a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at the University of Strathclyde. He has held academic appointments in Glasgow, New York and London UK. In 2007 he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta.

He designed and developed the UofA's Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory which opened in 2012. His team has a strong focus on developing technologies that deliver comprehensive virtual clinical assessments between urban specialty clinics and rural health centres.

Between 2016-2004 he was the Executive Director of the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute, a non-profit which since 2005 has created a unique repository of orthopaedic outcomes and quality improvement data and led the implementation of numerous initiatives to advance bone and joint health in Alberta.

He founded ELIXR in 2019. ELIXR is a non-profit collaboration of 11 Alberta post-secondary institutions and developer studios taking on the challenge of ensuring that XR is used effectively in training and education where complex simulations and 3D constructs represent particular challenges for learners. He is also co-founder of Click&Push Accessibility, a social enterprise to improve access to public spaces for people with mobility limitations.

He was 2024 winner of the ASTech Award for Medical, Healthcare, and Pharmaceuticals - Application (Academic Collaboration).

Biography

Melanie leads a team of passionate GIS business and technical experts who manage the enterprise geospatial platforms, data and tools, as well as provide solutions and support to operations across the organization. Melanie's roots are in communications, directly supporting and advising both operational and strategic programs in over 12 business units over the last 22 years for the City of Calgary.

Biography

Mike is a Senior Solutions Architect based in Montreal, Canada. He covers the Okta Platform (Workforce Identity and Customer Identity) as well as Auth0 as part of Okta's Office of the Field CTO (OFCTO) Presales team. He works with his colleagues to build deep relationships with Okta customers in North America, help design successful outcomes and ensure the smooth planning, deployment, and ongoing use of Okta's solutions. Mike has been working in Identity for over 20 years and holds several certifications, including CISSP and Okta Certified Technical Architect (OCTA).

Biography

Mike Craigen is a Customer Engineer at Google Cloud, where he empowers government and education institutions to achieve digital transformation through secure hybrid and multi-cloud architectures, alongside pioneering applications of Generative AI. A Professional Engineer and seasoned technologist, he brings expertise spanning cloud platforms, software-defined networking (SD-WAN), telecommunications, and virtualization. Known for bridging innovation with execution, Mike translates technical complexity into actionable strategies, driving measurable business outcomes for enterprises.

Over his 15+ year career, Mike has shaped cross-industry innovation, from architecting mission-critical networks in the energy sector to advising Fortune 500 enterprises on NFV and containerization to helping transform the Travel sector with Generative AI. A sought-after technical evangelist, he keynotes conferences and leads workshops on cloud-native infrastructure, edge security, and AI-driven automation, blending hands-on expertise with strategic insight. Mike bridges engineering rigor with executive vision. He holds a BASc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and balances his tech passion with backcountry adventures in British Columbia's mountains.

Biography

Rob Lucas is a Principal Solutions Consultant based in Edmonton, Alberta, and plays a leading role in Dell Technologies' global presales technical strategy. He shapes technical training programs, drives national initiatives, and supports enterprise AI and HPC customers across North America. With over a decade at Dell, Rob also advises the Canadian Senior Leadership team and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science, specializing in AI.

Biography

Dr. Sandeep Kaur is the Director of Synthetic Populations & Modeling at RWI Synthetics, specializing in synthetic population modeling and advanced data analytics. She holds a Ph.D. in High Energy Physics from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, and Panjab University, India. With deep expertise in big data analysis, data certification, and large-scale simulation. Dr. Kaur thrives on uniting diverse teams to tackle complex, multidisciplinary challenges. Her work bridges technical innovation with collaborative problem-solving, driving impactful solutions for real-world applications.

More Information Coming Soon

More Information Coming Soon

Biography

Tom Danshin is a technology executive and systems engineer with 30 years of experience driving product innovation in wireless communications, industrial monitoring, and IoT. He has led global teams in the end-to-end design, development, and deployment of high volume products, and has played a key role in bringing certified solutions to international markets. Tom's career includes leadership roles at Nortel Networks, Tektelic Communications, and currently Kornak Technologies. He is known for his contributions to advancing wireless technology standards and best practices. Tom holds both a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan.

Biography

Tracey Nyholt brings over 20 years of cybersecurity expertise and was recognized by Okta for the innovative Caller Verify solution. She attributes her professional success to the principles of simplicity and continuous improvement, values inspired by her martial arts training. A dedicated advocate for women in STEM, Tracey serves on the Board of Women in Communications & Technology. In 2023, she was honored as one of Canada's Top Women in Cybersecurity by IT World Canada.

Biography

Zi Wang is the Leader of Congestion Management and Smart Mobility within the City of Calgary's Mobility Business Unit. His team is focused on implementing innovative solutions to address congestion issues. Zi began his career with the City of Regina and joined the City of Calgary in 2020 as the supervisor of the Traffic Management Centre. He has leveraged his extensive background in municipal traffic engineering to enhance the city's mobility infrastructure. Zi holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of Regina. With over a decade of diverse experience, he is skilled in various areas, including traffic signal design, signal timing, signal construction, expressway lighting, traffic safety, temporary traffic control, and traffic incident management.