Virtual - Building Trust as Technology Transforms

Philippe Dufresne, Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Philippe Dufresne was appointed Privacy Commissioner of Canada on June 27, 2022. A leading legal expert on human rights, administrative and constitutional law, he previously served as the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons where he was responsible for the provision of legal and legislative services to the House, its Speaker, Members and committees, the Board of Internal Economy and the House Administration.

Prior to his appointment as Law Clerk of the House in 2015, he was the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s Senior General Counsel, responsible for legal services, litigation, investigations, mediations, employment equity and Access to Information and Privacy. During that time, he successfully appeared as counsel before all levels of Canadian Courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada in a number of key human rights and constitutional cases over the last two decades.

A member of the Bars of Québec, Ontario, and Massachusetts, he has served his profession and community in several different capacities, including as president of the constitutional and human rights law section of the Canadian Bar Association (Québec Branch) and as president of the International Commission of Jurists (Canada).

Commissioner Dufresne holds degrees in common and civil law from McGill University’s Faculty of Law, and has been a part-time professor with the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Common Law and Queen’s University’s Faculty of Law. He regularly speaks on issues of privacy, human rights, administrative, and constitutional law in Canada.

AI has become an increasingly important tool for marketers in recent years, fueling data analytics and personalization and helping to provide customers with the tailored products, services and offers that they have come to expect.

The promise of AI raises important ethical considerations for marketers. Panelists will discuss emerging best practices – from Chat GPT for content generation to AI systems fueled by synthetic data sets.

Moderator: Rupinder Dhillon
Head of Enterprise Data, Sobeys

Rupinder has worked in the Data field over the past twenty years; in Data Management, Business  Intelligence, Advanced Analytics and AI/Machine Learning. She has worked with data  across industries spanning financial services, software, telecommunications and retail to champion the  use of data to drive innovation.  As a senior data leader, her role is to drive responsible data adoption across the organization with the goal of making Data, Analytics and Intelligent Automation a core part of the company’s DNA in a responsible way.   Rupinder is currently the Head of Enterprise Data at Sobeys.  She has previously held data leadership roles at HBC and Bell Canada.

Isaac De Souza
AI & Emerging Technology Risk Officer, BMO

Isaac is BMO’s AI & Emerging Technology Risk Officer leading the 2nd line’s AI Risk Specialty Area. He represents BMO at key industry forums on AI risks and continues to be advocate for Responsible AI use with a focus on how to effectively manage the incremental risks introduced by AI to financial institutions. He has provided thought leadership and subject expertise in AI risk management since joining BMO in 2020. Isaac is also a scientist and entrepreneur with a multi-disciplinary background having worked in both research and industry from NASA to Silicon Valley and now the financial industry. He is passionate about communicating the adoption risks introduced by technologies and driving insights to boldly grow the good in business and in life.

Parama Ray
AVP, AI & Data Analytics, Canada Life

Parama is responsible for leading Canada Life’s Group Customer Division’s Data and Analytics strategies with the key goals of transforming the business into a digital first unit with Data and AI as key enablers. She has proven experience in leading change through the implementation of new products, systems and processes, and through continuous improvement initiatives – both in business and technology. She has  advanced degrees in Computer Science, Data Science, Design Thinking and Management Certifications.

Canada is facing the most significant changes to its privacy rules in decades. Panel experts will offer insights on what marketers need to know about Quebec’s new privacy law, Law 25, and the latest developments on Canada’s proposed Consumer Privacy Protection Act, including how to ensure a compliant data-driven marketing strategy.

Moderator: Devorah Evans
Deborah Evans is the Chief Privacy Officer at Rogers Communications, where she is responsible for privacy across all lines of business, including management of CASL and telemarketing rules. She is also responsible for Rogers’ relationship with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the CRTC Enforcement Branch.

Deborah joined Rogers in 2007 and has progressed through various positions within the organization’s Regulatory team, including representing Rogers at numerous proceedings and government hearings, and implementation of the CRTC’s Wireless Code. As well, she managed Rogers Office of the Ombudsperson for 18 months. Deborah has managed Rogers’ privacy office since 2014.

She is the Chair of both the CWTA Privacy and Security Committee and the Canadian Marketing Association’s Privacy Committee, former Chair of the CWTA’s Recycling Committee, and former member of the CWTA Accessibility Committee.

Deborah holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics from Brock University; and a Master’s of Public Affairs, with a specialization in European Integration, from Carleton University. She also holds a CIPP/c privacy certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), and currently sits on the IAPP Canadian Advisory Board.

David Elder
Head of Privacy & Data Protection Group, Stikeman Elliott LLP

David Elder is Chair of the Privacy & Data Protection and Communications practice groups at Stikeman Elliott LLP, where he also serves as the firm's Chief Privacy Officer.  He provides privacy and marketing compliance advice to a wide range of Canadian and international businesses, including with respect to managing data breaches and navigating privacy issues arising in M&A transactions.  He has also been an active participant in legislative and policy developments respecting privacy. Based in Ottawa, he has over 25 years of experience gained in private practice, government and corporate settings.

James Smith
Chief Compliance, Risk and Privacy Officer, Environics Analytics

As Chief Compliance, Risk and Privacy Officer at Environics Analytics, James Smith focuses on corporate privacy, security, risk, audit, data governance and compliance matters. James brings to the position both business expertise and a strategic understanding of technology, data, and analytics. A seasoned executive, James has over 30 years of experience building relationships and leading complex technology, data, and CRM initiatives for customers in the financial services, marketing, retail, loyalty, finance and government sectors. Prior to joining Environics Analytics in 2016, James held a Global role as Vice President of Data Strategy and Data Governance at The Marketing Store Worldwide. James is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE), and Canadian Institute of Access and Privacy Professionals (CIAPP-P). 

Suzanne Morin
VP, Enterprise Conduct, Data Ethics & Chief Privacy Officer, Sun Life Financial

In 2015, after more than 20 years in the communications industry, Suzanne shifted industries and joined Sun Life Financial. She has led the team providing legal support to the business in Québec combined with overall leadership for privacy at Sun Life and its subsidiaries worldwide. In April 2019, Suzanne moved into a newly created role with accountability for creating a compliance structure for Enterprise Services while continuing her global work as Chief Privacy Officer.

A big believer in giving back to the community, she continues to be involved with many organizations including the Canadian Bar Association’s National Privacy and Access Law Section, the Canadian Center for Child Protection and MediaSmarts, a leader in media and digital literacy. Suzanne was an appointed member of the board of the Standards Council of Canada for over a decade and was a member of the Canadian Spam Task Force.