Join us for an insightful evening at the QT Connect Meetup in Toronto, presented by RBC and hosted by Intuit, where industry experts will discuss the pressing topic of Responsible AI. The event will feature a dynamic panel discussion focusing on the ethical, legal, and practical implications of artificial intelligence in today's world. Our panel of distinguished speakers will share their experiences and insights on how to develop and implement AI responsibly.

THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THE EVENT:

• Space is limited so please be sure to get your ticket for this event soon.
• Please stay home if you are feeling sick.
• You MUST register 48 hours before the event
• The day before the event attendees will receive a QR code to access the building

We don't want ticket costs to be a barrier to joining us in this discussion. We have scholarship and volunteer tickets available. To sign up for a scholarship ticket or to volunteer, fill out this form.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS!

Blair Attard-Frost (they/them), PhD Candidate at University of Toronto

Blair Attard-Frost researches, teaches, and creates stories about the governance of AI. As a PhD Candidate and SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholar at the University of Toronto, Blair applies a transfeminist lens to investigate how and why Canada regulates AI. Drawing upon 10+ years of experience working across public sector, post-secondary, and startup environments, Blair teaches courses on AI ethics and policy, advises organizations, and advocates for community-led AI governance. Their creative projects combine speculative fiction, glitch, and surrealism to explore trans perspectives in dysregulated tech futures.

Eily Hickson (she/her), Canada Practice Lead, Product Innovation & Growth - Emerging Tech & Engineering at Accenture

”If it doesn’t exist, I’m working on it!” Eily is a change agent that lives for ambiguity. An international career, 22yr+ in Digital Transformation Eily is  a Growth Hacker, Value Creator, Builder of Labs, Accelerators, Practices, Products and Programs. Creating impact at scale through Digital Transformation, thought-leadership, Innovation, Strategic Foresight and Emerging Technologies. Solving complex problems through human-centric design, AI, strategy, talent, business, process optimization, data, technology, and more. International leader of multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams. Futurepreneur. Speaker. Thought-leader on topics such as Industry 4.0, Digital Darwinism. Design Thinking, Innovation & Product Coach. Passionate mentor for Women in Entrepreneurship, Women in Technology, BiPoC Communities, LGBTQIA+ Communities and others, that are looking to break down the 'barrier of entry' to harness the power of technology and take their seat at the table.

Mil Reyes (he/him), Manager of Technical Staff at Cohere

Mil (he/him) is an immigrant, queer Latinx man who graduated from Stanford for his engineering graduate studies. He’s been a software engineer since 2015 when he moved to Vancouver. Now, as a manager of technical staff at Cohere, he applies his knowledge and expertise to lead a team of innovative engineers and help drive the success of the company. He is passionate about creating a diverse, inclusive and psychologically safe work environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued. He is also a member of the board of directors of QMUNITY, the 2SLGBTQIA+ Centre in BC since 2024. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and volunteering at local organizations that support marginalized communities. He believes in giving back to society and using his privilege and platform to make a positive impact in the world.

 

THANKS TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR:

ABOUT RBC:

We’re on a purpose-driven journey to build the RBC bank of the future and reimagine the role we play in the lives of our customers. Our purpose inspires us every day to bring our best and use our imagination and insights to build a better future for our clients and communities.

What do Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean to RBC?

At RBC, diversity and inclusion are more than just a value. It’s our strength. Our personal identities, experiences, and characteristics make our teams unique, and we encourage everyone to bring their full selves to work. In a workplace that applies imagination and insight to cutting-edge technology, we celebrate the diverse people behind the ground-breaking ideas and support them on their journey. We have an action plan to address systemic racism, which has three key pillars:

1. Enabling Economic Growth and Wealth Creation
2. Investing for the Future
3. Redefining Inclusive Leadership

These actions are just part of our ongoing commitment to D&I at RBC and in society more broadly.

What is RBC doing to make their workplace safe and inclusive for 2SLGBTQ+ employees?

When we think about D&I, we look inside our walls and also outside of them. Not just about how we can increase representation in our own workforce but what we can do to lift opportunities for the broader community. We are committed to providing programs and resources to support diverse talent, including career development programs, mentorship circles, Employee Resource Groups, virtual workshops and leadership programs.

 

THANKS TO OUR HOSTING SPONSOR:

ABOUT INTUIT:

Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. Serving more than 100 million customers worldwide with TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us at Intuit.com and find us on social for the latest information about Intuit and our products and services.

What do Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean to Intuit Canada?

Diversity is a fact, but inclusion and equity are choices we make. At Intuit, creating a culture of inclusion and embedding equity throughout our processes is foundational to how we operate as a business. To deliver for our customers, we seek to foster a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. When we do this, we believe we develop deeper empathy, accelerating innovation to solve the biggest problems our customers face. 

What is Intuit Canada doing to make your workplace a safe and inclusive place for 2SLGBTQ+ employees? 

We begin with our mission to power prosperity around the world. Our mission is supported by living our values. Our five values honor our history and who we are, and they continue to guide us in delivering on our mission. 

United through our mission and values, we believe diversity and inclusion is how we bring different voices to the table—to solve our customers’ greatest challenges. Investing in our people, which includes supporting DEI, is the right thing to do. It also helps advance our business strategy. As we bring people together from diverse backgrounds and with different perspectives, we’re better positioned to accelerate innovation. We can better understand and empathize with our customers by reflecting our diverse customer base. It also makes Intuit a great place to work and thrive.

So we focus and prioritize diversity and inclusion for all employees—a lot. We're committed to ensuring all Intuit employees feel safe and respected and can be who they are.