Sandra Schillo leads the Inclusive Innovation Research Cluster at the Institute for Science, Society and Policy and is an Associate Professor at the Telfer School of Management, both at the University of Ottawa. She shares with us that inclusive innovation is not just about who is included in the innovation process, but also how they are involved and what that implies.

Tenille Houston is co-founder of AutoGuardian By SmartCone, an Intelligent Mobility company. She encourages us to consider adapting the plans we create for ourselves—because the risk of taking a new path might just get you where you’re meant to go.

Tina Liu is a landscape architect at the National Capital Commission (NCC), a National Judge of Communities in Bloom, and is responsible for the Christmas Lights Across Canada program. Her experience as a landscape architect has taught her how parks and greenspaces improve our mental and physical wellbeing—and how we can use plant life to create healthy spaces at home.

At one time or another, we have all experienced mental exhaustion and brain fog, or a lack of focus, motivation and attention. Could this slump in performance be an indication that we are not fueling our brains properly? What if, something as simple as the right nutrients could ignite our brains to function at the potential we deserve. Neuroscientist Dr. Delphie Dugal-Tessier is currently the Head of Research at Staterra Inc. a nutritional and supplement R&D company where she is conducting research supported by the NRC-IRAP, OCE & NSERC. In the emerging field of nutritional neuroscience, Dr. Dugal-Tessier is passionate about understanding how stress depletes the raw materials required for brain health (mood, cognition, learning and memory) and how this impacts performance. In addition, she is no stranger to competitive sports. In 2007, she competed on the Canadian mogul freestyle ski team and now trains, teaches and competes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As a mother of two, an entrepreneur, a competitor and a woman in science, Dr. Dugal-Tessier knows all too well the challenges and struggles our brain faces on a daily basis and how this can affect mental wellness, happiness and productivity.

On a mission to drastically improve the concussion recovery process. Our brains are our greatest asset and we should do everything we can to protect and heal them. With the use of machine learning we can gain valuable insights that can guide us throughout the recovery process. Ashleigh shares how to spark social engagement in the health care AI race, by encouraging us to embrace AI and take control of our health data. Ashleigh is a health technology entrepreneur from Stanford University with a PhD in Exercise Physiology and a post-doctoral fellowship in Neuroscience from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. She is the founder and CEO of Neurovine, a deep tech company delivering data driven brain health solutions. Before founding Neurovine, Ashleigh was a wearable technology consultant who worked with innovative startups and large scale medical institutions. These experiences revealed the amazing potential of AI in health care but also highlighted the dangers of automation in this industry.

Navigating change is rarely easy but igniting action is a must. How do we leverage the power of human decision making to continue to adapt and embrace change in a world where change has become the constant? Liora is a Strategic Change Consultant at Deloitte where she supports organizations adapt through their largest digital transformations, leveraging innovative change management techniques. Previously, Liora founded a startup focused on supporting nonprofit donation strategies through the changing digital era. Liora continues to give back to the community as the former Head and current Board Member of the Ottawa Global Shapers, an initiative of the World Economic Forum, focused on fostering positive change and sustainable impact locally and internationally.

What does a meaningful educational experience look like for individuals with ASD? In some ways, very similar to other students; but in many ways, very different. Understanding these differences is the secret to unlocking a meaningful experience for students with unique learning needs. Kim shares what a needs-based, meaningful educational experience entails, and the impact this can have on students and their families. Founder and Director of Clinical Development, Kim Moore has dedicated her professional career to exploring innovative, effective and science-based therapies for individuals with autism. Having spent years implementing traditional autism intervention programs, Kim recognized the need for evolution within the field. Moving beyond the unnatural and rigid intensive therapies, Kim opened Aspire Academy in 2019. The Academy is setting a new standard for the education of students with unique learning needs by offering individualized teaching within a group setting. Bringing together some of the best educators in Ottawa, her vision for a positive, nourishing and comprehensive school experience for students with autism has become a reality. Kim’s vision reaches beyond the doors of her academy, she continues to share her philosophies and expertise with her larger community. She’s working with educators from various disciplines and spreading a positive message about what we can accomplish.

You can make a big difference by helping young people look beyond job titles to find important challenges to solve. We can then help them find companies working on these challenges. This new approach is called the challenge mindset, and it is igniting a sense of purpose in youth. What difference could you make if you could ignite a sense of purpose in the youth today? JP Michel is on a mission to change the way we prepare people for their careers. He is the founder and head coach at SparkPath and creator of the challenge mindset. JP’s work on careers has been featured on the BBC, CBC and TFO. Since 2009, he has leveraged his experience coaching high-performing leaders to help hundreds of high-school students develop their potential, set meaningful career paths, and accomplish their goals. The question ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ is no longer serving young people. For too long, we’ve encouraged them to prepare for their future by choosing a job title. This approach is causing anxiety and not preparing them for a complex future.

As our need for mobility continues, and the need for sustainable options is important. We need to explore how we can change the global energy transition. With an AI-based technology capable of ultra-fast charging of lithium-ion batteries without compromising cycle life, Kostyantyn shares how we can transform the way batteries are charged and reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by internal combustion engines. Kostyantyn is the CEO of GBatteries, an advanced battery technology company working towards enabling electric vehicles to charge as fast as it takes to fill-up a tank of gas, with the goal of accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, and in turn reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Operating since 2014 at the intersection of artificial intelligence, electrochemistry, signal processing, and high-power electronics, GBatteries has the first and only demonstrated technology that can ultra-fast charge lithium-ion batteries without compromising battery life or changing the battery’s chemistry. With applications ranging from smart phones to electric vehicles, GBatteries is revolutionizing the way batteries are charged. Prior to GBatteries, Kostyantyn was the founder of Wolna, a SatCom company working on connecting airplanes to ground via satellite network, and Smart Rotor Systems (SRS), a vibration and noise reduction technology for helicopters.

The issue of inclusion and diversity is finally on the minds of leaders everywhere. As we work toward understanding how to create and maintain truly inclusive cultures, comprised of diverse groups of people, the focus has been on what we can do for others. What’s most important is how do we become conscious of embracing and developing diversity within ourselves? This question is key, because if we can’t accept all of ourselves then our ability to accept others is compromised.

Simeon challenges us to use failure to launch into something new and lead us to find our voice. He shares how not to waste your failures but rather use them to better yourself and land on something you are truly passionate about in places you least expect. Simeon is a business professional with over 16 years of global corporate experience. He has served in senior management consulting roles at Deloitte, PwC Consulting, Accenture, Jackman and Slalom Consulting, and in leadership positions in multi-billion $ companies such as Rogers Communications, Maple Leaf Foods and Sears Canada. After a tumultuous 25-year journey, Simeon has discovered his passion in Career Coaching, as an enabler of others’ successes. His clients range from new immigrants looking to enter the Canadian workforce, to new university graduates, to seasoned professionals in transition or recently laid off to help them get back on their feet. A proponent of higher and continuous education, Simeon completed a Bachelor and Master of Science at University of Toronto, and a Master of Business Administration at McMaster University.