APSIM Conference Day 1 – Speakers & Topics
Welcome to Day 1 of the APSIM Conference!
This webpage provides details on each session, including titles and brief topic descriptions. Check out the biographies so you can get to know our speakers!
KEYNOTE SESSION
Advancing Responsible AI
AI is here and we are not ready. Individuals, organizations, governments and nations are scrambling to keep pace to address the risks and harms from AI systems which have had little to no regulatory oversight. Increasingly privacy professionals are called to address the impacts of AI but have not (yet) been empowered with the tools needed. In this environment, how can we advance responsible AI? This talk will highlight key issues and offer suggestions for a path forward for people in the privacy+ professions.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Katrina Ingram, Founder & CEO, Ethically Aligned AI
Katrina Ingram is the Founder and CEO of Ethically Aligned AI, a company focused on helping organizations to drive better outcomes in the design, development and deployment of AI systems. A seasoned executive, Katrina has over two decades of experience running both not for profit and corporate organizations in the technology and media sectors as well as experience in the public sector. She is a member of DAMA (data management professionals) and volunteers with several AI ethics organizations. She was named to the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics list. Katrina holds an undergrad in business administration from Simon Fraser University, a master of arts in communications and technology from the University of Alberta and is an IAPP certified information privacy professional (CIPP/C). She combines her love of audio and interest in AI as the host of the podcast, AI4Society Dialogues. Katrina developed Canada’s first micro-credential in AI Ethics in partnership with Athabasca University. She currently teaches at the University of Alberta and MacEwan University as a sessional instructor in the Arts and Cultural Management program. She is a member of the Calgary Police Services Technology Ethics Committee and recently served as the City of Edmonton’s Data Ethics Advisor.
PLENARY SESSION
Cyber Security Office and Cyber Threat Landscape
Brief description of the Cyber Security Office.
Complementing the work of the OCIO, the Cyber Security Office was established to inform Newfoundlanders and Labradorians about cyber security and the steps they can take to protect themselves, as well as to safeguard the Provincial Government’s online services and operations.
The Cyber Security Office works closely with government departments, agencies, boards, and commissions to foster a culture of security awareness and resilience.
General discussion on the Cyber Threat Landscape.
Understanding the Cyber Threat Landscape, provides a high-level overview of today’s most pressing cyber threats and the challenges they pose to individuals and organizations. It covers key trends such as ransomware, phishing, data breaches, and emerging threats in cloud and IoT environments, along with how attackers exploit these vulnerabilities. The session aims to increase awareness of common attack methods, highlight potential impacts, and discuss essential strategies for cyber defense and risk mitigation, helping attendees better navigate the dynamic world of cybersecurity.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Mark Healy, Assistant Deputy Minister, Office of the Chief Information Officer – Cyber Security Office
Mark Healy is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Cyber Security Office at the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (GNL). Prior to that, he worked as the Executive Director, Operations and Security Branch, and the director of Client and Vendor Services within OCIO. Mr. Healy has also been the Customer Experience (Cx) and User Experience (Ux) lead for the Digital Government Program and has more than 25 years of experience in the Information Technology (IT) industry. This experience includes working in both the private and public sectors, for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Bell (xwave).
Mark is the current Vice President of the Institute for Citizen Centric Services (ICCS), the provincial representative for Newfoundland and Labrador in the Jurisdictional Experts in Digital Identity (JEDI) group as part of the Joint Councils Pan-Canadian Digital Identity program and also is the current chair of the National CISO Committee on Information Protection (NCCIP). Mark is also an active volunteer in the local sports community.
Mark holds a Certificate in Business Administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and an Applied Information Technology Diploma from the Graduate Centre of applied Technology (GCAT), as well as several industry specific certifications.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Maintaining Psychological Health and Safety with Remote / Hybrid Teams
“Maintaining Psychological Health and Safety with Remote / Hybrid Teams” is a presentation designed to explore best practices for fostering mental well-being in diverse work environments. Attendees will learn strategies to support psychological safety, boost team morale, and build trust and resilience within remote and hybrid teams. The session will cover tools to recognize and mitigate stressors associated with remote work, encourage open communication, and create a balanced work-life dynamic for all team members.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Chandra Kavanagh, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association – NL
Dr. Chandra Kavanagh is the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Newfoundland and Labrador (CMHA-NL). With a passion for mental health advocacy and a strong background in leadership, Chandra has been instrumental in developing programs and initiatives that support mental wellness across the province. She brings a wealth of experience from her time spent working and studying both in Canada and Australia, and her commitment to fostering inclusive, community-based approaches to mental health drives the organization’s mission to improve well-being for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Guide to Large Scale Records Digitization
This one-hour presentation provides a detailed guide on performing large-scale digitization projects, from planning and technology selection to workflow execution and data management. It emphasizes the importance of aligning digitization with organizational goals, using appropriate tools and infrastructure, and ensuring compliance with legal and data security standards.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Bill Peddle, Records and Information Management Officer, Corporate Services Department, City of Mount Pearl
With over 25 years of dedicated experience in information management, Bill Peddle stands out as a seasoned professional in the field. Holding a diploma in Information Management, Bill has spent the last seven years specializing as a Laserfiche Administrator, demonstrating a deep understanding of this sophisticated document management system. His expertise extends beyond mere technical know-how, encompassing a broad spectrum of leadership and administrative skills. Bill’s twenty years of working with records and information management have equipped him with a keen eye for detail and a methodical approach to maintaining and organizing critical data. In addition to his technical and managerial prowess, Bill has extensive experience in human resources and recruitment, areas where his facilitation and public speaking skills have been invaluable. Comfortable in leadership roles, Bill has consistently demonstrated exceptional administrative capabilities, ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently.
BREAKOUT SESSION
The Value of Privacy by Design: Reaping Rewards by Considering Privacy from the Start
Privacy by Design (PbD) provides a proactive framework for protecting personal information, which helps foster trust between organizations and individuals and demonstrates an organization’s commitment to privacy. This presentation will explore the development of PbD and its foundational principles, and illustrate the practical application of these concepts through a real-world case study.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ruth Marks, Access and Privacy Analyst, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Newfoundland and Labrador
Ruth Marks is an Access and Privacy Analyst with the OIPC NL, where she reviews privacy impact assessments, conducts audits, and offers general guidance to custodians and public bodies. During her privacy career, Ruth has utilized a variety of tools, including privacy impact assessments, audits, policies, education, and privacy management programs, to better ensure legislative compliance and appropriate protection of personal information. Prior to her work in privacy, Ruth spent 10 years in communications, working for advertising agencies and both the provincial and federal governments. Ruth has a Certificate in Information Access and Protection of Privacy (IAPP) from the University of Alberta, a Masters of Employment Relations from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Canadian certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (CIPP/C).
SESSION
Data Governance – An Essential Component of Data and Digital Transformation
Data and information are valuable assets which any entity (government as well as organizations) that hold data should manage effectively to enhance design and delivery of services and inform decision-making. Data collected from multiple sources in various formats often results in data gaps, silos, and/or fragmentation. This can impact data access and sharing which is further complicated by a combination of legislative, policy, and technology factors.
Data governance can strengthen the data foundation by providing the guidance and strategy to ensure data is managed as a strategic asset, ensure compliance with privacy laws, and incorporate data stewardship principles so data is used for public good.
What you will learn:
- What is data governance and why is it needed?
- Relationship between data stewardship, data governance, and data management.
- Existing uses of data and what enhanced governance could enable.
- How data governance, privacy, and security can be leveraged as key enablers to data access and sharing for public good.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Donna Roche, Director, Data Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer
Donna Roche is the Director of Data Management with the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. She has been involved in the use of data to inform decision-making for almost 20 years. During her career she has developed privacy management programs, data access services, lead a variety of analytics and surveillance initiatives, and has been involved in the development of various data governance models. She has knowledge and expertise in data governance, privacy, policy and planning, surveillance systems, research methods and ethics, digital health, and information management.
Donna holds a PhD from Memorial University and has completed the Certified Information Privacy Professional/Canada (CIPP/C) certification.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Change Management Workshop
New policies, processes, and technology. It all means change in an organization. Quite often it is the technical side of these changes that receives the most attention. However, policies, processes and new technologies are plans on paper without people behind them. Change management is a process that focuses on the people side of change, supporting smoother transitions and adoption, reducing the negative impact on operations.
In this workshop, we will discuss the elements of change management and how you can apply change management practices in your work.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ronnie Walsh, Senior Advisor – Change Management, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Ronnie Walsh is an advisor on change management with the Government of NL. Ronnie is a certified change management trainer and practitioner and an internationally accredited business communicator with more than 15 years of experience.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Meet Patty Privacy and Alex Aware – Fostering a Culture of Privacy and Access to Information in Your Public Body
In the last two years, the Department of Health and Community Services (HCS) has transformed privacy and access to information from creating two unique teams to adding new creative education materials – Patty Privacy and Alex Aware. This presentation describes the journey HCS has taken through changes and educational materials such as Patty Privacy and Alex Aware to cultivate a culture of privacy and access to information within the department.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Kimberly Ryan, Manager, Privacy and Information Security, HCS
Kimberly joined the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011. Since then, she has been the Coordinator of Education and Information, then the Program and Policy Development Specialist/ATIPP coordinator with the Department of Digital Government and Service NL. From there, Kimberly moved to the Treasury Board Secretariat as Manager of Human Resource Development and Strategic Planning in the Planning and Analytical Division where she also managed the department’s access to information requests.
Currently, Kimberly is the Manager of Privacy and Information Security with the Department of Health and Community Services (HCS). In this role, she is responsible for the privacy management program at HCS, the Personal Health Information Act and manages both the Access to Information Team and the Privacy Team. In 2021, Kimberly also completed a six-month secondement with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, working with the Advocacy and Compliance team, giving her experience from the perspective of the oversight body.
Kimberly has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts – French from Memorial University, a Certificate of Information Access and Protection of Privacy from the University of Alberta, two designations – Certified Information Privacy Professional Canada (CIPP/C) and Canadian Institute of Access and Privacy Professionals (CIAPP-P). She was also a nominee for the 2024 Public Service Excellence Awards.
Samantha Bungay, Privacy Officer, HCS
Samantha joined the Public Service in 2021 as a Clerk II with the Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology (IET). She became interested in Access to Information and Protection of Privacy (ATIPP) which resulted in pursuing a diploma in the University of Alberta Information Access and Protection of Privacy program. Later that year Samantha became IET’s ATIPP Coordinator.
In 2022, she moved to Health and Community Services to become part of its ATIPP team as one of two coordinators. With the expansion of HCS’ privacy management program, Samantha applied for and accepted the position of Privacy Officer, which she currently holds.
Samantha holds a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University, and a Certificate of Information Access and Protection of Privacy from the University of Alberta.
More Details Coming Soon!
General Topic: Cyber Insurance
Speaker: Joseph Hines