Obvia announces the establishment of its new steering committee for the period 2024-2028

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Louise Blais, former Ambassador of Canada to the UN, appointed as chair

Obvia – International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies – is pleased to announce the appointment of new members to its steering committee, as well as a new chair.

Obvia steering committee is made up of representatives from member educational and research institutions, as well as strategic partners and stakeholders. Together, they facilitate the achievement of Obvia's scientific objectives and its strategic positioning on the societal impacts of AI and digital technologies.

We would like to commend the appointment of Louise Blais as chair of the committee. A former high-ranking diplomat, Louise Blais served as Canada’s Ambassador to the UN and is currently working as a resident expert and associate member at the School of International Studies at Laval University (ESEI). Her expertise in international relations and understanding of global issues related to AI will be major assets for Obvia.

"I am honored to join Obvia as chair of the steering committee," said Louise Blais. "Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are profoundly transforming our societies. It is crucial to study their impacts and guide their development in an ethical and responsible manner."

We welcome the new members and look forward to working together to implement Obvia's mission.

The composition of the steering committee is as follows:

Obvia Executive Director

Lyse Langlois, Université Laval 

Chair

Louise Blais, Canadian diplomat, Ambassador, and Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations from 2017 to 2021.

Representatives from Member Universities

  • Caroline Aubé, Director of Research and Transfer, HEC Montréal.
  • Eugénie Brouillet, Vice-Rector for Research, Creation, and Innovation, Université Laval.
  • Marie-Josée Hébert, Vice-Rector for Research, Discovery, Creation, and Innovation, University of Montreal.
  • Jean-Pierre Perreault, Vice-Rector for Research and Graduate Studies, Université de Sherbrooke.

Representatives from Newly Elected Member Colleges or CEGEPs

  • Pascale Sirard, General Director, Collège Bois-de-Boulogne.
  • Patrick Bérubé, General Director, Association of Private Colleges of Quebec (ACPQ)..

Representatives from Newly Elected Strategic Partners and Stakeholders

  • Viêt Cao, Directeur innovation et analytique de données, Synapse C.
  • Marie Grégoire, Présidente-directrice générale, BAnQ.
  • Anne Nguyen, Directrice responsable de l'IA, Conseil de l'innovation du Québec.

Obvia warmly thanks the outgoing members for their valuable contributions:

Luc Thifault, General Director of Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf; John Halpin, former General Director of Cégep John Abbott; Béatrice Alain, General Director of the Social Economy Project; Marc Beaudoin, President and CEO of the Property and Casualty Insurance Association; Jennifer Garard, Director of Living Labs at Volt-Age; Samuel Kohn, Director of Program Delivery at Nord Ouvert; and the outgoing chair, the Honorable Louise Otis, Mediator, Civil and Commercial Arbitrator, and International Administrative Judge.

Media Contact

Flavie Halais, Conseillère en communication

flavie.halais@obvia.ca