As Chief Technology Officer at TELUS, Nazim leads the team responsible for the end-to-end network technology journey for TELUS customers at home, at work and on the move. From strategy, planning, engineering, building and maintaining operations of its world-leading networks to the introduction of new technology and the evolution of network architecture and infrastructure, the TELUS Networks team delivers a fast, resilient and reliable network to keep our customers and communities connected.

With over 24 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Nazim has worked across different services and technologies, including legacy voice, wireless, advanced networking IT, cloud infrastructure and most recently, leading the TELUS core network infrastructure. His experience working across Canada has given him first-hand insights into customer experiences, enabling him to deliver innovative solutions to advance TELUS’ Customers First strategy.

Nazim is deeply involved in his community, whether it’s by supporting new immigrants adjusting to the Canadian workforce or participating in fundraising events for TELUS Days of Giving. His dedication to giving back aligns with TELUS’ leadership in leveraging social capitalism and world-leading technology to enable meaningful outcomes for its customers, communities and team members.

Nazim holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Montréal (Polytechnique Montréal) and a Master of Business Administration from HEC Montréal. He lives in Montréal.

Marc Boyer’s mission is to help companies realize their digital transformation through artificial intelligence. With a talented team of engineers, sales people and specialists, he is committed to the growth and success of Google Cloud in these regions.

Marc has over 20 years’ experience in the technology sector. Prior to his current role, he held various management positions at SAP and IBM. These included National Vice President, Customer Engagement & E-Commerce at SAP, as well as Director of the IBM Software Division for Eastern Canada.

Prior to holding various management positions at these major technology companies, Marc worked as a specialist at IBM Canada from 1998 to 2010, where he was primarily responsible for a number of cutting-edge areas such as natural language understanding (NLU) engines, the adoption of mobile computing in the enterprise, and the modernization of collaboration and customer engagement environments.

Marc holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information and Systems Management from the Université de Sherbrooke. He also mentors a number of Montreal startups within the Zú incubator.

Simon Cazelais manages a global portfolio of brands such as Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, and Lynx, overseeing Global CX Strategy, Brand Strategy, Customer Insights, and Consumer Engagement. In 2019, he launched the BRP’s commercial innovation lab, BRP-X, and its first incubated venture, Uncharted Society, a global powersports adventure service.

He has been working in the field of marketing and communication for over 20 years. For nearly a decade he worked at Bleublancrouge, one of the largest Canadian independent advertising agency, where he held the role of VP Strategy and Development and of President and Partner. During his years at Bleublancrouge, he supported companies in their strategic development, growth and transformation. In 2018 he became Head of Growth and Business Development at Lune Rouge Venture Fund before joining BRP in April 2019.

Simon has also taught the performance of sponsorship programs at HEC Montreal as well as at the University of Montreal for several years.

His work has been recognized on numerous occasions such as the Cassies, Media Innovation Awards, WARC Effectiveness Award, Shopper Marketing Awards, Prix Idéa, Festival of Media Global, Créa, Boomerang, Marketing Awards, and Cannes Lions. In 2017, he won the prestigious Marketer on the Rise award from the American Marketing Association. Since 2018, he sits on the Board of Directors of Collège Notre-Dame.

With a wealth of experience in organizational management and the business world, Maud Cohen took the reins of Polytechnique Montréal with enthusiasm and determination, making history as the first woman to lead the institution since its creation in 1873.

With a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Polytechnique Montréal (Po 1996), an MBA from HEC Montréal (2004), and certification as a corporate administrator from the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés de l’Université Laval (2012), Ms. Cohen has a remarkable track record in ethics and responsible management of organizations with high social value. From 2014 to 2022, Maud Cohen served as President and CEO of the Sainte-Justine UHC Foundation, ensuring the continued growth of the Foundation by mobilizing the community in support of Sainte-Justine UHC. Prior to that, she served three consecutive terms as President of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, becoming the third woman to hold the position since the Order’s inception in 1920.

Her career has also taken her internationally, where she has held project management positions with Walsh Automation Inc. and Walsh Europe Limited, as well as management positions with the CGI Group and Invensys Systems Canada. At the same time, she has served for several years on various boards of directors. Loto-Québec, Gestion FÉRIQUE and Aéroports de Montréal are among the companies that have benefited from her expertise. She has also put her experience in scientific governance to good use as chair of the committee of independent experts on the architectural and urban integration of the Montreal East REM.

She is also involved in grassroots organizations defending the rights of diverse and aboriginal girls and women, and was coordinator of the Montreal Women’s March in 2017. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Y des femmes de Montréal and is an ambassador for diversity with the Groupe des 30.

Before giving new meaning to her commitment by throwing herself into politics, she was executive director of an immigration organization in Mercier Hochelaga Maisonneuve. Today, Alia is committed to the citizens of Maisonneuve Longue Pointe. She wants to ensure that sustainable and efficient means of transport are developed, rents remain affordable and the neighborhood becomes ever greener and more inclusive. In the East, the stakes are high and strategic for the metropolis, and development must continue while preserving residents’ quality of life. She is keen to bring her vision for greater social justice and guarantee the ecological transition.

Parliamentary Secretary Annie Koutrakis was first elected as MP for Vimy in 2019. Before entering politics, she worked in the investment sector for thirty years. Her last position in this field was Vice-President, Branch Manager, Advisor Services at Raymond James Ltd. She has also volunteered with a range of community organizations, most notably as President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal – and the first woman to hold this position in the organization’s century of existence. Ms. Koutrakis is working with the Minister to ensure the growth of economic development and business innovation in Quebec.

Christine Latour has been developing and leading the Marketing function at Solotech since January 2018. She joined the team as Director of Marketing and Communications, then became Vice-President, Marketing and Communications in 2019. She was appointed Vice-President, Marketing, Communications, and E-Commerce in April 2020 before being promoted to Chief Marketing and Communications Officer in December 2022.

Ms. Latour has worked in business development and communications for over 15 years in Quebec and the United States. Previously, she taught French as a second language and conversational English. She then became Director of Sales and Marketing at the Atlanta Zoo, followed by Director of Marketing, Public Relations, and Strategy at Quebec’s leading brokerage and insurance firm, Lussier Dale Parizeau. She has also overseen the development of a flourishing regional employment assistance and labour migration organization. In 2012, Les Affaires newspaper awarded her the title of Creator of the Future as a “Top 25 Emerging Leader in Quebec” under 40.

Christine Latour holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from HEC Montréal and a master’s degree in Tourism Management, e-marketing profile, from Purdue University in Indiana in the United States.

Ash has spent the last decade in brand and partnerships marketing. His experiences spans across consumer brands and the startup space where he’s consistently shown openness to leveraging new and experimental technologies and methods to reach new audiences. 

A builder and leader in digital creativity for over 25 years, Hugues Sweeney directed the Bande à part music platform at Radio-Canada, then founded the interactive productions studio at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). To broaden his audiences, Hugues has initiated several strategic international partnerships with France, Germany, the United States and Argentina. His productions have received over 150 awards and distinctions worldwide, including the SXSW Innovation Awards, Webby, Japan Media Arts, Creative Review and NUMIX. As a committed citizen of the arts and culture community, Hugues Sweeney is co-president of the XN Québec association and contributes to ZU’s mentoring program by accompanying the Tastet company.

Olivier Trudeau is a seasoned expert in digital growth with over 20 years of experience in direct-to-consumer (D2C) monetization and business development. Renowned for his innovative approach and skill in managing large-scale projects, Olivier has collaborated with top-tier companies in media, entertainment, and immersive technologies.

Holding a law degree from the University of Ottawa, Olivier began his career by launching one of Canada’s pioneering digital music distribution platforms. He later joined Quebecor, where he led digital distribution and e-commerce at Archambault, significantly contributing to the launch of Select Digital, a cutting-edge digital service.

Olivier’s journey continued at Radio-Canada and CBC, where he played a key role in the digital transformation, overseeing the launch of Tou.tv Extra and driving digital revenue growth. In 2021, as Vice President at Felix & Paul Studios, he focused on building global partnerships, notably for the immersive experience of NASA’s Artemis launch. Since January 2023, Olivier has been the Immersive Lead at Cirque du Soleil, spearheading new growth initiatives in paid immersive experiences, virtual reality, video games, and Web3.

A passionate hiker, cyclist, tennis player, and video game enthusiast, Olivier is recognized as a visionary leader and an influential figure in the digital landscape.

Valérie is a Senior Director in the Data and Artificial Intelligence team, responsible for the development and execution of market strategy in Quebec. She is regularly involved in organizational performance improvement initiatives requiring transformation management, and has significant experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams on strategic and complex projects. Through her involvement in several mandates concerning the future of work and the integration of generative AI within various business sectors, Valérie has identified concrete opportunities to facilitate communication and the adoption of change. She is also called upon to provide training to executive committees and boards of directors on the impact of generative AI within organizations, the benefits and risks of its implementation, and the importance of governance surrounding this type of project.