Speakers & Performers

Comprehensive List of Vancouver AI Community Meetup Speakers (2024–2025)

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Speaker Name	Company/Affiliation	Date	Notes
Armstrong, Kate	Director of Living Labs at Emily Carr University (AI Futures for Art + Design)	January 2024	Spoke about AI in art and design, setting the tone for creative AI exploration.
Arno, Gabriela	Co-Founder Hub	May 2024, August 2024	-
Bowles, Peter	Creative Technologist (StreamDiffusion)	November 2024	Co-presented on live reactive generative immersive experiences using Stable Diffusion tools.
Brittany	Biotech AI Fund	July 2024	-
Broback, Steve	Tech entrepreneur and conference organizer	January 2024	Noted the event as “one of the best events” he’d attended.
Carlan, Matt	Cloud Summit	April 2024	-
Chenard, Dennis	Director, Northeastern University Vancouver	May 2024	Bridged theory and practice in AI, focusing on real-world applications.
Cleland, Jericca	SAGE Project	May 2024	-
Conery, Ashley	Technologist & Artist	August 2024	Presented CubeCommons, rethinking digital interaction through post-colonial principles.
Desnoyers-Stewart, John	-	October 2024	-
DiPaola, Steve	Professor at SFU, I-Viz Lab, AI artist	January 2024	-
Eagen, Izzie	HR AI Startup	April 2024	-
Edmonds, Kemp	-	November 2024	-
EML Students	Workflows	April 2024	-
Fergusson, Michael	Live podcasting "The New Bright Idea"	October 2024	-
Flanagan, Sian	Author, Coach & Musician	November 2024	Presented “Conscious Entertainment” using generative AI, blending music and film.
Friel, Kevin (“Mr. Pixel Wizard”)	Creative Technologist/Filmmaker	August 2024, November 2024, January 2025	Showcased AI-driven lighting, VFX in Shepherds, and real-time generative video pipelines.
Gabriel, Sacha	DJ & Music Producer	August 2024	Closed the night with an AI-inspired DJ set.
Gauthier, Justine	Director of Corporate & Legal Affairs at Mila (Quebec AI Institute)	January 2024	Shared insights on AI ethics and governance.
Geraskin, Sev	Author, Economy of Wisdom	December 2024, March 2025	Spoke on AI and human fulfillment; performed a music video on the big screen.
Gibson, Shane	CEO, Professional Sales Academy	February 2025	Introduced the “AI Sales Dojo” for leveraging AI in sales processes.
Gildert, Dr. Suzanne	Founder, Nirvanic AI	October 2024	Spoke about consciousness and AI with Nirvanic.ai.
Goehring, Rob	AInBC	April 2024	-
Goenka, Kushal	-	September 2024	-
Grayson, Rochelle	Circles of AI	May 2024	-
Green, Anthony	Co-Founder, OpenRep	February 2025	Analyzed Vancouver’s AI ecosystem, offering insights and recommendations.
Hilton, Carol Anne	Founder, Indigenomics Institute	August 2024, December 2024	Discussed Indigenomics and AI for economic reconciliation.
Holmquist, Ove	Co-founder, Holonic Systems	April 2024, May 2024, October 2024	Demonstrated generative music sensors and live AI-driven improvisation.
Howarth, Simon	Biotech AI Fund	July 2024	-
Huo, Sam	-	June 2024	-
Ildar	Northeastern University	July 2024	-
Illes, Dr. Judy	Distinguished Professor of Neuroethics, UBC	February 2025	Spoke on ethical implications of AI in neuroscience.
Jones, Matt	Satirical art and philosophical clothing	September 2024, November 2024	-
Jorgensen, Loki	Director, Circle Innovation	January 2025	Opened the anniversary meetup with a call for inclusive AI innovation.
Jukes, Donald	Tech Community Organizer (Novus & Atelier)	May 2024	Introduced the “Minimum Viable Demos” event.
Kennedy, Ed	Creative Technologist/Experimental AI Art Researcher	August 2024, February 2025	Presented circuit bending and “Latent Sculptures” with generative AI visuals.
Klassen, Mike	Public affairs professional and media pundit (City of Vancouver)	January 2024	Shared insights on AI’s societal impact.
Krüg, Kris	Founder, Future Proof Creatives & FATALE.ai	December 2024, February 2025	Event host/moderator, emphasized grassroots AI innovation and community collaboration.
Leblonde, Michel	AI-generated tarot readings	September 2024	-
Leiman, Chad	Vancouver Hackspace Assistive Tech	April 2024	-
Linkletter, Cassandra	Frontier Collective	July 2024	-
Linley-Mota, Fergus	AI policy researcher (SFU)	October 2024	Addressed the future of AI governance and public empowerment.
Lowry, Steve	Founding Executive Director of AInBC (AI Network of BC)	January 2024	Discussed building BC’s AI ecosystem.
Marina “Holy Mother of the Void”	Performance Artist	May 2024, August 2024, October 2024	Delivered AI-augmented dance, cyberpunk art, and soundscape performances.
Martinez, Alex	AI-powered Art Installation Demo	September 2024	-
Marty	-	April 2024	-
McGraw, Bill	Tech industry advisor (Vancouver Startup Week)	May 2024	Highlighted AI’s role in social impact and CSR.
McNulty, Roz	Fashion Tech and Van VR	July 2024	-
Mittal, Vicky	AI artist	January 2024	-
Nolot, Quentin	French Consulate, generative AI performance	July 2024	-
Pasquier, Dr. Philippe	Professor, SFU (Director, Metacreation Lab for Creative AI)	May 2024, December 2024	Co-presented AutoLoom and spoke on Creative AI research; co-organized December event.
Pennefather, Dr. Patrick Parra	Faculty in Residence, UBC Emerging Media Lab	May 2024, December 2024	Performed AI-driven musical acts (“Santa & Krampus SongBook”).
Prashanth, Prajwal	High-school innovator	August 2024	Demonstrated an AI-powered personal assistant wearable for the visually impaired.
Prpa, Mirjana	Assistant Professor at Northeastern University (Vancouver)	January 2024	Presented on human-computer interaction and immersive AI experiences.
Reid, Andrew	Founder, Vision Critical / Rival Technologies	January 2025	Announced a $3,000 Data Storytelling Challenge.
Ricci, Brandon	-	September 2024	-
Ringenbach, Lionel	Experimental Software Artist (Ucodia)	December 2024	Showcased creative coding experiments.
Rowe, James	Circles of AI	May 2024	-
Running Wolf, Caroline	AI researcher (First Languages AI Reality – FLAIR)	May 2024, December 2024	Discussed Indigenous language preservation through AI.
Running Wolf, Michael	AI ethicist (Indigenous AI, FLAIR project)	May 2024	Brought Indigenous perspectives to AI ethics.
Samad	-	August 2024	-
Sanchez, Vanessa J.	Finance & Business Development expert	November 2024	Presented “AI Funding: Grants, Credits, and Capital”.
Schwartzman, Matthew	Teen to Life Podcast	July 2024	-
Serbin, Viktor	Event Videographer	May 2024	-
Sharifi, Dr. Amin	Educator & Founder, ENYA Learning	December 2024	Spoke on reciprocal education between AI and humans.
Shev, Dean	Founder/CEO, VHT.ai / Fraser Health Authority	August 2024, October 2024, February 2025	Advocated for AI innovation in healthcare across multiple talks.
Singh, Gurleen	-	April 2024	-
Smaila, Brittney	Cognitive Science student, UBC	August 2024, December 2024, January 2025, February 2025	Performed AI-themed spoken word poetry exploring human-AI relationships.
Sobhan, Arshia	Researcher, SFU Metacreation Lab	May 2024	Presented AutoLoom with Philippe Pasquier.
Song, Meehae	AI artist	January 2024	-
Tang, Wilson J.	CEO of Yumebau Inc.	November 2024	Spoke on keeping humans in the loop in AI entertainment.
Ten Holder, Steven	Co-founder, Acorn Bio	October 2024	Discussed bioengineering and AI.
the Intern, Roman	All You Need to Know YouTube Channel	June 2024	-
Thompson, Dr. Sarah	Keynote on AI in Healthcare	September 2024	-
VOT	Digital Avatar & AI Entity (Montreal)	December 2024	Performed a futuristic AI-driven performance.
Wakil, Khayyam	-	March 2025	-
Wang, Sissi	Founder, Exponential Studio	February 2025	Spoke on building future-ready organizations with AI.
Whalley, Cian	CTO, Cognitive Technology @ Exponential Studio	February 2025	Discussed mindfulness and AI innovation.
Williams, Jonny	Squamish Nation Welcome	April 2024, July 2024, August 2024	-
Wu, Jackson (SHYANG)	Beatboxer & Public Speaking Coach	August 2024, November 2024, February 2025	Performed AI-augmented beatboxing and emceed events.
Yangos	VR Lounge at SIGGRAPH	August 2024	-

Anthony Green – Co-Founder, OpenRep – Feb 2025 – Delivered an analysis of Vancouver’s AI ecosystem, including business and investment trends (straight from OpenAI Deep Research). Topic: “Vancouver’s AI Ecosystem – Pros, Cons & Recommendations”. Green broke down what’s working and what’s not in the local AI scene, sparking an interactive debate on the community’s trajectory. Additional Info: Green’s talk provided actionable insights for entrepreneurs and policymakers, bridging global AI perspectives with Vancouver’s unique context.
Arshia Sobhan – Researcher, SFU’s Metacreation Lab for Creative AI – May 2024 – Co-presented the AutoLoom project alongside Philippe Pasquier, showcasing how AI can be harnessed for artistic expression. Topic: “AutoLoom: AI Tools for Artistic Expression”. Sobhan demonstrated AI-driven art tools blurring the lines between creator and creation, highlighting collaborative potentials in visual arts. Additional Info: The AutoLoom demo used prompt-based generation to explore creative workflows.
Ashley Conery – Founder, CubeCommons – Aug 2024 – Presented her project CubeCommons, examining post-colonial principles in digital spaces. Topic: “Rethinking Digital Interaction in Spatial Computing”. Conery discussed ethical implications of our digital footprints and how to foster equity and inclusion in future online experiences. Additional Info: Her talk emphasized using digital commons to create meaningful connections and the importance of inclusive design in tech.
Brittney Smaila – Neuroscientist & Poet, UBC Cognitive Science – Aug 2024; Feb 2025 – Known for thought-provoking spoken-word performances blending neuroscience insights and poetic reflection. Topics: “(Re)Alignment – Balancing Tech & Humanity” & AI Spoken Word. In Aug 2024, her piece “(Re)Alignment” explored finding equilibrium in tech-driven lives. In Feb 2025, she returned with a spoken-word set intertwining human connection and AI’s emotional layers. Additional Info: Brittney invites audiences to breathe and reflect on how AI can support rather than disrupt well-being. Her community spotlight highlighted the tension between ambition and humility in the AI era.
Bryce Musil – AI Researcher (Neuroscience & AI) – Jan 2025 – Introduced a project training AI on human consciousness to aid self-awareness. Topic: “AI & Consciousness: Bridging Neuroscience and Self-Discovery”. Musil’s research fuses neuroscience with machine learning, opening avenues for introspection via AI. Additional Info: His teaser of using AI for deeper self-awareness generated excitement about potential personal growth applications.
Carole Anne Hilton – Founder, Indigenomics Institute – Dec 2024 – Spoke about Indigenomics, integrating Indigenous economic reconciliation into AI and tech. Topic: “Embedding Indigenous Values in AI & Economics”. Hilton emphasized empowering Indigenous communities through AI, highlighting how culturally respectful tech initiatives can rewrite economic narratives. Additional Info: Her vision calls for AI projects to foreground Indigenous knowledge and ethics, ensuring marginalized voices lead in shaping tech for the future.
Caroline Running Wolf – Co-Founder, FLAIR (First Languages AI Reality) – Dec 2024; May 2024 – Alongside Michael Running Wolf, introduced FLAIR, an initiative to revitalize Indigenous languages through speech recognition and culturally oriented AI. Topic: “AI for Indigenous Language Revitalization”. Inspired by Te Hiku Media’s success in Māori language AI, Caroline showcased how co-design and community data sovereignty can preserve linguistic heritage. Additional Info: Earlier, in May 2024, Caroline and Michael’s insights on AI ethics and data sovereignty at the meetup challenged attendees to consider societal implications beyond algorithms.
Charlene Joseph – Squamish Nation Language & Cultural Teacher – Jan 2024 – Opened the inaugural meetup with a traditional song and welcome, setting an inclusive tone. Topic: “Cultural Welcome & Song (Squamish Nation)”. Joseph’s opening reminded participants of the land’s cultural richness, emphasizing respect and community as foundations for the AI dialogue. Additional Info: Her involvement underscored the meetup’s commitment to diversity and grounding technology discussions in local Indigenous culture.
Cian Whalley – CTO, Cognitive Technology @ Exponential Studios – Feb 2025 – A Zen priest-turned-tech innovator, Cian shared how ancient wisdom can inform cutting-edge AI. Topic: “Bridging Zen & AI: Future of Human Potential”. He explored the role of mindfulness and ethics in AI development, questioning how spiritual principles can guide the design of intelligent systems. Additional Info: Whalley’s unique background invited attendees to consider holistic approaches to AI that maximize human agency and well-being.
Dean Shev – Founder & CEO, VHT.ai; Fraser Health Innovator – Oct 2024; Aug 2024; Feb 2025 – A healthcare AI advocate focusing on medical innovation and accessibility. Topics: “AI’s Medical Revolution & Mental Health Chatbots”. In Oct 2024, Shev highlighted AI’s promise in diagnostics and systemic healthcare innovation. In Aug 2024, he called for dismantling barriers stifling healthcare innovation, citing Canada’s looming 2045 health crisis. By Dec 2024, he presented Spectre.ai, a mental health chatbot developed with MötleyKrüg Media to serve underserved communities. Additional Info: Dean’s consistent message is empowering change: “When the system falls short, we have the tools to create solutions ourselves”.
Dennis Chenard – Director, Northeastern University Vancouver – May 2024 – Provided academia’s perspective on bridging theory and real-world AI applications. Topic: “Academia Meets Industry: AI Impact & CSR”. Chenard discussed Northeastern’s role in aligning AI research with industry needs and community impact, focusing on AI’s role in social responsibility and corporate innovation. Additional Info: His talk at the May 30, 2024 meetup was part of a broader narrative that connected academic insight with tangible AI deployments in Vancouver’s tech ecosystem.
Donald Jukes – AI Community Organizer (Minimal Viable Demos) – May 2024 – Shared news of the upcoming “Minimal Viable Demos” event and community initiatives. Topic: “Building AI Community through Minimal Viable Demos”. Jukes introduced a new event series to encourage practical AI experimentation and collaboration, tying together local Novus and Atelier communities. Additional Info: His announcement highlighted cross-community networking, inviting Vancouver AI members to engage with hands-on demo nights and broaden their collaborations.
Ed Kennedy – Artist & Experimental AI Technologist (Run Diffusion) – June 2024; Aug 2024; Oct 2024; Feb 2025 – A recurring creative voice demonstrating generative AI in art and music. Topics: Circuit Bending & Glitch Art (Aug ’24); RunDiffusion AI Workflows (May ’24); Audiovisual Synth Art (Oct ’24); “Latent Sculptures” AI Art Process (Feb ’25). In May 2024, Kennedy described RunDiffusion’s AI workflows with private GPU hosting. In Aug 2024, he electrified the crowd with a live circuit bending demo, repurposing electronics to create chaotic sounds and glitch art. His message: “Experiment often and early… anyone can make a breakthrough”. By Oct 2024, he showcased the Gieskes HSSB3j audiovisual synthesizer, blending unique audio-visual creations and provoking synesthetic experiences. In Feb 2025, his “Latent Sculptures” series used ControlNets in Stable Diffusion to turn batch-processed images into evolving AI art narratives. Additional Info: Kennedy’s work, often collaborating with Vancouver AI’s creative team, epitomizes the fusion of art and AI, encouraging playful exploration of technology’s “chaotic” side.
Fergus Linley-Mota – AI Governance Researcher (SFU Wosk Centre for Dialogue) – Oct 2024; Nov 2024 – Spoke on the future of AI governance and public empowerment. Topics: “Interdisciplinary Approaches to AI Policy”. Fergus emphasized including diverse voices in AI policy, drawing on his Oxford background and SFU’s Designing Our Tomorrow (DoT) project. In Oct 2024, his talk stressed transparent, accountable AI ecosystems and advocated for public participation to shape AI ethics and regulations. Additional Info: Linley-Mota’s insights reinforced that “the way we talk about technology shapes the future”, urging the community to actively engage in dialogue about AI’s societal impact.
Gabriel George Sr. – Cultural Advisor, Tsleil-Waututh Nation – Oct 2024; Jan 2025 – Opened events with traditional welcomes, sharing songs and wisdom at the Space Centre. Topic: “Traditional Welcome & Song – Paddling Together”. In Oct 2024 (Mission #10), he performed a welcome song emphasizing collective purpose: “Our culture, our language, our songs—they’re an echo of this land”. He reminded attendees of the importance of paddling together toward the future, grounding tech discussions in respect for Indigenous culture. Additional Info: Gabriel’s contributions, often at the start of meetups, set a collaborative, inclusive tone and underscore the event’s respect for Indigenous hosts and knowledge.