Session 2 - From Private Innovation to Public Benefit—Conditions for Real Positive Impact, and Possible Risks

MODERATOR

Lead of The Knowledge Centre Data & Society at imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Rob Heyman is Lead of the Knowledge Centre Data and Society which  is part of the Flemish strategic plan on AI. He is a senior researcher at imec-SMIT where he researches participative methods in innovation projects between different stakeholders (legal, civil society, end-users) so that societal, legal and ethical values are integrated during development. He also has given lectures and courses at the ULB and VUB on online marketing, research methods, privacy and challenges of the ongoing digitalisation.

SPEAKER

Data Strategy Consultant at CIVITEO

Aurélie manages data strategy projects for a wide range of French local authorities (large cities, regions, medium-sized territories). She supports internal and external data governance initiatives and structures public and private data sharing systems to implement public use cases. Today she is also involved in the design and deployment of territorial AI systems. She is a member of the Data Publica Observatory, which monitors the use of data and AI in local communities.

SPEAKER

Full Professor at HEC Montréal & Google Research Staff Research Scientist

Carolina Osorio has joined the GERAD inter-university research centre in 2021 and holds the Scale AI Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence for Urban Mobility and Logistics at HEC Montréal. She is also a Staff Research Scientist at Google Research. Previously, she was a visiting associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Carolina's research focuses on simulation-based optimization (SO) with applications in urban transportation and logistics, integrating ideas from Bayesian optimization, black-box optimization, queueing theory, and traffic flow theory. She is dedicated to designing sustainable urban mobility systems that meet user needs and address energy, environmental, economic, and societal challenges. Her collaborations include work with the New York City Department of Transportation and Zipcar, the largest car-sharing operator in the US.

SPEAKER

Contact Center Director at Vlaams Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen

Erwin Van de Mosselaer is Director of the Contact Center at VLAIO, the Flemish government’s Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.  With degrees in Communication Studies, Law and Marketing and over 25 years of experience in both the public and the private sector he has witnessed first-hand the impact ICT and generative AI can have on customer service, and how employing gen-AI can be beneficial to an organization and its customers.

SPEAKER

Director of Communication, Public Affairs & ESG at Shark Robotics

With over 10 years of experience, graduating with a degree in economic intelligence and political science, she began her career as an economic journalist before specializing in strategic communication and public affairs. Dynamic and results-driven, she has contributed to the international growth of Shark Robotics and promoted inclusion in AI.

She excels in developing strategies and building connections across diverse ecosystems, leveraging her leadership to create impactful opportunities. Her ability to connect and persuade key stakeholders is instrumental in promoting French innovation on a global scale. She approaches her work with passion, curiosity, and a strong focus on performance and collaborative team building.