Government Innovation Showcase Alberta

As artificial intelligence reshapes every facet of how we work, serve, and innovate, organizations stand at a pivotal crossroads. In this keynote, we’ll explore where organizations are heading through the lens of the AI paradigm—shifting from automation for efficiency to intelligence for impact. We'll delve into how modern enterprises must prioritize exceptional user experience (UX) as the foundation of digital transformation, using AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for human-centred modernization. Discover how forward-thinking leaders are rearchitecting systems, culture, and services to build agile, responsive, and intuitive organizations fit for the future.

Alberta’s investment in advanced data centres is not just about infrastructure—it’s about building the foundation for an AI-powered public sector and a more competitive economy. With new projects underway, the province is setting the stage for smarter services and broader economic impact.

This session will unpack the strategic value of data centres, highlighting how they’re enabling AI transformation in government while fueling growth across Alberta’s innovation ecosystem.

• Unpack how new data centres are designed to support scalable, AI-ready environments
• Understand how improved data infrastructure can transform government responsiveness and service delivery
• Examine the economic ripple effects—jobs, investment, and innovation—these builds will catalyze
• Discover how Alberta is positioning itself as a national leader in digital infrastructure
• Learn what this means for future-ready government operations and resilient communities

Manitoba’s journey to modernize its finance systems offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the strategy, investment, and impact of shifting a provincial level financial system. From capital decisions to long-term resourcing, this transition reveals the real costs—and gains—of taking control of your financial tech stack.

This session will unpack the considerations and trade-offs involved in software licensing, capital investment, and internal team structures, so you can apply new approaches on how you manage, scale, and fund future transformation.

• Evaluate the financial and strategic trade-offs in moving to a provincial system that attempts to address a wide variety of user needs
• Understand the full lifecycle costs of system modernization, including hidden operational impacts
• Explore how licensing and ownership affect long-term budget planning
• Assess the impact of finance system changes on internal team structures and resourcing
• Learn how to align finance modernization with broader modernization strategies

Digital platforms are redefining how governments connect with citizens, making engagement more accessible, transparent, and responsive. By leveraging the right tools and strategies, agencies can foster stronger relationships, increase public trust, and improve service delivery.

This session will provide practical approaches to designing digital engagement strategies that drive participation and improve citizen experiences.

• Implement multi-channel strategies to reach diverse audiences effectively
• Improve accessibility and inclusivity in digital citizen interactions
• Leverage data and analytics to personalize engagement and enhance responsiveness
• Strengthen public trust through transparent and two-way communication"

Alberta’s Ministry of Technology and Innovation is setting the pace with its new AI Maximalists (AIM) pilot—a bold initiative designed to cultivate internal AI champions and push the boundaries of innovation in the public sector. As governments everywhere wrestle with responsible AI adoption, Alberta is investing in expertise, leadership, and collaboration to lead with confidence.

This session will explore the AIM program’s early vision, goals, and how it’s shaping a forward-looking AI strategy—featuring voices from the program’s first sprints sharing practical lessons and early outcomes.

• Understand the strategic drivers behind Alberta’s AI Maximalists pilot
• Explore how AIM is identifying and empowering internal AI leaders
• Examine how public trust and ethical guardrails are embedded from day one
• Learn how Alberta is positioning itself as a national AI thought leader

Canada’s growing dependence on foreign technologies—particularly from the U.S.—raises pressing questions about long-term digital resilience, economic autonomy, and national security. In this moment of global instability, there is a critical opportunity to take a strategic pause and rethink how we approach procurement, infrastructure, and innovation to better serve Canadian interests. From data center ownership to AI adoption, the time is now to develop a collective, forward-thinking strategy that empowers local technology ecosystems.

This session will help you apply new approaches on how you can champion Canadian-built solutions, strengthen long-term digital sovereignty, and lead behavioral change across government and industry.

• Rethink procurement frameworks to favour Canadian-made technologies and innovation
• Explore how sovereign data centres can increase trust, control, and national alignment
• Investigate the structural reasons for Canada’s limited tech ecosystem and how to fix them
• Examine how global supply chain shifts and tariffs can unlock opportunities for local innovation
• Promote a shared responsibility across sectors to adopt a “buy local” mindset and drive systemic change

Organizational change efforts and unanticipated disruptions in our work environments will often promise transformation—but the real shift starts with people, the ground-floor view. From varying leadership styles and complex team dynamics to communication gaps and diverse personality preferences, human factors are often the biggest influence on whether innovation efforts stall or succeed.

This fireside chat offers us reminders in what specifically is driving the show here. That is:

• Reminders in how we can address transformational efforts with intention,
• Navigate human complexity with empathy,
• Center real human needs when it comes to planned and unanticipated changes and disruptions in our work environments.
• We will reflect on the real-life messiness of change and how to work through it with focus, intention, customization and consistency.

Alberta Health Services has saved over 250 years of manual work through intelligent automation—this session unpacks how they did it. Learn the top 20 steps to build a program that’s strategic, sustainable, and scalable from day one.

This session will give you a clear roadmap to accelerate automation success in your organisation and apply new approaches on how you can drive measurable value, manage risk, and embed automation across teams.

• Set a clear vision and define measurable goals for automation success
• Establish a governance model that enables growth and oversight
• Select high-impact use cases that maximize ROI from the start
• Navigate risk, ethics, and privacy committees with confidence
• Embed change management and scalability into every phase of your program

Cloud adoption is a critical driver of digital transformation, enabling public sector organizations to enhance agility, scalability, and security. However, navigating migration complexities, compliance requirements, and operational changes can be challenging. This session will provide you with strategies to maximize the benefits of cloud adoption while minimizing disruption.

• Develop a roadmap for seamless cloud migration and modernization
• Ensure security, compliance, and data sovereignty in a cloud-first environment
• Optimize cloud investments to improve efficiency and reduce costs
• Foster a cloud-ready workforce through upskilling and change management

Across Alberta, the Technology and Innovation team is building smarter, faster, and more human-centred digital services for Government of Alberta—from making Digital ID the default, to launching standardized payments, to rethinking how services are designed from the ground up. With a design-first approach and a culture of experimentation, Alberta is setting the standard for what digital government should look like. This session will showcase what’s working, what’s next, and how you can plug into the province’s bold digital transformation.

• Discover how Alberta is using Digital ID as the foundation for seamless digital service
• Explore the rollout of standardized payments and what it unlocks for design and delivery
• Learn how human-centred design is being embedded across services and platforms
• Understand the shift toward reusable tools, patterns and platforms that scale
• See how a culture of test-and-learn is turning prototypes into production-ready wins

Transform data into AI-driven insights with strategic data product management. This keynote explores navigating robust data management, contextual enrichment, and generative AI to deliver on-demand insights, enabled by invisible governance for scalable, enterprise-wide impact.

This session will help you consider new approaches on how you can move from raw data to powerful AI outcomes:

• Transform siloed government data into AI-ready products through strategic management and governance frameworks that enable intelligent public services.
• Build semantic data architectures that understand relationships and  context, creating foundations for effective government AI applications.
• Enhance productivity through reusable data assets
• Optimize domain-led ownership to reduce bottlenecks
• Balance the tension between control (shift left) and experimentation (shift right)

Alberta has long led the country in public-private partnerships (P3s), but today’s procurement landscape demands a fresh approach. Competition for skilled designers and builders is at an all-time high. At the same time, Alberta’s economic growth is fuelling the need for new and modernized public infrastructure to handle current and future demand. Alberta Infrastructure is rethinking how it structures partnerships to ensure competition and long-term value. That includes re-evaluating delivery models—from traditional P3s to hybrid and innovative financing options—to better align with current market conditions and public expectations.

This session will explore how Alberta Infrastructure is adapting its P3 model in response to shifting market dynamics and public expectations, to deliver high-impact, partnership-driven projects. Topics include:

• How the evolving the economic climate is reshaping procurement strategies
• How Alberta Infrastructure attracts and evaluates private-sector partners in a highly competitive market
• Adapting our project delivery models to balance qualitative and quantitative outcomes
• Understand the role of collaboration in building investor confidence and strengthening project outcomes

Creating digital platforms that are accessible and inclusive is essential for ensuring all Albertans, regardless of ability or background, can engage with public services. By integrating inclusive design principles from the start, you can improve user experience, enhance accessibility, and meet regulatory requirements.

This session will provide practical strategies to design digital services that remove barriers, prioritize usability, and create equitable access for all.

• Apply inclusive design principles to enhance accessibility and user engagement
• Improve compliance with digital accessibility standards and regulations
• Reduce digital divides by addressing the needs of diverse user groups
• Optimize service delivery by incorporating user feedback and continuous improvement

As Alberta transitions from FOIP to the new Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and Access to Information Act (ATIA), public bodies are exploring how AI can transform internal operations and service delivery. But not all data is created equal—agencies working with sensitive health, justice, or social data face greater risks and responsibilities when integrating AI. This panel brings together leaders managing everything from innovation to oversight, discussing how legislation must account for varying data sensitivities, while enabling safe, effective AI adoption. As society embraces AI at pace, government must respond with tools, protections, and policies that match the moment.

• Unpack Alberta’s legislative shift from FOIP to POPA and ATIA
• Explore how AI is being piloted in contexts with varying data sensitivity and citizen impact
• Understand how the type of data—health, justice, social—shapes AI risk and readiness
• Examine how societal AI use is influencing public sector urgency and expectations
• Learn how Alberta is crafting legislation to support both innovation and protection

Public sector modernization efforts often face internal friction—from lengthy approvals to unclear roles and cautious risk cultures. This session will help you unlock progress by addressing these barriers without compromising integrity or oversight.

This session will give you tools to apply new approaches on how you can accelerate modernization, align stakeholders, and move forward with confidence inside complex structures.

• Uncover hidden drivers of friction that slow down innovation and delivery
  
• Clarify internal roles, mandates, and approval processes to streamline efforts
  
• Apply risk-informed decision-making to push forward responsibly
  
• Build momentum for change while maintaining accountability and trust
  
• Strengthen internal alignment to support smarter, faster execution