Collision Day: Smart Cities - October 17, 2019

Brings together innovative entrepreneurs with workable “smart city" ideas with key decision makers in Manitoba municipalities to address some of today’s most pressing issues.

The event will open with information sessions by smart city experts delving into current challenges and solutions that are making smart cities a reality for Manitobans, including renowned smart cities expert, Jean-François Barsoum. Following these sessions, municipal representatives will be able to meet one-on-one with solution providers to explore ways to build better, smarter and more liveable communities in our province.

There are many outstanding local entrepreneurs with solutions that could be applied to a wide range of smart city challenges. This is your opportunity to explore solutions and possibilities in person with decision makers from Manitoba municipalities. Please join us for networking, learning, and idea exchange.

Featured speaker:
Jean-François Barsoum,
Senior Managing Consultant, Smarter Cities, Water and Transportation, Innovation, Research & Development
IBM

Jean-François Barsoum has over 20 years of experience at IBM where his focus is on understanding and communicating the societal and environmental impacts of technology. He was part of the core team that built the smart city concepts in the early 2000s.

Currently, his main objective is to communicate and popularise climate change solutions, smart city innovations, and the potential impacts of autonomous vehicles.

In 2008, he was selected by Al Gore's Climate Project to be trained by the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He later joined the board of directors of the Canadian branch of Mr. Gore's Foundation for Climate change education. He regularly advises startups in incubators and accelerators, and is collaborating on large research collaborations with several Canadian universities.

He chairs the disruptive technology committee of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Quebec Smart Transportation experts’ committee; is a director at the Canadian Water Network, and has advised the Canadian government on cleantech programs. He is also part of the committee overseeing the application of the Quebec Policy on Sustainable Mobility.