Cutting Through the AI Noise: What's Actually Driving Impact
Join leaders from AI-Innovate, Durham College, Fleming College and the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) for a focused conversation on how AI is actually being implemented across industries today.
This panel brings together perspectives from industry, applied research, and academia to move beyond the hype and into real-world execution.
From enterprise environments to applied research labs, these organizations are working directly with businesses to design, test, and deploy AI solutions that drive measurable results.
The session will explore:
Where AI is delivering real operational value
What successful implementation actually requires
Common pitfalls and overhyped expectations
How to evaluate ROI and organizational readiness
The goal is to provide clarity and actionable insight for decision-makers considering AI adoption.
Moderated by Waun Broderick, an AI engineer and technology leader who has built AI solutions for organizations including TD Bank, the Communications Secutiry Establishment, and Shopify. He now leads AI agent development at Quo, supporting over 100,000 businesses, and services on the board of the Innovation Cluster.
Panelists include:
Mehdi Sanjari is CEO and co-founder of AI-Innovate, bringing 15+ years of experience in AI, engineering, and entrepreneurship. He helps organizations harness AI and Industry 4.0 technologies to drive automation, efficiency, and digital transformation.
Natalie Arthurs leads the AI Hub at Durham College, working directly with industry to turn AI into real business impact. With over a decade of experience, she helps companies adopt AI across sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, and energy.
Dr. Fereydoun Diba leads the Centre for Applied Machine Intelligence and Integration Technologies (CAMIIT) at Fleming College, driving applied AI research and industry partnerships. He has led 40+ projects and secured over $7M in funding across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, robotics, and aerospace.
Dr. Amir Pahlevanpour leads business development at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), advancing AI adoption and technology commercialization across key industries. He works closely with organizations to implement scalable AI solutions that deliver real world impact.