Women in AI Forum (WiAI) at Chicago AI Week
The Women in AI Forum (WiAI) at Chicago AI Week is a flagship gathering celebrating the leadership, innovation, and impact of women at the forefront of artificial intelligence. This forum brings together executives, founders, researchers, investors, and policymakers to explore how women are shaping responsible AI adoption across industries.
Through keynote talks, panels, and networking sessions, WiAI highlights real-world applications, leadership journeys, and investment pathways that accelerate diverse participation in AI. The forum champions visibility, collaboration, and community—empowering more women to lead, build, and scale solutions that advance human potential and drive ethical innovation.
Agenda
3:00 – 3:30 PM Arrival & Networking
3:30 – 4:00 PM Opening Remarks
· State of Illinois
· City of Chicago
·1871
· Morningstar
· AI 2030
4:00 – 4:30 PM Women Driving Responsible AI Across Industries
Moderator: Marie Roker-Jones, Women in AI and NYC Partnerships Lead, AI 2030
· Hyunzoo Chai, SVP Head of Enterprise Automation, Oaktree Capital Management
· Anne Lee, CTO, AI Research Lab, Bell Labs Solutions Research, Nokia Bell Labs
· Mari Velonaki, Professor, Director of the National Facility for Human Robot Interaction Research (NFHRI) UNSW
4:30 – 5:00 PM Women Driving Responsible AI Across Industries
Moderator: Veronica Canton, Partner, Pierson Ferdinand LLP
· Liza Levitt, VP, Deputy General Counsel — Platforms, Responsible AI, Emerging Technology, Intuit
· Anitha Yeddula, Sr. Director Application Development, Capital One
· Smriti Kirubanandan, Managing Director, Enterprise AI Transformation, Innovaccer
5:00 – 5:30 PM Women at the Center of Chicago's AI Transformation
Moderator: Jennifer Dickey, AI/Privacy Attorney, Dykema
· Aja Carr Favors, First Deputy Corporation Counsel & Head of Privacy & AI, City of Chicago
· Mary Grygleski, VP of Global (Western Hemisphere), The AI Collective
· Brittany Phillips, Senior Engineering Program Lead, Manager, Google
· Manling Li, Assistant Professor, Northwestern University
5:30 – 6:00 Closing the AI Leadership Gap: Collaboration, Capital, and Career Pathways for Women
Moderator: Diya Wynn, Responsible AI Lead, Amazon Web Services
· Angle Bush, Founder, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence
· Jessica Yeats, Principal Data Scientist, Autonomous Vehicles, NVIDIA
· Ilona Logvinova, Chief AI Officer, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
6:00 – 8:00 PM Closing Reception & Awards
Become an AI 2030 Member:
https://ai2030.org/apply-to-be-a-member/
Hosted by
AI 2030 www.ai2030.org
AI 2030 is a global initiative committed to mainstreaming Responsible AI by 2030. Through cross-sector collaboration, capacity building, and inclusive programming, AI 2030 empowers leaders, organizations, and communities to harness AI for the benefit of humanity.
FinTech4Good: www.fintech4good.co
FinTech4Good is a global innovation and investment platform that connects startups, industry leaders, and investors to co-create solutions for a better world. With a focus on sustainable finance, digital economy, and emerging technologies, FinTech4Good champions responsible innovation with global impact.
In Partnership With
About 1871 https://1871.com/
The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, dba 1871 is a 501c3 organization that exists to inspire, equip, and support people from all backgrounds to build and innovate extraordinary businesses.
Sponsors
Invest in Canada https://www.investcanada.ca
Canada’s foreign direct investment attraction agency, helping global companies explore opportunities, connect with partners, and expand operations across Canada.
Consulate General of Canada in Chicago: https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/chicago.aspx?lang=engRepresents
Canada in the Midwest, supporting Canadians and strengthening Canada-U.S. relationships across trade, investment, innovation, culture, and public affairs.
Morningstarhttps://www.morningstar.com
A Chicago-based investment research and financial data company empowering investor success through independent research, ratings, analytics, and portfolio tools.
Amazon Web Services provides cloud and AI capabilities that help organizations build, scale, innovate, and transform industries globally.
Chicago Innovation https:/chicagoinnovation.com
A Chicago ecosystem organization that educates, connects, and celebrates innovators while advancing a more inclusive regional innovation movement.