Southern Alberta AI Conference 2025

Abstract: As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, automation tools like n8n provide a powerful way to integrate AI into workflows seamlessly. This presentation will explore how n8n enables users to connect AI models, automate decision-making processes, and create intelligent workflows that optimize efficiency. From AI-powered data processing to smart task automation, we will demonstrate practical applications where AI and n8n work together to revolutionize business operations. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, developer, or business leader, this session will offer strategies and real-world examples on leveraging AI-driven automation with n8n.

Bio: Vinh Lam is a results-driven data scientist and analyst with a postgraduate certificate in Business Analytics from Cambrian College and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from Curtin University. Currently at Sofvie Inc., he designs API endpoints, queries, and visualizes data, and applies machine learning to generate predictive insights while supervising capstone students. Vinh's prior roles include supporting analytics and programming learners as a peer tutor, and managing office expenses, budget allocation, and financial reporting at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and AEON MALL. Fluent in English and Vietnamese, he combines strong quantitative and qualitative skills with tools such as Python, R, SQL, and Excel to deliver clear, actionable analyses for decision-makers

Abstract: We're proposing a session on FairGrantAI, a concept-stage Generative AI system designed to support equitable grant selection in the nonprofit sector. In the face of increased pressure to apply AI ethically, our project explores how tools like GPT-4 with RAG can be used not just for automation — but to promote fairness, transparency, and human accountability in decision-making. This is especially relevant as more public and nonprofit institutions seek AI-driven efficiencies, yet risk unintentionally replicating systemic bias. Our solution integrates human-in-the-loop design, intersectional fairness metrics, and real-world remediation planning — offering a blueprint for how AI can scale equity, not just speed.

Bio: Clement Esene, Michelle Freer, and Tom Sparrow unite a rare blend of entrepreneurial vision, user-centric digital strategy, and large-scale infrastructure expertise to shape responsible generative AI for equitable grantmaking. Clement Esene is a purpose-driven AI strategist and Executive Director of the BIPOC Foundation, where he drives inclusive economic empowerment through venture studios, angel networks, and impact-focused VC funds; as Co-Founder and COO of Daniola Corporation and Founding Partner at Nexis Ventures and Eightpont Capital, he bridges policy, capital, and innovation to build sustainable businesses in mining supply chains and social finance and advises on digital resilience for Canada's nonprofit sector. Michelle Freer, MA, PMP, is a Digital Experience leader at ENMAX and a doctoral candidate in Generative AI. She brings deep experience in both public utility transformation and social impact technology, having previously worked on enterprise grantmaking systems for a leading global platform supporting nonprofits and corporate philanthropy. With a background in portfolio strategy, UX, and organizational change, she leads cross-functional digital teams to enable AI-powered functionality that balances technical innovation with public trust. Her current work explores ethical personalization, responsible AI governance, and how digital systems can advance fairness in high-stakes decisions. Tom Sparrow, Chief Construction Officer for the City of Winnipeg, leverages AI-powered analytics and emerging quantum computing methods to enhance project delivery and risk mitigation. Together, they bring a holistic approach—combining strategic investment, digital design, and operational rigor—to ensure generative AI frameworks advance fairness, accountability, and impact.

Abstract: Artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied in the mining industry to analyze and optimize blast patterns in open-pit operations. By evaluating post-blast data—such as fragmentation distribution, deflagration behavior, vibration levels, and cost-efficiency—AI models can classify blast events as effective or ineffective. These systems use pattern recognition and unsupervised learning techniques to detect anomalies, enhance blast performance, and minimize environmental impacts like overbreak and excessive vibration. This poster/presentation highlights a technical approach to integrating AI in blasting analysis, with a focus on promoting sustainable mining, improving operational safety, and enabling stronger collaboration between human engineers and intelligent systems.

Bio: Athif Shaffy is a software entrepreneur and full-stack developer who founded The Alpha Nova in March 2025 to deliver innovative digital solutions. Previously, he spent nearly two years at Maestro Digital Mine (intern to software developer), leading feature development and integrations, and held roles at comAlpine Informationssysteme, 99x, Calcey Technologies, and Trace Expert City, where he built and scaled enterprise applications. His early career included an internship with IBM's Watson team, developing AI chatbots and Node.js integrations. Athif holds a Graduate Certificate in Mobile Application Development from Cambrian College and a Bachelor's in Software Engineering from Staffordshire University, and is proficient in JavaScript, Angular, and the Ionic framework.

Abstract: Join Certified Management Consultant and Organizational Wellness Thought Leader Wesley Paterson, CMC, for an insightful session focused on equipping Business Professionals with the tools they need to thrive in the Sustainable Digital Age. This presentation will explore practical tips, cutting-edge techniques, and best practices designed to enhance productivity and performance. Learn from real-world success stories and discover strategies to maximize impact and achieve exceptional results. Tailored specifically for Business Professionals, this presentation promises to provide valuable insights into navigating the complexities and opportunities of today's technologically advanced and sustainability-driven business environment.

Bio: Wesley Paterson, CMC®, is a renowned consultant, coach, and keynote speaker celebrated for his award-winning expertise and results-driven approach. He creates dramatic improvements in performance and productivity for his clients, who frequently report immediate and tangible results from their engagements with him. His pragmatic and results-oriented approach enables organizations to increase sales and profits, maximize ROI, and execute high-performance strategies at every level. As a highly sought-after keynote speaker, Wesley captivates audiences with his insightful perspectives on leadership, performance, and strategic execution. His engaging and motivational delivery ensures your attendees leave inspired and equipped to take immediate action.

Abstract: This discussion explores the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the English language within the postcolonial context. It has three main concerns: the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the English language, the dominance of Artificial Intelligence compared to the dominance of colonialism, and Balancing the dominance of Artificial Intelligence. People develop AI models from different regional English varieties, but the output is mostly American English, and these models often eliminate regional variations, such as Bangladeshi English. In contrast to the bi-directional cultural exchange during colonialism, the influence of AI is one-way, endangering local languages and cultures. This discussion presents the problems, its nature and also recommends some policy measures to stop the hegemony, such as public awareness initiatives and "dialect fairness" in AI development, to help protect linguistic diversity and push back against AI's homogenization. It is essential to address these issues as AI continues to advance exponentially, and its capabilities further exacerbate the marginalization of non-American varieties of English.

Bio: A K M Iftekhar Khalid is a seasoned training leader and editorial specialist with over 20 years of experience spanning higher education and research projects. He serves as Joint Director of Training at Bangladesh Open University—where he has organized and facilitated seminars, managed multi-stakeholder research initiatives, and overseen budgeting and human-resource planning—and as Section Editor/Copy Editor for the Journal Incubator at the University of Lethbridge, handling peer-review workflows, copy-editing, and publication processes. With deep expertise in technical writing, software-development lifecycle documentation, and digital publishing technologies (XML, HTML, Git, GitHub, WIX), Iftekhar combines strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion to deliver clear, accurate, and impactful communications.

Abstract: The ubiquity and dependence on software systems by people, businesses and organizations in the 21st century has resulted in the upsurge in cyber-attacks in recent times. These attacks are generally characterized by different levels of sophistication, occurrence and complexity that makes it difficult for conventional cybersecurity approaches to adequately mitigate them. Although, cybercriminals including hackers are usually blamed for most cyberattacks, the remote causes are however, typically associated with the inherent weaknesses or bugs in the software themselves called vulnerabilities. They are the loopholes in the software source codes through which hackers exploit systems for various nefarious activities that constitutes cybercrimes. Hence, in recent years, various AI based approaches have been proposed or explored in studies to address the challenges. These innovative methods are aimed at complementing the conventional approaches (including awareness training, malware scanning, manual code inspection) that have been adopted over the years. Hence, in my research, I experimented with the use of emerging AI models called Large Language Models (LLMs) in the detection of vulnerabilities in a software system. As a case study, the most popular mobile software – Android was selected in this work. This choice of Android is ideal because current statistics reveals that over 71 percent of all mobile phones across the world are based on this software. This underscores the reasons for more innovative research studies aimed at protecting end users of this critical software. In my experiment, I utilized LVDAndro - a recently released open source Android vulnerabilities-dataset for training my selected LLMs - CodeBERT and GraphCodeBERT in detecting vulnerabilities in Android code bases. Overall, my approach achieved better performance (0.97 Accuracy, 0.97 F1) in Android vulnerability detection compared to the classical Machine Learning (ML) (0.94 Accuracy, 0.94 F1) model used in previous study.

Bio: Olanrewaju Oladokun is an AI & Cyber Security Architect based in Lethbridge, combining deep technical acumen with strategic management across IT, cybersecurity, and AI research. He is currently a Graduate Student and Researcher in Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence at the University of Lethbridge, where he investigates large language models, generative AI, and NLP, and also supports web operations for the Alberta RNA Research & Training Institute. In parallel, he works as a Graduate Teaching Assistant—contributing to courses from Advanced Software Engineering to Elementary Linear Algebra—and as an Applications Support Analyst, ensuring the stability and security of campus-wide software applications, databases, and servers. Before transitioning to academia, Olanrewaju held senior analyst roles in cybersecurity, network infrastructure, and project management for organizations across banking, fintech, and oil & gas, and led IT strategy, disaster recovery, and compliance initiatives. He holds certifications including Professional Machine Learning Engineer and excels in securing and optimizing complex digital ecosystems.

Abstract: Though access to elite academic institutions remains limited to a small percentage of learners globally, recent advances in artificial intelligence have introduced new ways to simulate high-level academic thinking without formal enrollment. This study introduces Prompt-Based Cognitive Equivalence Theory (PB-CET), which argues that with well-structured and recursive prompt design, students from non-elite institutions can develop thinking patterns and scholarly output comparable to that of Ivy League–trained scholars. The aim of this study is to explore how dialogic prompting using generative AI tools like ChatGPT can support such cognitive transformation. To investigate this, I will show how prompts can replicate the mentoring, synthesis, and critical feedback processes often associated with elite academic training. A series of original prompts were developed and matched to a theoretical framework to show how learners can initiate inquiry, emulate expert thinking, simulate intellectual dialogue, internalize advanced epistemic habits, and independently generate original insights. Using the prompt-based simulation method, I argue that prompt-based learning can support independent reasoning and can serve as a bridge into deep academic engagement even for students with limited institutional support. My submission is that improved prompt literacy can help reduce the cognitive access gap between the Global North and South, and that prompting is a promising alternative to traditional institutional methods for fostering knowledge excellence.

Bio: Frank Onuh is a doctoral researcher at the University of Lethbridge whose research is at the intersection of information disorder (specifically decolonizing information verification practices in Africa), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and inclusive technology systems. Over the past year, Onuh has delivered presentations in many conferences covering a wide range of topics, including explainable AI systems, prompt engineering, inclusive and decolonial AI design and implementation, AI's role in education, and general utilitarian applications of artificial intelligence. Prior to his doctoral research in Canada, Frank demonstrated his commitment to empowering individuals through technology education and professional development as one of the lead facilitators for the Google Digital Skills for Africa project and a facilitator for McKinsey & Company's Forward Program, initiatives which equipped thousands of people with essential digital and career skills. Frank is also a steady contributor to the "All Tech is Human" community, which fosters dialogue and innovation to ensure the responsible development of de-biased emerging technologies and AI systems.

Abstract: In the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, the conversation is shifting from automation to collaboration. This presentation explores Cooperative AI, a paradigm where AI systems are designed to work with humans, enhancing decision-making rather than replacing it. By aligning with human values, adapting to contextual needs, and fostering transparency, cooperative AI enables more trust-centered, agile, and human-centric organizations. Drawing from real-world business applications and research-informed principles, we will examine how cooperative AI supports strategic alignment, amplifies employee agency, and overcomes resistance often seen with traditional automation. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how businesses can harness AI not just as a tool, but as a thinking partner—unlocking new forms of shared intelligence between people and machines.

Bio: Dan Pearson is a dedicated business strategist and current Master's candidate in Business Policy and Strategy at the University of Lethbridge. He specializes in designing pathways for organizational alignment and change by viewing businesses as complex systems, where meaningful impact comes from purposeful integration. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Dan bridges academic theory with practical application, using his strengths in optimization, team leadership, and project management to turn complex ideas into actionable, achievable projects. With a strong interest in technology—from programming and AI to digital transformation—he uses data-driven insights to drive coherent, system-wide growth.