Business for Social Good Summit 2025

Brenda Bailey was elected as the MLA for Vancouver-False Creek in 2020 and re-elected in the re-named Vancouver-South Granville riding in 2024. In November 2024, she was appointed the Minister of Finance, after serving as the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. Brenda is also a serial entrepreneur in the creative technology sector and recently served as the Executive Director of DigiBC, the Interactive and Digital Media Industry Association of British Columbia.

Julian De Freitas is Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He is a sought-after advisor for startups and consultant for companies on AI, ethics, and regulation. Julian's research reveals that consumers interact with AI in unprecedented ways, and offers profound insights for managers seeking to unlock new value and navigate emerging risks.

Shingai Manjengwa leads AI Education at Mila, the Quebec AI Institute. Named one of DMZ's 2022 Women of the Year and one of Public Policy Forum's 2020 Emerging Leaders, Shingai collaborates with governments and organizations to shape AI policy, governance, and responsible adoption. She is also a board member of Theoriq AI and the founder of Fireside Analytics, a global powerhouse in data science education.

Rogayeh Tabrizi is the founder and CEO of Theory+Practice, a technology company renowned for using AI and data to help large consumer goods and retail enterprises radically enhance revenue and inventory optimization decisions. Rogayeh was named AI Leader of the Year in 2023 by Women Leaders in Data and AI. She is also the author of “Behavioral AI”, a book that empowers readers to harness data for smarter decision-making.

Howe Gu is the Managing Director for Microsoft's EMEA Retail & Consumer Goods Industry and Partner Sales organization. He leads a team focused on unlocking innovative AI and cloud solutions to the industry's most pressing challenges. Leveraging two decades of global experience in business strategy, enterprise sales, and digital innovation, Howe is also a trusted advisor for Microsoft for Start-ups.