Speakers

Abhinav (“Abhi”) Kalra is a visionary leader in healthcare technology and transformation, bringing extensive public and private sector expertise to his role as Executive Vice-President of Connected Care at Canada Health Infoway. At Infoway, Abhi has been instrumental in developing and driving the Shared Pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap, a landmark strategy that is transforming healthcare in Canada by enabling seamless health data exchange and interoperable healthcare. Through his leadership, Infoway has fostered unprecedented collaboration between public and private sectors, catalyzing innovation and driving the adoption of interoperable digital health solutions to improve patient outcomes and enhance provider experiences. With a career spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, Abhi has held key leadership roles at large corporations, including Shoppers Drug Mart, Oracle, and General Electric, where he successfully built long-term strategies, delivered complex multi-year transformation programs, and drove revenue growth through innovative digital solutions. His ability to bridge technical expertise with strategic vision has consistently delivered impactful results, enabling organizations to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Abhi’s leadership is defined by a focus on collaboration, innovation, and actionable change, making him a driving force behind Canada’s digital health transformation. Through his work at Infoway, he continues to champion initiatives that empower patients, enhance provider efficiency, and position Canada as a global leader in healthcare interoperability and innovation.

Annie-Kim has over 20 years’ experience in various areas of the healthcare field. For 9 years, she worked as a researcher and R&D program manager for the multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

She then joined the research center of the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, where she worked as deputy scientific director and manager of a consortium on Alzheimer’s disease.

In 2016, she joined the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, where she assumed the role of Director of University Teaching and Research, with responsibility for 3 FRQ research centers and 5 university institutes, the office de valorisation, 4 research ethics committees and the management of over 7,000 trainees annually. In addition to these functions, Annie-Kim was President of the Teaching Committee of INoPSU at the Université de Montréal.

Drawing on her experience in academic, clinical and industrial research, and her passion for innovation and healthcare, Annie-Kim is now President and CEO of MEDTEQ+, an organization that supports entrepreneurs from concept to commercialization in the development of innovative technologies that improve tomorrow’s health.

Betsabeh Madani-Hermann is a global innovation leader known for speed of execution and turning bold ideas into market-shifting outcomes. In 2023 she became the first non-Dutch and first female head of research at Philips in the company’s 134-year history, where she leads breakthroughs translating advanced technology into real-world impact.

With a background in physics, biochemistry, and engineering, and an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School, she brings more than 20 years of experience as an operator, investor, and strategist. Her career spans early-stage startups to $30 billion enterprises, across sectors from health care and biotech to AI, robotics, and cleantech. Sector-agnostic and global, Madani‑Hermann thrives on ambiguity, mobilizing cross-disciplinary teams to challenge limits and accelerate transformation. Her leadership blends systems thinking with a builder’s mindset, driving growth, aligning stakeholders, and scaling innovation across industries and geographies.

At the head of SPEAK Agency, Christine Beaudoin puts her expertise in communication and hosting at the service of companies and events that want to make a lasting impression. With over 15 years of experience in hosting, including 10 years in radio and television (Cogeco Media, TVA, Global News), she stands out for her ease on the microphone, her instinct for connecting with all audiences, and her ability to deliver a powerful message, regardless of the format. Sometimes a host, sometimes a narrator, a fan of live broadcasting and original projects, Christine specializes in the art of public speaking.

Louis-Philippe Amiot has held the position of VP & General Manager, ORTHOsoft Zimmer-Biomet since January 2009. He manages the research and development of ROSA Robotics as well as the legacy Personalized Solutions of ORTHOsoft, a whollyowned subsidiary of Zimmer-Biomet, the largest orthopedic implant manufacturer.

ORTHOsoft provides software, surgical instruments, disposables and robotic systems to assist orthopedic surgeons during Hip and Knee replacement procedures, allowing for very accurate orientation and implant positioning. Using his backgrounds in engineering and medicine, Louis founded ORTHOsoft in 1995 and served as Chairman & CEO from 2004 until he successfully completed the sale of ORTHOsoft to Zimmer in October 2007. Louis is an entrepreneur, engineer and orthopedic surgeon who successfully maintained these combined roles in order to build a
new technology with a high-performance development team. Louis was responsible for elaborating the initial product software and hardware and raised over $30M in order to grow the business as a public Company on the TSX Venture.

Since 2008, ORTHOsoft has grown from a group of 55 to a group of more than 300 engineers spread between 2 sites (Montreal and Montpellier, France). Activities were strategically refocused to robotics in 2016 with the acquisition of MedTech (Montpellier France), a leader in neurosurgery robotics. Since then more than 1,500 robots have been installed for knee and hip procedures, in 50 countries of the Americas, Europe and Asia,
totalling more than 450,000 cases (from zero in 2016).

Louis obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering in 1988 at the École Polytechnique of the Université de Montréal. He entered medical school at the Université de Montréal in 1990. After completing his Medical Doctorate in 1995, Louis started his orthopedic residency in 1995 and obtained his M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences in 1997. Louis completed his Post Doctora l Orthopedic surgery training in 2000 on the Dean’s Honour list and completed a Fellowship in Spine Reconstruction Surgery at JohnsHopkins University under the direction of Dr. John Kostuik from July 2000 to July 2001.

Louis, who is also an oncology Spine Surgeon at Hospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (affiliated with the University of Montreal), continues to dedicate a few days a month to his medical practice, where he specializes in the surgical reconstruction of the spine in patients with metastatic spine disease.

Frank Baylis is a Canadian social entrepreneur, engineer, and philanthropist.

He is the Executive Chairman of Baylis Medical, a leading medical device company that played a key role in supplying ventilators during COVID-19 pandemic.

Frank is a former Member of Parliament for Pierrefonds–Dollard, where he championed innovation, human rights, and bipartisan cooperation. In 2025, he ran for leadership of the Liberal Party to promote national unity and economic prosperity.

Frank oversees the Gloria Baylis Foundation that supports access to education and healthcare. He is also a filmmaker who produces socially conscious films highlighting human rights and social justice issues.

Recognized as a mobilizing leader with a keen sense of strategy, Isabelle Hudon has systematically brought an ambitious and resolutely action-oriented vision to all of the organizations she has led. She was appointed President and CEO of BDC in August 2021, after serving as Ambassador of Canada to France and Monaco for four years and holding the positions of President and CEO (Quebec) and Senior Vice President (Canada) of Sun Life Financial.

Since joining BDC, Isabelle has dedicated herself to putting the ‘D’ in BDC at the forefront of the activities and priorities of her 2,900 colleagues. Driven by a strong desire to increase the organization’s contribution to the country’s development through its entrepreneurs, she is accelerating the deployment of multiple initiatives across BDC that will enable it to increase its impact and contribute to fair, inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

In addition to her duties at BDC, Isabelle is Co-chair of the Ordre de Montréal’s Council and the Co-founder of The A Effect. She previously served as the Personal Representative of the Prime Minister of Canada for La Francophonie and sat on the boards of directors of Hydro-Québec, Groupe Marcelle, Holt Renfrew and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Isabelle Hudon has received several notable awards: In recognition of her contributions to society, she was bestowed an honourary degree of Doctor of Law from Concordia University, and the insignia of the Commander of the Legion of Honour from the French government. Her contributions to culture in Canada earned her the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Isabelle’s commitment to women’s ambition was acknowledged with the Medal of the National Assembly of Quebec, and her efforts to promote the vitality of the francophonie were celebrated with the insignia of the Ordre de la Pléiade from the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. She has also been inducted into the Women’s Executive Network Hall of Fame, following multiple recognitions as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100.

Nicole DeKort is the President & CEO of Medtech Canada – the industry association representing Canada’s Medical Technology Companies – pursuing opportunities to demonstrate the value of innovative medical technology to government, stakeholders, and key partners in the health care system.

She previously served for 10 years as the Vice-President of Ontario & Marketing for Medtech Canada, overseeing Ontario government relations and national marketing programs for the association. In response to the heath system challenges we’ve faced in the last few years – both the pandemic and the wait times and decreased access to health services in Canada – Nicole worked with her colleagues to launch www.medtechinnovation.ca which highlights the vast impact the medical technology had in response to the pandemic, and also highlights the tremendous role that the medical technology industry is playing to help address the medical services backlogs in Canada.

Prior to joining Medtech Canada, Nicole has a 15-year background in politics and government in a diverse portfolio of roles. Nicole’s last role in government prior to joining Medtech Canada was serving as the Executive Director of Strategic Planning for the then Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Nicole was proud to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal from the federal government in April 2025, through a nomination by Premier Doug Ford of Ontario. This prestigious honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to Ontario and to Canada.

Dr. Susan D. Moffatt-Bruce, MD, FRCSC, PhD, MBA, MBOE, FACS, is Divisional President, Beth Israel Lahey Health, and President of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, responsible for leading all operational aspects of the 333-bed academic medical center regarded for its clinic model of care, pioneering medical treatment, innovative technology and leading-edge research. In 2024, she led the launch of the UMass Chan-Lahey Regional Medical School campus in Burlington, furthering Lahey’s advancement as a learning health system and its delivery of world-class care. An accomplished cardiothoracic surgeon and research scientist, she serves as a professor of surgery for UMass Chan-Lahey. Prior to Joining Lahey in 2023, Dr. Moffatt-Bruce served as Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Royal College International and was a faculty member and professor at the University of Ottawa. Previously, she served as executive director at The Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center. She holds an undergraduate degree from McGill University; medical degree from Dalhousie University; and doctorate in transplant immunology from the University of Cambridge. She completed her cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Stanford University. She received her Master of Business Operational Excellence and her Executive Master of Business Administration from Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.
An academic leader, surgeon and funded health outcomes research scientist, Dr. Moffatt-Bruce has a deep commitment to high-quality care and the development of standards in health care. She was honored with the American Medical Association Women Physicians Section Inspiration Award in 2023, was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know for both 2024 and 2025, and was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts in 2024 and 2025. She was recently recognized by the Boston Business Journal 2025 Icon Awards: A Women Who Mean’s Business program. She serves on the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association Board of Trustees and is a leader in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons.

As CEO of AI4Eyes, a Canadian health tech startup at the intersection of AI, SaaS, and vision science, Tara Akhavan is driven by a mission to create meaningful, user-centric innovation that enhances how people experience the world. With over 15 years of experience in product strategy, entrepreneurship, and technology leadership, She has consistently transformed cutting-edge ideas into scalable, market-ready solutions, commercializing over 30 Software products over the last decade.

Previously, She served as VP of Software & Ecosystems at FORVIA, a global leader in automotive technology. Her journey with FORVIA began after they acquired Irystec Software Inc., a perceptual display and image processing startup she founded and scaled. Post-acquisition, she took on a leadership role managing innovation strategy and ecosystems globally , including leading the acquisition of other startups such as Appning by FORVIA, strengthening FORVIA’s software capabilities and ecosystem reach.

This dual perspective, selling Irystec and acquiring startups for FORVIA, gives her deep insight into both sides of M&A, and the ability to navigate the complex dynamics of strategic alignment, valuation, integration, and scaling.

Her expertise lies in B2B SaaS, SaaP, and B2B2C business models, with a strong track record in growing P&Ls, launching innovative products, and leading global teams. Tara hold a Ph.D. in Image Processing & Computer Vision from Vienna University of Technology as well as an MSc in AI, and she is a TEDx speaker, award recipient, startup advisor, and board member.

Tara Akhavan is honoured to be recognized as 40 under 40 & Top 100 Canadian professionals by the 100 Magazine. She hold Innovation awards from CES Innovation, Automotive News, EY Entrepreneur of the year and a few others. She has authored and co- authored over 35 patents globally for the Innovative technologies she has introduced & commercialized in different industries such as Telecom, Consumer, Automotive & Medtech.

At the heart of everything she does is a belief in the power of AI & software to drive innovation and elevate the user experience. Let’s connect with her if you’re passionate about the future of AI or software ecosystems.