TECHNATION Women in Leadership Series
March 27 | 8:30-11 a.m. ET
Toronto & Virtual | EY Tower, 100 Adelaide St W, Toronto
This event convenes leaders from across the public sector and industry to explore AI adoption and workforce skilling in public service, with a strong emphasis on equity and inclusion. Through practical insights and cross‑sector dialogue, it examines how organizations can build responsible, future‑ready, and equitable public sector capabilities.
Attendees will gain firsthand insights into public sector AI priorities, build trusted partnerships, and help shape equitable, skills‑focused solutions for the future of public service.
IN-PERSON REGISTRATION – Register Now
VIRTUAL REGISTRATION – Register Now
GOVERNMENT – Register Now
Moderator: Shannon MacDonald, Partner, EY Canada
Panelists:
This event is part of TECHNATION’s Women in Leadership series, which showcases dynamic and accomplished women who are driving transformation across the public sector and industry through leadership, innovation and advocacy. This event series celebrates diverse leaders and fosters meaningful dialogue on equity, inclusion, career advancement, technology innovation, and the future of government.
Shannon MacDonald
Partner, Ernst & Young Canada
National Healthcare Practice
Shannon MacDonald is a Partner at Ernst & Young Canada, where she leads innovation and digital transformation in the National Healthcare Practice. With extensive experience collaborating with executive teams, Shannon excels in strategic planning, project leadership, and governance, drawing on decades of expertise in business analysis for Health and Government & Public Sector clients.
In addition to her professional achievements, Shannon is deeply committed to community service and philanthropy. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors at the University of Prince Edward Island and is a board member of the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences and the Health Standards Organization. Her past board roles include positions with Compute Ontario, the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC), the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, and the Women’s College Hospital Board.
Shannon is also a mentor at Creative Destructive Lab and a founder of Sandpiper Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on supporting Atlantic Canadian women investors and startups. Additionally, she is involved with WEL Atlantic, an initiative for female angel investors.
Her career reflects a powerful blend of public sector insight, private sector innovation, and a deep commitment to building a more inclusive and digitally connected Ontario.
Alida Meghji
Partner
EY Canada
Alida is a Partner at EY Canada, where she leads Artificial Intelligence and Data for Government and Public Sector clients nationwide. She works closely with public sector leaders to strategize, implement, and responsibly scale AI—helping governments enhance service delivery, strengthen decision‑making, and improve outcomes for citizens.
With 15 years of consulting experience across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and South Sudan, Alida brings a strong global perspective to her work. For more than seven years, she has specialized in Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Automation, guiding organizations through complex transformation journeys that balance innovation, governance, and public trust.
In addition to her client work, Alida is deeply committed to supporting women in technology through mentorship, leadership development, and training opportunities. Her work is grounded in a belief that technology—when applied thoughtfully and ethically—can empower public institutions, expand opportunity, and create more accessible, equitable, and effective services for all.
Dr. Sarah Muttitt
VP and CIO
The Hospital for Sick Children and UHN
Dr. Sarah Muttitt has more than thirty years of healthcare experience with over twenty years in the eHealth field. Sarah graduated from medicine at the University of Alberta and completed a Master of Business Administration. Sarah was VP of Innovation and Adoption at Canada Health Infoway before joining Singapore’s Ministry of Health as CIO, responsible for the implementation of the National Electronic Health Record. Upon her return to Canada, Sarah served as CMIO at Alberta Health Services and in 2015, Sarah was appointed VP & CIO at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In January 2020, Dr. Muttitt was appointed the joint Vice President and CIO for both SickKids and the University Health Network (UHN).
Cheryl-Ann Rodriguez
Chief Information Officer
Central Agencies I+IT Cluster
Ministry of Public and Business Services Delivery and Procurement
Cheryl-Ann Rodriguez is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Central Agencies I+IT Cluster (CAC).
In this role, she oversees the provision of digital business and enterprise applications, as well as professional services to users across the OPS; ensuring business partners have the tools, expert support, and knowledge in place to optimize the value of I+IT investments to deliver a modern, tech-enabled government that ensures Ontarians have a simple, reliable, excellent, and consistent experience. In addition, she is a co-lead for the governance of the industrialization of AI in the OPS.
Cheryl-Ann is an experienced professional with more than twenty-five (25) years of IT and leadership experience in solution delivery, people management, and relationship management. Prior to joining the public service Cheryl-Ann worked in numerous roles in the financial and energy private sector. Her focus on service excellence, building strong partnerships, taking strategic risks with a focus on priority outcomes, and building high performing teams has resulted in a variety of progressive roles since joining the Ontario Public Service (OPS) in 2010. Her active leadership as Executive Sponsor of the OPS Women in Tech (WIT) Program speaks to her commitment to diversity and inclusion in the IT workspace, supporting and driving an inclusive mind-set.
Gina Johar
Senior Vice President, Data & Knowledge Management
Infrastructure Ontario
Co-Host
Sponsorship is available. Please contact Christine Leonard at cleonard@technationcanada.ca.
Event Details
March 27 | Toronto / Virtual
In-Person Registration Virtual RegistrationAgenda
8:30 am – Registration
9:00 am – Presentation
