EU + Canadian Approaches to International High Tech Governance Issues

Speakers

• H.E. Geneviève Tuts, Ambassador of the European Union to Canada
• Prof. Patrick Leblond, Assoc. Director, uOttawa Graduate School Of Public + Int'l Affairs;
• Antoine Guilmain Gowlings Partner, Co-leader, National Cyber Security & Data Protection Group;

Moderator

• Dr. Kinga Petrovai, host of popular podcast ‘the Art + Science of Education.

BIOs

H.E. Genevieve Tuts began her tenure at the helm of the Delegation of the European Union to Canada in September 2024. She has extensive experience gained in several EU institutions, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the legal profession. She served as the Head of Cabinet for European Commissioner Didier Reynders between December 2019 and August 2024.The portfolio included Justice, Rule of law, data protection, and consumer law. Ambassador Tuts started her career as a lawyer specializing in EU law before becoming a magistrate with the Belgian Ministry of Justice. In 2002, she transitioned to the cabinet of the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, where she held key roles focused on European and external policies. As Belgium’s Representative in COREPER I in the EU Council of Ministers, she addressed a wide range of EU policies, including energy, environment, climate, and digital. She also served 13 years as Director in the Council of Ministers, leading the work of 3 Directorates: Transport, Telecom, Energy- inter institutional affairs and Legal service’s Directorate Quality of legislation. The Ambassador holds a Master’s in European Law and a Law degree. She has been an assistant at Liege University at the law faculty and Master of Conference at ENA. She speaks French, English, and Dutch. She has practised improvisational acting and has a deep appreciation for diverse music genres, playing both piano and guitar. Passionate by cinema she is also an outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys running along rivers, lakes, and coastlines. As the EU Ambassador to Canada, Geneviève Tuts leads the EU Delegation in its work to strengthen ties between the European Union and Canada, drawing on her extensive expertise in European policy and international relations

Patrick Leblond's expertise concerns questions relating to global economic governance and international and comparative political economy, more specifically those that deal with international finance, international economic integration as well as business-government relations. His regional expertise focuses on Europe and North America. Before joining the University of Ottawa in 2008, Patrick was assistant professor of international business at HEC Montréal and director of the Réseau économie internationale (REI) at the Centre d'études et de recherches internationales de l'Université de Montréal (CERIUM). He was also visiting scholar at the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP). Before embarking on his academic career, Patrick worked in accounting and auditing for Ernst & Young (he holds the title of Chartered Accountant) as well as in corporate finance and strategy consulting for Arthur Andersen & Co. and SECOR Consulting.

Antoine Guilmain is a partner in Gowling WLG's Montréal office where he co-leads the firm's national Cyber Security and Data Protection Law Group and serves as a member of its Technology Group.

With an international background in Canada, the United States, and Europe, including high-level experience at one of the largest US technology companies, Antoine provides strategic and operational advice on a range of data protection and cyber security issues. His practice encompass privacy, European data protection regulation (GDPR), anti-spam compliance, risk management and cyber security compliance, access to information and consumer protection, among other areas.

Dr. Kinga Petrovai is a workplace learning consultant and podcaster with a doctorate in learning technologies from Oxford University and an M.Ed. from Harvard University. Drawing on her background as an electrical engineer, Kinga brings an analytical and systems-thinking lens to designing ways for people to learn and develop skills in the workplace. She works at the intersection of research and practice, developing research, evaluating, advising, and designing learning solutions to improve skills in the workplace. She has worked with a variety of organizations, universities, the Government of Canada, and the U. S. Department of State. On The Art & Science of Learning podcast, Kinga interviews global leaders in learning, with listeners in 100 countries. She can be found on LinkedIn and at www.TASL.ca.

Host or Publisher CIC National Capital Branch