The 2025 CEO/CFO Conference, held in Toronto from January 21–23, brought together education leaders from across Ontario and beyond to explore this year’s theme: Embarking on the AI Journey. The event showcased how generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) is transforming education, and offered insights and strategies to school boards to help them navigate these new tools.
Keynote Insights and Expert Perspectives
The conference featured an impressive lineup of speakers. Each session highlighted how AI can enhance personalized learning, streamline operations, and improve equity, while also emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks and thoughtful governance. This year’s speakers included:
● Dr. Jimmy Lin from the University of Waterloo, who provided a technical overview of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, discussing both their potential for personalized learning and the challenges of training bias, misinformation, and ethical alignment.
● Dr. Steven Murphy and Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, who addressed the human side of generative AI adoption, comparing the current shift to the early days of the internet. They emphasized the need for leadership, resilience, and skill development alongside technological integration.
● Amber Mac, who offered a forward-looking fireside chat, urging educators to embrace AI as a collaborative tool. Her message was clear: educators who see AI as an enabler, not a threat, will drive the next wave of innovation in education.
Practical Takeaways for School Boards
Several sessions provided actionable strategies for school boards to navigate AI-driven change:
● Jessica Jesudasan, CODE's Provincial Human Rights and Equity Advisor, highlighted the need for inclusive generative AI adoption, cautioning against algorithmic bias and stressing digital accessibility for all students.
● Phil Racco and Reena Patel from MNP shared risk management strategies to maintain stability amid generative AI disruptions. Their advice? Invest in cybersecurity readiness and flexible operational frameworks to keep schools adaptable and secure.
● James Aitchison from IBM Canada offered a CEO/CFO perspective on generative AI governance, emphasizing foresight, agility, and robust risk management as keys to successful implementation.
● Frank MacDonald from ThinkDox and Michael Maddock from the Ontario Privacy Commissioner explained Ontario school boards' new data privacy requirements, urging proactive digital records management and transparency in AI-driven decision-making.
● Dean Shareski from Advanced Learning Partnerships explored how AI is reshaping school leadership, while Davin Shinedling from Jenni Byrne & Associates guided education leaders on navigating political uncertainty with clear, strategic communication.
A Message From Ontario’s Education Minister Jill Dunlop
The Honourable Jill Dunlop spoke to the audience about the government’s priorities in enhancing student learning while being fiscally responsible and creating an education system that promotes public confidence.
Looking Ahead
As educators continue to learn about the promise and peril of generative AI, CODE remains committed to equipping Ontario’s school boards with the resources, knowledge, and best practices needed to lead in this transformative era. Thank you to all our members and speakers for making this year’s conference a resounding success.