We are pleased to host an interdisciplinary round table discussion, organized in cooperation with the Austrian Embassy Ottawa and the Austrian Cultural Forum. This event will bring together leading experts from the fields of Law, Medicine, Engineering, and Industry to engage in a critical dialogue on the current and emerging uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
While the integration of AI across diverse sectors continues to accelerate, interdisciplinary discussions that bridge technical, ethical, legal, and societal perspectives remain comparatively rare. This round table aims to address that gap by fostering an exchange of insights among disciplines that often operate in isolation, despite their shared engagement with AI-driven technologies.
Participants will explore the benefits, limitations, and potential risks associated with the deployment of AI, as well as reflect on future trajectories and regulatory challenges.
Speakers
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Prof. Dr. Thomas M. Kitzler, MD, FRCPC
Assistant Professor, Department of Human Genetics (McGill University) -
Raphaëlle De Gagné
Senior Manager, AI Strategy, Planning and Delivery (Air Canada) -
Eugen Dolezal
Researcher (Prae-Doc), Department of Ethics and Social Studies (University of Graz) -
Dr. Rodrigo Barbosa de Queiroz
Senior Staff Engineer
Moderated by:
- Dr. Stefan-Michael Wedenig
Executive Director (McGill University)
Prof. Dr. Thomas Kitzler, MD, FRCP
Thomas Kitzler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics at McGill University and a Clinical Geneticist in the Division of Medical Genetics at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). He is also a Scientist in the Child Health and Human Development Program (Centre for Translational Biology) at the Research Institute of the MUHC. After graduating from the University of Graz, Austria, he conducted clinical and basic research in chronic kidney disease at the Renal Research Institute, New York, and McGill University, Montreal. Following completion of his medical residency at the MUHC, he pursued a two-year research fellowship in Nephrogenetics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School before returning to Montreal.
Dr. Kitzler’s research investigates the genetic causes and genotype–phenotype relationships of chronic kidney disease by integrating exome sequencing with gene-editing approaches in patient-specific cell and zebrafish models. His work aims to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying renal disease and to advance the development of personalized therapeutic strategies.
Raphaëlle De Gagné
Raphaëlle De Gagné joined Air Canada in 2018 within the internal consulting team and transitioned to the Artificial Intelligence team in 2022. She is currently in charge of AI & Data Governance and Strategy for Air Canada. Her team identifies AI opportunities and ensures the operationalization of Air Canada’s AI ethics policies across all applications, while also overseeing enterprise-wide data governance practices and strategic data initiatives. Ms De Gagné also leads a team of AI product managers developing proprietary solutions, aligning business objectives with technical execution while ensuring long-term product strategy. Prior to joining Air Canada, she worked in consulting, specializing in process improvement and performance management. She hold an MSc in International Management from Ivey Business School and a trilingual BBA from HEC Montréal.
Eugen Dolezal
Eugen R. Dolezal is a social ethicist and theologian who focuses on the intersection of ethics, technology, and society. The primary focus of his research is on the fields of neurotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular emphasis on their ethical implications. More specifically, he examines how these emerging technologies impact human dignity, mental privacy, and social justice. Additionally, he examines the relationship between empirics and ethics, striving for a balanced integration of both in the analysis of technologies. He served as a co-author of a study for the European Parliament that examined the ethical, sociological, and legal implications of neurotechnology. Furthermore, he provides scientific advice to the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs on matters related to neurotechnology ethics. His previous project as a research fellow at the University of Graz focused on the intersection of neurotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of dementia care. Presently, the focus of his academic endeavors is at the University of Vienna, where he is pursuing his studies while concurrently teaching AI Literacy at the University College of Teacher Education Styria and other institutions.
Dr. Rodrigo Barbosa De Queiroz
Dr. Rodrigo Barbosa de Queiroz, BSc, MSc, MBA, PhD has more than 15 years of experience in Software Engineering, with 9 years dedicated to AI Systems Engineering. Dr. Barbosa de Queiroz is a Senior Staff Engineer leading Architecture of AI Systems at a TIME100 most influential companies 2025. He also serves as a Technical Expert and Project Manager of strategic Industry-Academia Collaboration Projects, leading cross-functional initiatives focused on the development and deployment of novel AI technologies for autonomous, scalable and trustworthy intelligent systems.
His areas of expertise include Self-Driving Systems, Multi-Agent Systems, Real-Time Assurance frameworks, and the integration of Large Vision and Language Models into complex, adaptive environments.
In addition to his technical leadership, Dr. Barbosa de Queiroz has been deeply involved in hiring and mentoring engineers through building high-performing teams across both research and production settings.
He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo (Canada), a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil), and an MBA in Project Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (Brazil).
Dr. Stefan-Michael Wedenig
Mag. Dr. Stefan-Michael Wedenig, LL.M, D.C.L, KC*HS is the Executive Director of the Institute and Centre for Research in Air and Space Law at McGill University. He earned a Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.) as well as Master of Laws (LL.M.) from McGill University and a Magister Iuris (Mag.iur.) from Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Austria. His research examines the international responsibility of States for space activities involving artificial intelligence (AI). He investigates how AI interacts with public international law, extra-contractual liability, and various sources of international law, focusing on the adaptability of current legal frameworks to the emergence of AI in space operations. Beyond his primary research, he also explores topics in aviation finance, sovereignty, and urban air mobility.