The Empire Club of Canada
Hybrid
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is causing disruption in almost every sector — and the professional services sector is no exception. For those working in law, finance and accounting, AI’s influence is already here, impacting how you work and what clients expect.
To stay competitive, firms must balance growth, efficiency, and service innovation with regulatory standards and ethical responsibilities. AI introduces risks that can be challenging for professions grounded in precision and trust, especially as ethical and regulatory frameworks lag in keeping up with technological advancements. The professional services workforce will also change, pushing professionals to become more adaptable, develop new skills and stay ahead of evolving client expectations.
On April 15, 2025, the Empire Club of Canada presents The AI Revolution: What’s Next for Law, Finance, and Accounting? Join experts as they discuss the challenges, strategies, risks, and opportunities of integrating AI into their professional services.
Dr. Foteini Agrafioti is the Chief Science Officer at RBC and Senior Vice President of RBC Borealis. She is responsible for the Data and AI ecosystem at RBC and oversees a team of architects, engineers, scientists and product experts dedicated to transforming finance through world-class AI research, solutions and a resilient data platform.
Foteini joined RBC in May 2016 as Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder and Head of Borealis AI, which, under her leadership, has contributed to the development of several AI-enabled products including Aiden and NOMI Forecast. She has helped establish RBC as one of the leading voices on AI.
Prior to joining RBC, Foteini founded and served as Chief Technology Officer at Nymi, a biometrics security company and maker of the Nymi wristband. Foteini also serves as Co-Chair of the Government of Canada’s Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence, advising the federal government on how to build on Canada’s strengths and global leadership in AI.
Tony Gaffney is the President and CEO of the Vector Institute, an independent, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to AI research. He serves on the Government of Canada Advisory Council on AI, is a member of the OECD.AI network of experts (ONE.AI) task force for AI Compute and Climate Change, and is a member of the World Economic Forum AI Governance Alliance working group, an initiative focused on responsible generative AI. At Vector, Tony leads a team of world-class researchers and professionals who work across sectors to advance responsible AI application, adoption, and commercialization across Canada.
An internationally experienced CEO,Tony is a former member of the Global Executive Committee of Aon Hewitt and served as the CEO of Aon Hewitt Canada. Prior to joining Aon Hewitt, Tony was a Managing Partner at Accenture, a Global executive with MCI Telecommunications, President and CEO of BellNexxia, and CEO of BCE Emergis.
Tony is also an experienced Corporate Director (iNED), focused on governance with impact. He understands the economic and social significance of AI and is passionate about the critical role that boards and CEOs play in AI foresight, governance, and the responsible use of AI. He led the “High Performance in the Boardroom” initiative; in collaboration with 30+ leading board chairs focused on the future of governance. He also served for 12 years as a Corporate Director with Altus Group Limited (AIF.TO), an AI-enabled global provider of intelligence as a service to the commercial real estate sector.
Tony has served on many other boards, including Loblaws President’s Choice Bank, the Bishop Strachan School, the Toronto Region Board of Trade, the Toronto United Way Cabinet, and more. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.A.I.) degree and M.A. from Trinity College Dublin and is a graduate of the Rotman Corporate Directors program (ICD.D).
Colin Lachance is Principal with PGYA Consulting and current Ontario Bar Association Innovator-in-Residence. Former CEO of the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII), past member of the global executive committee of vLex, three-time founder of legal data and AI organizations, frequent speaker and writer on legal AI and innovation topics, and routinely consulted by legal organizations, judges, bar associations, media and legal tech startups.
Previously recognized by Canadian Lawyer Magazine as among the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers, and by the American Bar Association as a Legal Rebel, Colin has also held senior legal, lobbying and marketing roles with TELUS and in the cable industry. Though now a non-practicing lawyer, the common thread in all his work since first called to the bar (Alberta 1998, Ontario 2004) has been a technology focus pursued in multidisciplinary environments.
Colin earned degrees in business (University of Manitoba) and law (University of Alberta), and in 2013 added an LL.M. with concentration in law and technology from the University of Ottawa.
Iliana Oris Valiente, CPA, CA, is an accomplished corporate executive, innovation and emerging tech pioneer, startup investor, respected board member, published author, and sought-after global public speaker. With a clear vision and unwavering determination, she is a thought leader on a mission to build a future humans want to live in.
She’s making waves with her Digital Twin, Laila, who’s helping her with productivity by reducing monotonous tasks and increasing output. As Iliana describes it: What I’m looking forward to? Saving time to reinvest into meaningful activities – like coaching my teams, having proper conversations over meals with clients and industry leaders, digging into the latest research reports, and actually thinking/strategizing! That’s productivity.
Iliana is currently the Managing Director and Innovation Lead at Accenture Canada, working with senior executives and boards to support their strategic transformation journeys. She leads multi-disciplinary teams across design, data, and technology, focusing on emergent areas such as metaverse/blockchain/web3, sustainability, AI, and cross-industry initiatives.
A CBP (Certified Bitcoin Professional), Iliana is widely recognized for her trailblazing contributions to the blockchain industry, having advised corporations, government leaders, regulators, and startups as a translator between the web2 and web3 worlds.
Her expertise and perspective have expanded, now encompassing overall technology and societal trends, particularly emphasizing the future of work, life, and human-centred approaches. She helps audiences understand The Human Side of Innovation & Tech Trends: Creating a Future Humans Want to Live In.
Beyond just the technology – navigating climate concerns, shifting values, the loneliness epidemic, and the reshaping of communities and the search for meaningful connections – Iliana explores profound impacts on society, urging a forward-thinking approach. She aims to leave audiences optimistic and better prepared for what comes next.
As a published author and frequent speaker at global conferences, Iliana has been featured in various media outlets, including television, radio, and print. Additionally, she’s an active board member at Sunnybrook Hospital, CPA Ontario, and DIACC and mentors startups through incubators such as CDL.
Iliana is a global citizen who speaks English, Russian, Spanish, and French and enjoys connecting dots (ideas and people). Through Iliana’s unique life experiences and contributions, she has developed an ability to see the bigger picture and drive toward meaningful outcomes.
