Day 1 Featured speakers
Meet the leading Black scientists and researchers shaping discovery across Canada and
beyond.
Welcome & Keynote Address
Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba is Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator of the intercontinental research project on Indigenous Knowledge and Entrepreneurship in Africa, and founder of the Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network, at the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University. He is also an Extraordinary Professor at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, University of South Africa, where he was previously an Associate Professor.
He obtained a PhD in Political Science from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He has taught various aspects of political thought, political economy of development in Africa, global economic relations, migration and Africa’s diaspora, and regional dynamics (with focus on Africa) at various universities including Carleton University, University of Pennsylvania, University of South Africa, and University of Lagos. He was previously a Visiting Scholar at the Program of African Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, and a fellow of the Brown International Advanced Research Institute, Brown University, Rhode Island, United States of America.
Oloruntoba is the author, editor, and co-editor of several books, including Regionalism and Integration in Africa: EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements and Euro-Nigeria Relations (Palgrave, 2016) and, co-edited with Innocent Moyo and Lethiwe Zondo, Indigenous Knowledge and Youth Entrepreneurship in Africa: Recentring the Voices of Marginalized Communities (New York, Bloomsbury, 2025), among others.
His research interests are in the politics of knowledge production, indigenous knowledge systems, political economy of development in Africa, global economic relations, regional integration, migration, democracy and development, global governance of trade and finance, politics of natural resources governance, and EU–African relations. Oloruntoba has won several awards and secured grants from local and international research institutions. He is also a member of the Africa Knowledge Network, Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, UN Under-Secretary-General, United Nations, New York.
Dr. Ibukun Abejirinde is a Scientist at the Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, and an Associate Professor (Affiliated Scientist) at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She leads an applied research program that aims to understand and address complex problems in healthcare, focusing on structurally marginalized populations.
With a belief that communities hold power to transform systems of care, Dr. Abejirinde works collaboratively with policymakers, patients/caregivers, community organizations, and researchers from other disciplines to translate equity at a systems level. Her research particularly focuses on the health and wellbeing of immigrants, refugees, racialized populations, rural/low-resource communities, and older adults.
Dr. Abejirinde is a 2022 AMS Healthcare Fellow in Compassion and Artificial Intelligence, and co-lead of the digital health equity hub of the International Collaborative for Translational Digital Health—a trilateral partnership between the University of Toronto, University of Manchester, and University of Melbourne.
Artificial Intelligence - Opportunities and Lessons Learned
Brian is the Founder and CEO of the Indigenous artificial intelligence company Kama.AI, developer of a Designed Experiential Intelligence® platform that delivers responsible, automated, and personalized conversations for enterprises and communities.
Kama’s mission is to create the most emotionally and experientially aware Virtual Agents and deploy them in the service of humanity, thereby improving the quality of the human-AI experience.
He is a member of Chapleau Cree First Nation and is a director on several boards, including economic development corporations representing his Community.
Dr. Kem-Laurin Lubin is a researcher in computational AI rhetoric at the University of Waterloo, where she examines how AI-powered tools characterize people: who they recognize, who they render invisible, and the real-world consequences for those they sort, especially in healthcare and surveillance.
Born in the global “South” and living in the global North, Dr. Lubin brings a critical lens to questions of bias, justice, and power in emerging technologies, across a career spanning tech design leadership and teaching in gender and social justice.
She is the author of two books, including Design Heuristics for Emerging Technologies, and recently joined the “Inclusive AI Futures” keynote panel at the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. She is also the incoming Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Governance and Innovation (CIGI).
Her work argues that the hardest questions in technology are not only technical, and that Black and marginalized communities belong at the centre of how AI is built and governed.
Trevor C. Charles, Ph.D. is Professor of Biology at the University of Waterloo. Trained as a microbiologist and bacterial geneticist, he holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of British Columbia, a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from McMaster University, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Washington.
He held a faculty position at McGill University before joining the University of Waterloo, where his research group works at the intersection of microbial genomics, plant-microbe interactions, and environmental surveillance. Current research activity spans beneficial bacteria in field and controlled environment agriculture, functional metagenomics and novel gene discovery, bacterial genome engineering for the conversion of food waste to bioplastics, and wastewater-based pathogen surveillance, all situated within a circular bioeconomy framework.
Trevor has been actively involved in translating research from his lab into commercial products and services, and as Founder and Executive Director of the Lanterna Black Innovation Hub, is deeply committed to increasing the participation of Black youth in STEM, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Claudius Thomas is a serial entrepreneur and community leader with over 35 years of experience in delivering innovative technology solutions in Canada, Europe, and the United States.
As an AI advocate who focuses on the ethical development and interpretations of AI in applications, businesses, and society, Claudius embraces new technology and helps organizations adapt for long-term sustainability and growth.
He has a passion for the development and support of youth in education and entrepreneurship, so that they contribute positively to society through mentorship.
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Speaker institutions
Our speakers represent leading research institutions and organizations across Canada including
FAQ
Answers to common questions about registration and attendance
Who can register?
BE-STEMM 2026 welcomes Black Canadian researchers, students, professionals, and allies working in or supporting STEMM fields. Registration is open to anyone committed to advancing Black excellence in science and technology.
What payment methods are accepted?
We accept credit cards, debit cards, and digital payment platforms. All transactions are secure and processed through our encrypted registration system. Invoicing options are available for institutional registrations.
What is your refund policy?
Full refunds are available until April 1st. Cancellations after April 1st receive fifty percent refunds. No refunds are issued for cancellations within one week of the conference.
Do you offer group rates?
Yes. Groups of five or more receive a ten percent discount on registration fees. Contact our team to arrange group registrations and receive a single invoice.
What accessibility support is available?
We provide ASL interpretation, live captioning, accessible venue spaces, and dietary accommodations. Indicate your needs during registration so we can ensure full participation.