Victoria Data Society

🕘 Schedule:
5:00 PM – Registration, networking and pizza
5:30 PM – Data Talk - From Startup to a Data Driven Organisation. presentation
6:30 PM – Networking

📊 Data Talk - From Startup to a Data Driven Organization.
For many companies both big and small, building a genuine data-driven culture is a massive hurdle. It requires moving past people viewing numbers merely as a metric to avoid getting in trouble, and shifting toward using data as the foundation for strategic planning, decision-making, and long-term success. In this session, Travis LaVallee walks us through the real-world journey of shifting an organization from "I know my business" gut feelings and out-of-date, fragmented figures to proactive, accurate, and meaningful insights.

Travis LaVallee, from Charter, brings deep operational insight into the messy reality of transforming disparate data into an organization's most trusted asset.

🎯 Why Attend?
Whether you're a data professional, business leader, or simply curious about driving organizational change through data, this session will help you:

• How to build leadership buy-in that goes deeper than high-level corporate approval 🤝
• Practical, nuanced approaches to driving real value from data initiative investments 💡
• Connect with fellow data enthusiasts 🤝
• Enjoy great conversations over pizza and refreshments 🍕🥤

💲Cost

• Free for Victoria Data Society members.
• $10 cover charge for non-members (pay at the door).

🎯 Join a panel of technology leaders who have been part of Victoria's tech scene for more than 25 years. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience, they'll share stories, lessons learned, and reflections on how the local technology ecosystem has evolved, from its early growth years to today's AI-driven era. Together, we'll explore the milestones, challenges, and opportunities that have shaped Victoria's tech community, and discuss what the future may hold for the next generation of innovators.

Moderator:
Anu Jolliffe has been in technology since the dial-up era. In 1994 he ran The Home Computing BBS on Salt Spring Island, by 1995 had an online marketplace running on it, doing e-commerce before the word existed, and went on to help bring the internet to the Gulf Islands. Since shortly after ChatGPT launched he has been heads-down in generative AI. He is Director of Community Relations for the Victoria Data Society and curates Where's Anu, a running listing of local AI, data, and tech events at https://wheresanu.ca.

Panelists:
Rob Bennett is a veteran of Victoria's tech community with more than 40 years of experience as a software developer, founder, CEO, investor, mentor, and community leader. A University of Victoria Computer Science graduate, Rob has helped build and support countless technology companies while championing innovation and entrepreneurship across the region. As Chief Operating Officer and Program Director at VIATEC, he continues to guide startups and scaling businesses through programs like BOOST and the VIATEC Accelerator, bringing a people-first perspective shaped by decades of experience in Victoria's evolving tech ecosystem.

Steve Harris is a long-time technology leader and AI strategist with more than 40 years of experience spanning software delivery, enterprise architecture, project leadership, and executive roles including CIO and Vice-President. Today, he helps organizations adopt Generative AI in practical, responsible, and sustainable ways, guiding everything from strategy and governance to implementation and training. As a co-founder of the VIATEC AI Meetup and Prompt Victoria AI Conference, Steve is helping shape the next chapter of Victoria's technology community while supporting businesses on their AI transformation journeys.

⏰Agenda:
18:00 - Doors Open
18:30 - Panel Starts
19:30 - Panel Ends
20:00 - Doors Close