Christopher Brooks

D. Christopher Brooks is Director of Research for EDUCAUSE. In this role, he manages the ECAR research portfolio and serves a principal investigator on a number of reports including the Digital Transformation (Dx) series, the Higher Education IT Workforce, the annual higher education Trend Watch and Top 10 Strategic Technologies report, the annual Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, and the Horizon Report.

Christopher earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University in 2002. He has taught courses in comparative politics and political theory at Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW), St. Olaf College, and the University of Minnesota.

Stephen Downes

Stephen Downes works with the Digital Technologies Research Centre at the National Research Council of Canada specializing in new instructional media and personal learning technology. His degrees are in Philosophy, specializing in epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science. He has taught for the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Grand Prairie Regional College and Assiniboine Community College. His background includes expertise in journalism and media, both as a prominent blogger and as founder of the Moncton Free Press online news cooperative.  He is one of the originators of the first Massive Open Online Course, has published frequently about online and networked learning, has authored learning management and content syndication software, and is the author of the widely read e-learning newsletter OLDaily. Through a thirty year career Downes has contributed pioneering work in the fields of online learning games, learning objects and metadata, podcasting, and open educational resources. Recent projects include: gRSShopper, a personal learning environment; E-Learning 3.0, a course on new e-learning technologies; research and development in the use of distributed ledger technology in learning applications; research on data literacy; and research on ethics, analytics and the duty of care. He is a popular keynote speaker and has spoken in three dozen countries on six continents.

Jacqueline Dubé

Jacqueline Dubé is president of the Committee for the Report on the State and Needs of Education 2018-2020 for the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation du Québec. She served as President and Chief executive officer of CEFRIO, the Centre facilitating research and innovation in organizations using digital technology, from 2008 to 2018. Prior to joining the CEFRIO team, Jacqueline Dubé was in charge of planning, research and intergovernmental coordination at Services Québec. She has also managed communications and client services at the ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation. She held management positions for more than 16 years at the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, including director of communications, director of marketing and assistant general manager. Jacqueline Dubé has a Master’s degree in business administration from Université de Sherbrooke.

Christian Guijosa

Christian Guijosa is a project manager and creative leader at the Observatory of educational innovation. He is a publicist passionate about promoting education to underserved communities.

Thierry Karsenti

Thierry Karsenti is director of CRIFPE (the Centre de recherche interuniversitaire sur la formation et la profession enseignante), holds the Canada Research Chair in Technologies in Education and is a full professor at Université de Montréal. Over the course of his career, he has published more than 25 books and 250 scientific papers on digital technology in education. He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada, and his accomplishments have gained recognition in the form of several national and international awards. He has worked in the field of digital technology in education for over 25 years. Aside from his many research projects in North America, he has completed numerous studies on digital technology in Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Maryse Lassonde

Professor Lassonde currently is the President of the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation. She completed a Ph.D. in neuropsychology at Stanford University. She went on to become professor first at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and then at the Université de Montréal. She has published 7 books and over 300 book chapters and articles in scientific journals. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association, of the Royal Society of Canada, of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and held a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Neuropsychology from 2001 to 2013. She was President of the Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas) in 1993, President of the National Order of Quebec Council (2008-2010) and President of the Royal Society of Canada (2015-2017). Professor Lassonde was named Chevalière, National Order of Quebec in 1999 and Officer of the Order of Canada in 2012. From January 2012 to July 2018, Professor Lassonde was the Scientific Director of the Quebec Natural Sciences and Technology granting agency.

Martin Maltais

Martin Maltais is a professor of financing and education policies at the Lévis campus of UQAR. He is a key player in the development of higher education and digital policies in Quebec. He is the author of several papers and communications concerning education policies and funding as well as distance education.

Michel Umbriaco

Michel Umbriaco is a full professor of graduate courses in educational management and development through open and distance training. He is one of the founders and for more than forty-five years associated with Université TELUQ, in several academic and administrative capacities. He is the author of numerous documents and communications concerning education, management and financing of universities.