We’re grateful to our guest speakers and students whose expertise and curiosity made this week so impactful. Your engagement continues to shape this program into a space for rigorous dialogue and forward-thinking innovation.

Sessions tackled the rise of intangible economies, the economics of sustainability, and the ethical complexities of digital health and consent. These aren’t future concerns—they’re today’s policy challenges.

We explored digital transparency, AI’s impact on labour and geopolitics, and the regulatory dilemmas posed by frontier technologies—from geoengineering to space governance.

Instructor Branka Marijan explored the rise of autonomous weapons, military AI, and robotics. She warned that innovation is outpacing governance—transparency, accountability, and ethics must catch up to ensure responsible use of defence technologies.

Instructor Alexander Lanoszka cautioned that hype around emerging tech—AI, cyber, quantum—can distort national security priorities. The challenge, he argued, is separating strategic value from speculative noise to ensure policy is grounded in real capability.

Instructor Jenna Hennebry emphasized that tech in migration governance isn’t neutral: “AI deployment risks deepening the digital divide and entrenching power asymmetries between states.” Without proactive, rights-based policy, bias and surveillance may reinforce existing inequities.

“Climate warning risk is the driving force for change,” said Instructor Jatin Nathwani, emphaszing: energy systems must evolve, and fast. This isn’t just a technical fix—it’s a global challenge that demands vision, cooperation, and bold policy.

Today’s ideas remind us that innovation isn’t just about what we build: it’s about what we as a society choose to value and how we choose to govern.

Water innovation is about more than infrastructure—it’s about policy, equity, and long-term economics. Instructor Dustin Garrick’s case studies show how sustainable systems can be both environmentally sound and economically viable.

Instructor Neil Craik explored geoengineering-based solutions to climate change. From carbon removal to solar radiation management, these technologies raise urgent questions about governance, equity, and long-term risk.

Apple ranked among the most valuable brands of 2024. Why? Instructor Bruce McConomy explained: brand value is about what you could sell it for—or the cash flow it generates. Intangibles like brand equity, IP, and data are quietly reshaping how we measure success.

Innovation needs more than ideas—it needs strategic capital. Instructor Artie Ng shared how financing models shape the trajectory of tech breakthroughs. Timing, partnerships, and purpose-driven investment are the real game changers.

Joel Blit presented on The Coming AI Revolution and its Impact on the Future of Work, outlining key trends in automation, productivity, and the need for proactive workforce development strategies.

Matt Malone discussed Government Transparency Frameworks in the Digital Age, highlighting the importance of balancing public access with information integrity.

Professor Ann Fitz-Gerald opened the week with a session on Policy Development in a Digital Era, emphasizing the need for adaptive, inclusive, and responsive policy frameworks in the face of rapid technological change.