Biography

Joelle Adja is Director of the Project and Program Management Center of Excellence at Cofomo. With over 20 years of experience, she supports organizations in translating business strategy into tangible and sustainable results through structured program and project management. She has delivered large-scale projects and programs in complex and rapidly evolving environments.

 

Her expertise is rooted in the integration of strategic advisory, project management, change management, and organizational performance to secure delivery and maximize initiative value.

 

She holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and is certified PMI-PMP®, PMI-ACP®, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. In her role as Director of the Center of Excellence, she contributes to the development of best practices, team coaching, and the strengthening of organizational project management capabilities at Cofomo.

 

Minh Dat Nguyen is Director of Operations and a member of the executive team at Laurentide Controls, a leader in automation and reliability solutions in Eastern Canada. He leads large-scale transformations in real-world contexts marked by growth, financial constraints, and high performance expectations.

 

He has embedded artificial intelligence at the core of operations to automate processes, advance the organization’s AI maturity, and enhance decision-making through business intelligence solutions—emphasizing execution discipline and human adoption. He brings 17 years of experience, including roles at Hydro-Québec, CIMA+, and Bombardier.

 

An engineer with an MBA, he is certified PMP, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (MBB), and Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and holds a graduate microprogram diploma in Strategic AI Management from the Université de Sherbrooke. He has also served as a board member of a Desjardins credit union for over 12 years.

 

Véronique Tremblay is Practice Director for Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Governance at Videns, where she supports organizations in designing and leading AI initiatives that are value-driven, responsible, and strategically aligned.

 

With nearly 20 years of experience in data science—particularly in finance and insurance—she has held key roles in advanced analytics, governance, and the integration of ethical and regulatory requirements into AI projects.

 

She holds two Master’s degrees, including one in Statistics, and is currently pursuing a PhD at HEC Montréal. Her research focuses on algorithmic fairness and AI governance in organizational contexts. She has also taught statistics and machine learning at the university level for several years. Recognized for her expertise in responsible AI, she received the Women in AI Responsible AI Leader of the Year award and regularly speaks at conferences and panels on the practical challenges of AI deployment.

 

Workshop Description

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone of innovation, transforming industries and redefining opportunities. However, despite its immense potential, many organizations struggle to successfully deliver AI projects. These challenges are rarely due to technology alone.

 

Recurring obstacles include lack of reliable data, unsuitable delivery models, underestimation of required involvement, strategic misalignment, and the late consideration of ethical and change management issues. These realities raise a central question: how can an AI project be effectively led to ensure measurable value creation and sustainable adoption?

 

Through concrete experience sharing, our panelists will highlight the importance of a holistic and integrated approach. Their complementary expertise will provide participants with insights into the practices, trade-offs, and key lessons necessary to navigate the technical, organizational, and human complexities inherent in AI projects.

 

Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Highlight the importance of an integrated approach to AI project management

• Address key concerns and questions from the audience

• Develop practical reflexes and best practices for managing AI projects effectively