Annual Public Meeting 2024

Mahadeo A. Sukhai
Chairperson, Technical committee on employment

Mahadeo is Canada's first blind biomedical research scientist, with more than 20 years' experience as an academic researcher and educator. He leads the research program for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and two affiliate organizations, Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada and CNIB Deafblind Community Services. He is also the principal investigator for research projects to understand the lived experience of persons who are blind, Deafblind, and partially sighted in Canada. Mahadeo also leads CNIB's international affairs work. As CNIB's Chief Accessibility Officer, he oversees all three organizations' cultural change efforts on accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities and intersecting social identities.

Jutta Treviranus
Chairperson, Technical committee on Accessible and equitable artificial intelligence systems

Jutta is the Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) and professor in the Faculty of Design at OCAD University in Toronto.  Jutta established the IDRC in 1993 as the nexus of a growing global community that proactively works to ensure that our digitally transformed and globally connected society is designed inclusively.  Dr. Treviranus also founded an innovative graduate program in inclusive design at OCAD University.  Jutta is credited with developing an inclusive co-design methodology that has been adopted by large enterprise companies such as Microsoft, as well as public sector organizations internationally.  Jutta has coordinated many research networks focused on the future of work and employment, with and by people with disabilities. Jutta was recognized for her work in AI by Women in AI with the AI for Good - DEI AI Leader of the Year award as well as by Women in AI Ethics.

Maayan Ziv
Chairperson, Technical committee on Accessible travel journey

Maayan is an accomplished entrepreneur, acclaimed photographer, and a passionate disability activist. She’s the founder and CEO of AccessNow, an award-winning tech company that has revolutionized the way people share and access information about accessibility worldwide. Under Maayan’s leadership, the company has become a powerful force for change. AccessNow is driving a shift in global thinking about the importance of accessibility across all industries, from accessible technologies to infrastructure, public policy, media, and more.

Maayan is a globally recognized thought leader and advocate for disability rights. She has earned numerous accolades, including MIT Tech Review’s Top 35 Innovators and Canada’s Top 40 under 40. Recently, Condé Nast Traveler also named Maayan as 1 of 14 people making the world more accessible.