TechFest
TechFest is a unique professional development opportunity for CIS Ontario school innovation, information, and technology staff professionals. Sessions are led by those working in information and innovation, education management systems, data analytics, privacy and data management. Join us at the next TechFest for collaboration and a superb learning experience.
TechFest 2025 – featuring Keynotes on Generative AI & Cyber Security!
April 11, 2025, hosted by Appleby College.
Are you ready to connect, collaborate, and innovate with fellow technology leaders in K-12 independent schools?
TechFest is back! This one-day professional learning and networking event will take place on Friday, April 11, 2025, at Appleby College, featuring engaging discussions, workshops, and expert insights tailored to tech-focused professionals in education.
We are excited to feature two keynote sessions this year.
Mike Biocchi
Cyber Security and Risk Expert, Educator, Author
Mike Biocchi has completed his PhD and has received his Master of Science as well as his Bachelor of Computer Science. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Michael has taught in the education sector for 15+ years, teaching a variety of computer science courses at several different institutions across Canada. Computer security and education are two major passions of his and he's working to bring cyber security into education at all levels.
Mike will discuss Cybersecurity, data privacy and risk in the K-12 context, tackling pressing security challenges, best practices, and actionable strategies to protect school data, networks, and digital ecosystems.
Myles Harrison
Data Scientist and AI Consultant Principal, PRAKTIKAI
Myles Harrison is a data scientist and consultant, and the company principal of PRAKTIKAI. His consulting experience in analytics, data science, and artificial intelligence comes from a history in top-tier agencies and firms such as Publicis Sapient, PwC, and Accenture working across client verticals spanning manufacturing, transportation, retail, financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications.
From 2019 to 2023, he was the head of data science at Brainstation, where he led a global team of data scientists developing and delivering an accelerated curriculum covering topics such as data analytics, machine learning, cloud computing, MLOps, and ethical AI. He is the creator and instructor of his own courses and workshops in natural language processing, large language models, and generative AI. A passionate builder of the data and AI community in Toronto, Myles speaks regularly at industry events, runs a networking group, and is an organizer of Machine Learning Toronto.
Myles will explore the rapidly evolving world of Generative AI and its impact on education, technology infrastructure, and IT operations. Learn about the opportunities and challenges of AI-driven systems and how they can be leveraged in independent schools.
Register for TechFest 2025!
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of TechFest 2025—where technology meets education. The registration fee is $100 for participants from CIS Ontario member schools and $150 for participants from non-member schools.
Call for TechFest 2025 Proposals by March 7, 2025
At TechFest 2025, we invite you to share your expertise, connect with peers, and explore new approaches in educational technology. We also believe in the power of storytelling as a transformational practice for learning, whether you share your story, listen to the stories of others, or both! In the spirit of collaborative learning, we are seeking proposals from Techfest participants who want to lead engaging discussions, hands-on workshops, or knowledge-sharing sessions.
Members, this is the best way to stay up-to-date.
To receive timely information on our professional learning events, student programs and news relevant to our community of educators, educational staff and administrators, please ensure you are listed as a member in our database. All employees of our member schools are automatically entitled to CIS Ontario membership.
You are in our database as a member if you have a login to our member portal and CISO Connect.
If you do not, please fill out this brief membership form.
