Powering the future: Responsible AI for the energy transition
AI is playing a growing role in optimizing energy systems, reducing emissions and advancing sustainability—while also placing new demands on energy consumption, particularly through large-scale models. Discussions explored how energy leaders are applying AI across areas such as smart grids, renewable integration and demand forecasting. Experts also examined the challenges associated with compute-intensive models, including the ethical trade-offs between innovation and energy use, and the need to balance rising data centre demand with affordable electricity.
Panel recap
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Powering AI: Can Canada’s energy systems meet the growing demand?
Speaker recaps
Kshitij Ahuja
Director of Digital Transformation, Nuclear Promise X
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Lisa McBride
Country Leader, GE Vernova Hitachi’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Canada business
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Marlene Ramphal
Nuclear Engineer in Residence, Ontario Tech University
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Chris Benedetti
Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer with Sussex Strategy Group
Panel moderator
Chris Benedetti
Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer with Sussex Strategy Group
With experience in both federal and provincial governments, Mr. Benedetti provides an in-depth insight and expertise into various policy development and political processes and has an extensive background in strategic communications, advisory services and public affairs.
For over 25 years he has helped clients to better understand policy and political imperatives and has worked with governments at all levels to support results-based decision-making. He is an expert in energy-related matters, infrastructure, trade and the environment, as well as in public administration and political affairs. He has also spoken at numerous conferences and has been published in several leading journals.
While managing the interests of several high-profile public and private sector clients, Mr. Benedetti serves as an elected Board Director of the Ontario Energy Association, the Association of Power Producers of Ontario, the Empire Club of Canada and Outward Bound Canada. He is a member of the Advisory Board of Red Jar Capital. He also previously served as Chair of the Recycling Council of Ontario, Director of the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy, President of the Public Affairs Association of Canada, Board Director of the Toronto ZooShare Biogas Cooperative and Senior Advisor to the Canada-Europe Roundtable for Business. He has also been a member of the Energy Policy Council of the C.D. Howe Institute.
In March 2025, Mr. Benedetti received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his exceptional contribution to Canada in the fields of environmental stewardship and youth education. He was also selected in 2024 as the Hedley Palmer award winner from the Association of Power Producers of Ontario. The Hedley Palmer Award recognizes individuals who have contributed exceptional contributions to Ontario’s power generation industry.
Prior to joining Sussex, Mr. Benedetti was Vice President and Government Relations Practice Leader for a global public affairs and communications company. He has held several positions in the federal government with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and as a political advisor within the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada.
Mr. Benedetti holds a BA in law and a BA (High Hons.) in political science from Carleton University, an MA in political science (International Relations) from McMaster University and the University of Bath, England. Active in his local community, Mr. Benedetti has served as President of Horizons for Youth, a United Way agency and one of Toronto’s largest youth shelters, and is a former Director for Common Ground Co-Operative, providing business training opportunities for individuals with development disabilities.