AI for Social Good Conference 2025 – Resource Hub

Yacouba Traoré

Yacouba Traoré is a foreign-trained physician with a PhD in Medicine and Management Education from McGill University. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Carlington Community Health Centre.

With more than 25 years of experience in the health and social services sector, Yacouba brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, strategic leadership, and community-driven innovation. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing equitable access to health and social services and strengthening community well-being.

Before joining Carlington CHC, Yacouba served for eight years as the Executive Director of the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, where he led transformative initiatives, including the creation of a community hub at the former Rideau High School and the launch of several social enterprises and a youth employment and business incubator.

His previous roles also include leadership and advisory positions such as Program Manager and Interim Regional Director at the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Clinical Director in a Community Health Centre, Program Consultant at CAMH, and Health Planning Officer in public health in Quebec.

A passionate advocate for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the nonprofit sector, Yacouba is the co-author of Understanding and Using AI: A Resource for Nonprofit Leaders and co-founder of the Centre for Excellence in Nonprofit AI. Outside of his professional work, he is a dedicated youth soccer coach and co-founder of the Russell Raiders Soccer Academy.

Daniel O. Livvarcin, PhD, CMC

Dr. Daniel O. Livvarcin is a recognized authority in the nonprofit sector with a resolute vision to enhance the capacity of nonprofits and charities globally. He pioneered the ViStA Strategic Management Framework and the Executive Strategic Evaluation Process (E-SEP), tools that assist nonprofit leaders in crafting actionable strategic plans. As the co-author of Risk Management for Nonprofit Organizations, he brings deep insight into the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

He serves as a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa and is the visionary founder of the Nonprofit Management Laboratory. With a Ph.D. and dual master’s degrees in Management and Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, Dr. Livvarcin combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.

As the founder of Vectors Group, his consultancy specializes in guiding nonprofits to bridge theoretical insights with real-world challenges. Daniel and his team have assisted hundreds of organizations, including Tim Hortons Foundation, Ottawa Food Bank, Shepherds of Good Hope, Capital Rainbow Refugee, OrKidstra, and others.

He passionately advocates for youth empowerment, immigrant inclusion, women’s rights, and underrepresented communities. Through his involvement in initiatives serving Indigenous peoples and minority groups, he works to ensure equitable opportunities and recognition for all.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr. Livvarcin is married to Serap and is a proud father of two boys, Ilker and Kerem.

Keynote 2: The power of personal storytelling in the age of AI

Speaker: Hailey Hechtman

Hailey Hechtman is a national mental health leader, storyteller, and passionate advocate for lived experience-driven programming. With over a decade of nonprofit leadership, she has dedicated her career to building more connected and compassionate systems of care.

Hailey founded the Yukon Distress & Support Line in 2014, led disability inclusion initiatives across Northern Canada, and championed accessible, dignity-centered employment programs.

As Executive Director of Unsinkable, a national storytelling charity founded by Olympian Silken Laumann, Hailey leads innovative programs that bridge clinical care with lived experience. She first connected with Unsinkable as a storyteller herself, sharing her journey publicly before stepping into leadership.

A community builder at heart, Hailey helped establish an Executive Director community of practice in Ottawa and serves as a board advisor to the Women’s Nonprofit Network. A recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the LeadHER Award, she believes that when stories are heard with intention, transformation follows.

Keynote 3: Building your AI Strategy

Speaker: Steve Li

Steve Li is a seasoned business strategist with 20+ years of experience helping technology-driven organizations scale through strategic planning, partnerships, acquisitions, fundraising, and innovation.

He has led JACOBB’s business development initiatives across go-to-market strategy, partnerships, and sales execution—positioning AI solutions for impact across sectors. Steve also advises Diagnos, a medtech company applying AI to disease detection.

Past leadership includes VP Corporate Strategy at D-BOX, Director Corporate Development at Tecsys, and Technology Research Analyst at Industrial Alliance Securities. He brings a collaborative mindset and a deep understanding of how to bridge institutional expertise with emerging innovation.

Keynote 4: Funding AI Adoption

Speaker: Michael Maidment

Michael is President & CEO of the Ottawa Community Foundation and previously served as CEO of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and the Ottawa Food Bank.

He has contributed to policy development and government relations nationally, including Canada’s National Strategy Against Human Trafficking, testimony to House and Senate committees, and leadership across numerous boards (e.g., OrKidstra, Feed Ontario, City of Ottawa Poverty Issues Advisory Committee). He currently serves on the board of the Mississippi River Health Alliance.