This event is open to the BSIA community only. Please email events@balsillieschool.ca to register.
Social media is having a profound effect on political, economic and social systems, both positive and negative. Join us for a conversation with Michele Austin, Head of Government, Public Policy and Philanthropy at Twitter Canada, as she discusses Twitter’s work as it relates to cybersecurity and the use of artificial intelligence in the twenty-first century.
About the speaker
Michele Austin joined Twitter Canada in April 2018. She is the Head of Government, Public Policy and Philanthropy, where she works closely with government partners and policy stakeholders to help create good public policy and meaningful content on Twitter.
Michele has been helping organizations work with governments for more than 20 years. She was a senior advisor at Summa Strategies for five years where she helped clients successfully navigate a broad range of legislative, policy and regulatory issues.
A lifelong conservative, Michele served as Chief of Staff to Conservative Party Leader Rona Ambrose when she was Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Status of Women. She also served as Chief of Staff to Maxime Bernier while he was the Minister of Industry.
She has also been very involved in Alberta politics. Michele served as former Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith’s membership chair in 2009 and, most recently as the senior political strategist for Drew Barnes in the 2015 Wildrose Leadership race.
For the 10 years prior to joining Twitter, Michele regularly appeared as a conservative pundit on the CTV’s national news network, in print, and on satellite and talk radio.
She lives in Kanata with her husband and three unruly teenagers.
