In his current role, Jason serves as the Director of Software Development and Digital Channels at Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR), the governing body behind the best airport in North America, as awarded by Skytrax in 2025. Bringing together two high-performing teams, Jason leads the strategic development and delivery of YVR’s diverse portfolio of software-based products and guest-facing digital experiences, including the groundbreaking Digital Twin and BORDERXPRESS™.
With a keen eye for innovation and a passion for driving excellence, Jason guides the organization’s digital transformation journey, not only enhancing operational efficiency, but also elevating the guest experience in a very human, thoughtful way. His strategic vision and hands-on leadership are instrumental in shaping the future of airport operations, passenger engagement, and industry standards.
As Director of Software Development and Digital Channels, Jason embodies YVR’s commitment to innovation and exceptional guest experience, championing initiatives that set new benchmarks for both operational performance and the way guests connect with the airport.
Day 1: Nov 18, 2025
1:45 pm
CASE STUDY: FROM TARMAC TO TWIN
How YVR Built a Federally Regulated, Revenue-Generating Digital Twin Platform
Since the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has championed in-house innovation with a dedicated software and analytics team focused on operational excellence. YVR’s homegrown digital twin platform—an integrated operational system that consolidates real-time data from airport infrastructure, air carriers, ports, and government departments to improve situational awareness, streamline decisions, and optimize costs per passenger. Leave with a blueprint for:
- Developing a modular digital twin in-house, sidestepping generic vendor solutions
- Breaking down data silos between private companies and federal agencies through robust governance. YVR broke down the wall with Air Canada
- Leverage cross-sector data sharing to model disruptions and scenarios across airside, terminal, and landside environments
- Creating a scalable platform with immediate ROI in 2023. YVR licenses its platform to other ports
- Apply analytics to optimize its diverse revenue streams beyond aeronautical charges
Foster entrepreneurial, AI-ready data cultures even with public-sector board oversight and complex regulations.
Day 2: Nov 19, 2025
8:45 am
OPENING COMMENTS FROM YOUR HOST
Gain insight into today’s sessions so you can get the most out of your conference experience.
9:00 am
OPENING PANEL: WHAT LEADERS WISH THEIR DATA TEAMS KNEW
Bridging the Communication Gap Between Executives and Technical Teams
Senior decision-makers are increasingly relying on data-driven insights to inform high-stakes decisions, but too often, critical information is lost in translation between technical and business domains. Take away specific solutions to:
- Understand the executive lens: what defines “value” in a boardroom context.
- Bridge key disconnects and learn how technical outputs need to be translated into strategic, actionable narratives.
- Structure conversations around risk, opportunity, and outcomes — not just models and metrics.
Advance your understanding of boardroom expectations and gain strategies to elevate the role of data in organizational decision-making.
11:45 am
Panel: ROI of DATA
Finding the Sweet Spot: Identifying Low-Risk, High-Reward Use Cases for Data and AI
Build internal momentum by pinpointing and delivering low-risk, high-reward use cases. Take back to your office strategies to:
- Define clear criteria for evaluating and prioritizing use cases across risk and return.
- Identify functions or departments best suited as early adopters.
- Design proofs of concept that are built to scale.
- Communicate impact effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Amplify your early wins to build trust, secure buy-in, and accelerate adoption of analytics across the organization.
1:45 pm
PANEL: GOVERNANCE
Navigating the Data Governance Tightrope: Balancing Access, Security, and Compliance
Drive innovation while enhancing privacy and security with a unified governance framework. Take back to your office strategies to:
- Adopt the key components of a unified data governance framework and understand how they interconnect.
- Align data governance with business objectives and agile practices.
- Incorporate effective change management strategies for implementing a comprehensive governance model.
Achieve better decision-making by fostering a culture of trust in data and AI.
