麻豆传媒

ESTEVAN — Estevan native Andrew Wahba, CEO of Variable Hub Software and executive director of Tech Career Bridge, will return to his hometown to lead an Innovation Conversation on July 11. The event, titled From Estevan to the World: Global Career Building with Local Roots, will be hosted by Southeast College and the Southeast Tech Hub.

"Andrew is so passionate about technology and innovation," said Tania Hlohovsky Andrist, the lead officer of applied research at the Southeast College's Centre of Sustainable Innovation. "He brings a real provincial outlook to innovation, and his current companies, Tech Career Bridge and Variable Hub Software are just absolutely on the cutting edge, using AI and interacting with people in a way that hasn't been done before. It is so creative. It's so innovative and really interesting. He's a really good speaker as well."

Wahba is involved in a local career and economic development project with the community, Hlohovsky Andrist said, and added that he will talk more about it at the event. She noted that his extensive experience in the innovation sector in Saskatchewan has established him as a leading figure in the tech community.

"Andrew himself has a really interesting career journey," Hlohovsky Andrist said. "He's done a few things and travelled quite a bit. … Now, they're involving AI technology and some really innovative new tools to help people explore their career options."

The event aims to connect local talent with global opportunities, showcasing how local people can build a successful career right here in Estevan while reaching out to the world. The Innovation Conversation aims to inspire the local community and shed light on how AI and technology are revolutionizing the job market.

"This Innovation Conversation is not just for people who are looking for work or trying to change careers. It's for anyone who's interested in how AI is changing the way that we interact with the world," Hlohovsky Andrist said. "It will spark people's imagination and help them understand how tech is impacting everyday life."

The event will also serve as a launchpad for promoting the upcoming ICED Rural Innovation Conference in September. Additionally, Southeast College and Southeast Tech Hub will use the occasion to sign a partnership agreement, committing to collaborative projects that enhance the region and align with their joint goals.

"By working together and by collaborating, we're just so much stronger in the southeast, especially in this tech and innovation space," Hlohovsky Andrist emphasized.

The Innovation Conversation will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Southeast College's Estevan campus and will be available both in-person and via live stream. Attendees are encouraged to register through Southeast TechHub's website. The event will include networking opportunities and refreshments.

For more information and to register, visit the Southeast TechHub's website at estevanhub.ca.