Blair Attard-Frost

Curriculum Vitae

Education

PhD, Information Studies – University of Toronto (2019 – Present, supervised by Professor Kelly Lyons)

Master of Information (MI), Knowledge Management & Information Management – University of Toronto (2014 – 2016)

Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA), English specialist, Writing & Rhetoric minor – University of Toronto (2007 – 2014)

Honours & Awards

2021-2024: Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral

2019-2020, 2020-2021, & 2024-2025: Ontario Graduate Scholarship

2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022: Faculty of Information Excellence Award

2016: Ontario Library Association Anniversary Prize (Highest GPA in graduating masters class)

2016: Letter of Achievement – Beta Phi Mu, the International Library and Information Studies Honor Society (Graduated with GPA of 3.9 or greater)

2015: ARMA Toronto Chapter Award

2014: Samuel James Stubbs Award

2014 & 2010: Norma Epstein Foundation Award in Creative Writing

Work Experience

Visit me on LinkedIn for more details about my work experience.

Course Instructor, University of Toronto

  • Fall 2024 & Spring 2024 at Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy – Designed and delivered PPG2016: Ethics & Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Public Policy
  • Spring 2024 at Faculty of Information – Designed and delivered INF1005: Artificial Intelligence Policy

Teaching Assistant, University of Toronto Faculty of Information

  • Fall 2022 – INF2176: Information Management in Organizations – Models & Platforms
  • Spring 2022 – INF2210: Human Values in Data Science
  • Fall 2019 – INF1003: Information Systems, Services, & Design

Research Assistant, University of Toronto Faculty of Information – SSHRC-funded Seeking and Avoiding Information in a Risky World Project with Professor Chun Wei Choo (2020-2021)

Strategic Advisor, ResearchAI (2019)

National Director, ResearchAI (2019)

Research & Information Strategy Associate, Toronto Metropolitan University (2018-2019)

Digital Transformation Consultant, freelance (2017-2018)

Freedom of Information Analyst, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (2016-2017)

Information Management Intern, Legislative Assembly of Ontario (2016)

Research Intern, Institute for Citizen-Centred Service (2015)

Publications

In-Press & Under Review
  • Attard-Frost, B. & Widder, D. G. (2024). The ethics of AI value chains. Pre-print available on arXiv. (Under review in Big Data & Society)
  • Attard-Frost, B. & Hayes, H. A. (2024). Valuing value chains: The governance of AI value chains in Canada. Pre-print available on SSRN. (Forthcoming chapter in Regulating Digital, University of Toronto Press)
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
  • Attard-Frost, B. & Lyons, K. (2024). AI governance systems: A multi-scale analysis framework, empirical findings, and future directions. AI and Ethics, September 2024.
  • Attard-Frost, B., Brandusescu, A., & Lyons, K. (2024). The governance of artificial intelligence in Canada: Findings and opportunities from a review of 84 AI governance initiatives. Government Information Quarterly, 41(2), June 2024, 101929.
  • Attard-Frost, B., De los Ríos, A., & Walters, D. R. (2023). The ethics of AI business practices: A review of 47 AI ethics guidelines. AI and Ethics, 3, 389-406.
  • Frost, R B. (2020). Emerging national artificial intelligence innovation systems in Canada and China: Strategic governance and institutional evolution. SPACES Online: Spatial Aspects Concerning Economic Structures, 16(1).
  • Frost, R. & Lyons, K. (2017). Service systems analysis methods and components: A systematic literature review. Service Science, 9(3), 219-234.
  • Frost, R. B. & Choo, C. W. (2017). Revisiting the information audit: A systematic literature review and synthesis. International Journal of Information Management, 37(1), 1380-1390.
Book Chapters
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023). Queering intelligence: A theory of intelligence as performance and a critique of individual and artificial intelligence. In M. Klipphahn-Karge, A.-K. Koster, & S. Morais dos Santos Bruss (Eds.), Queer Reflections on AI: Uncertain Intelligences (23-39). Routledge.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2022). Public service, public-as-a-service, and public self-service: The case of Sidewalk Toronto. In A. Brandusescu & J. Reia (Eds.), AI in the City: Building Civic Engagement and Public Trust. (42-44). Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Montreal, McGill University.
  • Frost, R. B., Cheng, M., & Lyons, K. (2019). A multilayer framework for service system analysis. In P. P. Maglio, C. A. Kieliszewski, J. C. Spohrer, K. Lyons, L. Patricio, & Y. Sawatani (Eds.), Handbook of Service Science, Volume II (285-306). Springer.
Research Reports
  • Hung, K.-H., Attard-Frost, B., Li, L. X., & Katrak, M. (2024). Canada case study. Artificial Intelligence Policy Observatory for the World of Work (AIPOWW), University of Essex and International Labour Organization.
  • Attard-Frost, B. & Lyons, K. (2024). Perceptions of Canada’s AI governance system: Findings from interviews with 20 government leaders & subject matter experts. Available on SSRN.
  • Bower, C. & Frost, R. (2018). Employment Sector Council’s Common Assessment Process: A case study of a collaborative community approach to service delivery, access, and excellence. Toronto: Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation.
  • Bailey, S. K. & Frost, R. (2018). Intergenerational healing and growth: A case study of the Aboriginal Skills Advancement Program. Toronto: Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation.
Policy Briefs
  • Attard-Frost, B., Brandusescu, A., & Sieber, R. (2023, November 6). Comments on “Guide on the use of Generative AI”.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, September 6). Comments on “Canadian Guardrails for Generative AI – Code of Practice”.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, June 5). Generative AI systems: Impacts on artists & creators and related gaps in the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act.  Brief submitted to the Parliament of Canada Standing Committee on Industry and Technology. Available on OurCommons.ca.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2022, September 22). Comments on the 3rd Review of the Directive on Automated Decision-making.
Essays & Op-eds
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, December 16). AI countergovernance. Midnight Sun.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, November 22). Artificial intelligence in the interregnum. Heliotrope.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2022, February 21). Once a promising leader, Canada’s artificial-intelligence strategy is now a fragmented laggard. The Globe and Mail.
In the News
  • Ore, J. (2024, March 9). Could the next superstar radio host be an AI? Maybe not soon, but it is coming: experts. CBC Radio. (Author requested and published my comments on the ethics and economics of AI radio hosts).
  • Hemmadi, M. (2023, October 30). Digital rights advocates say Ottawa’s AI law still needs work – or a do-over. The Logic. (Author requested and published my comments on Canada’s proposed AI legislation).
  • Galea, I. (2023, September 27). Canadian tech companies sign on to AI code of conduct as law evolves. The Globe and Mail. (Author requested and published my comments on Canadian AI policy).
  • Samuel, S. (2023, August 29). Drawing a line. This Magazine. (Author requested and published my comments on the ethics of AI art).
  • Blome, T. (2023, February 27). ChatGPT und Bard: Search Wars, Episode zwei. Der Freitag. (Author requested and published my comments on AI ethics & regulation).
  • CBC News: The National (2022, December 11). Ethical concerns about popular AI-generated art portraits. CBC News. (Interviewed as part of a story about the ethics of AI art).
  • Balakrishnan, A. (2022, November 24). The Vector Institute at five. The Logic. (Author requested and published my comments on Canada’s AI governance approach).
  • Weaver, J. (2022, October 22). Technology has upended how art is created and consumed. Is that a good thing? CBC News. (Author requested and published my comments on the ethics and regulation of AI art).

Presentations & Appearances

Academic Conferences & Workshops
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2024, September 23-24). The AI governance value chain: Challenges for distributive justice & policy. Convening on Accountability & Political Economy of AI Supply Chains. Cornell Tech.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, May 23-24). The ontological crisis in artificial intelligence: Normative positions, interpretive frames, & future directions. (un)Stable Diffusions Symposium. Concordia University.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2022, June 16-17). The new ontologies of AI: A dilemma for AI governance. Hype, Hyper, or Over-hyped? A Student Symposium on Critical AI Studies in Canada, Concordia University.
  • Frost, R B. (2021, June 21-22). Intelligence as performance. Queer AI: On the Coming Out of Smart Machines, Technische Universität Dresden.
  • Frost, R B. (2020, October 22). AI governance systems: Ontological explorations in the Canadian context. CAIS 2020, Canadian Association for Information Science.
  • Frost, R. B., De los Rios, A. F., & Walters, D. R. (2020, July 27-28). Business practices and political economy in the AI ethics literature. EI4AI: Ethical Innovation for Artificial Intelligence, University of Toronto and University College London.
  • Frost, R. B. (2020, June 2-5). Mystical boxes, mechanical horrors, and crises of control: A history of AI governance. Canadian Communication Association Conference, London, ON. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
  • Frost, R. B. (2020, April 30-May 2). The queer æffects of information. “What is Information?” Conference, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, United States. (Unable to attend due to COVID-19)
  • Frost, R. (2016, March 18 – 19). iVal: An information evaluation framework for knowledge workers. 2016 iSchool Student Conference, University of Toronto. Proceedings published in The iJournal, 1(2).
Invited Talks
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2024, November 18). AI ethics & trans resistance. National Virtual Event – Trans Day of Remembrance. Keynote talk & workshop session for Canada Learning Code.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2024, September 18). Rethinking AI governance: Justice, sustainability, and the future of AI. Ontario Public Service Finance Day Virtual Event – Demystifying AI: The Transformative Impacts for Public Sector Finance. Financial Management Institute of Canada – Ontario Chapter.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2024, April 18). Canada’s AI governance system. Ontario Digital Service.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2024, March 20). AI countergovernance: Opposing AI governance in theory & practice. University of Essex, Essex Business School.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, April 26). Research ethics planning as reflective practice. Government of Canada Research Ethics Community of Practice.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2022, December 6). The ethics of AI value chains: Implications for policy & practice. AI Ethics Speaker Series. Canada Revenue Agency: Research & Innovation Lab Directorate.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2022, October 19). AI governance and worker protections in Canada. Workshop: Proposal for an ILO Policy Observatory on Work in the Digital Economy. International Labour Organization.
Invited Panels
  • Daley, D., Zed, J., Attard-Frost, B., Snyder, E., & Montoya, J. (2024, November 6). Panel on “Building a safe and inclusive AI future: The roles of government, tech, and users.” QT Conference 2024. QueerTech, Toronto.
  • Attard-Frost, B., Manning, R., Massari, M., Olson, M., & Straw, W. (2024, October 23). Panel on “When AI meets cultural policy, heritage, and creativity.” Reimagining AI for Environmental Justice and Creativity. University of Virginia: Karsh Institute of Democracy, UVA Environmental Institute, and UVA School of Data Science.
  • Attard-Frost, B., Ghosh, R., & Antwi, E. (2024, September 25). Panel on “Diverse knowledge systems in data and computer modeling.” 2nd Annual Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Workshop. Natural Resources Canada, AI-Quantum Community of Practice.
  • Attard-Frost, B., Draganic, L., & Hartman, L. (2024, September 21). Panel on “Queer rights and AI.” Out on Bay Street Conference 2024. Start Proud, Toronto.
  • Attard-Frost, B., Konnelly, L., Bobkin, M., & Reyes, M. (2024, June 27). Panel on “Connectedness, solidarity, and how to combat cis-het-normativity in AI/tech together.” Cohere Pride Camp. Cohere, Toronto.
  • Attard-Frost, B., Hickson, E., & Reyes, M. (2024, June 26). Panel on Responsible AI. QT Connect Meetup Toronto. QueerTech, Toronto.
  • Attard-Frost, B., Slater, D., & Zhang, L. (2024, May 30). Panel on “Navigating the AI regulatory landscape.” CanStudyUS Virtual Fellowship. The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University.
  • McKoy, C., Attard-Frost, B., Lubin, K.-L., & Dila, M. (2024, March 13). Co-creating AI futures: Design, ethics, and citizen engagement. DesignMeets. Toronto.
  • Barata, P., Attard-Frost, B., Ingram, K., & Madaio, M. (2024, February 7). Panel on “Building responsible AI ecosystems in Canadian colleges.” Charting the Course: AI’s Influence on Canadian Colleges. Canadian Council of College Futures, The Conference Board of Canada.
  • Vincent, M., Running Wolf, M., Çetin, R. B., & Attard-Frost, B. (2023, August 23). Panel on “Resisting unstable diffusions: Art and the governance of AI.” MUTEK Forum 2023: Future Currents. MUTEK Festival, Montréal.
  • Attard-Frost, B., Balakrishnan, A., Bednar, V., Kelln, R., & Upshur, R. (2023, May 20). Panel on “The promise and perils of AI”. Provocation Ideas Festival, Toronto.
  • Phan, M., Treviranus, J., & Attard-Frost, B. (2023, May 5). Data equity panel. GO Open Data Conference 2023 (GOOD23): Bridging the Open Divide. GO Open Data Association.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2022, November 16). The ethics of AI value chains: Implications for gender equality and the environment. Roundtable on Gender Equality in Digital Economies and the Environment. AI on a Social Mission 2022.
Guest Lectures
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, November 14). Framework design for AI governance research. INF3003: Research in Information: Frameworks and Design. University of Toronto Faculty of Information, course instructor Dr. Leslie Shade.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, October 3). The governance of AI systems. INF2240: Political Economy and Cultural Studies of Information. University of Toronto Faculty of Information, course instructor Dr. Rafael Grohmann.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, August 2). The ethics of AI value chains: Implications for policy, practice, & HR. REI6615: Digital HR. Université de Montréal School of Industrial Relations, course instructor Dr. Pamela Lirio.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2023, February 28 & March 1). Moral dilemmas in data science. INF2210: Human Values in Data Science. University of Toronto Faculty of Information, course instructors Dr. Seamus Ross & Dr. Tegan Maharaj.
  • Attard-Frost, B. (2022, March 2). Moral dilemmas in data science. INF2210: Human Values in Data Science. University of Toronto Faculty of Information, course instructors Dr. Seamus Ross & Yolanda Zhang.
  • Frost, R. B. (2017, July 6). Information problem identification & information audits. INF2306: Designing for Knowledge Work. University of Toronto Faculty of Information, course instructor Dr. Colin Furness.
Podcast Episodes
  • Tech Policy Press (2024, February 11). Imagining AI Countergovernance.
  • The Data Fix with Dr. Mél Hogan (2023, June 12). Refusal, with Blair Attard-Frost.
  • The Gradient (2023, January 26). Blair Attard-Frost: Canada’s AI strategy and the ethics of AI business practices.

Service & Activities

AI Advisor, AI Skills Lab Canada (October 2024 – Present)

Workshop Co-organizer, “From Stem to Stern: Contestable AI Along AI Value Chains” at CSCW 2024 (November 9, 2024)

Research Advisory Board Member, AI and the Future of Post-Secondary Education. The Conference Board of Canada (October 2023 – October 2024)

Program Committee Member, ACM FAccT Conference 2024, “Law & Policy” and “Critical Studies” tracks

Reviewer, Northern Lights and Silicon Dreams: AI Governance in Canada (2011-2022). Report by Shaping AI, Concordia University (2024).

Roundtable Participant, Joint Multi-stakeholder Roundtable on the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act. Toronto Metropolitan University, The Dais, and Centre for Media, Technology, & Democracy (October 10, 2023)

Workshop Participant, Examining Approaches to Worker Led Governance of Data and AI Technologies, CIFAR (August 16-17, 2023)

Reviewer, AI and Ethics (2 papers) and AI & Society (1 paper) (2022 – 2023)

Mentor, iSchool Research Mentorship Program (2021 – 2022)

Workshop Co-organizer, “How has COVID-19 changed the development and adoption of data science across firms and industries?” at IBM EVOKE x CASCON 2020 (November 10-13, 2020)

Conference Co-organizer, EI4AI: Ethical Innovation for Artificial Intelligence, University of Toronto and University College London (July 27-28, 2020)

Co-convener, The Ends of the Worlds reading group at the McLuhan Centre for Culture and Technology (2020 – 2021)

Founding Editor-in-Chief, The iJournal (2015 – 2016)

Associate Editor, IDIOM: English Undergraduate Academic Journal (2013 – 2014)

Associate Editor, University College Review (2012 – 2013)

Member of Beta Phi Mu, the International Library and Information Studies Honor Society

Certificates

Customer Development – MaRS Discovery District (2019)

Exploratory Data Analysis – Johns Hopkins University (2015)

Getting and Cleaning Data – Johns Hopkins University (2015)

 

Last updated November 4, 2024