Date & Time:
January 22nd, 2026 @ 3:00 – 4:00 PM EST (8:00 PM GMT / 7:00 AM AEDT)
Synopsis:
Canva’s mission is to empower the world to design. A major challenge to that mission is responsibly building the AI-powered tools that designers want. This is not just the newest and fanciest generative-AI tools. Single task tools, like background removers and stock media library search require data that represents our user community in order to perform at the level our users expect.
To create the best experience for users, this data must be as unique and diverse as our community. However, no one can do their best creative work if they do not feel safe and empowered. We want our users to experience high-quality protection for their personal information and personal creations, so every use of their content must be carefully considered.
In this discussion, I will share our journey building an in-house AI consent platform. I will share how to build an end-to-end ecosystem to simultaneously empower users to control their data and power the next generation of AI tools. This ecosystem spans from the user experience of controlling preferences, to the controls and platforms that ensure our 100+ models respect user decisions every day.
Speaker: Phillip Ward
Subgroup Lead, Privacy Engineering at Canva. Engineering systems to meet human expectations of privacy
Moderator: Ralph O’Brien
After two and a half decades of work at the forefront of the privacy sector, I have built my career around making the intricacies of Privacy & Security risk management understandable. I enjoy passing on my passion for privacy by translating often complicated legal concepts, into sustainable business processes taking a design approach that add value, rather than compliance costs.
You’ll receive the services of an experienced consultant, speaker, trainer, auditor, negotiator and project manager. I use my knowledge of data protection laws and information governance standards to help businesses develop and grow, engage their stakeholders, and to deliver real value to my clients, that can also protect individual rights.
