Microsoft Copilot for Planners: Practical AI Skills You Can Use this Week - NEW
Date:
April 13, 2026
Location:
Virtual - Zoom
Time:
9:30 AM (EST)
2-Part Virtual Workshop
Dates:
Part 1: April 13, 2026
Part 2: April 15, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
CPL: 4 Units
Please Note: This workshop is delivered three times annually. The second offering, Microsoft Copilot for Planners, will take place in June.
Registration in this workshop is intended for one person only. Recording or AI transcription is not permitted. For accessibility requests or questions, please contact events@ontarioplanners.ca.
In the face of Ontario’s 'polycrisis', Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a luxury, but an immediate operational necessity.
This interactive, hands-on workshop moves beyond the hype to provide the practical, tactical AI workflows you can implement today using the Microsoft and Google tools already at your disposal.
Reclaim your time. Delivered as a hands-on experience, this course empowers participants to cut through administrative bottlenecks, with a focus on mastering high-impact tasks like automating initial policy research & analysis, summarizing complex public consultations, and rapidly drafting initial zoning amendment rationales, with quality control measures in place.
Crucially, this training grounds technical skill in professional responsibility. We will take a deep dive into recognizing and addressing biased data, bluntly address the risks of AI 'hallucination,' and demonstrate why the 'Human-in-the-Loop' model is the only viable future. You will leave with a clear roadmap for becoming a 'Centaur' Planner - one who leverages machine intelligence for efficiency while retaining human judgment for strategy and ethics."
- Research and Analysis: Master new AI-driven tools and methods to rapidly acquire and process complex policy, legislative, and community information, fundamentally changing how planning research is conducted.
- Summarize and Synthesize: Develop proficiency in using AI tools to quickly condense massive documents and data sets into actionable summaries and high-level reports for internal and public communication.
- Decision Support & Quality Control: Learn to implement "human-in-the-loop" workflows that maximize AI efficiency while maintaining critical human oversight for validation, accuracy, and professional accountability.
- Ethical and Responsible Use of AI: Establish a strong foundational understanding of AI ethics, privacy standards, and responsible deployment to ensure compliance with professional obligations and the RPP designation.
Facilitator: Lavesh Chattlani
Lavesh Chattlani is an AI consultant and technology executive specializing in practical AI applications for professional services. With over a decade of experience driving digital transformation in the accounting and finance sectors, he has held senior leadership roles at Intuit and Sage, where he launched the Canadian Professional Services Division and led business units focused on modernizing professional practices. Trained as an Innovation Catalyst by Intuit founder Scott Cook, Lavesh applies human-centered design thinking to help organizations bridge the gap between emerging technology and real-world business impact.
Since the launch of ChatGPT, Lavesh has dedicated extensive time to hands-on experimentation with AI tools, developing frameworks for practical implementation. He delivers over 40 courses annually through provincial CPA bodies and industry organizations, and has provided AI training to US state government agencies. An avid real estate investor, Lavesh brings both technical expertise and firsthand business experience to his teaching, sharing insights drawn from thousands of conversations with professionals across North America. His approach emphasizes actionable strategies that professionals can implement immediately, focusing on demystifying AI through experimentation, ethical application, and measurable outcomes.
FEES:
Members: $300 + HST
Non-Members: $325 + HST
OPPI Student Member/Retired Member: $265 + HST
