Attendee Check-In & Exhibits

Welcome Remarks

Event Director

Allice Shandler

Sr. Director, Events – Americas, IDC

Host

Shane Schick

Contributing Editor, CIO + IDC

Guided Networking Exercise

Build professional connections during this stress-free guided networking time and learn about your fellow event attendees. Expect to find some of our speakers joining you during this time to network and answer questions candidly from your seat.

Event Director

Allice Shandler

Sr. Director, Events – Americas, IDC

Host

Shane Schick

Contributing Editor, CIO + IDC

Living AI: Our Journey as Client Zero

This session will spotlight Insight’s bold journey into AI transformation, beginning as Client Zero and evolving into a leader in enterprise AI enablement. Reem Gedeon will share how Insight has embedded AI into its DNA—from internal productivity gains to client-facing innovation—through strategic programs like the AI Center of Excellence, the AI Flight Academy, and early adoption of Microsoft Copilot.

Speaker

Reem Gedeon

SVP General Manager, Insight Canada

Innovation in Action: CIO Canada Award-Winning Technology Projects

Join an inspiring panel of technology leaders as they showcase their CIO Canada Award-winning initiatives that are redefining the future of digital transformation. From empowering non-profits through cutting-edge tech solutions, to harnessing AI for revenue optimization in retail and supply chain and leveraging global data analytics to drive productivity and growth—this session offers a behind-the-scenes look at how visionary CIOs are turning bold ideas into impactful results. Discover the strategies, challenges, and breakthroughs that earned national recognition and are shaping the next wave of innovation across industries.

Speaker

Matthieu Houle

Chief Information Officer (CIO), ALDO Group

Speaker

Joseph Edward

Chief Digital Transformation Officer, INVORG

Speaker

Andre Rekhtine

Head of IT, Alpha Auto Group

Moderator

Lee Rennick

Vice President, Strategic Programming & Influencer Engagement, IDC

The Impact of AI on Enterprise Transformation and the Evolving Tech Landscape in Canada

Generative and agentic AI are spawning new opportunities to improve everyday processes and deliver value to employees and customers alike. As more organizations take advantage of AI, we’ll begin to see a shift in how the software development cycle is managed. This session will explore how continuous development is giving way to continuous calibration, and what that means for the organizational roles and the metrics used to define success. 

Speaker

Victoria Vojnovich

Global Industry Principal for AI-Led Legacy Modernization – CTO Office, HCLTech

Moderator

Shane Schick

Contributing Editor, CIO + IDC

Preparing for the Next Wave of Enterprise AI

As enterprises confront the transformative power of agentic AI, this pitch highlights the challenges that emerging AI systems bring to operations. Attendees will learn how leveraging state‑of‑the‑art AI‑ready infrastructure can meet increasing performance needs, control escalating costs, and safeguard data security.

Speaker

Brit Hennig

Director, Cloud and AI Infrastructure, Cisco Systems Canada

Lunch and Exhibits

Pull up a chair and enjoy a delicios buffet lunch with your new contacts! Plus meet our partners and learn how their solutions can help you overcome your latest challenges.

Fueling Reliable AI with Trusted Data

Join IDC’s Tony Olvet and IBM’s Marcela Vairo Pasqualetti for a dynamic conversation on how high-quality, well-governed data powers reliable AI. Discover strategies to break down data silos, improve accuracy, and accelerate value from AI agents and applications. Learn how your organization can get AI-ready and explore opportunities to accelerate data maturity.

Speaker

Marcela Vairo Pasqualetti

Data Platform Sales VP, IBM America

Moderator

Tony Olvet

Group Vice President, Worldwide C-Suite and Digital Business Research, IDC

Transforming Tech Foundations: CIO Canada Award-Winning Projects

Explore the cutting edge of enterprise transformation with this panel of CIO Canada Award-winning leaders who are redefining what’s possible in legacy modernization and data innovation. From integrating Lidar technology into traditional infrastructure, to overhauling legacy systems for agility and scalability, and pioneering advanced data customization strategies—these trailblazing projects showcase how Canadian CIOs are driving measurable impact across industries. Learn how they navigated complex challenges, unlocked new capabilities, and delivered award-winning results that are shaping the future of technology leadership.

Speaker

Lena Yam

Assistant Vice President of Roadside Product & Innovation, CAA Club Group

Speaker

Mike Broadway

Vice President of Technology and Innovation, Acres Enterprises Ltd.

Speaker

Janet Lin

Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Equitable Bank

Moderator

Lee Rennick

Vice President, Strategic Programming & Influencer Engagement, IDC

Building An Agentic Enterprise: The Way Forward For CIOs

AI is changing everything about it means to work and grow in a digital area. Join us for a fireside chat with Salesforce SVP Tara Tokatly about the IT leadership strategies that will help drive embedded, autonomous, conversational, real‑time intelligence across operations.

Our conversation will cover:

• Embracing innovation without discarding legacy systems
• Foundational technologies, workflows and governance considerations
• Achieving buy-in, trust and measurable value

Speaker

Tara Tokatly

Senior Vice President of Solution Engineering, Salesforce

Moderator

Shane Schick

Contributing Editor, CIO + IDC

Automating Data Delivery and Compliance; For AI, DevOps TDM, Data Protection

In today’s fast-paced digital environment, enterprises need rapid, secure, and compliant access to data to power innovation in AI, DevOps, and beyond. Join this session to learn how Delphix automates data delivery across pipelines, enabling organizations to accelerate transformation without sacrificing compliance or introducing risk.

Speaker

Papa Nguer

Senior Solutions Engineer, Perforce Delphix

Networking Break & Exhibits

Hot Topic Discussion Tables

Join a discussion topic that best meets your needs. Facilitated by our partner subject matter experts, take a deep-dive into ideas, common questions, and proven solutions in an interactive, peer-sharing environment.

AI-Ready Infrastructure, hosted by Salesforce
Agentic AI Readiness, hosted by HCL
Scaling AI Infrastructure in the Enterprise, hosted by Cisco
Hybrid Cloud Management, hosted by Insight Canada
Data Resilience at Scale, hosted by Perforce Delphix
Next-gen Cloud Strategies, hosted by Insight Canada 

IDC Analyst Closing Panel

Join top IDC analsyts in this candid discussion about the current trends facing IT leaders today including their futurescape prediction highlights for 2026.

Speaker

Megha Kumar

Research Vice President, Analytics & AI, IDC

Speaker

Jason Bremner

Research VP, IT Consulting and Systems Integration Services, IDC

Speaker

Tony Olvet

Group Vice President, Worldwide C-Suite and Digital Business Research, IDC

Moderator

Lee Rennick

Vice President, Strategic Programming & Influencer Engagement, IDC

Closing Remarks

Moderator

Shane Schick

Contributing Editor, CIO + IDC

CIO Awards Canada Gala

Event Agenda:

• 6pm – Red Carpet Arrivals, photos, opening reception
• 7pm – Dinner & Ceremony
• 8pm – Dessert Reception and Photos
• 9pm – Event concludes

Dress Code: Business Attire/Semi-Formal/Formal

*Ticket purchase required to register and attend gala

Speaker

Allice Shandler

Sr. Director, Events – Americas, IDC

Speaker

Lee Rennick

Vice President, Strategic Programming & Influencer Engagement, IDC

Speaker

Megha Kumar

Research Vice President, Analytics & AI, IDC

Speaker

Aaron Brooks

Vice President, Sales, Insight Canada