Agenda
Thursday, November 13, 2025
All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.
CIO Summit & Awards Canada 2025
One day event
Attendee Check-In & Exhibits
Welcome Remarks
IDC Keynote: Completing The Agentic Journey
A critical next step as enterprises transition from the AI pivot to AI alignment with the business is the enablement of functions with agentic AI across the organization. Rick Villars, IDC’s GVP, Worldwide Research will provide IDC’s latest views on how Agentic AI will influence enterprises’ IT spending plans in the next several years. He will also provide guidance on three critical developments that will make or break the agentic transition.
Rick Villars | IDC
Group Vice President, World Wide Research
Rick Villars
Rick Villars is IDC’s chief analyst guiding research on the future of the IT Industry. He coordinates all IDC research related to the impact of Cloud and the shift to digital business models across infrastructure, platforms, software, and services. He helps enterprises develop effective strategies for using their diverse portfolio of cloud investments and applications. He supplies early guidance on implications of critical innovations such as the shift to cloud-based control platforms for deploying/managing infrastructure, data, and code delivery as well as the emergence of AI as a critical IT workload and part of all IT products/services.
Event Sessions
Thursday, November 13 2025 10:00 am | Location:
IDC Keynote: Completing The Agentic Journey
A critical next step as enterprises transition from the AI pivot to AI alignment with the business is the enablement of functions with agentic AI across the organization. Rick Villars, IDC’s GVP, Worldwide Research will provide IDC’s latest views on how Agentic AI will influence enterprises’ IT spending plans in the next several years. He will also provide guidance on three critical developments that will make or break the agentic transition.
Guided Networking Exercise
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
CIO Panel of Winners 1
Executive Fireside Chat 1
Lightning Insights Round 1
Lunch and Exhibits
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
CIO Winners Panel 2
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
Lightning Insights Round 2
Networking Break & Exhibits
Hosted Discussion Groups
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
Fireside Chat
Closing Keynote
Closing Remarks
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
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