IN-PERSON

Toronto CIO Executive Summit

December 15, 2021 | Hilton Toronto

December 15, 2021
Hilton Toronto

Collaborate with your peers

Get together with Toronto's top CIOs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.

Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CIOs today:

Seizing momentum – influencing and leading the enterprise

Thriving through uncertainty - empowering people and delivering value

Advancing and scaling strategic, outcome-based technologies

Toronto CIO Governing Body


The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven by CIOs, for CIOs.

Governing Body Co-Chairs

Cecilia Carbonelli

Haventree Bank
VP of IT

Roman Coba

Federated Co-op Limited (FCL)
CIO & VP Technology

Michael Eubanks

goeasy
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer

Melody Wallis

Procter & Gamble
CIO, P&G Canada

What to Expect

Interactive Sessions

Hear from CIO practitioners and thought leaders on how they're solving critical challenges impacting your role today in Keynote sessions, and join smaller, interactive discussions with your peers in Breakout and Boardroom sessions.

Community Networking

Make new connections and catch up with old friends in casual conversations during dedicated time for networking designed to better acquaint you with your Toronto CIO community.

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a private, one-on-one setting through Evanta's Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

Agenda


December 14, 2021

December 15, 2021

6:00pm - 8:30pm  Governing Body Welcome Reception

Governing Body Private Dinner

Exclusive to Governing Body members and select guests, this dinner is a can’t-miss opportunity to connect with your peers prior to tomorrow’s Executive Summit. Please join your colleagues for an evening of good food, wine, and lively networking.

11:25am - 12:40pm  Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Peer-to-Peer Meetings

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

11:45am - 1:15pm  Lunch Service

12:40pm - 1:00pm  Break

1:00pm - 1:35pm  Keynote

The Business Value of a SASE, Zero-Trust Journey

Shamla Naidoo headshot

Shamla Naidoo

CISO, Head of Cloud Strategy & Innovation

Netskope

With people working remotely and most user traffic destined for SaaS and cloud, network security requires transformation. It’s no longer efficient or cost-effective to route traffic through the corporate network to apply security controls. Adopting a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Architecture while focusing on Zero-Trust principles ensures that your employees can be productive and secure working from anywhere.

In this session, we will discuss:

  • The economics and business case for a SASE journey
  • Best practices for implementing Zero Trust within a SASE architecture
  • The importance of granular Cloud and SaaS visibility in a SASE architecture

1:35pm - 1:50pm  Break

7:30am - 8:15am  Registration & Breakfast

8:15am - 9:00am  Keynote

Positively Diverse Leadership™ — The Future of Leadership

Dr. Kiki Ramsey headshot

Dr. Kiki Ramsey

CEO, The Positive Psychology Coaching and Diversity Institute

Creating a true work culture of diversity, happiness and belonging is not impossible. Unfortunately, many leaders just don’t know where to start for fear of getting it wrong. The good news is we can all learn to positively relate and communicate around issues of DEI and leadership through our strengths! Positive Psychologist Dr. Kiki Ramsey has coined this Positively Diverse Leadership™.

In this presentation leaders will discover:

  • A new and refreshing strength-based approach to DEI and leadership
  • Why happiness is the key to employee engagement and retention
  • How to become a Positively Diverse Leader and create true organizational transformation

9:00am - 9:15am  Break

9:15am - 10:00am  Breakout Session

Cybersecurity — A Business Imperative

Rex Lee headshot

Rex Lee

CIO

Canadian Tire Corporation

Cybersecurity is not a technology problem. It's a business challenge. Today's CIO knows the focus should be on outcomes over output and a plan that never changes is a plan that will fail. How can you ensure these imperatives are understood by the board, C-level executives and business partners?

In this session, you’ll discuss:

  • Obtaining support from fellow executives, business partners and the board
  • Balancing immediate day-to-day cyber combat and long-term proactive capabilities
  • The criticality of shifting from output to outcomes

9:15am - 10:00am  Breakout Session

How to Support Hybrid Work With Conversational AI

Bhavin Shah headshot

Bhavin Shah

CEO & Founder

Moveworks

97% of employees prefer hybrid work, which means it’s your job to help them stay productive from anywhere. But most companies still rely on old technology to support the new normal — preventing their people from getting the help they need. To deliver the experience your employees expect, it takes a faster approach to support: Conversational AI. 

Join this session to learn:

  • Where industry leaders have deployed conversational AI to support hybrid work
  • How the latest AI platforms can adapt to your unique environment while on the job
  • Ways to automatically resolve employees' requests, such as IT issues and HR questions

9:15am - 10:00am  Executive Boardroom

Uncovering the Endless Potential of IoT

Paul Howarth headshot

Paul Howarth

Senior Director Product and Commercial Management

Rogers

With the arrival of 5G, growth opportunities for IoT continue to expand exponentially. Whether you’re focused on improving the way people live, work or play is your organization taking advantage of this new reality?

Join this session to explore:

  • Identifying windows of opportunity for IoT growth
  • Getting the most out of the data and insights you’re gathering
  • Upskilling employees to be literate in the changing technology of IoT

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CIOs).

To reserve your seat, please contact your program manager. 

10:00am - 10:30am  Networking Break

10:30am - 11:15am  Breakout Session

Digital Maturity – Measuring Progress, Identifying Gaps

Peter Singh headshot

Peter Singh

Chief Technology Officer

Toronto District School Board

Ahmad Maqsoodi headshot

Ahmad Maqsoodi

VP, Technology Innovation & Strategy

Andlauer Healthcare Group

While 2022 hangs in front of us like one giant question mark, digital technology stands – fully capable – to deliver more right answers than the world can imagine. But to deliver on the infinite promise of digital ingenuity, organizations must align around a comprehensive maturity model.

In this interactive session, join your CIO peers to benchmark:

  • Organizational clarity around digital business – how your stakeholders collaborate and deliver
  • Levels of digital maturity – where your business stacks up in the competitive landscape
  • Gaps and opportunities for growth – where to invest and how to build competency

10:30am - 11:15am  Breakout Session

Establishing a Culture of Innovation

Debashree Dasgupta headshot

Debashree Dasgupta

Head, Digital Innovation - Canada

Amazon Web Services

To support long-term innovation at speed and scale, organizations must create a culture of innovation that starts with the customer and works backward. By doing so, they build and maintain a “Day 1” culture that fosters innovation and surprises and delights customers.

In this boardroom, you'll discuss:  

  • Mechanisms that help turn good intentions into action, and facilitate high-velocity decision-making
  • Establishing a technical structure that supports rapid growth and change, reduces dependencies, and allows greater access to technology
  • Organizing small, autonomous teams that own what they create, with the right resources to support rapid innovation

10:30am - 11:15am  Executive Boardroom

Weaving a Global Data Fabric to Advance AI

Filip Draskovic headshot

Filip Draskovic

Information Architecture Domain Expert

IBM Canada

Yasemin Sezer headshot

Yasemin Sezer

Head of Technology & Operations

LTI Canada

Melody Wallis headshot

Melody Wallis

CIO, P&G Canada

Procter & Gamble

Smart organizations are fueling their operations with the power of data and AI. Through integrated technologies, a data fabric architecture enables dynamic and intelligent data flows and orchestration across any enterprise to create a network of instantly available information, empower people to do higher value work, and hyper-personalize digital experiences. However, only 2 of 10 firms have scaled their transformation and technology solutions.

Join this boardroom to discuss:

  • Preparing your workforce for a data-first world
  • Improving business outcomes through data-driven decisions and innovation
  • How data and AI can deliver instant benefits to your organization today

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CIOs). To reserve your seat, please contact your program manager.

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11:15am - 11:25am  Break

1:50pm - 2:35pm  Breakout Session

The CIO’s Roadmap — Security at the Center

Medhanie Tekeste headshot

Medhanie Tekeste

Chief Information Officer

Apotex

Chris Lush headshot

Chris Lush

Chief Technology, Innovation and Wagering Officer

Woodbine Entertainment Group

Derek Cullen headshot

Derek Cullen

CIO

Stikeman Elliott

Heightened cybersecurity risks of the last two years have proven security initiatives and business continuity planning must be ingrained in every enterprise’s corporate culture. CIOs must set an example, demonstrating a commitment to security, positioning it at the core of IT and enterprise roadmaps. 

In this interactive session, you’ll discuss:

  • Building robust cybersecurity strategies that align with new business objectives and hybrid workforce models
  • Reconceptualizing cyber roadmaps to enable digital business rather than inhibit innovation
  • Tackle growing security threats against infrastructure through security awareness and threat intelligence

1:50pm - 2:35pm  Executive Boardroom

A Unified Front — The Key to Becoming a Data-Driven Organization

Chris Sandico headshot

Chris Sandico

Head, AWS Skills Guild

Amazon Web Services

Nastaran Bisheban headshot

Nastaran Bisheban

Chief Technology Officer

Yum Brands - KFC Canada

When utilized correctly, data is an invaluable source of potential growth. It can unlock your organization’s ability to make quicker decisions and uncover new opportunities. However, none of this is possible if your team doesn’t have data positioned at its core so what’s the key to getting everyone to buy in?

Join a small group of your peers to discuss:

  • Communicating the inherent value of data and leveraging it intelligently
  • Creating a culture that embraces the power of being data-driven
  • Building data capabilities to drive that culture

Executive boardrooms are intimate and interactive sessions designed to foster dynamic dialogue around a specific, strategic topic. These private, closed-door discussions encourage attendee participation and are limited to 15 attendees (seating priority is given to CIOs).

To reserve your seat, please contact your program manager.

2:35pm - 3:05pm  Networking Break

3:05pm - 3:40pm  Keynote

Building Your Dream Team — Attraction, Retention & Diversity

Fariba Rawhani headshot

Fariba Rawhani

CIO

Teranet

Roger Favero headshot

Roger Favero

CIO

HomeEquity Bank

Christopher O’Sullivan headshot

Christopher O’Sullivan

Chief Information Officer

BFL CANADA

The pandemic changed almost everything about the way we work — and Gartner research shows we’ll be feeling the effects of those changes for years to come. Despite these forced-transitions, one necessity remains the same — a skilled and diverse workforce.

Pull up a chair as your peers discuss:

  • Strategies for bringing on new employees
  • Retaining talent amid the Great Resignation
  • The cruciality of building a diverse workforce

3:40pm - 4:10pm  Closing Reception & Prize Drawing

December 14, 2021

December 15, 2021

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming in-person gathering


Location


Venue & Accommodation

Hilton Toronto
MORE INFORMATION

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Toronto at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 1-800-445-8667. Please mention EVAN21 to ensure the appropriate room rate.

Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $199 CAD (plus tax) is December 11, 2021.

Your Community Partners


CIO Thought Leaders
Key Partners
Program Partners
HOST PARTNER

Community Program Manager


For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.

Lee Hutchison

Program Manager

682.808.3866

lee.hutchison@evanta.com