Opening Keynote: Don Drummond, Former Senior VP & Chief Economist @ TD Bank  

Topic: Economic Outlook Update 

Dr. Howard E. Johnson, Head of Canadian M&A at Kroll Corporate Finance Canada

Topic: Creating Shareholder Value

This presentation will address the primary drivers of shareholder value and demonstrate how the key to shareholder value lies in the creation of intangible value within an organization.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the 3 main drivers of shareholder value.
• Understand the impact of financial leverage on shareholder value.
• Identify ways to enhance intangible value within an organization.

Cathy Cobey, CPA, CA, EY Global Responsible AI Leader – Assurance

Topic: Responsible AI & Ethics (Agentic AI Use Cases)

In this session, we will explore agentic AI use cases that can enhance finance transactional processing and decision-making. We also discuss the responsible AI practices and ethical considerations related to the deployment of Agentic AI technologies. The discussion emphasizes the critical need for integrating responsible AI into AI development and usage, particularly within corporate finance.  

Key Takeaways: 

• Emerging use cases of Agentic AI in corporate finance, showcasing its potential to optimize financial operations while maintaining ethical integrity. 
• Importance of adopting modified AI governance frameworks that guide the responsible use of AI, ensuring reliability, transparency and accountability. 
• Understanding where traditional technology governance and controls needs to be modified and enhanced for agentic AI applications.

Alex Garber, CPA, CA, MTax, Tax Advisor & Educator, Adjunct Professor Schulich School of Business

Topic: 2026 Corporate Tax Update

This session will provide an overview of recent changes in the area of income taxation for corporations.  The topics will be geared towards small and medium enterprises.

Kelly Martin, CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer 

Topic: Forecasting Fundamentals

Learn the fundamentals required to develop annual and long-range budgets / forecasts that align with your Company’s strategic plan.

Key Takeaways:  

• Best practices in the development of budgets / forecasts.
• Leveraging technology solutions to create efficiencies.
• Pitfalls and solutions to managing the annual budget / forecast cycle.

Panel Session with the Host

Speakers: Dale Tingley, Co-Managing Partner, Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF) & Melanie Russell, FCPA, FCA, President and Senior Managing Director- Kalex Partners Inc. - Valuation & Forensic Experts  

Topic: Going Private: Why Companies Are Exiting Capital Markets

Closing Keynote: Davinder Valeri, CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services Strategy, Risk and Sustainability Executive 

Topic: Strategic Planning & Financial Management 

Opening Keynote: Carl Oxholm, Founder and CEO at Virtue Compass Inc.

Topic: The Biology of Leadership: Practical Tools for Leading with Resilience, Energy, and Authenticity 

Key Takeaways:

1. Self-Awareness is the Foundation of Effective Leadership
   Leaders must first understand and manage their own emotional and physiological states before they can positively influence others. The science is clear: “We feel before we think.” Recognizing our triggers and practicing self-regulation (using tools that will be shared) enables our ability to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively—especially when under pressure. 
    
2. The Quality, Focus, and Expression of Your Energy Shapes Your Team
   Leadership is an energetic act. The quality of your energy (physical, emotional, mental), your ability to focus attention intentionally, and how you express yourself (through words, tone, and body language) directly impact the performance and well-being of those you lead. We'll equip you with practices that can dramatically improve your resilience and your team’s engagement.
    
3. Authenticity and Compassion Create Psychological Safety and High Performance
   The most effective leaders are those who are consistent, authentic, and compassionate. When you “walk your talk,” model vulnerability, and create a culture of safety, you unlock discretionary effort and innovation in your teams. Leadership is not about perfection, but about progress and the willingness to learn, adapt, and celebrate others (in service of what matters).   

Gillian Ash, Fraud & Forensic Investigator |Director Governance Associates Incorporated

Topic: Robust Internal Controls For Fraud Management - Strengthening Organizational Defenses Against Fraud

As fraud schemes grow more sophisticated, organizations must evolve beyond traditional safeguards to build truly resilient control environments. This session explores how robust internal controls, enhanced by data analytics and artificial intelligence, can proactively detect anomalies, flag high-risk transactions, and reinforce ethical conduct across operations. Attendees will gain practical insights into designing smart controls, leveraging predictive technologies, and aligning compliance strategies with real-time risk intelligence. Whether you're in finance, enforcement, or governance, this presentation offers a roadmap to modern fraud resilience.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how AI and analytics strengthen fraud detection and internal control effectiveness.
• Explore practical frameworks for risk-based control design and continuous monitoring.
• Explore tools, technologies, and cultural practices that reinforce ethical conduct and accountability.

Milan Legris, Wealth & Tax Planning Consultant at Canada Life 

Topic: Wealth and Tax Planning for Corporations 

Fire-Side Chat Session: Wenzel Ryan Reyes, CPA, CA, Senior Director, Methodology and AI Audit Solutions at MindBridge & Narbe Alexandrian, CPA, CA, Founder & CEO @ Define Capital 

Topic: AI and Staffing (Mid-Small Company)  |  Transforming Audits and Empowering Fellow CPAs  |  Automation Opportunities | Implementing Effective Internal Controls (and Use of AI in the Processes) 

Jennifer Heath, Employment Lawyer, Partner at Piccolo Heath LLP

Topic: Employment Update – Workplace Law Update

Recent legislative updates and court decisions mean that many Ontario employers need to tune up their agreements, policies, and practices. From hiring practices, employment agreements, vacation and other wage accruals, to termination strategies, we will cover the necessary updates and provide practical guidance on how to implement them.

Participants Will Learn About:

• New employee recruitment obligations.
• Recent issues regarding termination provision enforceability and wrongful dismissal awards.
• Updates on leaves of absence and disability claims.
• Risks of vacation pay banks, miscalculations, and audits.
• Workplace law hot topics, including the impact of AI in the hiring process, general damages in settlements, and harassment investigations.

Joy Nott, CMILT, Partner, National Tax, Trade and Customs Practice at KPMG Canada

Topic: Business Resilience in VUCA Times – How Canadians are Navigating International Trade in Turbulent Times 

Navigate the intersection of cross border trade and customs compliance as Canadian companies look for stable footing amid geopolitical volatility and shifting tariffs. This session unpacks how evolving trade agreements and supply chain dynamics affect Canadian exports, offering insights on how international traders can manage tariff exposure and mitigate trade compliance risk while planning for long term changes to their exporting strategy.  

Key Takeaways: 

• An understanding of the current tariff landscape in both Canada and the U.S. 
• Insight into what some Canadian companies are doing to mitigate the impact of tariffs.
• A look over the horizon with what could be happening next and how Canadian companies can prepare to be resilient and thrive in turbulent times.

Closing Keynote: David Allison, Human Values Research Pioneer, 2X Best-Selling Author

Topic: Boosting Sales by Being Human: Explosive Sales and ROI Growth Using Shared Human Values 

David Allison, human values expert, electrifying keynote speaker, and 2x best-selling author, has cracked the code. For the first time, he has transformed our shared human values into actionable, data-driven insights through nearly a million surveys in 152 languages and hundreds of millions of data points. Using this unparalleled data, David crafts custom keynotes from scratch, tailoring each presentation to address the unique needs and challenges of the audience in front of him. His findings reveal a profound neurological truth: every decision we make—thousands of times a day—is driven by our values. That’s why David’s groundbreaking discoveries are featured in college textbooks, trusted by industry giants like Google, PayPal, and lululemon, and celebrated by global organizations such as the United Nations Foundation.

Key Takeaways: 

• The specific Power Values that will empower you to engage people and influence outcomes. 
• Creative, detailed strategies to immediately put the Power Values to use. 
• Allison’s revolutionary Values Thinking Process that turns shared values into actionable tactics. 
• The Three Telltale Questions that will identify the shared values of anyone you want to engage and inspire. 

Key Sales Insights Explored Include How To: 

• Build better bonds: Discover how to align sales strategies with customer values for deeper connections and better results. 
• Identify drivers: Learn how to identify key values that drive purchasing decisions in diverse customer groups. 
• Speak their language: Master the art of values-based communication to resonate with customers’ core beliefs and needs. 
• This presentation is great for sales teams and leaders, marketing departments and agencies, and organizational leaders looking to revolutionize their businesses from the ground up.