Agenda

Today’s boards must be adaptive, bold, and intentional when exercising their oversight of culture, strategy, and risk. By being resilient by design, the board and their organizations have the potential for greater impact.

DOWNLOAD AGENDA REGISTER

June 3: Pre-conference Events

11:00 - 1:00 PM MT | Empire Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

ICD.D Director Dilemma Luncheon

Engage with fellow ICD.D designation holders and gain new perspectives and insights by participating in an interactive Director Dilemma session led by the DEP faculty from Rotman School of Management.

For ICD.D designation holders

2:00 - 3:00 PM MT | Empire Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

Governing Mega Projects

Mega projects, particularly energy and infrastructure initiatives, are pivotal to Canada’s economic growth. Effective Board governance and oversight throughout the process is essential for success. Join KPMG in Canada to learn more about proactive actions directors can take to successfully govern mega projects.

Seats are limited. Add this session to your registration.

Session sponsored by KPMG.

3:30 - 5:00 PM MT | Winspear Centre

Orchestrating Your Board

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra invites you to experience Orchestrating Your Board, an immersive and entertaining workshop designed to elevate your leadership approach. The experience aims to foster innovative leadership skills for directors by drawing parallels between the work of a conductor and that of board leadership.

Seats are limited. Add this session to your registration.

5:30 - 7:00 PM MT | Empire Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

Welcome Reception

Connect with accomplished directors from across Canada at the opening cocktail event. The reception is hosted in the Empire Ballroom and Terrace offering magnificent views of the North Saskatchewan River Valley.

Sponsored by: Deloitte

8:30 - 4:30 PM MT | Edmonton Convention Centre

June 4: ICD National Director Conference

7:30 AM MT

Networking Breakfast

Welcome Remarks

Morning Keynote

Resilience in Action: Leading Through Complexity

Yvonne Camus understands that in complex and uncertain circumstances, we must plan for when (not if) things go wrong. Competing in the Eco-Challenge, a global adventure racing challenge in the jungles of Borneo, she learned important lessons about finding solutions, the value of resilience, and making tough decisions in highly challenging conditions. Ms. Camus will offer insight into the components of human resilience we must lean into.

Opening Plenary

Canada on the Global Stage: Economic Opportunity, Strategy and Risk

Hear expert panelists discuss today’s geopolitical landscape and how Canada fits into shifting policy direction, as well as the questions boards can ask to guide organizations to stay ahead of the curve.

Morning Breakout Sessions

Making Indigenous Partnerships Essential

Hear how boards can guide organizations to make meaningful strides towards reconciliation through novel Indigenous partnerships that economically benefit all parties.

Refining the Rules for Modern Work Cultures

Explore the critical role of boards in ensuring that as organizations continue to evolve their post-pandemic work models, they foster cultures that are right for their organizations.

Innovation: A Board Imperative

Discover how boards can help to drive a culture of innovation, as a competitive advantage.

Lunch and Keynote Address

Navigating Through an Era of Disruption

Nik Nanos will paint a picture of the mood of Canadians in 2025 and on the heels of 2024, the “Super Year” for elections, with 3.7 billion voters in 72 countries that headed to the polls. Drawing from his extensive research, Mr. Nanos will offer insights and analysis of economic, technological, and societal factors and explore how boards of Canadian businesses can navigate these shifts and stay ahead of emerging trends and evolving stakeholder expectations.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Responsibly Harnessing the Power of AI

Explore how boards can successfully facilitate responsible AI innovation by addressing adoption challenges and harnessing AI’s potential for the organization.

Navigating Polarization in Boardroom Dynamics and Decision-Making

Gain strategies for chairs and directors to foster a boardroom culture that is respectful of diverse viewpoints and leads to optimal decision-making, in this increasingly polarized world.

Enhancing Investor-Company Dialogue through Global Sustainability Standards

Gain critical insights on emerging trends on the horizon in the world of sustainability standards and what the current “direction of travel” means for your organization.

Networking Break

Critical Conversations for Boards

Critical Board Conversations

Join Conference Co-Chair, Irfhan Rawji, for a thought-provoking discussion on business imperatives that boards must consider in response to today’s complex operating environment. More details, including guest speaker, to be announced.

Closing Plenary

Unlocking Canada’s Productivity Potential

Hear experts’ perspectives on what changes in Canada’s economy mean for our future and the obstacles that corporate Canada and boards of directors need to overcome to address the urgent need to improve Canada’s productivity.

Closing Remarks

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM MT | Fort Edmonton Park

June 5: Post-Conference Experience

The Indigenous Peoples Experience, iyiniwak okiskêyihtamowiniwaw

Hosted by Indigenous directors who hold the ICD.D designation, this immersive experience provides leaders with valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Indigenous business partnerships and their importance for future projects in Canada. This session also addresses the increasing role of Indigenous equity partnerships in Canadian business, particularly as Indigenous Reconciliation becomes a business imperative