Change Leadership Conference 2025

Tuesday, May 27 | Toronto

In-Person and Virtual Experience

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Hours
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Already finish, another one To Be Annouced

Practical Playbook for Leading Change

Join industry leaders and change-makers on May 27, 2025, in Toronto, for an immersive experience in actionable strategies and real-world success stories

The Art and Science of Leading Change From Theories to Practice Reimagine the Future, Lead the Change

Learn

Gain hands-on experience through practical workshops designed to equip you with tools to lead change effectively.

Connect

Network with over 300 professionals, including leaders, directors, and change practitioners, to build valuable relationships.

Transform

Hear real-world success stories that inspire and provide actionable insights for immediate implementation.

Why ATTEND?

How will the conference EQUIP YOU to disrupt the status quo?

Expand

Open your mind to the dynamic shifts in various domains and embrace new approaches in leading change.

Adapt

Uncover the impact of trends on you as a change leader and the strategies to personally navigate change.

Implement

Explore fresh perspectives in executing change, empowering you to lead and conquer adoption challenges.

Speakers
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Attendees
250 +
Organizations
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Meet Our Speakers

Michelle Joliat

Senior Vice President, Product and Delivery, Ontario Teachers’​ Pension Plan

Blake Bell

Head, Global Change Enablement, Manulife

Harriet Ekperigin

Vice President, People Success & Transformation, GreenShield

Myles Bartlett

Associate Dean, Sheridan & Director Screen Industries Research & Training Centre

Michelle Joliat

Senior Vice President, Product and Delivery, Ontario Teachers’​ Pension Plan

Blake Bell

Head, Global Change Enablement, Manulife

Harriet Ekperigin

Vice President, People Success & Transformation, GreenShield

Manisha Paliwal

VP, Enterprise Change Enablement, Definity

 

Shelagh Maloney

Chief Executive Officer, Digital Health Canada

 

Ted Scott

VP Innovation and Partnerships, Hamilton Health Sciences

 

Dr. Muhammad Mamdani

VP Data Science and Advanced Analytics, Unity Health Toronto

Jason Little

CTO, Author & Founder, Lean Change

 

Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta

Change Management Strategist & Founder, OliveBlue & The Change Leadership

David Donaldson

VP and Partner of Leadership Pipeline Institute Canada

Sinead Moylett

Founder, Plant the Seeds

Lisa Snow

Director, Oasis

Mick Byrne

Head of Growth, Change Management & Digital Transformation Leader, ChangePlan

Esther Akinrinlola

Director, Change Management & Communications, McCain Foods

Silvia Fraser

Director Workplace Strategy & Transformation, Metrolinx

More AMAZING speakers to be  announceD soon!

Previous Speakers

A sneak peak of the line-up of previous speakers
John-C.-Maxwell-1

John C. Maxwell

#1 Global Renowned Leadership Expert, New York Times Bestselling Author, And Speaker

Jeremy-Gutsche1

Jeremy Gutsche

CEO Trendhunter, Globally Renowned Innovation Expert, And Author

Claudette-McGowan

Claudette McGowan

CIO, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience, BMO

Prof-Tiff-Macklem

Tiff Macklem

Governor, Bank of Canada


Tomi-Poutanen

Tomi Poutanen

Co-Founder Of The Vector Institute & Chief AI Officer, TD Bank

Armughan-Ahmad

Armughan Ahmad

President & Canadian Managing Partner, Digital And Technology Solutions, KPMG

Rola Dagher

Rola Dagher

Global Channel Chief, Dell Technologies

Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Why NOW?

Why is NOW the time to disrupt the status quo?

 

Heightened Global Uncertainty

Rapidly Changing Technology

The New World of Work

Evolving Stakeholder Needs

Event Details

Are you ready to create your Practical Playbook for Leading Change?

GROUP TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE

Event Highlights

Interactive Workshops

Participate in sessions that offer practical tools and techniques for leading change.

Expert Panels

Engage with thought leaders discussing the latest trends and challenges in change management.

Networking Opportunities

Connect with peers during dedicated networking sessions and an after-event cocktail reception.

Change Leader Awards

Celebrate excellence as we honour outstanding individuals driving impactful change, in conjunction with our Global Change Leadership.

Testimonials

What Past Attendees
Have Said

SOME Previous Attendees

It's an all-inclusive offer

Tickets and Passes

Don’t miss out on the experience to elevate your change leadership experience

In-Person Experience

Early bird - ENDS FEB 28
$797

plus HST
Includes the following:

Group In-Person Experience

5 or More Tickets
$797 $457

plus HST
Includes the following:

Virtual Experience

EARLY BIRD - ENDS FEB 28
$187

plus HST
Includes the following:

Who supports us

Our SPONSORS

Exhibitors & Partners

Who trust us

Partner Brands

agenda

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Integrating AI into your Change Leadership toolkit
Leveraging Data & Automation for Change Leadership Success
The Future-Ready Change Leader
Building Organizational Buy-In for Change Management
Building Your Brand as a Change Leader
Intersection of Mental Health in Leading Change
Insights, Panel Discussions, Hands-On Workshops, Networking, Community and more

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are always eager to collaborate with change leaders and organizations that share our values in empowering our participants to lead and respond to change better and faster. Contact us via this link: Become a Partner

The sessions may be used towards maintenance of your existing accreditations with organizations such as ACMP, PMI, IIBA under Leadership category. Refer to the organization’s handbooks for instructions on how to submit the claim.
 

You will be able to network with speakers, change leaders and professionals from a broad range of industries, virtually and in-person. There will be Q&A sessions with speakers as well.

For in-person attendees, you’ll have the opportunity to network during lunch, at table activities, as well after-event drinks and networking sessions.

For those attending virtually, there are several ways you can interact with the speakers. and other attendees during the conference. This includes; community area of the conference platform; speed Networking sessions; directly with attendees by clicking on their profiles (via video or chat) or chat functionality during sessions

The sessions will be recorded and be made available if you purchase In-Person tickets or an ADD-ON: Replay Access + VIP Career Club ticket.

Once purchased, you get access to our VIP Career Club on the Change Leadership Online Community for 1 year. You will be able to immediately access last year’s conference, and replays for this year’s conference will be made available 1-2 weeks following the event.

The Change Leadership Conference 2025 is a hybrid event. You can either join us virtually or in-person. The venue in Toronto, Canada.
 
Yes, there will be an in-person and virtual exhibition areas. 

When you visit the exhibitor booths, you can interact one-on-one with the exhibitor representative, receive giveaways, and enter the passport contest to win prizes!

Change has never been as dynamic as it is today, and one of the biggest challenges facing professionals and organizations is the increasing need to keep abreast and ahead of the rapid pace of change.

Our mission is to help accelerate the preparation of leaders, change professionals, and organizations to respond dynamically to the rapid pace of Change and Disruption taking place around us.

We envision a shift in paradigm where a new type of leadership mindset thrives. One in which professionals and organizations have the agility and skills to stay abreast of emergent innovation and disruptive change, while at the same time achieving both their ROI goals, and fulfilling responsibilities to employees, customers and communities.

To learn more about us, visit our website: www.thechangeleadership.com/about

Secure YOUR Spot Today!

Yes, I'm in for the Change Experience

100 King Street West, Suite 5700. Toronto, ON M5X 1C7

© 2025 The Change Leadership.

Colleen Ward

Senior Vice President, Enterprise Delivery Office, Scotiabank

Colleen has built a track record as an executive leader for global American, and Canadian financial services institutions for over 20 years.

She has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to leading impacted enterprise results, strategic planning, and operational excellence. She leads high-performing executives, teams, while coaching and mentoring a pipeline of future executives.

As a sought-after keynote speaker, she has delivered powerful and personal insights at prestigious universities, corporations and community events.

Her accomplishments have been recognized with her 2023 Harry Jerome Award, and CILAR 2022 Aspiring Innovator of the Year Award. Her dedication to development is evidenced by her roles with The Firehood, Black Professionals in Tech Network, and Women in Technology.

Lon Wong

Founder, More Human Inc. & Partner, Chisel Consulting

Lon is a human-centred leader, strategist, author, and coach. His work sits at the intersection of leadership, meaning, and impact, helping people and organizations become more human in how they lead, decide, and connect.

Lon has led social enterprises, faith communities, and technology startups, and spent a decade working internationally with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities through a humanitarian agency. Across these contexts, his work has consistently focused on dignity, agency, and systems that serve people rather than the other way around.

He has led a national youth movement, launched multiple campaigns, and developed innovative programs and products grounded in human-centred design. Lon has also coached and facilitated global leaders through the altMBA, supporting courageous thinking, clarity, and strategic decision-making in complex environments.

As Partner and Lead Consultant at Chisel Consulting, Lon works with nonprofit leaders and organizations to elevate their impact in ways that are sustainable, values-aligned, and deeply human.

Lon holds a Bachelor of Engineering, a Master of Divinity focused on spirituality and leadership, and is a certified coach. He is a lifelong practitioner of mindfulness, nonviolent communication, culture-building, and thoughtful ruckus-making.

 

Dr. Wendy Cukier

Professor Ted Rogers, Director of the Diversity Institute, & Academic Research Director, Future Skills Centre

Dr. Wendy is a professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Founder and Academic Director of the Diversity Institute, and Academic Research Director of the Future Skills Centre. Formerly the Vice President of Research and Innovation.

Wendy has written more than 200 papers on technology, innovation and management. She co-authored the bestseller “Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership from Java to Jurassic Park” and is a leader in disruptive technologies and innovation. Launched in 1999, the Diversity Institute now has 80 full time research staff, 10 hubs across the country, and 300 partners, undertaking research and evidence based programs to advance growth, sustainability, innovation and inclusion.

As the Academic Research Director for the Future Skill Centre, Wendy has helped design, implement and evaluate FSC programs as well as specific projects focused on advancing digital skills, and AI adoption, training platform for small and medium enterprises, nonprofits and municipalities, and capacity building and leadership development projects.

Current projects are focused on the impact of demographic shifts, trade disruption and the impact of technology particularly AI and their implications for the workforce and skills development. She has received many academic, industry and community awards for her work and was named one of the “100 alumni who shaped the century” by the University of Toronto. She holds an MA, MBA (Toronto), a PhD in Information Systems (Schulich, York) and two honorary doctorates (Concordia, Laval).

Chad Fahlberg

Founder, The Breathe Equation

Chad is the founder of The Breathe Equation and trains individuals and teams to unlock micro resilience activations, the moment-to-moment shifts in mental and physical state that bring the nervous system back into balance. His work focuses on equipping people with practical, body-based tools they can use to reset, refocus, and regain control. Chad works with leaders, founders, and professionals to strengthen their inner capacity for clarity, calm, and resilience in demanding environments.

With over 20 years of experience in high-performance, high-pressure settings, Chad began his career on Wall Street and rose to a senior executive role in a large hedge fund before dedicating his focus to human performance and resilience. Today, as a certified breathwork trainer and performance coach, he blends neuroscience, breathwork, and mindfulness into experiences that create measurable and lasting results.

Alex Jackson

Change & Innovation Consultant/ Founder, Experience Innovation

Alex is the founder of Experience Innovation Inc., where he builds permanent operational excellence and change capability inside convention centres, entertainment venues, integrated resorts and hospitality organizations so they own the change long after the engagement ends.

Alex began his career serving others as a firefighter and paramedic, later transitioning to flight paramedicine. That journey gave him a simple operating philosophy: stay calm under pressure, communicate clearly and effectively, lead by example, put people first, and build systems that work when it matters most.

His approach blends Lean operations, Hoshin Kanri strategic planning, the neuroscience of change, and a human-centred application of AI to create improvement systems that outlast any single initiative. He is currently embedded at the Calgary Stampede, helping to evolve the 114-year legacy of Western Hospitality and providing the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

Alex holds an MBA from the University of Illinois and AI/ML credentials from the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute.

DR. JILL BIRCH

Author, Founder & CEO, BirchGrove Inc.

Dr. Jill Birch is one of the world’s leading experts on relational leadership. She specializes in helping leaders avoid missteps and overcome blind spots by leading with empathy, inspiring with compassion and transforming through connection. Her work is best done when organizations need to drastically change the way they empower, engage and inspire others to gain competitive advantage. A former CEO and member of several C-Suites, Jill is more than just a leadership consultant: she has real-life experience in leading through both opportunity and crisis.

Jill is the Founder and CEO of BirchGrove Inc, a leading leadership and strategy development organization for leaders who seek to fuse their hard-earned experience with relational skills to unlock performance that drives results. She began her career in marketing, where she launched educational brands across North America. It was there she gained first-hand practical experience in developing a unique approach to leadership while managing competitive intelligence, business development and strategic planning for four national trade associations.

Today, Jill is a reputed public speaker and facilitates leadership, strategy and innovation workshops around the world. She is also a faculty member with the Schulich School of Business, where she teaches advanced leadership programs and Trent University where she teaches strategy development in the School of Graduate Studies.

Jill holds a Ph.D. from Griffith University in Australia where she researched relational leadership and an M.A. from OISE/UT where she researched how CEOs learn to lead and how they learn to learn. Jill’s new book, “The Compassion Advantage: 7 Practices to Lead Stronger, More Successful Teams” was published in 2024. She is also a Certified Association Executive.

MATT DRAGUN

Change Leader, Transformation Specialist & Founder, Matae

Matt is a change leader with over 20 years’ experience delivering complex organisational change across large-scale transformation programs globally. Through his work across infrastructure, resources, energy, and property sectors, he identified a critical gap in how change is managed, with traditional approaches struggling to scale in environments of constant transformation.

Matt is the Founder of Matae, an AI-native change management platform designed to help organisations embed change as business-as-usual. Matae enables PMOs, change leaders, and executives to visualise change impact, manage change load, and proactively address delivery risk to support sustained outcomes.

Dr. Muhammad Mamdani

VP Data Science and Advanced Analytics, Unity Health Toronto

Dr. Mamdani is also Director of the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine Centre for Artificial Intelligence Education and Research in Medicine (T-CAIREM), Professor at University of Toronto, Odette Chair in Advanced Analytics, and a Faculty Affiliate of the Vector Institute, which is a leading institution for artificial intelligence research in Canada.

Dr. Mamdani is pharmacist and epidemiologist, known for contributions to pharmacoeconomics, drug safety and application of data analytics and artificial intelligence to medical systems.

He has previously been named among Canada’s Top 40 under 40. Dr. Mamdani’s research interests include pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, drug policy, and the application of advanced analytics approaches to clinical problems and health policy decision-making. He has published over 500 studies in peer-reviewed healthcare journals.

Federica Ceresa

Strategic Resilience Expert & Founder, The Resilience Equation

Federica is the founder of The Resilience Equation and a strategic resilience expert. She helps leaders and organisations build macro resilience by strengthening the systems and leadership practices that shape execution, decision-making, and culture, so performance holds up and improves under pressure. At individual and team level, she strengthens micro resilience, the capabilities that shape how people function under pressure: clear thinking, emotional regulation, sustainable energy, and self-motivation.

Federica has over 20 years of experience in organisational performance, leadership development, culture, and change management. She held senior roles at Mars, Diageo, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson, and has consulted with corporations including LEGO, Unilever, and Colgate-Palmolive. Her approach combines behavioural science, strategic insight, and human centred design, with a strong focus on practical application.

 

Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta

Change Management Strategist & Founder, The Change Leadership

Yvonne is a Change Management Strategist, Advisor, and Change Leadership Advocate, with over 20 years of experience helping executives, professionals, and organizations to navigate through change in today’s fast-paced and disruptive environment. She is the founder of The Change Leadership, a series of events and community focused on preparing professionals and organization to respond better and faster to change in their industry.

She is passionate about helping professional and organizations lead and respond to change better & faster. She has worked with organizations such as RBC, TD, Deloitte, Loblaws, and JP Morgan Chase to lead and manage their Strategic, Technology and Change Initiatives.

She holds a BSc honours in Business Information Technology from London Guildhall University, an MBA from Warwick Business School, and a Change Leadership Certificate from Cornell University. She works closely with professionals to help them more effectively lead and manage change in their organizations, to become sought after change leaders in their organizations and industry. She is a published author and change catalyst.

David Donaldson

VP and Partner of Leadership Pipeline Institute Canada

David has more than 30 years experience as a facilitator, consultant, and trainer working with individuals and organizations helping bring their best while supporting them through change. David has facilitated and coached at all levels across many sectors building leadership and agility. After an entrepreneurial start to his career David discovered his passion for L&D, dedicating his life to helping others grow.

Working both as an internal and external trainer/consultant, as well as being on the faculty at Schulich School of Business, Executive Education, David is highly skilled at bringing out the necessary changes in mindset and behaviour to achieve peak performance. With experience in public and private sectors across multiple industries; including financial, retail, healthcare, tech, construction, manufacturing, military, energy, not for profit, and environmental, David brings a broad perspective and wealth of knowledge to his engagements. By merging the disciplines of adult education, project management,
agile, change management, OD and resilience, David’s approach helps build leaders and organizations who are ready to face challenges that have yet to be defined. Leveraging this holistic approach David brings his whole self to every engagement, uncovering the experience of the team, creating a true learning organization.

David is a Certified Training and Development Professional and member of the Institute for Performance and Learning as well as a Personal Resilience Practitioner with Resilience Alliance.

Sinead Moylett

Founder, Plant the Seeds

Sinead is a Transformational Leadership Coach, Facilitator and Speaker. Her mission is to inspire and cultivate as much brave, authentic, and inclusive leadership in the world, as she can.

With almost 20 years of Leadership and Change Leadershp Experience at the Region of Peel, Sinead’s reputation as a stong and compassionate leader has paved the way for her business, Plant the Seeds.

She is a published author of “Your True Colours ~ Intentions and Reflections to deepen self-awareness”.

She is also co-owner of Wasaga Beach Yoga, where she teaches yoga and facilitates somatic breathwork sessions supporting healing from supressed emotions.

Lisa Snow

Director, Oasis

Lisa is a seasoned change leader dedicated to holistic coaching, facilitation, and consultation with 15 years specializing in Organizational Change Management during her 28-year career in the financial industry.
 
Lisa’s impact extends beyond business transformation—she is a founding member and director of Oasis: A Centre for Bereavement and Healing, a not-for-profit supporting individuals navigating bereavement following the loss of a loved one. As committed community advocate, she has actively contributed to long-term care governance, parent councils, community programs, and employee resource groups, earning her the prestigious RBC Global Citizen award in 2020.  
 
She is a Prosci-certified Change Enablement expert with a BA in English and Psychology and a Master’s Diploma in Executive Talent Management. She also holds certifications as a Change Leadership Accelerator, Co-Active Executive Coach, Accredited Outsourcing Practitioner, and Certified Laughter Yoga Leader.
 
Lisa is passionate about driving meaningful change, empowering individuals and organizations to navigate complexity with resilience and purpose.

Mick Byrne

Head of Growth, Change Management & Digital Transformation Leader, ChangePlan

Mick is the Head of Growth at ChangePlan, an innovative platform that helps enterprise organisations plan, manage, and report on change initiatives with speed and simplicity.

With extensive experience supporting organisations in Finance, Manufacturing, Utilities, and Government, Mick has guided teams through diverse transformation challenges, from technology adoption and cultural change to business operations and API integration. His strategic approach empowers teams to navigate complex change with confidence, delivering sustainable growth and tangible outcomes.

Previously, Mick was a Co-Founder of EmergiSim, a Virtual Reality Training Platform designed to replicate high-threat and mass-casualty events that was utilised by Ambulance and Paramedic services as well as Military Special Operations Teams. Mick’s skills include sales, GTM strategy, digital transformation, and growth. He is passionate about helping organisations overcome complexity and unlock opportunities through innovative change management practices.

Esther Akinrinlola

Director, Change Management & Communications, McCain Foods

Esther is an experienced, award winning Technology and Change Management leader with a passion for enabling organizational transformation and culture. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in orchestrating strategic shifts within the dynamic landscape of an organization. Her expertise lies at the intersection of business strategy, people dynamics, and operational excellence. This includes bringing organizations across a journey of change and leading cross functional teams through complex transformational programs while fostering engagement to drive desired outcomes.

In her current role, Esther has charted a course for Change Management supported by a diverse team and a multi-year vision that seeks to address the foundational elements needed to drive engagement, align stakeholders at all levels, build a culture of people centricity and create empowered ecosystems.

Esther’s broad range of capabilities is fueled by her relentless pursuit of knowledge and her commitment to adaptability and growth. Her outstanding contributions to the field were recently recognized when she received the 2024 Change Leader Award in the Change Innovator category.

She is also passionate about community service and devotes her time to enabling youths in her community with the tools and information needed to develop critical soft skills like communicating with impact, building influence, critical thinking and harnessing creativity.

Silvia Fraser

Director Workplace Strategy & Transformation, Metrolinx

Silvia Fraser is an award-winning public sector leader with over two decades of experience driving transformation across municipal and provincial government. Currently serving as the Director of Workplace Strategy & Transformation at Metrolinx, Silvia leads enterprise-wide modernization efforts that align people, place, and purpose and enhance organizational performance.

Silvia’s unique journey began in front-line municipal security and evolved through key leadership roles in social development, corporate real estate management, and strategic transformation. She is widely recognized for her ability to lead complex, people-centered change while championing equity, diversity, and inclusion.

A passionate advocate for women in leadership, Silvia co-led the Toronto Public Service Women’s Network and served on its Advisory Board. She also hosts the Leadership Trademarked podcast, amplifying voices that inspire positive change across sectors.

Silvia’s leadership is defined by her resilience, authenticity, and unshakable belief in the power of purpose-driven work.