CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Our speaker lineup is growing every day!

Check back often to see the latest thought leaders and industry trailblazers joining the 2026 FEI Canada National Conference.

Board of Directors Lunch & Board Meeting

May 25 • 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM 

Early Arrival Reception

May 25 • 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM 

Sponsored by:

Leadership / Alumni Dinner 

May 25 • 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM • By Invitation 

Private Dinner Opportunities

May 25 • 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM • By Invitation

6:30 AM

FEI Canada Golf Tournament 

May 26 • 6:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Presenting Sponsor:

8:00 AM

Registration & Information Desk

May 26 • 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

Early Arrival Breakfast

May 26 • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM 

3:00 PM

Pre-conference Workshop Session

May 26 • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Optional

4:00 PM

Pre-conference Workshop Session

May 26 • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • Optional

Sponsored by:

Sponsor & Exhibitor Reception

May 26 • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • By Invitation

4:30 PM

New Member Reception

May 26 • 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM •By Invitation

5:30 PM

Welcome Reception

May 26 • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM •Exhibition Hall

7:00 PM

Offsite Evening Experiences

May 26 • 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM • More Information to Follow

Various sponsors, including:

7:00 AM

Registration & Information Desk

7:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

HUB’s Executive Cappuccino Bar

All Day Coffee starts at 8:30 AM

Sponsored by:

Wednesday Breakfast Session 1

7:15 AM – 8:30 AM • Hot Breakfast Served

Sponsored by:

Wednesday Breakfast Session 2

7:15 AM – 8:30 AM • Hot Breakfast Served

Sponsored by:

8:45 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:45 AM – 9:10 AM 

10:15 AM

Refreshment Break

10:15 AM – 10:50 AM • Exhibit Hall

10:55 AM

Keynote Panel

10:55 AM – 11:55 AM 

AI/Innovation : moderated panel

Canada’s data‑sovereignty conversation is accelerating, driven by federal policy, provincial regulation, and massive new investment in sovereign AI‑ready data centres. The country is positioning itself as a secure, geopolitically stable jurisdiction for sensitive data—an issue that matters enormously for CFOs, boards, and any organization handling regulated or mission‑critical information.

12:00 PM

Lunch

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM • Exhibit Hall

1:00 PM

Keynote Panel

VENTURE CAPITAL, PRIVATE EQUITY, PARTNERSHIPS & INVESTING IN CANADA: Panel Overview

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM 

STEPHEN BERNA • Managing Director, Indigenous Relations, National Bank

TYSON JONES • Senior Vice President, BDC

VISHAR YAGHOUBIAN • CEO & FOUNDER, Toothpod

Canada’s investment landscape is undergoing a profound shift—one where capital, innovation, and national strategic priorities are converging.

 

This forward‑looking panel brings together leaders from across the financing ecosystem to explore how venture capital, private equity, and partnership models are reshaping growth opportunities for Canadian enterprises. Designed for senior financial executives and C‑Suite leaders, this session delivers strategic insights, practical takeaways, and a compelling look at how investment capital is driving Canada’s next wave of economic growth.

 

You will hear a young entrepreneur, who will share real‑world journey securing early‑stage funding and building an innovation‑driven company. Tyson Jones, Senior VP at BDC, who will outline how development‑bank financing is strengthening Canadian SMEs and accelerating growth. Steve Berna, Managing Director of Indigenous Relations at National Bank of Canada, will explore how Indigenous investment funds and equity partnerships are reshaping large‑scale business opportunities across the country.

 

Discover how Canada’s investment ecosystem is transforming—and what it means for your organization.  Attendees will gain a panoramic view of current financing conditions, emerging opportunities, and the evolving expectations of investors. The discussion will illuminate how capital is being mobilized to fuel innovation, scale high‑potential companies, and strengthen Canada’s economic resilience.

2:05 PM

Concurrent Session #1 

DEALMAKING IN A VOLATILE WORLD

2:05 PM – 3:05 PM 

Private Companies • Thought Leadership Forum

CUSMA still intact?  New Tariffs?  Emerging geopolitical tensions?  Who knows where things will stand on May 27th, 2026!  But our panel of experts will fearlessly delve into these and other issues in terms of how they’re impacting mergers and acquisitions in real time.  They’ll address topics such as how buyers are assessing target companies and using acquisitions to reduce risk through geographic expansion and diversification.  From a sell-side perspective, they’ll discuss what would-be sellers of private companies are doing to position themselves to be an attractive acquisition target.  Transaction structuring in the face of uncertainty will also be addressed.  Finally, we’ll hear from legal counsel on how key provisions in purchase and sale agreements can be used to get deals over the finish line.

Concurrent Session #2

AI NEEDS BETTER DATA: How CFOs Can Build a Data-Driven Foundation for Trusted AI in Finance

2:05 PM – 3:05 PM 

TOM KELLY • Director of Product Management & Marketing, Oracle Netsuite

AI is rapidly reshaping how finance operates, from real‑time forecasting and automated variance analysis to closing the books and scenario planning that keeps pace with the business.  The opportunity for finance leaders is to move beyond experiments and turn AI into a trusted, everyday partner. But to realize AI’s full potential, finance leaders must prioritize the quality, connectivity, and governance of their data. In this session, discover why better data is the foundation of trusted, impactful AI. Explore how to unify and modernize financial data sources, employ intelligent data integration techniques, and ensure data is accurate, secure, and ready for AI-driven processes. Learn how combining connected, high-quality data with embedded intelligence and an up-skilled finance team helps deliver reliable forecasting, anomaly detection, zero-day close, and actionable scenario planning that leaders can act on with speed and confidence.

Sponsored by:

3:10 PM

Refreshment Break

3:10 PM – 3:40 PM • Exhibit Hall 

4:45 PM

Free Time

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM 

6:00 PM

Buses Depart for Evening Social Event

6:00 PM – 6:15 PM 

Canadian Museum of History

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM 

Sponsored by:

7:30 AM

Registration & Information Desk

7:30 AM – 1:30 PM • All Day Coffee Sponsored

HUB’s Executive Cappuccino Bar

8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Sponsored by:

8:00 AM

FEI Canada Talk Presentations: 3 Talks back-to-back

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM • Hot breakfast served to all attendees in the plenary room

Sponsored by:

 

9:05 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Presentation of Capon Award

9:05 AM – 9:15 AM 

Thursday Opening Keynote

Mental Health: Stories from Unsinkable

9:20 AM – 10:10 AM 

FEI Canada and Unsinkable together want to share inspiring stories and practical strategies for fostering resilience and mental well-being in high-pressure leadership roles.

 

Unsinkable is a platform supporting resilience, wellness, and mental health for professionals. They empower executives to manage stress, maintain well-being, and build resilient organizations while driving business performance.

10:15 AM

Exhibitor Prize Draws

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM • Plenaray Room

Refreshment Break

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM • Exhibit Hall 

12:05 PM

Concurrent Session #1

AI War Stories & Failures from the Trenches

Technology (TLF) Session

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Concurrent Session #2

Wolters Kluwer Presentation

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sponsored by: