
Toronto CIO Community
Executive Summit
June 26, 2024 | Westin Harbour Castle
June 26, 2024
Westin Harbour Castle
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:
Leveraging Data & Analytics to Advance the Business
Expanding Digital Business with Advanced and Emerging Technologies
Mitigating Risks and Improving Efficiencies with Cybersecurity Strategies
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

Dave Aeri
Confidential
Chief Technology Officer & CIO

Mike Baxter
Kijiji
Chief Technology Officer

Cecilia Carbonelli
Haventree Bank
CIO

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

Melody Wallis
Procter & Gamble Canada
Vice President - Analytics & Insights and Technology - P&G Canada
What to Expect
Agenda
7:45am - 8:30am Registration & Breakfast
7:45am - 8:30am Networking
Rising Together — Empowering Women in Technology

Debra Christmas
Senior Executive Partner
Gartner
Women are vastly underrepresented in the technology field, yet their presence is crucial. Every single one of us has the ability to move this dial, to do our part to have impact in driving change. Together we can empower each other, our communities and create a better future for all of us. Join us for this intimate, informal space for women in leadership roles and their allies to freely discuss best practices, key challenges and mission-critical priorities. Come prepared to share ideas and forge new connections that can help empower each other to make an impact in your organizations and communities.
This session is open to all genders and identities.
8:30am - 9:15am Keynote
Remarkable Resilience – Tools for Combating Toxic Stress & Burnout
Hosted by Tanium

Sheila Hamilton
Mental Health Thought Leader and Author of "All the Things We Never Knew"
Guest Speaker
Today’s CIOs face daunting challenges. As the business leader in charge of adding value to the company, finding the right talent and inspiring technology innovation, there’s an incredible amount of pressure. It’s no surprise that CIOs are experiencing burnout at unprecedented rates. While taking care of employees is important, how can CIOs make sure they are taking care of themselves to help make their careers sustainable while maintaining a sense of well-being?
Join this keynote to explore:
- Evidence-based strategies that can help alleviate burnout
- How to recognize the signs and symptoms of toxic stress and burnout
- How to remain engaged, energized, and focused during turbulent times
9:15am - 9:40am Networking Break
9:40am - 10:25am Breakout Session
Roadmap for Technology — Keeping Up With an Evolving Enterprise

Erwin Van Hout
Chief of Technology Transformation
SickKids
With enterprise-wide changes come opportunities for CIOs to not only drive transformation but create value. Erwin Van Hout navigates these opportunities at SickKids through the hospital’s campus redevelopment program, which has allowed him to accelerate innovation through technology and AI.
Join this session to learn about:
- Refreshing digital strategy to keep pace with business advancements
- Assessing where new technologies can be implemented effectively
- Mitigating cyber risk amid advancements in technology
9:40am - 10:25am Breakout Session
Uncovering and Navigating Today’s Top Security Concerns
Hosted by Palo Alto Networks

Andy Piazza
Senior Director, Threat Intelligence
Palo Alto Networks
Your mission is to keep your organization resilient against rising threats and build a strong security culture. However, staying ahead of sophisticated threat actors and reducing your organization's risk is a challenge. Understanding the current threat landscape and your attack surface is crucial to preparing for today's most significant risks.
Join this session to discuss:
- Unit42's first-hand incident response case experience and threat intelligence
- Ransomware and other prevalent attack trends, methods, and techniques that allow attackers to damage and exploit your organization
- Communicating risk with leadership, the board, and regulators
9:40am - 10:25am Executive Boardroom
Driving Innovation and Improving Business Outcomes with Low-Code & AI
Hosted by OutSystems

Sean Mee
Regional Vice President, Solutions Architecture - Americas
OutSystems

Ivan Welsh
VP Information Technology
Symcor

Ralph Virdo
Vice President, Architecture & Transformation
Intact Financial Corporation
Enterprises are increasingly embracing digital transformation efforts across industries. They are turning to a powerful combination — low-code solutions infused with Artificial Intelligence for business solutions. But what can you actually build with AI & low code?
Join your peers to discuss:
- Enabling rapid technology development, allowing businesses to respond swiftly to market demands
- Integrating AI capabilities to drive continuous improvement
- Facilitating easy adaptation and expansion of systems
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: Lee Hutchison at Lee.Hutchison@evanta.com
10:25am - 11:05am Networking Break
10:30am - 10:55am 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.
11:05am - 11:50am Breakout Session
What’s Your Take? Real-World AI Implementation Strategies

Dave Aeri
Chief Technology Officer & CIO
Confidential
As the hype around generative AI continues to build, being a reluctant adopter is no longer an option. Maybe you already dove in headfirst; maybe you’re still testing the waters as your team contemplates governance or ethical concerns. No matter which approach your organization is taking to AI implementation, come to this interactive session ready to share, ask questions, collaborate and get inspired.
Pull up a seat to discuss:
- Practical AI use cases
- Strategies for creating governance and managing risk around AI
- How companies are keeping up with the changing AI landscape
11:05am - 11:50am Breakout Session
From Familiar to Future — Breaking the Barriers to IT Innovation
Hosted by ChromeOS

Cris Cannon
Sr Customer Engineer, ChromeOS
IT leaders are under pressure to innovate their organization’s tech stack to meet the demands of modern business. While web-based apps, AI and other modern solutions offer a better user experience, advanced security and simpler management, many businesses are still critically dependent on legacy apps and systems. How can IT teams innovate their infrastructure without disrupting operations and end users? This session breaks down some common misconceptions about modernization and reveals a direct path for IT leaders towards more efficient, secure, and cost-effective endpoint management.
Join this session and breakout-style conversation with your peers to discuss:
- What the modern endpoint looks like for enterprises today
- How modernization unlocks the power of AI and sharpens your competitive edge
- How to continue using legacy apps while you innovate
11:05am - 11:50am Executive Boardroom
Optimize Application Rationalization to Reduce Cost
Hosted by Rimini Street

Coy Wright
Vice President, Energy, Utilities, and Resources Industry Solutions
Rimini Street

Steve Mohammed
CIO
Canadian Tire Bank

Daniel Nickle
VP of IT and head of the Office of the CDIO
Magna International
CIOs are balancing an ever-increasing number of service providers which requires a strong vendor and application rationalization integrated into strategic decision-making. In order to allocate more funds towards innovation and differentiation initiatives, mission-critical systems need to be optimized, cost effective, and flexible.
Join this session to discuss:
- Incorporate effective contract management
- Strategies to avoid vendor lock-in
- Financially optimizing the vendor portfolio
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: Lee Hutchison at Lee.Hutchison@evanta.com
11:50am - 12:35pm Lunch Service
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Toronto CIO Community Executive Summit.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue & Accommodation
Westin Harbour CastleWestin Harbour Castle, Toronto - Room Block Cancellation Policy:
Any cancellations made after the Cut Off (June 3, 2024) are subject to a cancellation fee of one (1) night room charge plus tax.
Hotel Nearby
Hotel: Le Germain Hotel Toronto Maple Leaf Square
Address: 75 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5J 0A7, Canada
Distance from Venue: 450.0 m
Valet: $55
Self Park: Multiple locations around the property:
- 88 Queens Quay (Waterpark Place)
- 200 Queens Quay W. - Garage (7 Lower Simcoe St.)
- 75 Wellington St W (200 Bay St)
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Westin Harbour Castle at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 888-627-8559. Please mention EC5 to ensure the appropriate room rate.
Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $469 CAD (plus tax) is June 3, 2024.
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.