Leaders In AI Summit Toronto 2026

Leaders In AI Toronto
2026 Agenda

Begins at 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Boston Marriott Copley Place

Pre-Summit Workshop Hotel Check-In

We recommend checking in at Boston Marriott Copley Place before 12:30 PM to give yourself time to settle in and get oriented ahead of the day’s programming. While there’s no formal check-in window and we understand travel schedules may vary, early arrival is encouraged to ensure a smooth start.

For any questions regarding your stay or early check-in assistance, please contact the Sheraton Boston Hotel Hotel front desk directly or connect with our team onsite.

Begins at 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Leaders In AI Summit Registration Desk

Registration & Networking

Upon arrival between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, please proceed directly to our registration area to check in. Simply provide your name and confirmation details at the welcome desk, where you'll receive your event badge and session materials. Once checked in, you’ll have time to meet fellow attendees and orient yourself before sessions begin promptly at 2:00 PM. Our onsite team will be available throughout the registration window to assist with any questions or special requests.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Main Stage - Marriott Marquis

AI Deployment Workshop – Part 1

Sovereign AI in the Age of Agents:
Architecture, Control, and the Economics of Autonomy

Sovereign AI has become one of the most discussed concepts in enterprise technology. But what does sovereignty actually mean when your AI systems are autonomous agents? Agents consume tokens at 15-50x the rate of chatbots, make decisions regulators will scrutinize, and interact with your enterprise data in ways most architectures were never designed for. This workshop presents a five-dimension framework for sovereign AI in the agentic context: compute sovereignty, token sovereignty, data sovereignty, decision sovereignty, and operational sovereignty.

Each dimension maps to specific architecture decisions, from right-sizing across the full infrastructure stack to preparing enterprise data for agent-native consumption. Grounded in token economics analysis showing up to 18x cost advantages through infrastructure ownership and real-world deployment architecture from regulated industries, this session gives enterprise leaders a practical framework for maintaining control as agentic AI moves into production environments.

What You Will Learn:

The Five Dimensions of Sovereign AI for Agents:

Sovereign AI in the agentic context requirescontrol across five dimensions: compute, token economics, data, decision governance, andoperations. You will get a practical framework that maps each dimension to specific architecturedecisions and organizational capabilities, with particular focus on regulated industries likefinancial services and healthcare.

Token Sovereignty as a Scaling Enabler:

Agentic AI workflows consume 15-50x moreinference tokens than chatbots, making token economics the primary constraint on deploymentscale. You will learn how infrastructure choices (on-prem vs. cloud, model routing, sharedinference pools) create up to 18x cost advantages per million tokens and give organizations thedegrees of freedom to scale agents without runaway costs.

Data Readiness for the Agentic Enterprise:

Just as SEO gave way to GEO (optimizing contentfor AI-driven search), enterprise data must be restructured for agent-native consumption. Youwill learn how agentic AI changes the way data is accessed, retrieved, and acted upon, andwhat steps organizations should take now to prepare their internal datasets for a world whereagents, not analysts, are the primary data consumers.

Peter orban

Enterprise AI Executive Strategiest

Moderator

Bruce Monaco

Co-Founder / Head of Research

3:00 PM - 3:40 PM

Atrium Outside Main Stage

Afternoon Networking Break

3:40 PM - 4:00 PM

Main Stage - Marriott Marquis

AI Deployment Workshop - Part 2

Data Readiness for the Agentic Enterprise:
Preparing Your Organization for Agent-Native Operations

The first workshop established the sovereign AI framework for agentic workloads. This second session goes deeper on a dimension that most agentic AI conversations skip entirely: data readiness. AI agents do not consume data the way human analysts or dashboards do. They make tool calls,perform structured extraction, retrieve context across systems, and act on what they find, often in multi-step workflows with no human in the loop. Most enterprise data architectures wer designed for human-driven queries, not agent-driven operations.

This session explores what agent-ready data; looks like: how data structures, metadata, access patterns, and quality standards must evolve as agents become the primary consumers of enterprise information. The parallel to the SEO-to-GEO transition is useful here: web content had to be restructured for AI search engines, and enterprise data faces the same shift. We look at the practical steps regulated enterprises should take now to prepare internal datasets, knowledge bases, and data
governance for an agent-native future.

What You Will Learn:

The SEO-to-GEO Analogy for Enterprise Data:

Websites had to be reformatted when AI-drivensearch changed how content was discovered and consumed. Enterprise data faces the sametransition as agents replace analysts as primary data consumers. You will learn what this meansfor your data architecture, metadata standards, and access layer design.

Agent-Native Data Patterns:

Agents interact with data through tool calls, retrieval-augmentedgeneration, structured extraction, and multi-step reasoning chains. You will look at how theseaccess patterns differ from traditional BI and analytics queries, and what that means for yourdata architecture.

A Data Readiness Checklist for Agentic AI:

You will get a practical checklist for assessingwhether your data infrastructure (quality, structure, metadata, access controls, lineage) is readyfor agent-native operations, with specific actions you can take in the next 90 days.

Peter orban

Enterprise AI Executive Strategiest

Moderator

Bruce Monaco

Co-Founder / Head of Research

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

TABLES 1-4

Executive Roundtable Discussions

Executive Roundtables Topic 1

AI Governance, Risk, And Compliance:
Enabling Scale Without Slowing Momentum

As AI becomes embedded in core business processes, leaders are being asked to manage risk and accountability without stalling progress. Governance is evolving from static policy into an ongoing operational function that must adapt as models, data, and use cases change.

Topic 1 Discussion Points:

Measuring Tangible Benefits:

Techniques for quantifying direct financial gains from AI initiatives, such as cost reductions, increased revenue, and efficiency improvements.

Evaluating Intangible Benefits:

Methods for assessing intangible benefits like improved customer satisfaction, enhanced decision-making capabilities, and innovation acceleration.

ROI Frameworks:

Overview of various frameworks and models used to calculate AI ROI, including Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Value-at-Risk (VaR) assessments.

Aligning AI with Business Goals:

Strategies for ensuring that AI projects are closely aligned with organizational objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Executive Roundtables Topic 2

Hybrid AI Infrastructure:
Balancing Cloud, Edge, And Cost

Preparing your business for the future involves adopting and integrating AI technologies that can scale and evolve with emerging trends. This roundtable will focus on strategies for building scalable AI infrastructure, optimizing AI performance, and navigating multi-cloud environments.

Topic 2 Discussion Points:

Infrastructure Optimization:

Explore strategies for building and scaling AI infrastructure that can handle growing data and processing demands efficiently.

Performance Enhancements:

Discuss methods for optimizing the performance and efficiency of AI workloads, including leveraging edge computing and hybrid cloud solutions.

Enterprise Integration:

Examine best practices for integrating AI seamlessly across various enterprise functions, from R&D to supply chain management.

Navigating Multi-Cloud Environments:

Learn how to effectively manage AI operations across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.

Executive Roundtables Topic 3

The Human Layer Of AI:
Adoption, Trust, And Organizational Change

Beyond models and infrastructure, AI success increasingly depends on how people interact with intelligent systems. Leaders are navigating new dynamics around trust, decision ownership, and changing roles as AI becomes part of everyday work.

Topic 3 Discussion Points:

Framework Development:

Learn how to develop and implement robust data governance frameworks that ensure data quality, integrity, and accessibility.

Privacy and Compliance:

Address the complexities of data privacy and compliance, and explore strategies for maintaining regulatory standards in AI initiatives.

Ethical AI Deployment:

Engage in discussions on mitigating biases in AI models, ensuring transparency, and promoting ethical AI practices.

AI Safety:

Discuss best practices for ensuring AI safety, including risk management strategies and the development of safety protocols.

Executive Roundtables Topic 4

Agentic AI At Scale:
From Experiments To Enterprise Impact

As enterprises move beyond AI pilots, agentic systems are emerging as a new layer of intelligence across workflows, applications, and decision making. While experimentation is widespread, scaling agents introduce new challenges around reliability, coordination, and organizational trust.

Topic 4 Discussion Points:

Infrastructure Optimization:

Explore strategies for building and scaling AI infrastructure that can handle growing data and processing demands efficiently.

Performance Enhancements:

Discuss methods for optimizing the performance and efficiency of AI workloads, including leveraging edge computing and hybrid cloud solutions.

Enterprise Integration:

Examine best practices for integrating AI seamlessly across various enterprise functions, from R&D to supply chain management.

Navigating Multi-Cloud Environments:

Learn how to effectively manage AI operations across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.

4:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Main Stage - Marriott Marquis

Present Your executive roundTables Findings

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Main Stage - Sheraton Boston Hotel

After-Party

Cocktail Hour

Beverage Menu:

Premium Spirits:

‍Tito’s Vodka

Balcones Whiskey

Tequila 512

Gosling's Rum

Hendrick’s Gin

Craft Beers:

Karbach Ranch Water

Karbach Love Street

Elegant Wines and Champagne:

‍Sauvignon Blanc: Kim Crawford

Prosecco: Lunetta

Chardonnay: La Crema

Pinot Noir: Mark West

Cabernet: Columbia Crest - Grand Estates

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Capital Grille

Intimate Think Tank Dinner - Invite Only

Directly After Day 1 Workshop

The Think Tank Dinner is a private, invitation-only gathering of senior executives, speakers, and partners.

Attendance is limited and separate from the Day 1 Workshop & Day 2 Main Summit. Participation requires explicit confirmation in advance. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

This dinner is designed for in-depth discussion and peer exchange in a small-group setting. Guests not confirmed for the dinner should plan to depart following the cocktail reception.

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel

Arrivals & REGISTRATION

Start your Leaders In AI Summit experience by checking in at the Leaders in AI Summit hosted at the luxurious Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel in Downtown Toronto. Our VIP Registration Team will greet you in the lobby with your VIP badges and a complimentary gift bag. Enjoy artisian coffee, tropical fruit, and pastries while you prepare for an exciting day of insights and exclusive networking.

9:00 AM - 9:10 AM

Main Stage

Opening Remarks

Kick off the summit with opening remarks from Robert Jaggers, CEO of the Institute for AI Transformation, as he introduces the themes and priorities for the day ahead. This brief session will lead into our opening panel, setting the focus for impactful discussions to follow.

9:10 AM - 9:50 AM

Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel

Opening Panel

THE RACE FOR ENTERPRISE AI:
AGENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE & EXECUTIVE DECISIONS

AI initiatives hold the promise of transformation, yet many organizations struggle to move beyond pilot phases, leaving potential value unrealized. Research shows that the majority of AI pilots stall due to misaligned goals, resource limitations, and insufficient cross-functional buy-in. These challenges often lead to delayed ROI, wasted investments, and reduced stakeholder confidence. This panel will uncover the key reasons why pilots fail and offer actionable strategies to build scalable, enterprise-wide AI frameworks that deliver meaningful results.

Key Learning Objectives for the Audience

Identify Core Barriers to Scaling AI:

Understand the most common pitfalls in AI pilot projects, including resource inefficiencies, skill shortages, and organizational misalignment.

Develop an effective Enterprise-Wide Framework for AI:

Gain insights into embedding AI initiatives within business units, fostering ownership, and aligning projects with strategic goals to achieve production-ready success.

Deliver ROI Through Scalable AI:

Gain insights into optimizing resource allocation, aligning AI investments with measurable outcomes, and sustaining stakeholder confidence.

Moderator

Bruce Monaco

Co-Founder / Head of Research

9:50 AM - 10:30 AM

Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel

Featured Panel

AI IN FINANCIAL SERVICES:
REAL-TIME DECISIONS, RISK, AND THE FUTURE OF BFSI

This panel will examine how human expertise and training data play a pivotal role in shaping Generative AI systems. This panel will explore how human input—through methods like reinforcement learning and hybrid architectures—refines model accuracy, addresses bias, and improves ethical compliance. Industry leaders will share strategies for balancing automation with human oversight to enhance decision-making processes, scale responsibly, and ensure that AI systems remain aligned with organizational and societal values.

Key Learning Objectives for the Audience

Refining AI Outputs with Human Expertise:

Understand how human-in-the-loop systems improve the quality, accuracy, & reliability of GenAI by integrating human judgment into training & decision-making processes.

Scalable and Ethical AI Oversight:

Explore strategies for implementing human-in-the-loop practices that address bias, hallucinations, and ethical risks while maintaining efficiency and scalability in AI systems.

Advancing AI Governance and Leadership:

Learn how human oversight frameworks, including reinforcement learning and hybrid architectures, can empower leaders to ensure responsible and trustworthy AI deployment at scale.

Moderator

Bruce Monaco

Co-Founder / Head of Research

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Atrium

Opening Networking Break

11:30 AM - 12:05 PM

Main Stage - Marriott Copley Place

Featured Panel

Transforming Healthcare:
From AI Pilots to Clinical-Grade Systems

Healthcare organizations are under pressure to deploy AI at scale while operating in one of the most regulated, data-constrained environments in the enterprise. Leaders are moving past experimentation and asking harder questions: where AI truly improves outcomes, where risk increases, and how systems can be trusted inside clinical and operational workflows.

This panel brings together healthcare data and AI leaders to discuss how organizations are operationalizing AI across care delivery, supply chains, and enterprise operations. The focus is not on future promises, but on what is working today — how leaders are navigating data access, governance, and validation to move AI from pilots into production without compromising safety, compliance, or performance.

Key Learning Objectives for the Audience

- Deploying AI in Data-Constrained Clinical Environments:

How healthcare organizations are using synthetic data, model tuning, and controlled access strategies to innovate while protecting patient privacy and meeting regulatory requirements.

Making AI Trustworthy for Clinical and Operational Use:

How leaders validate, monitor, and govern AI systems so outputs can be trusted by clinicians, operators, and executives — not just data science teams.

Scaling AI Without Disrupting Care Delivery:

How enterprises are integrating AI into real workflows, reducing friction for clinicians and staff while ensuring reliability, accountability, and measurable impact.

Moderator

Bruce Monaco

Co-Founder / Head of Research

12:05 PM - 12:45 PM

Atrium

Lunch Hosted By the
institute for ai transformation

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

TABLES 1-8

Executive Roundtable Discussions

Executive Roundtables Topic 1

AI Governance, Risk, And Compliance:
Enabling Scale Without Slowing Momentum

Topic 1 Discussion Points:

Measuring Tangible Benefits:

Techniques for quantifying direct financial gains from AI initiatives, such as cost reductions, increased revenue, and efficiency improvements.

Evaluating Intangible Benefits:

Methods for assessing intangible benefits like improved customer satisfaction, enhanced decision-making capabilities, and innovation acceleration.

ROI Frameworks:

Overview of various frameworks and models used to calculate AI ROI, including Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Value-at-Risk (VaR) assessments.

Aligning AI with Business Goals:

Strategies for ensuring that AI projects are closely aligned with organizational objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Executive Roundtables Topic 2

Hybrid AI Infrastructure:
Balancing Cloud, Edge, And Cost

Topic 2 Discussion Points:

Infrastructure Optimization:

Explore strategies for building and scaling AI infrastructure that can handle growing data and processing demands efficiently.

Performance Enhancements:

Discuss methods for optimizing the performance and efficiency of AI workloads, including leveraging edge computing and hybrid cloud solutions.

Enterprise Integration:

Examine best practices for integrating AI seamlessly across various enterprise functions, from R&D to supply chain management.

Navigating Multi-Cloud Environments:

Learn how to effectively manage AI operations across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.

Executive Roundtables Topic 3

The Human Layer Of AI:
Adoption, Trust, And Organizational Change

Topic 3 Discussion Points:

Framework Development:

Learn how to develop and implement robust data governance frameworks that ensure data quality, integrity, and accessibility.

Privacy and Compliance:

Address the complexities of data privacy and compliance, and explore strategies for maintaining regulatory standards in AI initiatives.

Ethical AI Deployment:

Engage in discussions on mitigating biases in AI models, ensuring transparency, and promoting ethical AI practices.

AI Safety:

Discuss best practices for ensuring AI safety, including risk management strategies and the development of safety protocols.

Executive Roundtables Topic 4

Agentic AI At Scale:
From Experiments To Enterprise Impact

Topic 4 Discussion Points:

Infrastructure Optimization:

Explore strategies for building and scaling AI infrastructure that can handle growing data and processing demands efficiently.

Performance Enhancements:

Discuss methods for optimizing the performance and efficiency of AI workloads, including leveraging edge computing and hybrid cloud solutions.

Enterprise Integration:

Examine best practices for integrating AI seamlessly across various enterprise functions, from R&D to supply chain management.

Navigating Multi-Cloud Environments:

Learn how to effectively manage AI operations across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM

Main Stage

Present Your executive roundTables Findings

Up next, each roundtable will share their key takeaways with the full audience. Please designate one representative from your table to go on stage and briefly present your group’s findings and discussion highlights.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Session Location

Afternoon Networking Break

3:30 PM - 4:10 PM

Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel

Featured Panel

The Future of intelligence:
Co-Pilots, Data, & Executive decisions

In an era of rapid disruption, organizations that neglect the human dimension of transformation fall behind. This dynamic panel of CXOs will reveal how people-centered approaches ignite progress, unite teams, and reinforce company culture. You’ll uncover practical methods to secure stakeholder buy-in, dismantle resistance, and foster an adaptable mindset that embraces ongoing evolution. Expect candid discussions on real-world success stories, alongside proven frameworks that keep your workforce energized and your organization moving forward.

Key Learning Objectives for the Audience

Active Buy-In & Alignment:

Explore the complexities of building stakeholder consensus—particularly when up to 70% of large-scale change initiatives fail due to insufficient engagement. Panelists will discuss how to secure cross-functional support, reduce friction, and unify teams to accelerate growth.

Embedding Agility & Resilience:

Examine the critical need for adaptable cultures ready to embrace new processes. Panelists will provide insights on developing resilience at every level of the organization, ensuring a confident response to market shifts and fostering an environment that propels innovation.

Measuring & Sustaining Adoption:

Discover how to track the impact of transformation efforts well beyond the launch phase. Panelists will share approaches for maintaining momentum through transparent metrics, iterative improvements, and leadership commitment—transforming early wins into lasting results.

Moderator

Bruce Monaco

Co-Founder / Head of Research

4:10 PM - 4:50 PM

Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel

Featured Panel

Navigating the Human element of AI

Enterprise AI adoption isn’t about quick wins or one-off pilots — it’s about the hard-earned lessons that transform experimentation into real business impact. This fireside chat cuts through the hype to explore what it actually takes to drive adoption across a complex organization. From standing up sandbox environments and leveraging synthetic data, to building frameworks for use case intake and collaborating with Finance on productivity-based ROI, this session offers practical insights on scaling responsibly. You’ll learn how to activate employees through grassroots programs like Office Hours and Hackathons, use AI to augment — not replace — teams, and unlock the hidden value of unstructured documents. Leaders will leave with actionable strategies for navigating cultural resistance, aligning stakeholders, and embedding governance that evolves alongside innovation.

Key Learning Objectives for the Audience

Breaking Through Adoption Barriers:

Learn how to create structured, low-risk experimentation environments using sandbox setups, obfuscated/synthetic data, and use-case intake frameworks to identify real value opportunities.

Human-in-the-Loop at Scale:

Explore how AI can augment — not replace — employees, expanding team capabilities through tools like Copilot and intelligent automation that empower generalists and specialists alike.

Governance You Can Use:

Walk away with a real-world perspective on how to assess vendors, stay aligned with shifting policy landscapes, and embed governance into everyday AI operations.

Moderator

Bruce Monaco

Co-Founder / Head of Research

4:50 PM - 5:00 PM

Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel

Closing Remarks

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel

After-Party

Cocktail Hour

Beverage Menu:

Premium Spirits:

‍Tito’s Vodka

Balcones Whiskey

Tequila 512

Gosling's Rum

Hendrick’s Gin

Craft Beers:

Karbach Ranch Water

Karbach Love Street

Elegant Wines and Champagne:

‍Sauvignon Blanc: Kim Crawford

Prosecco: Lunetta

Chardonnay: La Crema

Pinot Noir: Mark West

Cabernet: Columbia Crest - Grand Estates

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

TBA

Intimate Think Tank Dinner - Invite Only

Directly After Day 2 Main Summit
AI at Speed: From Possibility to Production Without Limits

The Think Tank Dinner is a private, invitation-only gathering of senior executives, speakers, and partners.

Attendance is limited and separate from the Day 2 Main Summit. Participation requires explicit confirmation in advance. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

This dinner is designed for in-depth discussion and peer exchange in a small-group setting. Guests not confirmed for the dinner should plan to depart following the cocktail reception.