The 2019 Digital Transformation Conference and Awards will take place at the Globe & Mail Centre, At 351 King St. E, 17th Fl, in Toronto ON on August 8th, 2019.
It will feature panels and presentations on a variety of pressing issues for technology leaders including
the implications of 5G, why Customer Experience (CX) initiatives are struggling, public sector digital transformation and how to talk about cybersecurity to your Board.

PRESENTED BY

PREMIUM SPONSORS
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SUPPORTING SPONSORS


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Conference theme

DX 2.0: Moving from idea to implementation

A day-long exploration of the issues that are putting technology leaders to the test as they strive to excel in the hyper-competitive digital age. Whether you’re experimenting with cloud, concerned about your security posture or looking for ways to calculate your ROI from your CX effort, DX 2.0 has panels and presentations offering the best advice and most successful best practices from the companies that have gone from targets of disruption to disruptor.

The day ends with a gala celebrating the winners of the ITWC’s Digital Transformation Awards. The awards recognize organization is six categories that have used technology to flip their business model or dramatically alter their customer experience. Previous winners have included Loblaws Digital, the City of Vancouver, and construction giant PCL.

Attendance at the conference is complimentary thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. Registration is required.

Attend the 2019 Digital Transformation Awards


Featured Speakers


Mark Saunders
CIO, Sunlife
CanadianCIO of the Year

Mark joined Sun Life Financial in 2009, moving from a senior position in a major U.K.-based bank. He entered an organization that wasn’t spending much on IT or innovation projects and began a total transformation into an analytics-driven business. His innovative projects always that put the customer first. His team uses an agile development approach, collaborating with business leads, to deliver new releases to the mobile channel at least once per quarter.

Alizabeth Calder
CIO, HomeEquity Bank
Alizabeth is a senior technology strategist and a certified corporate director. She has been an active CIO since 1997, serving with IBM, Airmiles, CML Healthcare and currently HomeEquity Bank. She is also a successful author, and her most recent project, Duty of Care; An Executive Guide for Corporate Boards in the Digital Era is a guide for business leaders who need to close their digital knowledge gap in order to make the right decisions about digital technology investment and deployments.

Marco Trecrocre
SVP & CIO, Four Seasons Hotels
Marco Trecroce has led Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts through an extensive global IT and business transformation. He joined the company in 2010 and has successfully pressed for cloud based technologies for its hotels, resorts and residential properties as well as its global corporate offices. He’s pushed mobile apps and is not experimenting with virtual reality options. Marco has a diverse background with senior level experience at companies that include IBM, Airtours, Thomas Cook and Opodo, an Amadeus online travel company. Four Seasons is headquartered out of Toronto. Its 49,000 employees serve guests across a portfolio of 110 hotels and resorts in 47 countries.

Humza Teherany
Chief Technology and Digital Officer, MLSE
Humza Teherany is responsible for digital strategy, technology, IT, mobile apps, data science and innovation with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership(MLSE), the organization that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Argos and Toronto FC soccer club.

While fans may only see the action on the floor or ice, Teherany – who is also President of the CIO Association of Canada – is working to leverage technology and innovation to improve the fan experience, widen the global audience and tap into related markets. Since he joined the organization in June, MLSE Digital labs has been reimagining the company’s mobile apps, and digitizing partnerships with Uber, McDonalds, Pizza, Pizza, and mega-star Drake to expand service offerings.

The Digital Transformation Awards Program

The Digital Transformation Awards recognize companies and organizations that embrace digital tools and systems in ways that fundamentally reshape their organization and the customer experience they deliver. Awards will be handed out in five categories. Please choose the category that most closely applies to your situation.


Large Private Sector Business Transformation

This award recognizes excellence in digital transformation among Canadian businesses employing more than 500 people.

SME Enterprise Sector Transformation

This award will be presented for creating a positive transformation within a small to medium-sized business (with fewer than 500 employees). Disruptive start-ups fundamentally challenging business models in their sectors will also be eligible for this award.

Large Public
Sector Transformation

Large public organizations such as hospitals, academic institutions, government departments and large municipalities are fertile ground for digital transformation. This award will recognize excellence among public sector organizations employing more than 500 people

Public Sector
SME
Transformation

Smaller public organizations such as small municipalities, rural school boards and small hospitals and care facilities (employing fewer than 500 people) that have demonstrated excellence in digital transformation qualify for this award. Not for profit organizations employing fewer than 500 will also be recognized in this category.

Artificial
Intelligence
Disruptor

The awards recognizes an organization that has significantly disrupted the market, or has transformed it, through the specific use of artificial intelligence or deep learning approaches.

2019 Agenda


Registration
8:45 am
Welcome
9:30 am
ITWC President Fawn Annan and ITWC CIO Jim Love
Opening Keynote
9:40 am
Beyond ordinary: Driving digital transformation through digital platforms
Imagine new ways of getting work done by leveraging the information that you have; where you can reimagine the past and use it to guide and fuel your transformation from ordinary to exceptional. ServiceNow’s Chris Pope will offer insight into how you can truly transform the way work gets done, by leveraging the power of digital platforms to drive digital experience.

Chris Pope
VP Innovation, ServiceNow
Panel
10:10 am
Four pitfalls to avoid for a smoother DX journey
As the global economy is increasingly being driven and disrupted by technology, digital transformation has become a critical part of the business agenda for enterprises of all sizes. Enterprises are trying to embrace digital transformation with urgency, yet IDC predicts about 70% of the digital transformation initiatives are expected to fail. Why? Our panel is going to explore four common DX pitfalls and offer up ways to avoid them.


Sarah J.Shortreed
Frm CIO, Bruce Power

Alizabeth Calder
CIO, HomeEquity Bank

Angela Mondou
President and CEO, ITAC
Networking Break
10:50 am
Panel
11:10 am
Digital Transformation and the Security Imperative
As organizations pursue digital transformation and adopt new technologies and business processes, security issues are on the rise. With the rapid adoption of new technologies, especially IoT and multi-cloud environments, the challenge for CIOs and CISOs grows - especially if an organization does not have integration across their security solutions and incomplete visibility into user, system, and network behaviour. In this panel, our experts will discuss how organizations with evolving operational processes need to change - and the digital priorities that should be at the top of every IT departments “must do” list.


Greg Murray
Vice President, Information Security & CISO, Rogers

Adam Richardson
Director, Technology Integration Engineering, BMO

Lakshmi Hanspal
CISO, Box
Presentation
11:40 am
Talking Cyber Security to your Board
A cybersecurity conversation with your Board of Directors or Executive Management team can go one of two ways: you will either inspire their trust and confidence in your abilities as an IT leader or it will be the last time you get invited to discuss anything with them. Claudio Silvestri, CIO, NavCANADA says the outcome of your meeting comes down to a matter of choice and being prepared.


Claudio Silvestri
Vice President and CIO, NAVCanada
Lunch
12:10 pm
Luncheon Keynote
12:45 pm
Strategic partnerships, emerging technologies and diverse talent will accelerate digital transformation
Introduction by Wayne Ingram, Country Managing Director, Slalom
With the rapid pace of new, technological capabilities and ground-breaking solutions, many businesses have had to pivot to improve their line of sight to industry disruption. What this has cultivated is a focus on internal innovation, recruiting diverse talent, changes in culture and how we work, along with renewed interest in strategic partnerships to accelerate digital transformation. During this presentation, we’ll explore the progress we’ve made so far on our digital journey and how strategic partnerships, emerging technologies and top talent will drive positive outcomes to ensure your business remains on the cutting edge of innovation.


Mark Saunders
CIO, Sunlife

Wayne Ingram
Country Managing Director, Slalom
Presentation
1:15 pm
5G in 15
The current generation of wireless technology allowed for the rise of the smartphone as the central device in e-commerce and socialization. The next wave of wireless - 5G - promises to turbocharge smartphones, revolutionize remote medicine and make the autonomous vehicle a reality. Tony Olvet outlines the evolution of 5G to this point and suggests where the likely potential impacts are ahead.

Tony Olvet
Group VP Research, IDC


Panel
1:30 pm
How to Breathe Life into your Customer Experience (CX)
In a world where your next competitor is as close as an ethernet cable and a good idea, delivering a premium customer experience is a key competitive advantage.And while most companies believe they offer a top-notch CX, consumers opinions often differ. Getting the CX experience right is hard. A recent Gartner report said more than 50 per cent of corporate CX exercises will fail this year. So how do you get it right? Our panel of experts recognized for developing and sustaining a premium customer experience will share their thoughts.
Moderator: Amandio Pereira,Global Partner Solution Architects,
CA Technologies, a Broadcom Company


Ralph Michaelis
CIO, Canadian Blood Services

Humza Teherany
Chief Technology and Digital Officer, MLSE

Marco Trecrocre
SVP & CIO, Four Seasons Hotels
Audience Quiz
2:10 pm
7th Inning Stretch
Presentation
2:30 pm
DX Case Study Transformation and the Mobile Workforce
Digital transformation is driving monumental changes in the workplace. But how do your move from the traditional office to mobile and flexible environment - without compromising security or breaking the bank? ITWC CIO Jim Love and Telus VP Business Marketing Craig Thornton explore TELUS’ pioneering journey from the brick and mortar office to mobile working ambassador with takeaway lessons around security, productivity and employee engagement.
Sponsored by TELUS


Craig Thornton
Vice President, Business Mobility Solutions, TELUS
Presentation
3:10 pm
Opportunities in the AI and VR/AR space
Introduction by Marco Nalli, Business Development, AMD
Zaynah is a 15-year-old machine learning and virtual & augmented reality developer from Toronto, Ontario. She began her journey developing neural networks as well as virtual reality experiences at 13 and has been working with companies like Google, CIBC, TD, and Microsoft. A huge advocate for women and girls in technology, she will talk about where she sees the opportunities ahead in the AI and VR/AR space.


Zaynah Bhanji
Virtual & Augmented Reality Developer
Closing Remarks
3:30 pm
Jim Love, CIO, ITWC
Recounts the five top takeaways from the session.


Digital Transformation Awards
Join us for a celebration of Digital Transformation Excellence as five companies from across Canada are recognized for efforts that have flipped their business model or changed their customer experience dramatically. Awards are open to public, private and not for profit nominees.Previous winners has included major cities, a national food chain, an inventive homeless shelter in Calgary and a regional insurance firm in Quebec. Who will win this year?

Jaime Leverton, Chief Commercial Officer, SVP at eStruxture Data Centers, will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Six examples of Digital Transformational excellence will be showcased and celebrated during the celebration. A transformational leader with a proven track record, Jaime has served in a series of increasingly senior executive roles with Cogeco Peer 1, National Bank, BlackBerry, Bell Canada, and IBM Canada.

Jaime Leverton
Chief Commercial Officer, SVP at eStruxture Data Centers
Reception
3:30 pm
Opening Remarks
4:30 pm
Presentation of Awards

Presenters
4:40 pm


Marco Nalli, Business Development, AMD
Closing Remarks
5:45 pm
REGISTER NOW

Missed the 2018 edition?

Visit our Digital Transformation hub featuring articles and videos from the conference and profiles of our award winners.

The 2018 winners included:

Large Public - City of Vancouver
Large Private - Loblaw Digital
Large Private - PCL Inc
SME Public - Telefilm Canada
SME Private - Crisis Services Canada
AI Disruptor - SalesChoice

Their stories can be found on the 2018 event hub below



Digital transformation is creating the new business models that will drive tomorrow’s economy.


With the growing connectivity of people, machines, and businesses, organizations that want to stay competitive and grow revenue streams must leverage technology to do business in a completely new way. Those who successfully navigate the change will see many new opportunities to grow.


At ITWC we’ve heard repeatedly that Canadian companies need a better understanding of digital transformation.

Perhaps more importantly, they need role models and mentors to guide them on the art and practice of digital transformation. That’s why we established an award program and a conference to explore leading digital transformation trends.

2019 SPEAKERS



Mark Saunders
CIO, Sunlife
CanadianCIO of the Year

Mark joined Sun Life Financial in 2009, moving from a senior position in a major U.K.-based bank. He entered an organization that wasn’t spending much on IT or innovation projects and began a total transformation into an analytics-driven business. His innovative projects always that put the customer first. His team uses an agile development approach, collaborating with business leads, to deliver new releases to the mobile channel at least once per quarter.

Claudio Silvestri
Vice President and CIO, NAVCanada
2017 CanadianCIO of the Year

Claudio Silvestri has been Vice President and CIO of NAV CANADA for almost a decade. In this role, he has provided executive leadership, direction, and oversight of the Information Management (IM) function for the Corporation. This function continues to play an increasingly important role in driving productivity improvements and enabling business capabilities to more effectively manage the business operations of NAV CANADA. Silvestri has a rich background in high tech, and diverse experience developing and implementing strategic initiatives to increase the effectiveness and contribution of information technology within a variety of organizations. Prior to joining NAV CANADA, Silvestri was VP and CIO of Cognos Inc., in which capacity he was responsible for worldwide IT services. He was also the Group Vice President and CIO for Business Objectives/Crystal Decisions, and has held senior executive business and IT roles at Microsoft Canada and Compaq Canada.

Humza Teherany
Chief Technology and Digital Officer, MLSE
Humza Teherany is responsible for digital strategy, technology, IT, mobile apps, data science and innovation with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership, the organization that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Argos and Toronto FC soccer club.

While fans may only see the action on the floor or ice, Teherany – who is also President of the CIO Association of Canada – is working to leverage technology and innovation to improve the fan experience, widen the global audience and tap into related markets. Since he joined the organization in June, MLSE Digital labs has been reimagining the company’s mobile apps, and digitizing partnerships with Uber, McDonalds, Pizza, Pizza, and mega-star Drake to expand service offerings.

Lakshmi Hanspal
CISO, Box Lakshmi joined Box in January 2019 bringing more than 20 years of experience in information security, risk management and privacy. In the role of CISO, she is responsible for Box's cyber security practice, security operations and data and platform protection. Prior to joining Box, Lakshmi served as Chief Security Officer at SAP Ariba. Prior to that she the senior leader for Information Security and Risk at PayPal and spent 10 years at the Bank of America as a Senior Vice President.

Tony Olvet
Group Vice President Research, IDC Canada
Tony Olvet is Group Vice President of the research team at IDC Canada. He is responsible for managing the services and research direction of the technology market analysts in Canada. Mr. Olvet has worked with clients across a variety of organizations including global IT manufacturers, Canadian telecom service providers, technology startups, financial institutions and public sector organizations. He is quoted in major print and web publications including The Globe and Mail, The Montreal Gazette, The National Post, CBC.ca, Network World and various ITWC publications.



Alizabeth Calder
CIO, HomeEquity Bank
Alizabeth is a senior technology strategist and a certified corporate director. She has been an active CIO since 1997, serving with IBM, Airmiles, CML Healthcare and currently HomeEquity Bank. She is also a successful author, and her most recent project, Duty of Care; An Executive Guide for Corporate Boards in the Digital Era is a guide for business leaders who need to close their digital knowledge gap in order to make the right decisions about digital technology investment and deployments.

Marco Trecrocre
SVP & CIO, Four Seasons Hotels
Marco Trecroce has led Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts through an extensive global IT and business transformation. He joined the company in 2010 and has successfully pressed for cloud based technologies for its hotels, resorts and residential properties as well as its global corporate offices. He’s pushed mobile apps and is not experimenting with virtual reality options. Marco has a diverse background with senior level experience at companies that include IBM, Airtours, Thomas Cook and Opodo, an Amadeus online travel company. Four Seasons is headquartered out of Toronto. Its 49,000 employees serve guests across a portfolio of 110 hotels and resorts in 47 countries.

Zaynah Bhanji
Virtual & Augmented Reality Developer
Zaynah is a 15-year-old machine learning and virtual & augmented reality developer. She began her journey developing neural networks at 13 and has been supported by companies like Google, CIBC, TD, and Microsoft. She has been speaking at conferences globally, including Canada’s leading innovation conference, C2 Montreal, as well as YPO, MAX, and TakeOver Dubai. Zaynah is also a huge advocate for women and girls in technology, and speaks to many girls to inspire them to pursue their interests in a science or tech field. Her mentors and advisors represent some of the leading companies in the AI and VR/AR space.

Angela Mondou
President and CEO, Information Technology Association of Canada
Angela has more than 25 years of global and Canadian experience driving transformational programs in the tech sector. Her career path includes 10 years as a military officer and 18 years in senior level leadership roles in the tech and defence sectors, including as a strategic marketing director with BlackBerry, and a global solutions leader with Nortel Networks. She has led teams and technology innovation efforts in dozens of countries. She is author of the leadership best-seller Hit the Ground Leading!

Ralph Michaelis
CIO, Canadian Blood Services
As CIO with Canadian Blood Services Ralph provides leadership and direction to the information technology (IT) division. IT is a critical enabler for Canadian Blood Services, supporting the safe and efficient delivery of biological products and related services while facilitating the organization’s shift into a digital business. Ralph is responsible for ensuring IT aligns with and enables business operations and strategy. He joined Canadian Blood Services in June 2012. He has extensive technology and business experience in both the private and public sectors, ranging from high tech to higher education.



Chris Pope
VP Innovation, ServiceNow
As ServiceNow’s global VP Innovation, Chris brings more than 15 years of C-level executive experience with leading technology solutions and platforms across Product Management and Strategy. Being able to identify, challenge, and deliver the business drivers as well as the technical capabilities of ServiceNow, Chris has built long-standing, trusted, partnerships at the highest levels of his customers ensuring the delivery of meaningful outcomes for all. Chris also has the rare, added-value experience of having been a ServiceNow customer multiple times so understands the client and the vendor perspectives on business transformation.

Craig Thornton
Vice President, Business Mobility Solutions, TELUS
Craig Thornton is the Vice President of Business Mobility Solutions at TELUS. He is responsible for the Business Wireless P&L and key strategic programs including the acceleration of small business cloud-based unified communications portfolio. He is known for his entrepreneurial spirit, passion for growth and ability to drive large cross-functional change management programs. He has helped mentor numerous individuals who have transitioned into leadership roles within the organization.

Adam Richardson
Director, Technology Integration Engineering, BMO
Adam works closely with CIO and LOB partners across BMO to align emerging infrastructure requirements. The teams mandate includes the governance, strategy, and security of BMO’s Cloud Platform. Adam has been with BMO for 17 years serving in a variety of roles. Prior to joining BMO he was a consultant in the United States.

Wayne Ingram
Country Managing Director, Slalom
Wayne is a visionary leader and a corporate genie. He knows how to motivate a team to make clients' business wishes into reality. Slalom Consulting has a global reach with 27 offices across North America and the United Kingdom employing 6500 workers. Wayne has more than 30 years of experience and launched the company’s Canadian team four years ago.

Greg Murray
Vice President, Information Security & CISO,
Rogers
Vice President, Information Security & CISO, Rogers With 20+ years of broad international experience, Greg has a track record of delivering transformational and risk reducing high value IT services across multiple industries. Greg is currently the CISO for Rogers Communications. Greg is also the Cyber Security and IT Director in Residence for University of Toronto Rotman Directors Education Program and actively participates in Government of Canada Cyber Committees.
Previously, Greg served as CISO for OpenText where he spearheaded a multi-year program to enhance, streamline and deliver active cyber defenses across the organization’s corporate and commercial service offerings. Prior to that, Greg led IT risk management at Rio Tinto and he was also an integral leader in the company’s enterprise IT transformation.

2019 JUDGES


Gary Davenport
Past President, CIO Association of Canada
Gary Davenport is the Past-President of the CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN). He has extensive experience as a senior executive within both the telecommunications and retail sectors and has successfully run large scale IT operations and delivered complex business transformation initiatives.

Lars Goransson
General Manager and Group Vice President, IDC
Lars Goransson is responsible for IDC's Canadian operation as General Manager and Group Vice President. IDC Canada's product and services offerings provide the Canadian IT community with market based research across the value continuum of budgeting & planning, marketing awareness and lead generation, and measurement and performance management.

Corey Cox
VP Information Technology, Tandet
Corey Cox is the Vice-President of Information Systems for the Tandet Group of Companies, headquartered in Oakville, Ontario. For almost three decades, he has combined a strong business and operational knowledge with a diversified technology skill set spanning network, server-room, desktop, mobile and communications technologies. Along with consulting on several software development projects, Corey has written software for, the trucking, fleet maintenance and truck leasing industries. During his career, he has initiated several new network builds and managed multiple implementations of major ERP/CRM systems.

Helen Polatajko
Board Member, CDSPI
Helen has over 35 years of Executive experience in both the private and the public sectors. She has been responsible for the overall strategic direction, organizational transformation and management of information technology functions while being a contributing member of company executive committees. Helen’s career spans the technology services field most recently at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in Ottawa and prior to that with CIBC Mellon in Toronto.

Samantha Liscio
Ph.D. Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, WSIB
As Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at the WSIB, Samantha is responsible for digital transformation, leveraging technology and customer experience to streamline processes, provide value and modernize the business. She owns the establishment and execution of the enterprise-wide IT strategy that drives IT service excellence, directs innovation and develops the capabilities and capacity to support evolving business needs, while ensuring the highest possible value from technology assets and investments. Samantha has over 20 years of experience in IT leadership roles. In previous positions with eHealth Ontario, Accenture, and the Ontario Public Service, she led the design and implementation of large-scale digital transformative initiatives.

2017 CONFERENCE


Congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Digital Transformation Awards: CIBC, Humanina Assurance, Barrick Gold, Connected North led by Taking IT Global and the City of Toronto.

With the crystal awards, from left: Michael Turney, Cisco (representing Connected North); Tracey Cook and Rob Meikle (City of Toronto); Eric Levac and Stephane Rochon (Humania Assurance); and Kevin Paget, CIBC.



Ten Insights from the 2017 Digital Transformation Conference and Awards



CanadianCIO

A special edition highlighting the award winners and the panel sessions at the 2017 conference. Learn how organizations of all shapes and sizes are changing for the 21st century knowledge economy.
Read Now

2017 winners and the finalists

Close to 30 companies responded and 25 submissions were sent to an independent judging panel. The stories of the 2017 winners and the finalists can be found in this downloadable pagebook.
Read Now

Contact

For more information about the conference or the awards contact

Steve Proctor

Vice President Marketing and Communications
416-290-0240 Ext. 188
sproctor@itwc.ca

Donna Butts

Director, Corporate Support
416-290-0274
dbutts@itwc.ca