Making the Hard Calls: Going All In on Canada’s Future
February 25, 2026 | Toronto
Hard calls. Bold bets. Real trade-offs.
BHER’s 2026 Executive Summit convenes senior leaders from business, post-secondary, and government to explore what it will take for Canada to go “all in” on the next economy—and the systems that make delivery possible. Through candid, high-level conversations, we’ll dig into the decisions behind scaling AI, modernizing energy, building mission-ready talent pipelines, translating post-secondary research into security and growth, advancing Canada’s space ambitions, and renewing public confidence in post-secondary sustainability and accountability.
Event Details:
Location: The Globe and Mail Centre — 17th Floor, 351 King St E, Toronto
Tickets: $949 + applicable fees and taxes
Have questions or need help registering? We’re here to help — reach out at events@bher.ca
Speakers:
Rob Annan
President & CEO, Genome Canada
Angie Bruce
Vice-President, Indigenous, University of Manitoba
Heather Chalmers
President and CEO, GE Vernova Canada
Michele Harradence
Executive Vice-President & President, Gas Distribution and Storage, Enbridge
Matthew McKean
Chief R&D Officer, Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER)
Michael Serbinis
Founder & CEO, League
Robert Thirsk
Retired Canadian Space Agency Astronaut and Physician
Lieutenant-Colonel Jason Virtue
Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force
Dave Williams
Retired Canadian Space Agency Astronaut, Physician, and CEO, Leap Biosystems
Jahanzaib Ansari
Co-Founder & CEO, Knockri
Nicolle Butcher
President & CEO, Ontario Power Generation
Faye Diamantoudi
Interim Provost & Vice-President, Academic, Concordia University
Chris Madan
VP, Digital Sales and Service, TELUS
Tyler Meredith
Partner, Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips, and former Economic Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sean Speer
Editor-at-large, The Hub, and former Senior Economic Advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee
Commander, Royal Canadian Navy
Val Walker
CEO, Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER)
Melanie Woodin
President, University of Toronto
Martin Basiri
Founder & CEO, Passage
Mary Butler
President & CEO, New Brunswick Community College
Brian Gallant
CEO of Space Canada & former Premier of New Brunswick
Ed McCauley
President & Vice-Chancellor, University of Calgary
Jack Mintz
President's Fellow, The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary
John Stackhouse
Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO, RBC
Ann Marie Vaughan
President and CEO, Humber Polytechnic
Paul Wells
Journalist
Summit Venue
The Globe and Mail Centre
351 King St E, 17th Floor, Toronto
Located in the King East Design District just minutes from the downtown core.
Summit Hotel
Fairmont Royal York, one of Toronto's most notable hotels.
BHER’s guest rate: $359 (not including HST 13% and Municipal Accommodation Tax 8.5%).
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