WEC 2026 Conference Programme

WEC members can also access exclusive adjacent events: Board Meeting (Board members -11 May) and dynamic workshops (All members - 14 May).

May 12, 2026

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
  • Bettina Schaller, WEC President
  • Randy Upright, ACSESS President
  • Canadian Indigenous Welcome & Land Recognition by Red Sky Performance
  • Invited Guest: Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Trends Shaping Workforce Solutions in 2026 and into the Future
9:40 AM - 10:30 AM
The Future of Work Is Here
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Refreshment Break with Exhibitors and Sponsors

Tuesday Morning Parallel Sessions

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
World Employment Confederation (WEC) General Assembly
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Right on the Money: What Growth Leaders Need to Win Now
  • Speaker: Colleen Francis, LinkedIn's #1 Sales Influencer, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Award-winning Sales Strategist, Best Selling Author.
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Networking Lunch
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Legislation Driving Growth: Getting it Right for the World of Work
  • Speaker: Sonia Regenbogen, Employer Counsel / Labour and Employment Law Workplace Human Rights / lus Laboris

Tuesday Afternoon Parallel Sessions

2:20 PM - 3:15 PM
Talent Partnerships: Innovative Models for Global Mobility and Skills Deployment
2:20 PM - 3:15 PM
Thoughts on Economic Policy and its Impact on the Staffing Industry in 2026 and Beyond
  • Speaker: Noah Yosif, Chief Economist, American Staffing Association (ASA)
  • Speaker: Minh Dang, Founder and Editor in Chief, The Canadian Labour and Staffing Journal
  • Speaker: Brendon Bernard, Senior Economist, Indeed.com
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Refreshment Break with Exhibitors and Sponsors

Tuesday Afternoon Parallel Sessions

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Grow with Global Talent: Ethical Labour Corridors as Accelerators of Growth
  • Speaker: Ajit Isaac, Founder & Chair, QUESS
  • Speaker: Elizabeth Warn, Head Labour Mobility Division, International Organization for Migration, UN Migration Agency
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
The Future of Work: Leadership Solutions in a Changing Employment Market
  • Moderator: Jeff Aplin, CEO, Aplin & CEO, CompuStaff
  • Panelist: David King, Senior Managing Director, Robert Half
  • Panelist: Kent McCrea, President & CEO, Procom
  • Panelist: Patrick Poulin, President-Managing Director, Randstad Canada

May 13, 2026

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Day 2 Opening Remarks
  • Invited Guest: Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Leadership in Uncertain Times
  • Speaker: Daniel Tisch, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Panel Discussion: AI Innovation – Threat or Opportunity for HR Services?
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Refreshment Break with Exhibitors and Sponsors
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Sponsored by: IT360 Financial

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Keynote: Strategy Is Energy
  • Speaker: Shawn Kanungo, Keynote Speaker | Innovation & AI | Bestselling Author
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch

Wednesday Afternoon Parallel Sessions

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Workforce Staffing Solutions: General Staffing & Professional Services
  • Panelist: Travis O'Rourke, President, Hays Canada
  • Panelist: Michael Leacy, Chief Sales Officer & EVP, Raise
  • Moderator: Craig Rix, Managing Partner, Hicks Morley
  • Panelist: Jeff Nugent, CEO & Founder CEO & Founder Independently
  • Panelist: Tao Qiu, Country President, Adecco Group Canada; Country President, Akkodis Canada
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
AI Transformation Begins With Your Mindset
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
World Café: Facilitated Roundtable discussions
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Refreshment Break with Exhibitors and Sponsors
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Closing Plenary: Growing Together – A Global Call to Action