Agenda
Date: May 6, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location: Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, Cara Commons, 7th floor, TRS 1-148 and 1-150 | 55 Dundas Street West, Toronto
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Welcome & Introduction
Intro from from Canadian Retail Collective team:
Dr. Ramesh Venkat, Director, David Sobey Retailing Centre, Saint Mary’s University
Dr. Jenna Jacobson, Director, Retail Leadership Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University
Dr. Ethan Pancer, Sobey Professor of Marketing, Saint Mary’s University
Dr. John W. Pracejus, Academic Director, Centre for Cities & Communities, University of Alberta
Dr. Yu Ma, Academic Director, McGill Institute of Marketing, McGill University
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM | Opening Featured Speaker: Fireside Chat
Purpose-Driven Retail: Balancing Sustainability, Affordability & Community
Selwyn Crittendon
CEO & CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, IKEA CANADA
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Break
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM | Panel Discussion: The Future of Retail Marketing
Hardeep Kharaud
SVP, FOOD BASICS, METRO INC.
Shannon Stewart
SHANNON STEWART, EVP, CHIEF MERCHANDISING OFFICER, HARRY ROSEN
Tanbir Grover
FORMER, CHIEF MARKETING & DIGITAL OFFICER, PET VALU
Dr. Kai Christine Lesage
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, MARKETING, DEGROOTE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
Francesca Cardarelli
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MCDONALDS CANADA
11:45 AM – 12:30 AM | Academic Panel Discussion: Field Research and In-Store Analytics
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Break
Mark Ryski
FOUNDER & CEO, HEADCOUNT
Dr. Ramesh Venkat
DIRECTOR, DAVID SOBEY RETAILING CENTRE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, MARETING, SOBEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM | Panel Discussion: The Role of AI & Technology in Retail Transformation
Mohab El Hilaly
PARTNER - AI & AUTOMATION CANADA LEADER, IBM
Sophie Marai
VP, CLIENT STRATEGY, ENVIRONICS ANALYTICS
Fawad Baig
SENIOR CLEINT EXECUTIVE & MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACCENTURE