Agenda
Date: May 6, 2026
Time: 8:45 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
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM | Registration
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | Welcome & Introduction
Kim Furlong
PRESIDENT & CEO, RETAIL COUNCIL OF CANADA
Dr. Jenna Jacobson
DIRECTOR, RETAIL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Cynthia Holmes
DEAN, TED ROGERS SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, TORONTO METROPOLITAN 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
Dr. Ellen Choi
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Break
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM | Panel Discussion: The Future of Retail Marketing & Merchandising
Hardeep Kharaud
SVP, FOOD BASICS, METRO INC.
Shannon Stewart
EVP, CHIEF MERCHANDISING OFFICER, HARRY ROSEN
Tanbir Grover
FORMER CHIEF MARKETING & DIGITAL OFFICER, PET VALU
Dr. Kai Christine Lesage
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
Francesca Cardarelli
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MCDONALD’S CANADA
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Break
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Panel Discussion: Field Research and In-Store Analytics
Mark Ryski
FOUNDER & CEO, HEADCOUNT
Dr. Ramesh Venkat
DIRECTOR, DAVID SOBEY RETAILING CENTRE, SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
Dr. Rony Chamoun
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, RETAIL INNOVATION LAB, MCGILL UNIVERSITY
Craig Patterson
FOUNDER & CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, RETAIL INSIDER
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM | Panel Discussion: The Role of AI & Technology in Retail Transformation
Hicham El Chazli
PARTNER & HEAD OF HYBRID CLOUD MIGRATION & MODERNIZATION, IBM
Sophie Marai
VP, CLIENT STRATEGY, ENVIRONICS ANALYTICS
Fawad Baig
RETAIL INDUSTRY LEADER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACCENTURE CANADA
Marie Chevrier Schwartz
CEO, RETHINK RETAIL
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM | Break
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | Rapid Fire Insights
Dr. Yu Ma
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR, MCGILL INSTITUTE OF MARKETING, MCGILL UNIVERSITY
Dr. John Pracejus
DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA SCHOOL OF RETAILING
Dr. Katelynn Carter-Rogers
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY
Dr. Joseph Aversa
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Omar Fares
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
Dr. Katie Mehr
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERISTY OF ALBERTA