Seen & Heard at Canada’s CEO Summit 2025

Last week in Toronto more than 200 of Canada’s leading CEOs, business executives and investors came together to talk about growth, leadership, global ambition, and Canada’s economic resilience.

At the Shangri-La Hotel, Canada’s CEO Summit was a venue for discussion about the strategies needed to build globally competitive companies anchored in Canadian values.
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On the first night, CEOs were welcomed with opening remarks from CCI President Benjamin Bergen, followed by a cocktail reception sponsored by Maverix Private Equity and CPA Ontario, before fanning out across Toronto for a series of private dinners with their peers.
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The morning began with a presentation by CCI Chair Jim Balsillie, discussing the political context and economic dynamics currently at play in Canada. 

"Finally, our Federal Government is signalling it’s ready to think and act strategically just like other countries. When it comes to trade agreements, FDI strategies, research funding strategies, digital infrastructure, IP, data, AI and cloud strategies, and innovation programs the stakes have always – always - been national. That is why CCI exists."
— Jim Balsillie, Chair & Co-Founder, Council of Canadian Innovators

The morning program included a global economic outlook from Scotiabank’s Derek Holt, who set the stage with a wide-ranging assessment of the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s innovation economy. He was joined in conversation by John Ruffolo, Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity and CCI Co-Founder and Vice Chair, and David Rozin Vice President and Head, Technology and Innovation Banking at Scotiabank Roynat Capital, who talked about the important role of innovative scale-up companies in the Canadian context.
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The program then shifted to an Innovator-to-Innovator exchange on growth. Geotab CEO Neil Cawse and Petal CEO Patrice Gilbert, moderated by Gowling WLG’s Aimee Halfyard, compared their different paths to building world-class companies — one through disciplined scaling, the other through customer-driven expansion.
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Next, Conscia AI CEO Sana Remekie and BigGeo CEO Brent Lane, in conversation with Gowling WLG’s Parna Sabet-Stephenson, took on the defining issue of sovereignty in the digital age. Their session explored how Canada can navigate the balance between innovation and autonomy, with a focus on AI governance, procurement reform, and IP strategy.
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“Spending time with Canadian CEOs is a reminder that ambition is alive and well in this country. The question now is whether we’ll put the right frameworks in place—procurement, IP, and capital—that allow these leaders to not just compete, but win. That’s what building prosperity in Canada looks like.”
— Benjamin Bergen, President, Council of Canadian Innovators

Throughout the day, CEOs stepped into smaller breakout groups to connect with peers in candid conversations about the challenges and opportunities shaping their companies. These CEO Circles created space for focused discussions on everything from talent and leadership to growth strategies and market expansion.
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After lunch, the focus turned to leadership through uncertainty. Moderated by CCI Vice-President of Strategy and Advocacy Dana O’Born, with panellists Andrew Graham, CEO of Borrowell; Dr. Karen Cross, CEO of MIMOSA Diagnostics; and Darcy Tuer CEO of ZayZoon, shared how they are guiding their teams through disruption while sustaining culture and mission.
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Capital was the next topic, as Rebecca Kacaba, CEO of DealMaker, and Rob Khazzam, CEO of Float, joined by Deloitte Ventures’ Talia Abramowitz, to discuss what it takes to find the right partners, negotiate terms, and build durable growth in competitive markets.
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Finally, the stage turned to global scaling. Clio CEO Jack Newton and PointClickCare CEO Mike Wessinger, in conversation with Deloitte’s Amanda Perran, spoke about competing internationally while staying rooted in Canadian talent and values.
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After a full day of business conversations, CEOs were ready to toast CCI’s 10th anniversary at a celebration dinner at the Design Exchange. 
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Special thanks to our partners: Roynat Capital Scotiabank, Deloitte, Gowling WLG, Export Development Canada, National Bank of Canada, PwC, RBCx, TD Innovation Partners, TMX Group, Maverix Private Equity, CPA Ontario and Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.