SCHEDULE
Note that speakers and topics are subject to change.
Tuesday Morning | November 25
8:45 am Pre-Forum Workshops (select one)
Option 1: Sponsorship 101
Instructor: Christi Cruz
Option 2: Sponsorship Next Level: An In-depth Session on Sponsorship Beyond the Basics
Instructor: Brent Barootes
Option 3: Data for Sponsorships 101: Use the Right Numbers to Win (and Keep) Your Sponsors
Instructor: Sarah Hillifer
11:30 am Lunch Break (not provided)
Tuesday Afternoon | November 25
12:30 pm Registration
1:00 pm Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:10 pm The Main Stage
Opening Keynote: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – A Sponsorship Year in Review and Forecast for 2026
Speaker: Brent Barootes
What You Really Sponsor
Speaker: Carolyn Shaw
Building a Canadian Story
Speaker: Bart Given
Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study Data Presentation
Speaker: Norm O'Reilly
What Sponsors Want Now - Moving Beyond Basic Branding/Logo Visibility
Speaker: James O'Connor
From Awkward to Awesome: Real Talk on Networking
Speakers: Christi Cruz and Jennifer Bishop
4:45 pm Networking Mixer
6:00 pm Dine Around
Wednesday | November 26
7:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:15 am The Main Stage
Opening Keynote: The Art & Science of Sponsorship Valuation
Speaker: Neal Covant
What is the Future of Sponsorship Panel
10:15 am Breakout Sessions (block A)
The Hidden Numbers: 10 DIY Metrics That Land Sponsors
(Number-Phobics Welcome)
Speaker: Sarah Hillifer
Small Pond, Big Impact: Unlocking the Power of Sponsorship in Small Markets
Speaker: Denise Broadbent
Selling with data: Demonstrating Your Property's Sponsorship Benefits
Speaker: Eddy Sidani
11:15 am Breakout Sessions (block B)
The Art of Prospecting
Speaker: James O'Connor
Leveraging Untapped Sponsorship Opportunities
Speaker: Bart Given
Sponsorship & The Pursuit of Wellbeing: A Behavioral Science Approach
Speaker: Carolyn Shaw
12:00 pm Networking Lunch (provided)
1:00 pm The Main Stage
Ask Me Anything Panel Discussion
Speakers: TBA
The Solution Room Round Tables
The 5-Minute Pitch™
Speakers: Andrea Baker, Dorit Gerov, John Windwick
The 5-Minute Pitch™, a congress favourite, is an intense hour and a half of sellers pitching and sponsors spending a mock $250,000 budget, followed by delegates asking all of their questions.
Interested in pitching our brands? One spot still available. email us!
3:45 pm Closing Remarks