Event Agenda

What’s On the Agenda?

We’re not just filling time slots—we’re designing transformation.

At the Engaging Associations Forum, our sessions go beyond surface-level trends to tackle the real challenges association leaders face today. You’ll experience a mix of keynotes, peer-led discussions, and interactive workshops focused on what matters most: leading through change, engaging your members, diversifying revenue, and rethinking governance in a shifting world.

Expand All +

  • Day 1


  • Day 2


  • Join us for our Welcome Reception, meet our speakers, sponsors, and say hello to your peer who will be joining you over the next two days of collaboration and change!

  • Brought to you by Rogers Centre Ottawa, registration kicks off early with a networking breakfast.

  • Buckle up because the journey is about to begin!

  • Disruptors are facing a real dilemma. For years, association leaders were the ones pushing boundaries, facilitating and guiding change as oracles. But today, disruption is coming from the outside… and it's not knocking politely. AI & ML creating opportunities that democratize knowledge but weaponize trust, shifting member demands that feel endless, political turbulence across all government levels with polarization to match, and post-pandemic fatigue still in recovery. The result? You’re expected to do more with less, lead through exhaustion, and still deliver relevance.

    That’s where curiosity becomes a strategic advantage.

    In this keynote, Fenton will introduce the Curiosity Compass ™, a tool he developed to help organizations lead from a place of regeneration instead of reactivity. It’s built for leaders navigating shrinking budgets, changing engagement models, and staff burnout. And it offers four practical mindsets that unlock innovation and adaptability, even when the ground keeps shifting.

    Drawing from his experience as a governance expert, venture-backed founder and serial entrepreneur, and sought after innovation advisor across public and private sectors, Fenton will show how association leaders can use curiosity to:

      > Rethink member value when expectations evolve
        > Reframe constraints as creative catalysts
          > Reignite their teams through strategic exploration
            > Reclaim their role as change agents in uncertain times

            Fenton’s not here to romanticize disruption. He’s here to make leaders feel equipped again — not overwhelmed. The Curiosity Compass isn’t just a framework. It’s a way to recalibrate leadership for the moment we’re in, and the moments we’re anticipating.

            You’re already in the shift. This is how you lead it.

    Strategy

  • Brought to you by Rogers Centre Ottawa

  • Whether you’re in the midst of a maelstrom or just keeping an eye on clouds on the horizon, most leaders don’t take clear skies for granted any more. Along with the shifting broad geopolitical and economic landscape, you may be dealing with much more local upheavals that are no less challenging to deal with.

    So, how can you think long-term when planning seems... honestly, kinda pointless? How can you make decisions when major events are looming that could have a major impact on your sector, membership, or organization? How can you make sure everyone’s rowing in the same direction even if the seas are getting seriously choppy?

    But arguably, these kinds of times are exactly when we need a strategic mindset the most, so we don’t lose our sense of purpose and direction. Let’s talk about how strategy works in tumultuous times, both at the heights and in day-to-day practice. This session will provide big-picture guidance as well as usable suggestions for how your organization can weather whatever storms are coming your way.

    Strategy

  • Maddie's session invites you to bust open your view of time management and productivity at work and start thinking of your whole "T.E.A.M." of time, energy, attention, and money: the precious resources we all need to allocate right but were never taught how. These all converge in our calendar which makes it our most high-leverage tool for success - and our personal playbook waiting to be written. You'll be challenged to ask yourself new questions to design your days to propel you towards your goals AND enhance your mental and physical health. You will begin to train your calendar to predictably and sustainably drive your best performance - never losing sight of what matters most.
    Culture

  • Brought to you by the Québec City Convention Centre

  • Rob LeForte has spent two decades as an association and non-profit advocate at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Join Rob for a lively discussion focused on the new challenges and opportunities that association leaders can expect when engaging the new federal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Rob will touch on geopolitical realities, domestic priorities, and the competing issues that the government has to overcome in its first months and years in office. Rob will provide tailored responses to your questions about how best to position your issues, and what barriers stand in the way of your success. He will also delve into the new tactics being employed by others.
    Advocacy

  • Stop running your association like it's 1995. While your members expect seamless digital experiences and strategic growth, most associations are still stuck with outdated staffing models that create burnout, missed opportunities, and operational chaos. This session reveals the game-changing leadership model that's helping associations across Canada finally bridge the gap between board vision and member results—without breaking the budget or your mental health.

    Most associations are trapped in an impossible bind: deliver professional-level results with volunteer leadership, small teams, and stretched budgets. This dynamic session reveals the game-changing Fractional Chief of Staff model that revolutionizes how associations operate.

    Mark Thompson, a nationally recognized association strategist and current board member of multiple national organizations, will share the proven framework that helps associations finally bridge the gap between strategic vision and daily execution. Through real case studies, interactive assessments, and practical tools, you'll discover how to access expertise on a budget that works for your organization.

    By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
    > Identify the 5 critical operational gaps that prevent associations from achieving their strategic goals
    > Evaluate whether their current staffing model is limiting their organization's potential
    > Design a fractional leadership approach that fits their association's size, budget, and growth stage
    > Calculate the ROI of strategic operational support vs. the hidden costs of the status quo

    Why Fractional Makes Sense The beauty of the fractional model is that it acknowledges a simple truth: you need this level of strategic operational support, but you may not need it 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year.

    Instead, you get:
    > Right-sized expertise for your actual needs
    > Cost-effective access to senior-level strategic thinking
    > Flexible engagement that scales with your organization's rhythm
    > Immediate impact without the lengthy onboarding of a full-time hire

    This isn't about doing more with less—it's about doing better with what you have while positioning yourself for sustainable growth.

    Culture

  • Brought to you by Rogers Centre Ottawa

  • Pick your power play—Strategy, Culture, Advocacy, or Revenue—and join a workshop designed to move your mission forward.
    Advocacy
    Culture
    Revenue
    Strategy

  • In today’s climate of uncertainty, long-term planning can feel like a luxury. But turbulent times are exactly when strategy matters most. This interactive session will explore how to stay focused, make aligned decisions, and lead with clarity—even when the future feels unpredictable. Together, we’ll uncover practical tools to help your team weather disruption, stay the course, and build resilience from the inside out.
    Strategy

  • A discussion and workshop on building influence in a noisy political landscape.
    Advocacy

  • Scenario Planning is a tool to structure the consideration of contingencies and the resilience and flexibility of strategy under different future states to help executives develop long-term, sustainable business strategies. Facilitated by Fenton, this workshop helps uncover potential scenarios that companies might face, providing strategies for brainstorming and developing contingency plans to address them.
    Strategy

  • The pressure to diversify revenue is louder than ever, but for associations, the challenge isn’t just why, it’s how and where. This interactive session will challenge traditional thinking and explore sustainable revenue strategies beyond membership dues and event registrations.

    You’ll begin by examining your current revenue mix, then move into a facilitated discussion and workshop designed to help you identify gaps, opportunities, and actionable next steps for your association. Drawing on real-world examples from associations around the world, you’ll explore how others are navigating disruption through new approaches to events, partnerships, certification, global market entry, and even going chapterless.

    Leave with a broader global perspective and a clearer vision for how your association can shift from dues-based dependency to demand-driven growth.

    Revenue


Spread The Word

Follow the event conversation using the hashtag #EngageAssociation

Instagram

Event Location

September 29-30, 2025
Rogers Centre Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario

© 2025 Engaging Associations Forum produced by Event Specialists Inc.

Back To top