
BOLD SOLUTIONS
New Ideas, Bold Solutions, and Exploration.
This is what The Future of Innovation is.
This annual RBC Leadership conference, hosted by the J. Herbert Smith Centre, sparks new conversations about cutting-edge solutions for problems that are persistent throughout Canada and the world.
This year we're giving you the opportunity to connect virtually with thought leaders, businesses, and students about the ideas that will help us adapt and overcome the new challenges we are facing globally.
We have brought speakers from around the world to help enrich the community and foster discovery. The goal is to explore the frontiers of innovation and insight inspiration while we discuss the challenges and opportunities around trans-border migration and economies moving into 2021.
2
TOPICS
8
SESSIONS
18
SPEAKERS
About J Herbert Smith Centre
The J Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship (TME) was founded in 1988 to cultivate new ideas, creative thinking, and an entrepreneurial spirit for careers in the ever-changing world of technology. Over the past 30 years, TME has aided countless startups to move from ideation to early startup and equipped them with the skills they need to apply their expertise in a business environment.
Speakers
Thank you to our incredible 2020 speakers!
Stay tuned for our 2021 line-up!
Agenda
Friday
9:00 - 9:15
9:15 - 9:35
9:35 - 10:10
10:10 - 10:15
10:15 - 10:40
10:40 - 10:45
10:45 - 11:15
11:15 - 11:20
11:20 - 11:45
11:45 - 12:15
12:15 - 12:30
12:30 - 12:45
Opening
Fireside Chat
Min. Jill Green
RBC Keynote
Globalisation 2.0
BREAK
Economies of the Future
BREAK
When the World Ended
Q&A wt. Bayo Akomolafe
Trans-Border Travel
Riel Miller
Jonathan Calof
Closing
Details
Opening
Launch of the conference with a word from the chair of the J. Herbert Smith Centre and introduction of the MC and speakers.
Fireside Chat
Hon. Jill Green speaks with J Herbert Smith Centre Chair Dr. Dhirendra Shukla.
RBC Special Presentation: Globalisation 2.0
Keynote Lynette Gillen, Vice President Trade (Canada)
Economies of the Future Panel
Moderated by Kaaren May with Sam Poirier, Mary Butler, Martin Calnan, and Amy Lynn Patterson
An exploration of what impact the world economies have seen, how businesses have adapted, and what tomorrow might look like
When the World Ended: Transborder Transgressions of the Human in a Time of Trouble - Dr. Bayo Akomalafe
When Covid-19 hit the globe the entire world stopped hear what Dr. Bayo has to say.
Trans-Border Travel Panel - Moderated by Florian Villaume
with Samson Okpare, Sooboo Cheah, and Arun Shanbhag
Do global boarders still exist? With the move to online meetings what impact has the world seen on trans boarder migration and globalization as a whole.
Riel Miller - Head of Futures Literacy, UNESCO
The future has been disrupted, what does this mean for us all.
Dr. Jonathan Calof
Dr. Calof of the University of Ottawa speaks with J Herbert Smith Centre's Dominic Blakely
Closing
Wrap up with Dr. Dhirendra Shukla and Rachel Clarke
Previous Speakers

Speakers Hosted:
Steve Blank
Ann Makosinski
Bibop Gresta
Spencer Boyer
Dr. Sakena Yacoobi
Devesh Bharadwaj
Gaëtan Thomas
Muthu Singaram
Madhu Verma
Allison McCain
Pasumarthy Seshu
Janine Darling
S. R. Mahadeva Prasanna
Sandy Bird
Kevin McCracken