Innovation Exchange 2025_Website Banner

Back by Popular Demand: The Innovation Exchange Retreat Returns

Join Innovators Alliance for our second annual retreat at the iconic Pillar and Post in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake.

This year’s theme: Smarter, Faster, Further: Scaling in a Changing World

In a world of constant change, the most successful companies move with purpose—not just speed. Smarter, Faster, Further brings together the full strength of the Innovators Alliance network for a high-impact exchange of ideas, insights, and strategies to help Canadian businesses scale with clarity and confidence.

Through open dialogue, expert insights, and peer-to-peer learning, members will explore emerging trends in AI, trade diversification, and productivity—and leave equipped with tangible tools to grow and compete.

Download Agenda and Location Map

Learn about the Breakout Sessions on November 13th here.

Start: November 12, 2025 at 5:00 pm
End: November 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Where: The Pillar and Post, 48 John Street, Niagara on the Lake
L0S 1J0

Contact Information
Stefanie Ince
Executive Director
416-951-7915
[email protected]

Innovation Exchange – Smarter, Faster, Further: Scaling in a Changing World
November 12, 2025
Pilar and Post, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Time Event
1:00 – 5:00 pm Regional Chapter Meetings
Gather with your local chapter to connect, reflect, and share insights ahead of the full retreat kickoff. You will be notified if your chapter is holding a meeting prior to the event.
3:00 pm – 6:30 pm Hotel Check In
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm IA Registration Desk Open
Pick up your name tag.
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm IA Networking Reception
Join fellow members for drinks, light bites, and a warm welcome as we kick off this year’s retreat.
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Networking Dinner
Enjoy a relaxed dinner followed by casual connections and conversations that go beyond business.

Start: November 12, 2025 at 5:00 pm
End: November 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Where: The Pillar and Post, 48 John Street, Niagara on the Lake
L0S 1J0

Contact Information
Stefanie Ince
Executive Director
416-951-7915
[email protected]

Innovation ExchangeSmarter, Faster, Further: Scaling in a Changing World
November 13, 2025
Pilar and Post, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Time Event
8:00 – 9:00 AM Registration & Networking Breakfast
Start your day with coffee, conversation, and connection. Stop by the registration desk to pick up your name tag.
9:00 – 10:00 AM Keynote – Jay Kiew: Flourish
Join us as we dive into the dynamics of transforming resilience into joy with a focus on business owners — even through our toughest times — while exploring the impact of community and connection.
10:00 – 10:30 AM Networking + Bio Break
Refuel and connect with new peers before the keynote.
10:30 – 12:00 PM Keynote with Peter Hall
Insights from one of Canada’s leading economic voices on scaling smart in an unpredictable world
12:00 – 1:00 PM Breakout Sessions
Choose one of the following:

Breakout Session A: Beyond Borders: Strategic Growth Through Trade Diversification presented by Ray Fischer, and Trevor Brown, Doane Grant Thornton
Breakout Session B: Exploring Succession Planning Strategies with IA Members presented by Phil Evenden, Kingsmere Financial

1:00 – 2:00 PM Networking Lunch
Join fellow members for great food and even better conversation
2:00 – 3:00 PM Breakout Sessions
Choose one of the following:

Breakout Session C: Employment Law: Reshaping Work Productivity, Performance, and the Legal Side of Change, Presented by Keith Burkhardt, Sherrard Kuzz
Breakout Session D: High Performance Living for Leaders, Presented by Marcus MacKay, M PERFORM

3:00 – 4:20 PM The AI Leadership Challenge
Step into an interactive, high-energy session where you’ll tackle real-world business challenges through the lens of artificial intelligence. This hands-on experience will push you to think differently, experiment with bold ideas, and uncover how AI can unlock new possibilities for growth, innovation, and decision-making.
4:20 – 4:30 PM Recap of Key Learnings and Close of Day

Start: November 12, 2025 at 5:00 pm
End: November 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Where: The Pillar and Post, 48 John Street, Niagara on the Lake
L0S 1J0

Contact Information
Stefanie Ince
Executive Director
416-951-7915
[email protected]

Jay Kiew

Jay KiewJay Kiew is the world’s leading expert on change fluency and a renowned keynote speaker with more than 13 years of strategy and human capital experience. He has created more than $2B of impact for 400+ executives by designing, developing, and delivering organizational transformation, but his story extends far beyond the professional arena. Kiew is a half-blind cancer survivor, whose life is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. His remarkable blend of professional expertise and personal resilience equips leaders to hack through the thick of change and disruption.

Kiew spent his corporate career working at Deloitte, TELUS, and ADP, where he led missioncritical strategic transformations. This included a $150-million primary care health policy reform, $13-million tech transformations, doubling app users from 1 to 2 million, and scaling 15 product lines to $35 million in 12 months.

At the age of 19, Kiew became the world's youngest Distinguished Toastmaster. He has since been featured in the Financial Times, Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Ivey Business Journal, Change Leadership, and more. He also sits on the Project Management Institute’s Board of Directors for the Canadian West Coast Chapter.

Kiew holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School and is a Prosci-certified PMP and Insights psychometric practitioner.

Peter Hall

Peter Hall is CEO of econosphere inc., a boutique business strategy advisory firm. In this capacity he is involved in advising leading Canadian industry associations and corporations, advising and promoting international initiatives, and conducting ad hoc project work. Mr. Hall is a special advisor to both Martinrea International and Elevate Export Finance, is a Fellow-In-Residence at the C.D. Howe Institute, writes a regular column in the Financial Post, comments in various other media channels and speaks at conferences and with senior executive teams in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Until recently, he was chief economist at Export Development Canada, heading up a large team of economists and country risk analysts that provided model-driven forecasting for internal and external business strategy purposes, transaction risk analysis for over 160 countries, analytical modeling, and data systems support. In addition to advising EDCs executive team and board of directors, Mr. Hall personally delivered dozens of presentations annually to a wide variety of business, government and academic audiences in Canada, the United States and internationally. He also authored EDCs widely-circulated Weekly Commentary. Prior to his work at EDC, Mr. Hall directed the economic forecasting activities of the Conference Board of Canada. He has served as the president of the Canadian Association for Business Economics, a 600+ member organization of professional economists, and also its largest local chapter, the Ottawa Economics Association. He has served on the board and as an advisor to multiple Ottawa-area charities.

Mr. Hall has degrees in economics from the University of Toronto and Carleton University.

Shelby Grassick

Shelby GrassickShelby Grassick is a dynamic professional with a rich and diverse background spanning academia, nonprofits, government, private corporations, and franchising. With formal education rooted in both the sciences and the arts, Shelby brings a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and innovation. Her career journey has taken her from project coordination in the nonprofit sector to strategic roles in government and private corporations, where she honed her skills in digital marketing, graphic design, and business development.

Since December 2022, Shelby has been at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into business processes, leading to transformative outcomes in the organizations she serves. As the leader of the AI council for Alliance Franchise Brands, Shelby spearheads initiatives that leverage AI to optimize operations, enhance customer engagement, and drive growth across the company’s vast network of over 550 locations in North America.

Currently, Shelby serves as the Franchise Development Marketing Manager at Alliance Franchise Brands, where she combines her expertise in marketing and AI to attract top-tier franchise candidates. Her passion for blending analytical and creative solutions has made her a respected voice in the industry. And, thanks to her AI expertise, she also knows how to craft an impressive-sounding bio—just like this one.

Start: November 12, 2025 at 5:00 pm
End: November 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Where: The Pillar and Post, 48 John Street, Niagara on the Lake
L0S 1J0

Contact Information
Stefanie Ince
Executive Director
416-951-7915
[email protected]

Sponsors

Doane Grant Thornton
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Professional EOS Implementer®
Pulsion Logo
Pulsion Logo
AnsidCFO Logo
M Perform
Pulsion Logo
Schooley Mitchell logo

Innovation Exchange