Thank you to all who attended the 2025 CIO PEER FORUM® in Ottawa!

Stay tuned for updates for the 2026 CIO PEER FORUM®!

Rates & Discounts Speakers Sponsors Agenda

The Premier Technology Conference for CIOs
The CIO Peer Forum® is tailored for CIOs and senior IT leaders, offering a unique opportunity to stay at the forefront of IT leadership, gain actionable insights, and build connections with Canada’s leading experts. As today’s tech landscape rapidly evolves, this event provides practical strategies for resilience and adaptability, helping leaders drive innovation and value within their organizations. Join CIOCAN members and expert speakers from across the country to enhance your skills, prepare for future challenges, and make an impact in the IT community.

Welcome to the 2025 CIO Peer Forum!

We’re excited to present a dynamic program at this year’s conference. The theme, The Rise of the Makers: Orchestrating Value At Scale, reflects the shifting role of CIOs in today’s tech-driven world. As technology becomes more accessible and AI tools mature, CIOs are evolving from solution providers to orchestrators of innovation.

This is a generational opportunity for CIOs to learn about innovative technologies and leadership strategies to expand their influence. As CIOs lead cross-functional teams with varying levels of digital literacy, they must broaden their scope of influence across business development, organizational structure, and talent management.

CIOs, CISOs and IT leaders will come together with their peers for two days in Ottawa to explore this paradigm shift and learn how to confidently lead business growth. The sub-themes include:

Leadership in a Technology-Driven Landscape: Develop a culture of continuous learning and adaptability, empowering your organization to stay resilient and agile, overcome rapid change, and collaborate effectively across departments while nurturing and developing top talent.
AI-Driven Business Innovation: Leverage AI to automate workflows, optimize decision-making, deliver personalized customer experiences, and unlock new growth opportunities, positioning your organization as an industry leader in innovation.
Cybersecurity – a Strategic Business Enabler: Strengthen your organization’s resilience by integrating advanced cybersecurity measures that protect digital assets, enhance customer trust, ensure compliance, and safeguard long-term business success.

Rachel Porteous, Conference Chair
CIO of Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, Government of Canada

Opening Keynote

Amber Mac

Technology and Innovation Speaker | Co-Host, The Feed on SiriusXM | President, AmberMac Media, Inc.

Considered by many to be the go-to expert on anything to do with technology, Amber Mac helps companies and audiences stay ahead of the curve. She is an industry veteran, renowned as a journalist, moderator, entrepreneur, podcaster, and author. Whatever the setting, Mac offers clarity and a passion for digital innovation in all forms.

In 2024, Mac was named as one of DMZ’s “Women of the Year” for her work driving innovation and progress in the tech industry. She was also named one of Bay Street Bull’s “Women of the Year” in 2021 for her leadership in the technology sector. Mac is a regular business host and expert for Fast Company, CNN, Bloomberg, CBS, BNN, CBC, Global News, CTV, The Marilyn Denis Show, and SiriusXM.

Closing Keynote

Jay Kiew

Innovation and Change Navigation Strategist

A change navigation strategist and world-renowned keynote speaker with more than 13 years of strategy and human capital experience. Jay 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.

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.

Articles Featuring our CIO Peer Forum^® Speakers

CIOs confront AI’s double edged sword: Leadership and accountability

“We are all the two-faced gods of our businesses,” said Gaetano Mazzuca.

CIO of the Year Awards return to spotlight Canada’s top tech leaders

Revived honours introduce new categories, national visibility, and a CIOCAN Hall of Fame.

What growing up in constant change taught Jay Kiew about leading through it

ay Kiew didn’t plan to build a life around navigating disruption. But disruption found him anyway.

Hundreds of CIOs gather in Ottawa to discuss trust, AI, and the pace of change

Hundreds of CIOs gathered in Ottawa to confront trust, pressure and complexity, and to share what real leadership looks like when transformation gets hard.

From AI experiments to board conversations: A look inside Calian’s tech strategy

For Mike Muldner, CIO and CTO at Calian Group — a global technology and solutions company — the real work begins with integration.

Inside CIO Peer Forum 2025: The rise of the makers transforming tech leadership

The CIO Association of Canada is set to host its annual CIO Peer Forum in Ottawa, Ontario, from May 28–29, 2025. This year’s theme, The Rise of the

The role of the CIO has changed. So why are we still calling it IT?

Today, technology leaders are business leaders.

Gaetano Mazzuca: Bringing creativity back to technology leadership

Gaetano Mazzuca’s career path hasn’t followed the typical arc of an IT leader. Before becoming the CIO of the City of Red Deer, he started in the

Beyond technology: How CIOs can lead AI-driven business change

As AI continues to evolve, one thing is clear: technology leaders who ignore it risk falling behind

Shaun Guthrie

President & Chair, National Board, CIOCAN,
SVP, Peavey Technology & ECommerce, Peavey Industries LP

“The CIO Peer Forum is an incredible opportunity to connect with peers in person and engage in member-led breakout sessions that offer real, relatable stories of how leaders are creating value in their organizations. The impact goes beyond the event—new connections made here have been invaluable in providing fresh perspectives and a trusted network to bounce ideas off of.”

Kin Lee-Yow

Director, Events, National Board, CIOCAN
Chief information officer,
CAA Club Group of companies

“The CIO Association of Canada’s Peer Forum is a unique event where senior technology leaders share insights and connect with like-minded individuals. Though it’s a brief two-day event, it’s packed with valuable content specifically curated by CIOs for CIOs.”