The demands on CEOs are changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, economic uncertainty, shifting workforce expectations and new competitive pressures are reshaping how CEOs make decisions, build teams and position their organizations for long-term success.
Join MacKay CEO Forums and more than 200 CEOs for an evening of candid conversations, practical peer learning and meaningful connections at The Vancouver Club.
Hosted by Nancy MacKay, Founder and CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, the CEO of the Future Summit brings together three accomplished Canadian leaders who have guided their organizations through significant growth, disruption and transformation. Through focused keynote presentations, they’ll share the strategic decisions they’ve made, the challenges they’ve navigated and the practical lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Featured speakers include:
- Andrew Caprara, President and CEO, Softchoice
- David Poirier, Founder and CEO, The Poirier Group
- Dave Bustos, Partner and Founder, Fort Capital
- Dr. Alan Ulsifer, Chair & Chief Executive Officer, FYihealth group
The evening will also feature a future-focused panel with leaders from MacKay CEO Forums’ National Partner community, exploring how CEOs can prepare their organizations for what comes next, followed by facilitated peer learning at each table.
Featured National Fireside Chat speakers:
- Katie Bennett (MC), Master Certified Forum Chair, MacKay CEO Forums
- Jheanell Johnson, Vice President Commercial Portfolios & Growth, Terra Dygital
- Armando Elias, Partner, IBM Consulting
- Purdeep Sangha, Founder & CEO, The Executive Lab
- Tracey Swain, Regional Director & CFO, The CFO Centre
- Chris Nicola, CEO, Nicola Wealth
- Cary Frank, Regional Managing Partner, Vancouver Region, MNP
Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on the ideas shared, exchange perspectives with fellow CEOs and explore practical implications for their own organizations.
The evening concludes with a networking reception, providing additional time to connect with speakers, partners and fellow CEOs.
What to Expect
- Featured keynotes from accomplished Canadian business leaders
- A moderated panel exploring the future of leadership and business
- Facilitated peer learning with CEOs and executives at your table
- Practical ideas you can apply within your organization
- Meaningful networking with members of Canada’s business leadership community
- Hosted food and beverages during the opening reception
- Post-program networking at The Vancouver Club
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Location: Grand Ballroom, Vancouver Club
Address: 915 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
Registration and Welcome Reception: 5:00–6:00 p.m.
Program: 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Networking reception: 8:00–9:00 p.m.
Food and beverages will be served during the welcome and networking receptions.
Seating will be at round tables of 10 to support conversation and peer learning throughout the evening.
Tickets
Early Bird Registration
$795 (available until September 1, 2026)
Member Registration
$895
General Admission
$995
Special Offer
Become a MacKay CEO Forums member by October 6, 2026, and we’ll apply the full value of your Summit registration (up to $995) toward your first-year membership dues.
This offer is available to eligible new members who join a MacKay CEO Forum by October 6, 2026.
Your ticket includes:
- Admission to the full summit program
- Opening networking reception
- Hosted food and beverages
- Featured speaker presentations
- National Partner panel
- Facilitated peer-learning experience
- Post-program networking reception
Attendance is limited and advance registration is required.
Ticket Policy
Tickets are non-refundable.
Should you be unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another eligible CEO or senior executive by contacting MacKay CEO Forums in advance of the event.
Transferred registrations remain subject to the event’s eligibility requirements. Tickets may not be resold or transferred through third-party platforms.
Eventbrite processing fees and applicable taxes should be identified separately during registration, unless they are included in the advertised ticket price.
Who Should Attend
The CEO of the Future Summit is designed for:
- CEOs
- Presidents
- Founders
- Business owners
- Managing partners
- Executive directors
- Family Enterprise CEOs and Executives
To preserve the quality and relevance of the experience, registrations may be reviewed for alignment with the intended audience.
Featured Speakers
Andrew Caprara
President and Chief Executive Officer, Softchoice
Andrew Caprara is President and Chief Executive Officer of Softchoice, where he is responsible for implementing the company’s strategic plan and supporting the growth and success of its customers, people and organization.
Since joining Softchoice in 2014, Andrew has held progressively senior roles across sales, business development, operations and corporate strategy. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer, leading the company’s go-to-market, sales and services functions. During his tenure, he has helped strengthen Softchoice’s position in the technology sector, deepen its strategic alliances and nearly double the organization’s workforce.
Andrew brings a background in sales, strategy and business transformation consulting, with particular expertise in executing operational initiatives and building high-performing cultures. Before joining Softchoice, he held senior roles with McKinsey & Company.
He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an undergraduate degree from McMaster University.
David Poirier, P.Eng., P.Log.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Poirier Group
David Poirier is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Poirier Group, a management consulting firm specializing in business transformation, operational strategy and performance improvement.
David has held senior executive leadership roles across the retail, general merchandise, food distribution, health and life sciences, and manufacturing sectors. He is known for translating complex strategic roadmaps into practical action, aligning executive teams and leading large-scale transformation initiatives across Canada, the United States and international markets.
His approach combines process improvement with organizational and human alignment, helping businesses strengthen performance while building the internal capabilities required to sustain change.
David holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a Professional Engineer and Professional Logistician. His professional recognition includes the 2024 Ontario Professional Engineers Awards Engineering Medal in Management, the IISE Captain of Industry Award and fellowship in both the Engineering Institute of Canada and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.
Dr. Alan Ulsifer
Chair & Chief Executive Officer, FYihealth group
Dr. Alan Ulsifer graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 1990, where he received several awards for clinical achievement, including the Ontario Association of Optometrists Award for Excellence in Patient Management and the T.T. Beattie Award. He began his career Airdrie, Alberta and 4 years later moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta, as a founder and managing partner of Northern Vision Centre, which grew to become one of Canada’s largest independent optometric practices.
In 2008 he led the creation of FYidoctors, bringing together a large group of independent optometry practices into a single doctor-owned company. It remains the largest business merger in Canadian history by the number of companies involved. The premise was straightforward: in an industry being consolidated by outside capital, the clinicians should hold the equity and set the direction.
That company is now FYihealth group, with more than 380 locations across Canada under the FYidoctors, Visique, Solis Optics and BonLook banners, and an expansion into the United States underway. It has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies at Platinum Club status, has ranked among Canada’s 50 Best Workplaces for three consecutive years, and has been named one of Canada’s Best Workplaces with Most Trusted Executive Teams — a distinction based entirely on what employees say about their leadership.
Dr. Ulsifer was named Ernst and Young’s Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year for Western Canada in 2008 and Canada’s Top Entrepreneur in 2012. He holds the ICD.D designation and has served on boards across the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, including the Alberta Association of Optometrists, Sorus Orthodontists, Optometry Giving Sight, Rotary, and the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the board of Dermapure, the world’s largest medical aesthetics consolidator, which he was instrumental in forming.
He has spent close to two decades on a question that will be familiar to this room: how to align a large group of accomplished, independent-minded owners behind a single strategy, and keep them aligned through sustained growth.
Dave Bustos
Partner and Founder, Fort Capital
Dave Bustos is a Partner and Founder of Fort Capital, an independent investment banking advisory firm.
Dave brings more than three decades of investment banking experience, advising companies, boards and entrepreneurs on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and strategic transactions across a wide range of industries. Before founding Fort Capital in 2014, he held senior roles with national and international financial institutions in Vancouver, Toronto and New York.
His previous positions include Co-Head of British Columbia and Head of Forest Products at RBC Capital Markets, Head of British Columbia Investment Banking at Scotia Capital, Managing Director in Mining Investment Banking at BMO Capital Markets, and Analyst at Salomon Brothers.
Dave holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and is a graduate of the UBC Portfolio Management Foundation. He has also contributed to the business and broader community as a board leader, foundation director and mentor to women entrepreneurs.
Nancy MacKay
Founder and CEO, MacKay CEO Forums
Nancy MacKay is the founder and CEO of MacKay CEO Forums, an organization that provides the highest impact and least time-intensive peer support groups for over 1,300 CEOs, executives, and business owners across Canada and around the world. Since founding MacKay CEO Forums in 2005, Nancy has been dedicated to fostering inspiring leadership through confidential peer learning and support.
Under Nancy’s leadership, MacKay CEO Forums has built a community of over 1,300 members, facilitated by 60+ Forum Chairs, delivering an ROI of 708% through increased profit, employee retention, and customer satisfaction as measured by the ROI Institute Canada in 2022.
A seasoned CEO coach, dynamic keynote speaker, former university professor, and Forbes-published author, Nancy draws on more than two decades of experience working with thousands of CEOs. Her latest book, It’s Lonely at the Top: CEO Strategies for Inspiring Yourself and Your Team, published by Forbes Books, is an Amazon Kindle bestseller across multiple categories. The book offers a practical and candid look at the realities of leadership at the top, and the importance of self-leadership and peer support in sustaining high performance.
Nancy is also actively involved in her community, serving on the boards of the Genwell Project and the Rick Hansen Foundation Campaign Cabinet, and co-chairing the Vancouver Committee for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party. She holds a B.Math and a Master’s degree in Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo, and a Ph.D. in Business from Canterbury University in New Zealand.
Featured National Fireside Chat speakers
Katie Bennett (MC)
Master Certified Forum Chair, MacKay CEO Forums
Katie Bennett is a strategic advisor, executive coach and Master Certified Forum Chair who helps CEOs and executive teams become more aligned, energized and effective. Over the past 20 years, she has supported leaders in building high-performing teams, developing clear strategic plans and creating systems of accountability that turn ideas into action. Before entering executive coaching and leadership development, Katie spent 11 years working in advertising.
Katie joined MacKay CEO Forums as a Forum Chair in 2017 and is known for making complex challenges easier to understand, building trust quickly and encouraging leaders to step outside their comfort zones. Katie holds an HBA from the Ivey Business School and is a certified coach through the Coaches Training Institute and the International Coaching Federation.
Jheanell Johnson
Vice President, Commercial Portfolios & Growth, Terra Dygital
Jheanell Johnson is an experienced technology leader specializing in business growth, operational technology and cybersecurity. As Vice President of Commercial Portfolios & Growth at Terra Dygital, she helps organizations align their technology investments with their broader business goals while strengthening security, resilience and operational performance.
Jheanell also brings hands-on experience assessing complex industrial environments and supporting operational technology initiatives related to mergers and acquisitions, transition planning and organizational health. Her work helps leaders better understand the technology risks within their operations and prepare for changing cybersecurity, insurance and regulatory requirements. With a practical and business-focused approach, Jheanell supports organizations as they modernize their systems, manage risk and build a stronger foundation for future growth.
Armando Elias
Partner, IBM Consulting
Armando Elias is a Partner with IBM Consulting and the leader of IBM Consulting’s SAP practice in Canada. In this role, he leads a team of more than 250 consultants who help organizations modernize their operations, improve business processes and deliver large-scale digital transformations. Armando works with businesses across industries to address complex challenges involving enterprise technology, finance, supply chain and organizational change.
Armando brings extensive experience guiding clients through major transformation programs and helping leadership teams connect their technology investments to meaningful business outcomes. Based in Vancouver, Armando also supports IBM Consulting’s continued growth across Western Canada. His leadership approach emphasizes strong communication, collaboration and people-centred transformation as key elements of successful technology implementation.
Purdeep Sangha
Founder & CEO, The Executive Lab
Purdeep Sangha is a CEO Architect working in Performance Engineering, the science of how companies and the CEOs and executives who run them perform at their best under pressure. He’s the Founder & CEO of The Executive Lab, Canada’s premier human performance engineering firm, and the creator of the Edge of Chaos Operating System™ and Return on Mindset™.
Purdeep develops leaders and teams to perform at a higher level — not through typical leadership training, but through performance engineering: fusing performance psychology, I/O psychology, neuroscience, and business strategy into frameworks CEOs and executive teams actually run on. When leaders hit complexity, pressure, or a plateau, they bring in Purdeep to find the next level. His view: most teams aren’t underperforming — they’re under-engineered.
Tracey Swain
Regional Director & CFO, The CFO Centre
Tracey Swain is a senior financial executive and Chartered Professional Accountant with more than 25 years of experience in finance and business operations. As Regional Director at The CFO Centre Canada, she leads a team of fractional Chief Financial Officers supporting small and medium-sized businesses throughout Greater Vancouver and the Interior of British Columbia.
Tracey has held senior roles with several recognized brands, including Adidas, lululemon and O2E Brands, the parent company of 1-800-GOT-JUNK. Her experience includes financial strategy, mergers and acquisitions, operational improvement, budgeting, forecasting and building high-performing finance teams. Tracey holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and is known for helping organizations improve profitability, scale strategically and make stronger financial decisions.
Chris Nicola
CEO, Nicola Wealth
Chris Nicola is the Chief Executive Officer of Nicola Wealth, where he leads the firm’s strategic direction alongside its Executive Team and Board of Directors. He is focused on advancing innovation, supporting sustainable growth and continually improving the experience Nicola Wealth provides to its clients. Before becoming CEO, Chris served as President and Chief Strategy Officer, helping guide the company’s long-term direction and leadership transition.
Chris previously co-founded WealthBar, a digital wealth-management platform where he served as President and Chief Technology Officer before the company was acquired by CI Financial. Combining experience in entrepreneurship, technology and financial services, Chris brings a forward-thinking approach to leadership while supporting Nicola Wealth’s commitment to personalized advice and long-term client relationships.
Cary Frank
Regional Managing Partner, Vancouver Region, MNP
Cary Frank is a respected business advisor and MNP’s Regional Managing Partner for the Vancouver region, where he leads the firm’s downtown Vancouver office. He works closely with private businesses, providing practical assurance and tax guidance to help them navigate complex challenges and make informed decisions.
With more than a decade of experience, Cary helps organizations find practical solutions to complex financial and business challenges. His expertise includes audits, reviews, financial statements and general tax compliance. He works with clients across several industries, including real estate and construction, retail and consumer markets, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, distribution, technology and the not-for-profit sector.
Presented By
The CEO of the Future Summit is presented by MacKay CEO Forums, with the support of our Platinum Partners.
MacKay CEO Forums brings CEOs, executives and business owners together in professionally chaired peer groups designed to accelerate performance, strengthen leadership and create meaningful impact.