
Toronto CDAO Community
Executive Summit
December 4, 2025 | Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre
December 4, 2025
Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre
Collaborate with your peers
Get together with Toronto's top CDAOs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CDAOs today:
Unlocking Business Value Through Scalable AI
Leading Organizational Change Through Data-First Leadership
Cultivating Confidence in Data to Enable Effective AI Deployment
Toronto CDAO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CDAOs, For CDAOs™.
Governing Body Co-Chairs

Allie Grassie
Canadian Red Cross
Lead, Digital and Data Transformation Execution

Joe Greenwood
Mastercard
Vice President, AI & Data Growth

Della Shea
CIBC
Head of Operational Risk, Data, AI and Advanced Technologies

Aida Tahiri
Mattamy Homes Limited
VP of Finance, Planning, Data, and Analytics

Eugene Wen
Manulife
VP & Global Chief Data Scientist
What to Expect
Agenda
8:00am - 8:30am Registration & Breakfast
8:30am - 9:15am Keynote
The Art of Influence — Securing Buy-In for Data-Driven Transformation

Ramila Peiris
Global Head, Data Management, ML & AI Platform, MSAT
Sanofi
Driving successful data and AI initiatives requires more than technical expertise—it demands the ability to influence and inspire stakeholders and executives across the organization. True business transformation happens at the intersection of technology, data and people, where leadership fosters a data-driven culture and empowers teams to embrace change.
In this keynote session explore proven strategies for:
- Building executive and stakeholder alignment for data and AI initiatives
- Communicating business value and ROI to diverse audiences
- Navigating organizational resistance and build momentum for fostering a culture of support
9:15am - 9:40am Networking Break
9:40am - 10:25am Breakout Session
Governance in Action— Metadata, Data Fabric, and Leveraging Generative AI
Hosted by Orion Governance

Ramesh Shurma
CEO
Orion Governance
As CDAOs continue to grow in their journeys, it is necessary to ensure your data fabric has a solid foundation on the information as well as the barriers in place accessing it. Governance plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining these barriers, ensuring data integrity and compliance. When we add GenAI into the conversation, how can we leverage this tool to our advantage, ensuring those barriers aren’t compromised? Effective governance strategies are essential to balance innovation with security and ethical considerations. This complex conversation has many considerations, so let's explore them together.
Join this session to learn more about:
- Overviewing the complexities of Metadata Management
- Challenging aspects of data fabric as GenAI implementation continues
- Improving the process of governance models
10:25am - 11:10am Networking Break
10:35am - 11:00am Peer-to-Peer Meetings
Peer-to-Peer Meetings
Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.
11:10am - 11:55am Executive Boardroom
Thriving in the Age of Uncertainty
Hosted by Tealium

David Datars
VP of Corporate Development
Tealium
Data leaders face a paradox: data is both an asset and a liability. Rapid shifts — from privacy regulations to AI — demand resilience and adaptability.
Join this boardroom to explore:
- Future-proofing governance for an unpredictable compliance era
- Reducing dependence on volatile tech ecosystems
- Turning regulatory and technological uncertainty into competitive advantage
11:55am - 12:30pm Lunch Service
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Toronto CDAO Community Executive Summit.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue & Accommodation
Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton CentreA block of rooms has been reserved at the Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 800-905-0667 . Please mention Toronto Executive Summit to ensure the appropriate room rate.
Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $289 CAD (plus tax) is October 30, 2025.
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.