HR Conference 2026: Spark
HR Conference & Expo 2026
Register | Sessions | Speakers | Exhibitors
Spark
The theme of this year’s conference is Spark. Attendees are invited to explore how imagination can illuminate transformation and envision how HR leaders can channel that energy into human-centred change that leaves a positive and lasting impact. Join us to discover how a single spark can transform workplaces and fuel growth.
Date:
May 5-6, 2026
Location:
Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building (Canada Place)
Keynote Speakers
Robyn Agoston
AI & Future of Work Strategist, Consultant, Speaker and Coach
Bio | Video
Session Sponsor: Desjardins Insurance
From Hype to Human: The Future of Work In the Age of AI Starts With HR
In this keynote, Robyn Agoston cuts through the noise to explore what the future of knowledge work actually looks like in the Age of AI. She examines how organisations will shift from human-only companies to hybrid workforces that include digital labour, and what this means for how we design jobs, structure teams, and create value.
David Frum
Social & Political Commentator and Staff Writer, The Atlantic
Bio | Video
Session Sponsor: Western Compensation & Benefits Consultants (WCBC)
In Conversation with David Frum: Navigating Global Trends
In this session, David will share his perspective on the current state of affairs and explore how economic, political, and social trends are influencing employers, workplace culture, and the HR profession. He will offer insights that help HR leaders anticipate change and adapt strategies for the future of work.
Fenton Jagdeo, Jr.
Author, Keynote Speaker, Innovation Strategist
Bio | Video
Session Sponsor: Chartered Professional Accounts of BC (CPABC)
Leading Transformation with the Curiosity Compass
In this story-driven keynote, Fenton takes the audience on a journey through some of the most iconic cautionary tales in business, revealing what happens when organizations cling to the familiar while the world changes around them. He then shows how leaders and employees alike can use curiosity to challenge assumptions, borrow ideas from other industries, rethink broken systems, and broaden stakeholder impact.
Breakout Sessions
In advance of HR Conference & Expo 2026, a few of the breakout session speakers have authored articles on their topics:
Article: When Email Removes Your Tone, Replace It with Control
Session: Connect, Captivate, Convince: Communication in a World of AI
By Ivan Wanis Ruiz, Founder, Public Speaking Lab
Article: Communicating Total Rewards in a New Era of Transparency
Session: Future-Proof Pay: Building Compensation Programs for a Multi-Generational Workforce
By Hannah Wells, VP of Client Strategy & Consulting, White & Gale
Article: Well-Being Is Not Culturally Neutral: What HR Needs to Unlearn
Session: Cultural Well-Being at Work: From Collective Care to Distinctions-Based Inclusion
By Lena BouSaleh, Lead Equity Strategist, Edified Projects
Article: Beyond the Blanket Approach: Distinctions-Based Well-Being, a Métis Case Study
Session: Cultural Well-Being at Work: From Collective Care to Distinctions-Based Inclusion
By Alicia Hibbert, Managing Partner, Elevate Workplace Learning
Article: The Hidden Burnout Crisis Among Leaders & the Cost of Speed
Session: Building Burnout-Resistant Leadership Systems: Strategies for Sustainable High Performance
By Shauna Moran, Founder, Shauna Moran Coaching
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