Canadian University Governance Association (CUGA) Conference 2026
Location: Delta Hotels by Marriott Waterloo.
Thursday, April 30: Professional Development Day Schedule
| Time | Session Information |
|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Registration Desk Open |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome and Land Acknowledgement |
| 8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
Opening Keynote: Amanda Leuschen, Vice-President, Leadership & Learning, Leaps and Bounds Consulting |
| 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Networking Break |
| 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. | Interactive Session: Moving from Inspiration to Practice |
| 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Networking Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Afternoon Session: Chris Carter, Principal Governance Advisor at Vancouver City Savings Credit Union (Vancity) Governance Professionals Panel and Discussion |
| 4:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
| 5:15 p.m. | Shuttle to Welcome Reception |
| 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception [Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre] |
| 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Dinner in Uptown Waterloo |
| 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. | Hospitality Suite |
Friday, May 1 Schedule
|
Time |
Session Information |
|---|---|
|
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Registration Desk Open |
|
7:30 a.m. |
Breakfast |
|
8:30 a.m. |
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement |
|
8:45 a.m. Session 1 |
Opening Keynote Rahul K. Bhardwaj, President and CEO, Institute of Corporate Directors |
|
9:45 a.m. |
Networking Break |
|
10:15 a.m. Session 2 |
The University Presidency and Impact of Board Governance Glen Jones, Ontario Research Chair in Postsecondary Education Policy and Measurement President’s Panel: Benoit-Antoine Bacon, University of British Columbia Vivek Goel, University of Waterloo Deborah MacLatchy, Wilfrid Laurier University Wendy Rodgers, University of Prince Edward Island |
|
12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m. |
Networking Lunch |
|
1:00 p.m. - 2 p.m. Session 3 |
Shared Governance: What’s Possible Cheryl Foy, President, Strategic Governance Consulting Services |
|
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
Networking Break |
|
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Session 4 |
The Scarborough Charter in 2026 John Ariyo, Executive Director, Scarborough Charter Secretariat Christopher Taylor, Associate Vice-President Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism, University of Waterloo |
|
3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. |
Transition to Breakouts |
|
3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Session 5 |
Board Chair and Governance Professional Breakout Sessions [Details to be announced] |
|
5:00 p.m. - 5:30 pm. |
Closing Remarks |
|
6:00 p.m. |
Shuttles to Dinner |
|
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. |
Gala Dinner [Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum] |
|
8:30 – 9:00 p.m. |
Shuttles back to Hotel |
Saturday, May 2 Schedule
|
Time |
Session Information |
|---|---|
|
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Registration Desk Open |
|
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. |
Breakfast |
|
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. |
Opening Remarks |
|
8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Session 6 |
AI Adoption in Governance Devan Mescall, Professor, Edwards Enhancement Chair in Business, University of Saskatchewan |
|
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
Networking Break |
|
10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Session 7 |
Bringing it All Together: Leading Change and Exercising Influence J. Mark Weber, Special Advisor to the Provost on Leadership Strategy and Development and Professor of Management and Organizations |
|
11:45 a.m. |
Closing Remarks |
|
12:00 p.m. AGM |
CUGA Annual General Meeting |
|
12:30 p.m. |
Boxed Lunch to go |
|
1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Optional Workshop |
[To be confirmed] |