Canadian University Governance Association (CUGA) Conference 2026
Location: Delta Hotels by Marriott Waterloo - Silver Lake Ballroom
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 Ted Cogan, University Secretary, University of Guelph Claire Milton, University Secretary and General Counsel,Saint Mary's University Kate Peters, University Secretary, University of Alberta |
| 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 |
|
11:45 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 Andrea Davis, Associate Vice-President Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Wilfrid Laurier University 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 Member Breakout Session for Board Chairs: Beyond the Job Description: How University Presidents Lead—and How Boards Can Better Support Them. - Daniel Atlin, Executive Coach and Strategic Advisor - Grand River Meeting Room Governance Professionals Breakout Session: Shared Governance Confessionals and Conversations. - Silver Lake Ballroom |
|
5:00 p.m. |
Closing Remarks |
|
6:00 p.m. |
Shuttles to Dinner |
|
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. |
Gala Dinner [Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum] |
|
9:00 – 9:30 p.m. |
Shuttles back to Hotel |
| 9:30 - 11:00 p.m. | Hospitality Suite |
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 |