Now entering its 17th year, Life Sciences Ontario’s Ideas to Action Forum returns in September 2026 as the premier gathering for leaders across industry, academia, and government to shape the future of Ontario’s health innovation ecosystem.
Get ready for TED-style talks, high-impact audience engagement sessions, and a political pundit panel diving into real talk behind science policy, funding, and global collaboration. With a sharp focus on Ontario’s global advantage, the future of collaboration, and navigating science in a new world order, this year’s Forum promises fresh insights and bold ideas.
From dissecting misinformation and the “attack on science,” to addressing the economic realities facing the sector, to spotlighting advanced therapeutics and biomanufacturing, Ideas to Action is where real conversations drive real change.
Whether you’re leading strategy, shaping policy, or championing innovation, this is the room you want to be in.
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Time: 8 A.M – 6 P.M
Venue: The Arcadian, 401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th Floor, Toronto
TICKETS (All prices + HST)
Early Bird (until July 31st)
- Members: $250
- Non-members: $350
- Government / Registered Charities / Full-time Students: $100
Regular
- Members: $300
- Non-members: $400
- Government / Registered Charities / Full-time Students: $150
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact andy@lifesciencesontario.ca
Program
| 8:00-
8:30 am |
Registration & Networking Breakfast
|
||||||||
| 8:30- 8:40 am | Welcome Remarks
|
||||||||
| 8:40- 8:50 am | Special Announcement | ||||||||
| 8:50- 9:00 am | Opening Remarks
Speaker: Honourable Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade |
||||||||
| 9:00- 9:45 am | Keynote Address
Speaker: Dr. Dante Morra, Founder and CEO, CAN Health Network |
||||||||
| 9:45- 10:35 am | Cross Ministry Panel: Health Innovation Pathways and FAST Pilot Update
|
||||||||
|
Speakers – Patrick Dicerni, Assistant Deputy Minister and Executive Officer, Health Programs and Delivery Division, Ministry of Health – Jovan Matic, Director, Health Innovation Policy Branch, Ministry of Health
|
|||||||||
| 10:35-10:55 am | Morning Networking Break
|
||||||||
| 10:55-11:25 am | TED Talk – Nuclear Medicine as a National Strategic Asset
Speaker: Melody Greaves, Executive Director and Vice President Government Relations, Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
|
||||||||
| 11:25 am – 12:25 pm | Canada’s Life Sciences Sovereignty in a Shifting World
Moderator: Ryan Wiley, President, Shift Health
Panelists: – Allison Brown, Site Head, Biolabs – University of Toronto – to show how startups are navigating tariffs, trade risk, and decisions about staying/growing in Canada – Rodrigo Arancibia, Senior Director, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – David Bowen, Founder, Corracloon Strategies
|
||||||||
| 12:25- 1:25 pm | Buffet Lunch | ||||||||
| 1:25- 2:25 pm | Unfiltered: Hot Takes on Policy, Innovation, and the Future
Moderator: Parimal Nathwani, Managing Partner, Life Sciences Venture Fund, BDC Panelists: – Brian Bloom, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bloom Burton – Anne Woods, Managing Director, Life Science & Healthcare, RBCx – Cate Murray, Stem Cell Network |
||||||||
| 2:25- 2:55 pm | TED Talk VITAL / Health Data & AI
Speaker: Dr. Fahad Razak, Co-Lead, VITAL; Internist and Scientist, Unity Health Toronto |
||||||||
| 2:55- 3:15 pm | Afternoon Break | ||||||||
| 3:15- 3:45 pm | TED Talk AG
Speaker: Pierre Petelle, Crop Life Canada |
||||||||
| 3:45- 4:45 pm | Political Pundits Panel
Moderator: – Michelle McLean, President and CEO, HealthCareCAN Panelist: – Jason Lietaer, President, Enterprise Canada – Jordan Leichnitz, Political Advisor, Curse of Politics – Sarah Letersky, Senior Vice President, Rubicon Strategy – Vandana Kattar, CBC Political Commentator |
||||||||
| 4:45- 5:00 pm | Close the Day & Next Steps from Committee Co-Chairs
Isra Wani, Government Relations and Policy Lead, Ontario Jill Kennedy, Director, Government Affairs and Market Access (Canada) Matthew Bureau, Director, Government Affairs, Ontario and Western Canada
|
||||||||
| 5:00- 6:00 pm | Networking Reception
|
