Welcome to the 2025 CIO Peer Forum. With a dynamic program planned we are well on our way to a successful conference.  As a committee we developed this year’s theme:

The Rise of the Makers: Orchestrating Value At Scale

Technology is democratizing, digital literacy is surging, and low-code AI-enabled tools are maturing at speed. The result – makers are now found throughout our organizations, and the role of the CIO has shifted from solution provider to orchestrator. It is a generational paradigm shift and an epic opportunity for CIOs. Our audience must learn about innovative technologies and leadership strategies to equip themselves for enterprise-wide influence and value creation so they can win in this new era of technology leadership.

As technology democratizes, CIOs find themselves leading matrix teams comprised of business and technology experts with varying levels of digital literacy and business acumen. CIOs must elevate and expand their scope of influence to impact the entire enterprise in terms of business development, organizational structure, leadership style, and talent management and development.

CIOs, CISOs and IT Leaders are coming together with their peers for two days in Ottawa to explore this paradigm shift and position themselves to lead business growth confidently through these sub-themes:

• Leadership in a Technology-Driven Landscape: A culture of continuous learning and adaptability is essential for CIOs to make sure their organizations remain agile and resilient to meet the complexities of rapid change, cross-functional collaboration, and developing talent.
• AI-Driven Business Innovation: Leveraging AI, leaders need to automate processes, enhance decision-making through predictive analytics, create personalized customer experiences, and optimize operations to capitalize on new business opportunities.
• Cybersecurity – a Strategic Business Enabler: Cybersecurity has become a fundamental component of business strategy as cyber threats evolve. By integrating advanced cybersecurity measures, IT leaders protect digital assets and customer trust, ensuring compliance thereby safeguarding long-term success across the enterprise.