Present
October 20th, 2025
SOLD OUT!
What's Next Vancouver?
PROGRAM
MORNING
*Pacific Time / Subject to change*
8:00 AM — Doors open
8:45 AM — Opening Remarks
MC: Welcome and acknowledgment of First Nations.
8:45 — Keynote
Unlocking the value of Metro’s Legacy Real Estate.
Maryam Ahmadi, Urban Designer, Perkins & Will
Jonathan Kilpatrick, Chief Executive Officer, āSWEEV Co.
9:00 AM — Keynote & Interaction
The Values That Will Shape Our Future:
A deep dive into the human drivers that will define tomorrow’s economy and society.
Speaker: David Allison, Founder, The Valuegraphics Research Company
10:00 AM — Keynote
Connecting the Region — Transportation, Tech & Trade: Exploring the critical infrastructure, investments and technology needed to keep Metro Vancouver moving and competitive.
Speaker: Michael White, Associate Vice-President, University of British Columbia
10:20 AM — Keynote
The Next Grid:
The evolving energy landscape needed for British Columbia and planning for EV’s, data Centers, and growing demand.
Speaker: Jason Wolfe, Director, Energy Solutions, FortisBC
10:40 AM — Fireside Chat
Digital Twinning and other ideas for The West Coast’s key airport and multi-modal hub:
A strategic discussion on YVR’s future, including digital and multi-modal strategies to connect the region to the and integrating our physical and digital networks for a seamless urban experience.
Stephen Smart, Head of Communications, YVR
Albert Van Veen, Vice President, Innovation and Chief Information Officer, YVR
Gerri Sinclair, Chief Prioritization, Planning and Performance-Optimization Officer, YVR
11:20 AM — Keynote
Building a New Health Care Innovation System:
How new models of collaboration can accelerate breakthroughs in patient care and build global tech companies here.
Brian Simmers, CFO & VP Health Informatics, Providence Health Care Ventures
11:40 AM — Keynote
Unlocking the power of genomics:
How opening our health genomic databases can make BC and Canada a global leader in genomic research and attract investment.
Speaker: Federica Di Palma, Chief Scientific Officer & VP, Research and Innovation, Genome BC
12:00 PM — Panel Discussion
Scaling Innovation in health care:
An inside look at the strategies and ecosystems required to grow world-class tech companies and keep them in Metro Vancouver, BC and Canada.
Panelists:
Margus Rava, Estonia Ambassador to Canada
Brian Simmers, CFO & VP Health Informatics, Providence Health Care Ventures
Rob Davidson, Director, Advance Technologies, Nortal
David Sanguinetti, Interim CEO, Foresight Canada
Moderator: Wendy Hurlburt, President & CEO, Life Sciences BC
12:45 PM — NETWORKING LUNCH
AFTERNOON
*Pacific Time / Subject to change*
1:30 PM — Keynote
Vancouver Special 2.0: The Mass Timber Opportunity:
A bold vision for reimagining housing and urban density in our city.
Speaker: Graham Brewster, Sr. Director of Development, Wesgroup Properties
1:45PM — Panel Discussion
Beyond Vancouverism: What’s Next for Metro Vancouver’s Urban Design?
Challenging conventional urban design to create a more livable, sustainable, and equitable region.
Malcolm Shield, Climate Change Executive, Wesgroup Properties
Rocky Sethi, Managing Director & Committee Member, Mass Timber Advisory Group City of Vancouver
Moderator: Michael White, Associate Vice-President, University of British Columbia
2:30 PM — Networking Break
2:50 PM — 2:55
Message from B.C. Senator Duncan Wilson
2:55 — Keynote
The Green Blue Ocean Opportunity:
Harnessing our ports and coastal advantage to become a global leader in a sustainable blue economy to bolster B.C. and Canada’s trade.
Speaker: Juvarya Veltkamp, Senior Advisor, Green Ports Forum, C40 Cities
3:15PM — Panel Discussion
How We Can Make the West Coast Vancouver a Global Blue Economy Hub:
Charting a course for economic growth that protects and revitalizes our ocean resources.
Jason Goldsworthy, Executive Director, COAST
Bryan Buggey, Co-Founder & Board Member, Vancouver Maritime Centre for Climate
Juvarya Veltkamp, Senior Advisor, Green Ports Forum, C40 Cities
Moderator: Kim Baird, Chancellor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
4:00 PM — Fireside Chat
Critical Metals & Minerals and the Future of Energy:
An urgent dialogue on securing the essential materials for a clean energy transition.
John Steen, Director of BRIMM, The University of British Columbia
Gary Agnew, CEO, Ideon Technologies Inc
Moderator: Kalev Ruberg, CEO, Karu Advisory Limited
4:45 PM — Closing Remarks and Networking Reception
Vancouver is known for its livability — and being a place where new ideas grow.
But it and the region now face existential challenges: Rapid population growth. Housing shortages. Congestion. Climate pressure. And more. All threaten its future and international brand.
The Next Vancouver is a campaign to address these issues by uniting leaders to focus on the sectors and innovative ideas that will build its local and global stature, ensuring Vancouver remains a hub for livability, innovation and investment.
It’s part of a CityAge initiative of summits, roundtables and cutting edge content. We’ll be working with the Vancouver Sun in the coming months to cover the stories that will help build the future.
Secure your spot—spaces are limited.
MEDIA PARTNER
The Big Ideas for Metro Vancouver
Note: The Next Vancouver campaigns will be held throughout 2025 and 2026. The themes below, in no order, are the foundations of what we will be focusing in on with your help. The kick-off events agenda will be announced soon.
-
Big Idea #1: Moving Forward Means Moving Better
The “Travel Port” is an intermodal hub designed to efficiently connect people, goods, and transit systems, enhancing alternative transportation and public transit to promote smoother movement and boost economic activity. -
Big Idea #2: Putting AI into Government – Canadian Style
How can Metro Vancouver, other cities and levels of government adopt a more strategic, ethical, and efficient approach to using A.I. and data. We certainly have the expertise with a Canadian recently winning a Nobel Prize for pioneering A.I. - Big Idea #3: Embracing Biodiversity and Growth How can Metro Vancouver enhance sustainability by managing growth and leading global biodiversity protection efforts?
-
Big Idea #4: Re-Embracing the Asia (and European) Gateway
Canada is diversifying it’s trade beyond the United State. As a major gateway to Asia, Vancouver must rethink its role in global trade, finance, and business investment with Asia and Europe. -
Big Idea #5: Introducing Green-Blue Ocean Strategy
Metro Vancouver and the West Coast spearhead the $2.5 trillion Blue Economy, focusing on sustainable shipping, genomics, climate adaptation, agrifoods, and coastal city design. With the right talent and infrastructure, Vancouver can capitalize on new ocean opportunities. CityAge will be introducing a new Green-Blue Ocean campaign.
-
Big Idea #6: Being an Innovation Leader in Digital Health Care
We possess top-tier healthcare data and significant hospital investments, highlighted by the new St. Paul’s Hospital. How can we leverage this locally and export our model and incubated companies globally? -
Big Idea #7: Time for Technology to Scale — and Stay
Mid-size economies struggle to keep tech startups. Can we develop a model to tie innovators to Vancouver’s strongest industries—energy, mining, education, and more—to build at scale and stay here? Can we build technology companies who can call Vancouver home for the long-term? -
Big Idea #8: Vancouver as a Leader in Energy and Natural Resource Innovation
It’s time to deeply invest in the reality that Vancouver is a global leader in mining and energy extraction and trade. Our innovations are world-class, let by the BRIMM Insitute at the University of British Columbia, other universities and the private sector. -
Big Idea #9: Re-Capturing Excellence in Urban Design and Building
Vancouver, once a leader in urban livability and design, must reestablish its position. A new urban design vision can lead to innovative construction, the use of new materials such as mass timber, modular housing and better zoning approaches to regain that leadership.
LEADERS YOU WILL MEET
MANAGING DIRECTOR / COMMITTEE MEMBER
THE VENUE
VANCOUVER TERMINAL CITY CLUB
837 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1B6
Nestled in the heart of the city, the Terminal City Club is a prestigious venue that blends tradition with modern elegance. It offers a luxurious setting for events, with versatile spaces that can accommodate everything from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations. The club’s amenities include fine dining options, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, and stylish accommodations, ensuring an unforgettable experience for guests. Its dedicated team is committed to providing impeccable service, making it an ideal choice for hosting sophisticated events. For more information, visit their website.
DRESS CODE:
Business Casual Attire (no athletic wear) is suggested.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get Event Notifications, Discover the future of cities, technology and innovation.
Enjoy exclusive insights, engage in meaningful networking, and stay ahead with the latest trends in urban development, technology, and clean mobility. Be part of the community shaping the cities of tomorrow.