TOPIC: From Spycraft to Strategy: Elevating ERM in an Era of Global Threats

DATE: June 10, 2026

SESSION DESCIPTION: As geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, and foreign interference continue to reshape the global risk environment, organizations are facing a broader threat landscape that extends across cyber security, physical security, people, information, and critical assets.

For ERM professionals, these issues are no longer distant or solely the concern of governments. They are increasingly connected to strategic decision-making, creating enterprise risk exposures that threaten organizational resilience and demand protection of sensitive information and business-critical assets.

Our featured speaker Andrew Kirsch will offer a rare behind-the-scenes intelligence perspective on how global security threats are identified and assessed. He’ll also share tips on what ERM professionals can do to strengthen their organization’s risk awareness, preparedness, and resilience in a shifting geopolitical risk landscape.

SPEAKER BIO: Andrew Kirsch, CEO and founder of Kirsch Group

Andrew Kirsch is a national security expert, former intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, held security leadership roles within Ontario’s public sector, and was appointed to the Ontario Expert Panel on Cyber Security. He is author of I Was Never Here: My True Canadian Spy Story of Coffees, Code Names, and Covert Operations in the Age of Terrorism.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

• 4:00-4:30pm EDT Registration

• 4:30-5:30pm EDT Presentation (& livestream broadcast)

• 5:30-7:00pm EDT Networking reception with the speaker

LOCATION: The Lodge on Queen, 251 Queen Street West, Toronto (tickets also available to attend virtually via livestream)

Note: The event will be held on the second floor of an historic building. If you have mobility issues that prevent you from using stairs, please let us know in advance so that we can make arrangements to accommodate your needs.

TOPIC: Why "Predicting the Future" Is Failing Us — And What to Do Instead

DATE: September 17, 2026

SESSION DESCRIPTION: What if everything you've been taught about forecasting is wrong?

For decades, corporations and governments have bet their futures on a single number, a single scenario, a single confident prediction. The result? Blindsided leaders, blown budgets, and billion-dollar miscalculations in a world that refuses to behave predictably.

In this thought-provoking talk, Dr. Ron Dembo draws on insights from his latest book, Risk Thinking: … in an uncertain world, to challenge the forecasting orthodoxy that dominates boardrooms and government halls. He'll show why clinging to a single prediction leaves leaders dangerously exposed — and how a richer, more honest view of the future can transform the way organizations make decisions.

Dr. Dembo will contrast the traditional playbook used by executives and risk leaders with a bold new framework that codifies common sense, embraces radical uncertainty, and equips leaders to navigate the risks that actually matter.

He'll also share how he is putting these ideas into practice through his new company, RiskThinking.AI, which is tackling one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change.

Expect to leave with a sharper lens on risk, a healthier skepticism of forecasts, and a practical approach to steering your organization through the unknown.

SPEAKER BIO: Dr. Ron Dembo, CEO & Founder, RiskThinking.ai, has been an associate professor at Yale, an entrepreneur, consultant, CEO, and author.

Over a career spanning more than 25 years, Ron has founded multiple companies, including Algorithmics, where as CEO he built the world’s largest enterprise financial risk management software provider.

Currently, as the Founder and CEO of riskthinking.AI, Ron leads the development of cutting-edge AI-driven solutions to measure and address risk in an increasingly uncertain world. His work focuses on equipping institutions with tools to navigate systemic risks and make informed decisions.

Click for Dr. Denbo’s full bio

EVENT SCHEDULE:

• 4:00-4:30pm EDT Registration

• 4:30-5:30pm EDT Presentation (& livestream broadcast)

• 5:30-7:00pm EDT Networking reception with the speaker

LOCATION: In-person event to be held in downtown Toronto (venue to be confirmed), plus live streamed to virtual participants.

DATE: November 2026 4:00-7:00PM

LOCATION: To be announced

TOPIC & SPEAKER: To be announced