Many major conferences, conventions and events hosted in Ottawa are strengthened by a local Leader with the vision to help put their sector, their organization and the destination on the global stage.
The leaders making an impact today are collaborators and drivers of innovation. They create opportunities for knowledge exchange, attract investment, and position their industries at the center of global conversations. That is the vision behind Think Ottawa.
Backed by Invest Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism and the Rogers Centre Ottawa, Think Ottawa is a program designed to strengthen Ottawa’s business events ecosystem by building a community of subject matter experts from across industry, academia, government and the non-profit sector.
Leaders bring the subject-matter expertise; Think Ottawa brings the destination expertise, connections and support to help attract major business events to the capital. Leaders can also contribute by sharing sector insights, strengthening Ottawa’s local network and supporting future opportunities through advocacy, introductions or letters of support.
You do not need to have a conference already in mind to become a local Leader. Joining the Think Ottawa community can simply mean sharing your expertise, offering insight into your sector, contributing to Ottawa’s network of industry voices or supporting future opportunities when the right fit emerges.
Elevate your profile, shape your industry, build a legacy
Think Ottawa is a powerful platform for thought leadership. For local Leaders, it is an opportunity to showcase their expertise, advance their industries, elevate their organizations, and strengthen Ottawa’s position on the global stage.
When you join the Think Ottawa community, you:
- Elevate the profile of your work: Gain global visibility, establish yourself as an advocate for your sector and unlock opportunities for professional growth.
- Support your sector: When global experts gather in Ottawa, the benefits extend far beyond an event. Conferences create opportunities for knowledge exchange, attract talent and investment, and strengthen alliances across industries.
- Leave a lasting impact: Bringing global expertise to Ottawa drives innovation and long-term growth. The impact is not only measured in delegate attendance, but in the ideas, connections, and opportunities that continue after the event ends.
Leaders making an impact
When a Leader steps forward, they help do more than potentially bring an event to Ottawa. They contribute insight, credibility and connections that can strengthen a bid, create opportunities for knowledge exchange, showcase Ottawa’s strengths and bring delegates to local hotels, restaurants and venues, supporting businesses and positioning the city as a hub of innovation.
That impact was celebrated during the 2026 Think Ottawa Gala on February 12, where organizers were honoured for attracting major conferences and sporting events to the capital. This year’s recipients were credited with bringing nearly 30,000 visitors to the city in 2025 and generating meaningful economic activity across Ottawa.
2026 Think Ottawa Leaders:
The 2026 recipients were:
- Leo Doyle, Ontario Cup, Ontario Basketball Association 2025
- Phyllis Bergmans, Canadian Ringette Championships 2025
- Richard Johnston, Canadian Track and Field Championship 2025
- Matei Radulescu, 30th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems (ICDERS) 2025
- Dr. Ian Castillo and Dr. Sam Suppiah, International Tritium Conference on Tritium Science and Technology 2025
- Judith Nassuna, Global Nursing Summit 2025
- Timothy Lethbridge, IEEE-ICSE 2025 (International Conference on Software Engineering) / ACM
- David Michelson, IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and North American Radio Science Meeting 2025
- Cassandra Auguste-René, Ottawa Black Business Expo 2025
- Mark Tse, Cybersecurity & Identity Summit 2025
- Melissa Brett and Dr. Stephanie Redpath, Canadian Paediatric and Neonatal Transport Conference 2025
Join the Think Ottawa Community
As a subject matter expert, your insights have the power to shape conversations, influence policy, advance research and inspire innovation. By stepping forward with Think Ottawa, you can help identify opportunities for your sector, support future bids and strengthen the local network that helps position Ottawa as a destination for global business events.
Join Think Ottawa to share your expertise, champion your sector and help bring more world-class conferences, conventions and business events to Ottawa.
Content provided by Ottawa Tourism.
