Agenda
Get Ready for an Unforgettable Conference Experience!
Start: 9:00 a.m, Wednesday 28 October
End: 5:30 p.m., Saturday 31 October
The agenda overview provides your essential roadmap to the conference – your guide to the daily rhythm and flow that will bring our community together. Mark these dates and times in your calendar and start planning your journey with us!
What you see here is just the beginning. In the coming months, we’ll continue to unveil the full tapestry of your conference experience, including our inspiring keynote speakers, featured sessions, and special guests who will energize our conversations, and an infusion of unique activities designed to connect and engage with one another and the unique city of Toronto, including our pre-conference options. Of course, there’s also the complete lineup of 500+ concurrent session workshops, panels, presentations, PechaKuchas, roundtables, posters, and more where you’ll dive deep into the topics that matter most to you.
Conference APP Coming Soon!
All registrants will receive details for the conference app sometime before the end of September. Use the App to download session resources, build a personalized schedule, and network with other attendees!
Agenda
Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto located at 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON M5J 1A6, Canada.
Agenda is subject to change. All times listed are local Toronto times.
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
All Day
ILA Registration, Badge Pick-Up, & Information Counter
CL – Top of Escalator
All Day
Sponsor & Exhibitor Booths
Harbour Foyer
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Pre-Conference Professional Development & Cultural Immersions (Ticketed Event, Not Included in Registration)
Includes Half-Day and Full-Day offerings. Follow link above for details and options.
Various Locations offsite and in the hotel
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
International Student Case Competition Poster Set-Up
Sign up your team (undergraduate or graduate division) by 23 September!
Pier 4& 5
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
New Member & First Time Attendee Orientation
New to ILA or attending your first Global Conference? Join us for a fast-paced, fun one-hour conference tour to learn the ropes and network with other first-timers before the sessions kick off.
Harbour B
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
International Student Case Competition Poster Showcase
Stop by the International Student Case Competition Poster Showcase to meet the next generation of leadership scholars, educators, and practitioners in person. Come see their work, ask questions, and show your support — these students would love to talk with you about the leadership case they’ve developed!
Pier 4 & 5
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Opening Reception & Author Showcase
Get ready for one of our most popular networking experiences – the Opening Reception & Leadership Author Showcase! As part of our opening reception, leadership authors will be stationed throughout the space showcasing their latest works with sample copies for you to explore. This is your chance to have intimate conversations with the brains behind the books that shape our field, discover your next must-read, and connect with other leadership professionals who share your interests. Whether you’re eager to meet a longtime favorite author or excited to uncover emerging voices in leadership, you’ll find yourself in inspiring conversations that blend cutting-edge ideas with the perfect networking atmosphere. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to mix, mingle, and dive deep into the latest thinking that’s advancing the study and practice of leadership worldwide! Complete list of participating authors will soon be available!
Harbour Ballroom & Foyer; Pier 4 & 5
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Member Community Chair & Chair-Elect Dinner (Invitation Only)
Forthcoming
Thursday, 29 October 2026
All Day
ILA Registration, Badge Pick-Up, & Information Counter
CL – Top of Escalator
All Day
Sponsor & Exhibitor Booths
Harbour Foyer
7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Member Community Networking Meetings
Various
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Concurrent Session Block #1
Various
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Concurrent Session Block #2
Various
9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meet in hotel then walk to various locations.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #3
Various
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #4
Various
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #5
Various
2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Meet in Hotel then Walk to Various Locations
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #6
Various
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Dinner Break
7:45 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
ILA After Dark!
Enjoy a beverage and snack before heading into a Cafecito Roundtable Discussion or one of a handful of special sessions.
The Emerging Scholars Research Consortium (Invite Only) will also take place during ILA After Dark!
Various
9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
ILA After Dark Contines!
After Dark continues with more Cafecitos, special sessions, and the second half of the Emerging Scholars Research Consortium.
Various
Friday, 30 October 2026
All Day
ILA Registration, Badge Pick-Up, & Information Counter
CL – Top of Escalator
7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Member Community Networking Meetings
Various
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Concurrent Session Block #7
Various
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Concurrent Session Block #8
Various
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #9
Various
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Women & Leadership Luncheon (Ticketed Event, Not Included in Registration. Tickets must be purchased in advance; there will be no sales at the door.)
Join ILA’s Women and Leadership Member Community for its annual luncheon! Purchase your $75 ticket when you register for the conference or as an add-on. Tickets must be purchased in advance. There will be no sales at the door.
At time of purchase select from the following entrees:
- Roasted chicken breast (7oz) – smoked paprika and rosemary rub, potato and cheddar gratin, seasonal vegetables, grains mustard jus (NF, Halal)
- Eggplant Moussaka (5oz) – braised baby eggplant, red curry gravy, jasmine rice, crispy shallot, clove and nutmeg (GF, DF, NF, Vegan)
All meals also come with salad, dessert, and beverage.
Regatta
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #10
Various
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #11
Various
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #12
Various
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
International Student Case Competition Finalist Presentations for each division
Various
Saturday, 31 October 2026
~ 8:00 – 17:30
ILA Registration, Badge Pick-Up, & Information Counter
CL – Top of Escalator
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Concurrent Session Block #13
Various
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #14
Various
12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Awards Luncheon (included in registration)
Celebrate our ILA award winners including this year’s winners of The Lifetime Achievement Award, the Horizon Mid-Career Leadership Award, the ILA Outstanding Service Award, Leadership Education Most Publishable Paper Award (Sponsored by SAGE Publishing), the Fredric M. Jablin Doctoral Dissertation Award (in partnership with Jepson School of Leadership Studies), and the International Student Case Competition.
During lunch choose an unaffiliated table or sit at a member community table.
Metropolitan Ballroom
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #15
Various
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #16
Various
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Concurrent Session Block #17
Various
5:30 p.m. – on
Enjoy Your Evening in Toronto!
Our conference experience volunteer committee is compiling a list of fun activities available Saturday evening in Toronto. Stay tuned!
Our Conference Model
Our conference operates on a community model where all participants—whether presenting or attending—register (at the published rates) for the event. As a nonprofit membership organization, this approach allows us to keep costs reasonable while creating a space where everyone contributes to and benefits from our collective knowledge. We don’t offer speaker fees or complimentary registrations because we see presentations as part of the collaborative exchange that makes our community valuable. All concurrent session presenters also participate in the broader conversation, learning from colleagues and connecting with peers. This model helps us sustain our programs while reinforcing that we’re all here together, sharing our work and growing as a community.