Living and working in the National Capital Region has numerous benefits, many of which we’ve previously enumerated on this blog. However, one area that always seems to improve and impress us every year is the calibre of conferences coming to Ottawa.
A city with a robust Government presence, Ottawa has been home to Public Service conferences for many years. With the strong emergence of the local technology sector and businesses that support those companies, the area is attracting innovative new conventions that are drawing delegates and participants from across Canada and the world. Other sectors, such as the developing entrepreneurial economy, the burgeoning construction industry, and Ottawa’s logistical distribution companies are also having a significant impact on our convention calendar.
As Ottawa continues to develop more capacity to host additional conferences and the economy continues to grow, the demand from professional associations to locate their conventions in the Capital will only increase in the years to come.
With all this interest, it has become challenging to keep up with the considerable number of professional gatherings scheduled to take place in Ottawa. With that in mind, we put together our own list of Ottawa’s most interesting 2020 conferences.
1. SaaS North – November 18-19, 2020.
https://saasnorth.com/register/
This phenomenal convention is probably the most talked-about conference in the city. Since 2016, SaaS North has been the premier conference for anyone working in the software-as-a-service sector in Canada. And, now as the largest such conference in the country, it’s attracting top international speakers and delegates. With 2020 marking the fifth annual SaaS North gathering, you can be sure it will be bigger than years past and worth your time to attend if you work in that industry. Super-advanced tickets are on sale now at reduced early-purchase rates.
2. The Conference Board of Canada: Canadian Immigration Summit – May 13-14, 2020.
https://www.conferenceboard.ca/web/canadian-immigration-summit-2020.html
Now in its sixth year, the Canadian Immigration Summit explores the ways immigration can respond proactively to pressures on the labour-market. It also looks at measures for Canada’s immigrants to be better integrated and contribute more fully to our economy. During the Summit, speakers will delve into critical drivers of economic, social, and technological change that could come to affect our immigration system. Participants from all sectors will assess various potential immigration scenarios and consider how Canadian employers and government can work together to develop immigration policies that work for everyone involved.
3. International Conference On Robotics And Smart Manufacturing – October 27-28, 2020.
http://researchfora.com/Conference2020/Canada/5/ICROSMA/
As the Capital Region’s technology and Manufacturing sectors continue to develop, Ottawa is the right spot to host Engineers, Researchers, and Scientists in the field of Robotics, Aeronautics, Mechanics, and Mechatronics.
Organized by Global Society for Research and Development, this year’s conference will bring together students, academics, and industry to collaborate around cutting edge advancements.
4. Women in Business Conference – March 4, 2020.
https://womeninbusinessconference.ca/
For twelve years now, the Women in Business Conference has been the conference for professional women in Ottawa to come together, refocus, and build relationships. With sold-out crowds of more than 500 women, this homegrown convention brings in speakers that inspire personal health, professional development, and entrepreneurial success. It’s a day of contagious energy and reinvigoration.
5. Chartered Professional Accountants: Public sector conference – October 19-21, 2020.
With the substantial government and not-for-profit presence in the National Capital Region, it makes sense that the CPA organization is hosting its Public Sector Conference here. While primarily for more senior financial professionals, this conference provides excellent opportunities for any accountant following Public Sector Accounting Board Standards. Beyond the PSAB, sessions will focus on ethics, artificial intelligence, government financial management, and reporting, not to mention technology trends for the public sector.
6. Public Law Conference – June 17 -19, 2020.
https://publiclawdroitpublic.ca/
As the home of the Supreme Court of Canada, Ottawa has always been the epicentre of this country’s Constitutional Law practice. So it’s no surprise that a conference focusing on public law as it relates to Common-Law application includes the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law. The Public Law Conference is co-organized by the University of Ottawa, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Cambridge. And, it brings together leading judges and scholars from many common-law countries to discuss the most critical issues in public law today.
7. Women in Data Science Conference – March 2, 2020.
This international association of Women in Data Science began as a conference at Stanford in 2015. Now with approximately 150 regional chapters around the globe, WiDS has become the professional connector for women in this highly skilled field. The WiDS@Ottawa conference supports participants in honing their skills and connecting with leaders in Data Science around the world to discuss their work, their journeys, and lessons learned. The WiDS gathering has quickly evolved into the preeminent connecting opportunity for Women in Data Science.
8. AWS Public Sector Summit Ottawa – May 6, 2020.
https://aws.amazon.com/events/summits/ottawa-public-sector/
The tech sector in Ottawa has been continuing to lead economic development throughout the region. As such, companies like Amazon, with established roots in the area are creating local conferences to help build the skills of their clientele. Amazon Web Services: Public Sector Summit, now in its third year, is focusing on how artificial-intelligence-ready cloud services can empower public sector workers. This Conference provides an excellent opportunity for Government employees, Tech sector innovators, and not-for-profit teams to network and share ideas for using AWS product offerings across disciplines.
9. COUNTERMEASURE 2020:Ottawa’s Computer Security Conference – September 14-16, 2020.
https://www.countermeasure.ca/
With the development of more sophisticated and networked organizations comes increased potential for security breaches. The Countermeasure conference brings together the best in IT security professionals to explore both offensive and defensive strategies to protect sensitive data from intruders. The convention will delve into Incident Response, Malware Analysis, Mobile Security, and Nation-State Threats, among an expanded list of topics. Primarily focused on addressing the issues faced by Enterprise and Canadian Government systems, IT Security professionals from all sectors will benefit from the professional development and peer sharing opportunities provided.
10. International Conference on Vehicular, Mobile and Wearable Technology – November 27-28, 2020.
http://iserd.co/Conference2020/Canada/5/ICVMWT/
Ottawa’s tech sector development has led to an increasing number of opportunities for businesses, academics, and engineers to come together in the National Capital Region and share ideas. The International Society for Engineering Research and Development (ISERDS) has brought their Vehicular, Mobile and Wearable Technology Conference to town to take advantage of the local connections and foster further relationships between industry and academia. With the BlackBerry QNX Autonomous Vehicles Innovation Centre and the Ford Motor Company’s Centre for Self-Driving Car Technology located nearby, Ottawa seems like the perfect place to host such an event.
This is Only the Beginning
Our selections for this list of Ottawa’s Most Interesting Conferences are in no way exhaustive. This city is continually playing host to delegates from all over the world in every possible discipline. And, with the ongoing development throughout the region in multiple sectors, we only see the numbers of conventions selecting Ottawa as their host city continuing to rise.
When it comes to career development for professionals in the region, more professional gatherings provide added occasions to network, learn new skills, and develop meaningful connections for your advancement. If you’re considering a career change or merely thinking about your next steps, LRO Staffing can help. Our industry specialists can connect you with opportunities and provide advice to assist you in creating a multi-step plan for developing your career. Of course, we can also provide you with sector-specific conference recommendations to make sure you’re staying up to date on all the latest developments in your profession. Talk to us today.
