DAAC Summit 2026: Strength Through Collaboration

Join the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada (DAAC) for our annual Summit, where industry leaders gather to discuss the latest developments in digital advertising, privacy, and responsible data practices. Hear the latest updates on DAAC initiatives, emerging privacy and advertising developments, and the issues shaping our industry. Whether you're looking to stay informed, exchange ideas, or expand your network, the Summit offers a valuable opportunity to connect with peers and senior decision-makers from across the ecosystem. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Timing: 8:00 - 9:00 - Light Breakfast & Networking (1 hour) 9:00 - 9:15 - Welcome & DAAC Update A welcome to attendees, an overview of DAAC news, and an outline of the agenda.Speaker: Julie Ford, Executive Director, Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada 9:15 - 10:00 - AI for All & Bill C-36: A Recap for Companies Preparing The federal government’s AI for All strategy and Bill C-36 could significantly shape Canada’s approach to AI governance and privacy. Joanna Fine of Osler will explain what these initiatives propose, where they currently stand and what they could mean for businesses. She will also highlight practical steps companies can take now to prepare for the changes ahead. Keynote Speaker: Joanna Fine, Partner, Privacy and Data Management, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP 10:00 - 10:25 - Panel: Navigating Privacy in Marketing As privacy requirements continue to evolve across North America, businesses must adapt while maintaining consumer trust. Leaders from two organizations of different sizes will share how they manage privacy within their marketing operations, respond to change and overcome practical challenges. They will also offer advice for organizations navigating their own privacy journeys. Speakers: Pavan Virdee, Senior Legal Counsel, Marketing & Privacy and Data Protection Officer, Unilever June Ip, Vice President of Marketing (Global), The Lenbrook Group of Companies Moderator: Chet Dalzell, Operations & Engagement, Digital Advertising Alliance 10:25 - 10:55 - Strategies and Benchmarks for Legal Leaders Privacy regulators are moving beyond surface-level compliance and examining whether privacy programs actually work in practice. Across the globe, regulators are scrutinizing the details: whether users receive a meaningful choice, whether trackers behave as represented, where data moves, and whether opt-outs and deletion requests reach downstream systems. This session will translate these developments into practical benchmarks for the next phase of privacy compliance, where mature operational controls must demonstrate that user choices are honoured throughout the data lifecycle. Speakers: Constance Miceli, Enterprise Account Executive, North America, Didomi Julie Rubash, Chief Privacy Officer, Sourcepoint by Didomi 10:55 - 11:10 - Networking Break (15 minutes) 11:10 - 11:30 - Learn about the Federation for Internet Alerts (FIA) Discover how the Federation for Internet Alerts brings together internet companies, technology providers and public authorities to help deliver timely emergency warnings online. This brief overview explores how digital advertising infrastructure can reach people in affected areas and support public safety. Speaker: Jason Bier, Chairman & President, Federation for Internet Alerts (virtual) 11:30 - 12:00 - TBD 12:00 - 12:30 - De-Risking the Canadian Inbox: How Broadcasters, Advertisers, and Tech Providers Collaborate on CASL-Safe Growth How can organizations grow their audiences while navigating CASL responsibly? A CRTC representative will join us for a practical, forward-looking discussion about consent, first-party data and the challenges marketers face today. The session will also explore how regulators, marketers and technology providers can work together to support responsible growth while maintaining consumer trust. Moderator: Geoffrey Blanc, General Manager, Cyber Impact 12:30 - 1:00 - Everything is Political Every brand marketer is asking the same question: Why does everything feel like a political minefield -- and what the heck do I do about it? Politics once reflected culture. Today, nearly everything reflects politics, leaving consumer brands caught in the middle. Some enter political conversations deliberately, while others stumble in and struggle to find the exit. The risk is real either way. The only way through is to understand it. Drawing on his career at the intersection of consumer and political communication, Dennis Matthews offers a road map for navigating this environment. Part academic, part cultural, and entirely practical, Everything is Political is a provocative, non-partisan session for marketers ready to move beyond hearing that the world has changed and want to start deciding what to do about it. Speaker: Dennis Matthews, President, Creative Currency 1:00 - 2:00 - Lunch & Networking (1 hour) Thank you to our sponsors: Didomi - https://www.didomi.io/ Google - http://google.ca/ We welcome sponsorship to support our not-for-profit's work. You can reach out to us at info @ daac.ca for packages. About the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada The Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada (DAAC) is a national non-profit that develops and administers self-regulatory programs to enhance transparency, accountability, and consumer trust in digital advertising. Learn more at https://youradchoices.ca/