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Press Release

Toronto, April 23, 2026

Forward, Together: Defining the next chapter of Canada’s innovation economy

Mastercard Innovation Forum Canada

Digital transformation, agentic AI, cybersecurity and radical collaboration took centre stage at the inaugural Mastercard Innovation Forum Canada on April 22, 2026. Held at the historic Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto, the event brought together more than 500 industry leaders, partners and innovators.

Designed to explore how Canada can advance what is possible in digital commerce, cybersecurity and payments technology, the forum’s theme, Forward, Together, reflected a conviction that real progress happens when we unite the right ideas, technologies and leaders across sectors to compete with confidence on the world stage.

“This is an era of defining what Canada stands for, how we compete, and how we lead,” noted Erin Elofson, President of Mastercard in Canada, during her opening keynote. “We prioritized bringing people together because we believe progress happens when leaders connect. 'Forward, together' isn't a slogan for us. It’s a strategy for how Canada wins.”

Through mainstage sessions, fireside chats and panel discussions, here are five main takeaways of the inaugural meeting.

1. There is a critical intelligence shift from tech-enabled to intelligence-led

In an era of long-term strategies shifting from being purely technology focused to more intelligence-centered approaches, the forum brought to light how some of Canada’s leading companies are doing just that.

Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, and Dave McKay, President and CEO of RBC, discussed how AI-driven commerce is transforming how value is created and how businesses scale.

Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, and Dave McKay, President and CEO of RBC at the forum.

“The winners aren’t the ones that react,” said Miebach. “Those who are leading really read the signals in the data and respond to this with clarity.”

The conversation was expanded by futurist Sinead Bovell and Ken Moore, Chief Innovation Officer at Mastercard, who explored the rise of agentic commerce. In this new chapter, intelligent systems move beyond recommendations to securely executing transactions on behalf of consumers and businesses. The consensus was clear: the next era will be led by organizations that turn data into an advantage responsibly, reliably and in real time. That’s why, at Mastercard, we’re investing in innovation locally to help secure Canada’s intelligence-led future and digital economy.

A female speakers at the "Forward, Together" forum

2. Radical collaboration is a competitive advantage

A recurring theme throughout the day was the need to focus on long-term strategy and visionary leadership. Linda Kirkpatrick, President of the Americas at Mastercard, joined Galen Weston, Chairman and CEO of George Weston Ltd., to explore consumer relationships and why the next era of growth demands deep partnership between global leaders and Canadian retailers.

Linda Kirkpatrick, President of the Americas at Mastercard and Galen Weston, Chairman and CEO of George Weston Ltd.

They discussed that in a world of short-term volatility, a long-term perspective and the courage to invest in innovation across industries is a competitive advantage. Success in this landscape requires moving beyond the mechanics of technology to focus on how collaboration enables businesses to better serve an increasingly digital, value-driven consumer.

3. Cybersecurity is the foundation for trust and growth

In a hyper-connected world, cybersecurity is no longer a technical requirement. It is the foundational trust that allows a digital economy to grow. Johan Gerber, EVP and Head of Security Solutions at Mastercard, joined Sami Khoury, Government of Canada Senior Official for Cyber Security, Les Stevens, Cybersecurity and Divisional CISO, Capital One Canada and Chris Mathers, Crime and Risk consultant, to pull back the curtain on the evolving threat landscape.

The panel reframed security as a strategic enabler rather than a back-office function. By designing security into growth decisions — particularly surrounding AI deployment and market expansion — businesses can move faster with less friction. The session highlighted the work of Mastercard's Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence in Vancouver as a key part of how we turn shared insight into real-world protection for Canadian businesses.

“Organizations need to design security from the ground up,” said Gerber. “It’s the difference between fragile systems and durable growth.”

4. The intentional consumer is redefining value

Understanding how consumers feel, not just how they spend, has never been more critical. Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist at the Mastercard Economics Institute, demonstrated how Mastercard’s proprietary data shows that while Canadians face real affordability pressures, they are shifting their spending rather than retreating.

Michelle Meyer delivering keynote with impactful data visible on screen.

Bunita Sawhney, Chief Consumer Product officer at Mastercard, then led a panel with Keith Pelley, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment, Nick Bednarz, CEO of Rogers Bank, and Samantha Taylor, EVP and Chief Experience Officer at WestJet. They explored how loyalty is increasingly earned in moments that matter, such as experiences, passions and identity. The takeaway for leaders was to map where consumers feel emotional payoff and to focus investment on those frictionless, personalized journeys.

“Lean in and identify the moments that matter the most,” said Sawhney. “Then, turn that insight into real, personalized experiences.”

5. Balancing today’s execution with tomorrow’s innovation leads to winning

The forum concluded with a look at how leaders can maintain operational discipline while remaining intentional about the future. Sachin Mehra, Chief Financial Officer at Mastercard, and Mathew Mehrotra, Group Head of Canadian personal and business banking at BMO, discussed the tension between delivering results now and preparing for what is next.

Sachin Mehra, Chief Financial Officer at Mastercard, and Mathew Mehrotra, Group Head of Canadian personal and business banking at BMO

What followed was a special conversation between Shawna Miller, Head of Marketing and Communications for Mastercard in Canada, and legendary Canadian actor and comedian Eugene Levy. They explored the Canadian creativity ethos, reminding the audience that even during periods of rapid technological change, progress is strongest when it is grounded in authenticity, humanity and a deep sense of purpose.

Moving forward

Participants of Mastercard Innovation Forum Canada.

The inaugural Mastercard Innovation Forum Canada demonstrated that while the environment is complex, the path forward is built on unity. By combining global economic data, intelligent technology and leadership that chooses collaboration over isolation, Canada can turn resilience into performance.

As the conversations from the forum move to boardrooms across the country, the message remains: when we connect insight with technology and pair it with partnership and trust, we move forward, together.