The Quay, 100 Queens Quay East, 3rd Floor
In Person
Every year, illness chips away at productivity, disrupts operations, drives up costs for employers, and burdens the healthcare system. A healthy workforce is a powerful competitive edge. Yet adult immunization, a proven high-return investment, is too often overlooked by government and businesses.
This event will provide an exclusive first look at new research findings from the Conference Board of Canada on the return on investment of immunization programs for both private sector employers and public sector agencies. Join top decision-makers from government, industry, and public health to uncover how workforce immunization can strengthen Canada’s resilience and protect our communities.
Illness prevention, from global pandemics to seasonal outbreaks, is everyone’s business.
✔ For policy makers: Learn how targeted immunization strategies can strengthen workforce health and protect economic stability.
✔ For public health leaders: See how partnerships with business can boost vaccine uptake and reduce healthcare system strain.
✔ For HR professionals: Discover strategies to lower absenteeism, protect employee wellbeing, and maintain operational continuity.
✔ Be First to Hear: New research from the Conference Board of Canada, commissioned by GSK, on the economic benefits of immunization.
Agenda
8:00 – 8:30 am: Arrival, Registration, and Networking Breakfast
8:30 – 8:35 am: Welcome and Introductory Remarks
- Giles Gherson, President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade
8:35 – 8:45 am: Opening Keynote
8:45 – 8:55 am: Setting the Stage: Why Adult Immunization Matters
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, infectious diseases specialist and trusted voice in Canadian public health, will share his front-line expertise on the real-world barriers to adult immunization uptake and how illness disrupts workplaces, strains the healthcare system, and undermines economic activity.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, Infectious Diseases Specialist, University Health Network
8:55 – 9:05 am: Measuring the Economic Impact of Immunization in Canada
The Conference Board of Canada will present one of the most comprehensive analyses to date on the economic value of immunization across the Canadian context.
The study highlights how immunization protects workforce productivity and strengthens economic resilience. The findings provide clear evidence to inform policy, business strategy, and public health decision-making on the role of immunization in safeguarding both population health and Canada’s economic prosperity.
- Michael Burt, Vice President, The Conference Board of Canada
9:05 – 9:45 am: Charting the Path Forward
This fireside chat will shift the conversation from data to action. It will explore how insights on immunization can inform smarter policy choices, shape business strategies, and strengthen the link between public health and economic growth. The session will encourage cross-sector perspectives on what it takes to move from research findings to real-world results.Chris Hannay, Business Health Reporter, The Globe and Mail
- Michael Burt, Vice President, The Conference Board of Canada
- Dr. Michelle Horn, Country Medical Director, GSK Canada
Moderator:
- Chris Hannay, Business Health Reporter, The Globe & Mail
9:45 – 9:55 am: The Business Case of Immunization: Why is it an imperative?
Michael Kessel, President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic Canada, will bring the employer perspective to the discussion by examining immunization through the lens of workplace health and corporate solutions. He will highlight how leading organizations are investing in preventive health to protect employee well-being, reduce absenteeism, and sustain operational continuity. Drawing on Cleveland Clinic’s experience delivering integrated health services to businesses, his remarks will underscore why immunization should be treated as a strategic business priority rather than a discretionary benefit.
- Michael Kessel, President and CEO, Cleveland Clinic Canada
9:55 – 10:00 am: Closing Remarks
- Giles Gherson
Speakers
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Michael Burt
Vice President, The Conference Board of Canada
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Chris Hannay
Business Health Reporter, The Globe and Mail
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Dr. Michelle Horn
Country Medical Director, GSK Canada
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Mike Kessel
President and CEO, Cleveland Clinic Canada
Tickets & Registration
Members
- Single Ticket: $149
- Table of 10: $1,341
Non-Members
- Single Ticket: $199
- Table of 10: $1,990