CIPS Ontario 3rd Annual Women in Technology Conference

CIPS Ontario Presents: 3rd Annual Women in Technology Conference

AI Skills Aren’t Enough: Closing the Leadership Gap for Women in Tech

 September 18th 2026 | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM The Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto

Thank you to our Partner:

If women are building AI skills at an unprecedented rate, why aren’t we seeing the same growth in leadership roles?

Join us for an engaging evening of insight, conversation, and connection with women shaping the future of technology. This event features a keynote, interactive panel discussion, and high-value networking with professionals and leaders across the tech community.

Connect with a curated group of peers, mentors, and decision-makers in an intimate setting designed for meaningful conversations.

• Hear from experienced leaders across technology and business
• Gain insights into the real barriers and opportunities in advancing to leadership
• Build connections that support your career growth

️Free Registration for members of CIPS, CIOCAN, and ISACA  /  $40 for Non-Members

Registration Closes September 17th at 2pm EDT – Reserve your spot!

(Sponsor this Event! Learn about CIPS Sponsorship)

Speakers:

Sabina Posadziejewski, FCIPS, I.S.P., ITCP
Chief Executive Officer, CIPS

Sabina Posadziejewski is Chief Executive Officer of CIPS and an accomplished technology executive with more than 40 years of ICT leadership experience across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Her career spans executive leadership, public-sector transformation, governance, organizational excellence, mentorship, and professional development.

Sabina has held senior leadership positions with the governments of Alberta and Canada, including serving as a Chief Information Officer. Throughout her career, she has led major digital transformation initiatives, developed governance and service-delivery frameworks, and built high-performing teams.

A dedicated mentor and longtime CIPS leader, Sabina is passionate about supporting emerging professionals, encouraging lifelong learning, and creating opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups to advance in technology leadership. In 2025, she was inducted as a CIPS Fellow in recognition of her exceptional leadership, service, and professional excellence.

Julie Smithson
Visionary. Educator. Community-builder.
CEO and Co-Founder, METAVRSE

Julie Smithson is an immersive technology leader, community builder, and educator whose mission is to inspire and educate others.

For more than 16 years, Julie has worked at the forefront of immersive and interactive technology. As CEO and Co-Founder of METAVRSE, she has helped build spatial experiences across education, healthcare, enterprise, retail, and virtual collaboration while advancing human-centred approaches to emerging technology.

Julie is also Co-Founder of XR Women, a global nonprofi t community advancing women and underrepresented voices in immersive technology. Over fi ve and a half years, she has helped produce more than 240 virtual and in-person events, connecting members across 60 countries through education, mentorship, leadership development, and meaningful conversations.

As Co-Founder of Unlimited Awesome, Julie is extending her mission into AI-powered entrepreneurship and human development education. Across every initiative, she works to make emerging technologies understandable and accessible, helping people build knowledge, confi dence, and agency to shape a more inclusive, human-centred future together.

Cristina Ardeleanu
Director of Solution Architecture, OMERS,

Cristina Ardeleanu is Director of Solution Architecture at OMERS, where she leads the Solution Architecture practice and supports the delivery of complex business and technology initiatives across the enterprise. Her experience spans technology transformation, architecture leadership, governance, cloud platforms, integration, and data solutions.

Cristina is passionate about building high-performing teams, advancing architecture maturity, and enabling innovation through pragmatic governance. She enjoys helping organizations balance delivery, risk, and long-term technology sustainability. A strong advocate for women in technology, she is committed to mentoring and supporting the growth of future technology leaders. Cristina brings a practical perspective on leadership, technology adoption, and building effective architecture organizations.

Additional Speakers TBA

Included with CIPS Membership  /  $40 for Non-Members
(CIOCAN & ISACA Members also access complimentary registration)

Not a CIPS Member? Join Here

CIPS Certified Members – Attend and Earn Re-Certification Credits!