Annual gala celebrates sector champions behind major life science, homegrown, sport, and STEM events, and the legacies they create
Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa, and the Rogers Centre Ottawa celebrated this year’s Think Ottawa Leader Award recipients at the 2026 Think Ottawa Gala on February 12, 2026, at the Rogers Centre Ottawa.
The invitation-only gala recognised 11 Ottawa-based sector Leaders who helped secure and host impactful conferences and events in Ottawa throughout 2025, strengthening the city’s global profile, supporting local businesses, and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and community impact. Collectively, the events associated with this year’s Think Ottawa Leaders welcomed nearly 30,000 visitors to Ottawa, bringing delegates, athletes, innovators, and decision makers to the city from across Canada and around the world.
Powered by the combined strengths of Ottawa Tourism, Invest Ottawa, and the Rogers Centre Ottawa, the Think Ottawa program connects industry, academic, government, and non-profit Leaders with a shared ambition to bring the world’s most important conferences, conventions, and events to the city. The program supports Leaders with bid preparation, funding connections, attendance strategies, and a suite of complementary offerings, helping transform bold ideas into seamless realities. Crucially, Think Ottawa helps event owners and association decision makers connect with Ottawa’s sector ecosystems, giving them access to recognised experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who can strengthen a bid, shape compelling programmes, and create host city experiences that stand out internationally.
By pairing bid expertise with direct connections into Ottawa’s priority sectors, Think Ottawa helps events increase their economic impact while designing stronger long-term legacies, from new research collaborations and talent pipelines to investment attraction, community outcomes, and repeat visitation.
“Ottawa succeeds when local Leaders step forward and champion their city on the national and international stage,” said Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “Think Ottawa gives organisers a clearer pathway to the people, places, and sector expertise that make a bid more competitive, and an event more impactful. The Think Ottawa Leaders we honoured last night helped deliver meaningful events that drive economic impact, spark new partnerships, and build a legacy that extends well beyond the closing keynotes. We are proud to celebrate their dedication and the incredible outcomes they helped create for Ottawa.”
“Think Ottawa is a catalyst for economic momentum,” said Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa. “When global communities gather in Canada’s Capital, they connect directly with North America’s most concentrated pool of tech talent, research excellence, and industry leadership. Through visionary collaboration with Ottawa Tourism, the Rogers Centre, and partners across our region, we transform convening power into lasting economic value, fuelling investment, new opportunities, and Ottawa’s impact as a globally competitive innovation hub. Together, we are building a capital economy where collaboration translates into global competitiveness and long-term prosperity.”
“The Rogers Centre Ottawa is honoured to host the Think Ottawa Gala and to celebrate the Leaders who help attract world-class events to our city,” said Lesley Pincombe, President and CEO of the Rogers Centre Ottawa. “When we welcome these conferences and events, we showcase Ottawa’s expertise, our venues, and our unmistakable Canadian hospitality. Congratulations to each of this year’s Think Ottawa Leaders.”
2026 Think Ottawa Leader Award recipients
- Melissa Brett and Dr. Stephanie Redpath, Canadian Paediatric and Neonatal Transport Conference 2025 (Life Science)
- Judith Nassuna, Global Nursing Summit 2025 (Life Science)
- Alison Jones and Ian Castillo, International Tritium Conference on Tritium Science and Technology 2025 (Life Science)
- Cassandra Auguste-René, Ottawa Black Business Expo 2025 (Homegrown)
- Mark Tse, Cybersecurity and Identity Summit 2025 (Homegrown)
- Leo Doyle, Ontario Basketball Association, Ontario Cup 2025 (Sport)
- Phyllis Bergmans, Canadian Ringette Championships 2025 (Sport)
- Richard Johnston, Canadian Track and Field Championship 2025 (Sport)
- Dr. Matei Radulescu, 30th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems (ICDERS) 2025 (STEM)
- Dr. Timothy Lethbridge, IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE) 2025 / ACM (STEM)
- Dr. David Michelson, IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and North American Radio Science Meeting 2025 (STEM)
Dr. Timothy Lethbridge, Think Ottawa Leader and organiser of the IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE) 2025 / ACM, said: “Ottawa has a long history of leadership through major companies, non-profits, universities, and top researchers. Some of the top people in the field are right here. Ottawa is the right-sized city. It allows us to show off the best of Canada, and the industry in Ottawa promotes Canadian software engineering expertise to the world.”
The Think Ottawa Gala is a celebration of the Leaders who help position Ottawa as an international stage for ideas that drive progress. Through expert support and a collaborative approach, Think Ottawa helps bring people together, amplify Ottawa’s strengths, and create experiences remembered long after they are over. From bid strategy and stakeholder introductions to delegate boosting and legacy planning, Think Ottawa helps organisers deliver events that resonate globally and leave lasting value locally.
Editors’ Notes: Ottawa Tourism
Ottawa Tourism is the official destination marketing organisation for Canada’s capital city and the surrounding region. A not-for-profit and membership-based organisation, it works with more than 450 member businesses to showcase the best of the region.
Ottawa prides itself on being a vibrant, welcoming, and diverse business event and tourism destination. A hub of culture, history, politics, and natural beauty, the city offers a unique blend of experiences, from world-class museums and galleries to outdoor adventures along the scenic Ottawa River.
With a range of state-of-the-art venues, the city is well-equipped to host events of all sizes. Ottawa Tourism provides convention support services to planners and promotes the city as a premier destination for leisure travel, business events, and conferences.
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