The Global Ageing Network will be hosting a full day Summit before the 2026 LeadingAge Annual Meeting. Join international leaders, innovators, policymakers, researchers, and service providers for this full-day summit focused on building societies that are ready for longevity.

The program will feature global perspectives and cross-disciplinary dialogue to help participants challenge traditional assumptions about ageing, explore emerging innovations and best practices, and identify opportunities to prepare organizations, communities, and societies for the realities—and possibilities—of demographic change. Don’t miss this opportunity to join colleagues from around the world as they explore innovative approaches to supporting lifelong wellness, creating age-ready environments, harnessing technology to transform the aging experience, sustaining high-quality care through workforce development, and advancing the policy changes needed to shape aging-friendly communities.

• Objectives

  Share insights, innovations across disciplines and their application to age-readiness; challenge assumptions; identify actionable opportunities.

• Structure

  Summit is built around five themes – Wellness and Wellbeing, Environments. Technology, Workforce and Policy. Panelists will provide a perspective from their discipline, facilitated by a Global Ageing Network Board member. After each panel, there will be a discussion on the implications for providers and what do we need to do/learn/build now to be age ready?

8:30 a.m.: Breakfast

9:00–9:05 a.m.: Welcome

• Katie Smith Sloan, Executive Director, Global Ageing Network

9:05–9:15 a.m.: Opening Remarks   

What and Why focus on Age Readiness – Setting the stage

• Vic Rayner, CEO, National Care Forum

9:15–10:30 a.m.: Wellness and Wellbeing

Exploring the dimensions of wellness

• Brian Van Weele, VP of Strategic Partnerships, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
• Facilitated by Marcus Riley, Chairman, Ballycara

10:30–11:45 a.m.: Environments

Rethinking Communities, Neighborhoods, Service Infrastructure

• Paul Sharman – PACE Canada (building a network to connect people to services);
• Phillipe Saad, architect – creating spaces to build community
• Facilitated by Judy Martin, Executive Consultant, JMGlobal Connect

11:45 a.m –1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:00–2:15 p.m.: Technology

In what ways can technology enable (or hinder) age readiness?

• Donald Macaskill, CEO, Scottish Care – Ethics of AI
• Jonathan Jedeikin, CIO, The Kendal Corporation
• Facilitated by Ken Yang, CEO, Penn Asian Senior Service (PASSi)

2:15–3:30 p.m.: Workforce

Who will provide the care?    

• Rebekah Smith, CEO, LaMP
• Mansur Dalal, Former Chair, CommonAge
• Facilitated by Donna Duncan, CEO, Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA)

3:30–3:45 p.m.: Break

3:45–4:45 p.m.: Connecting the Threads: Panel Discussion

What needs to change? What will move policymakers?

• Panelists: Brian Van Weele, Mansur Dalal, Phillipe Saad, Donald Macaskill
• Facilitated by: Vic Rayner, CEO, National Care Forum

4:45–5:00 p.m.: Closing Remarks

Key themes – elements of framework of age readiness.

• Remarks provided by Vic Rayner

5:00–6:00 p.m.: Summit Reception (Grand Hall)

The Global Ageing Network Summit is a preconference event at the 2026 LeadingAge Annual Meeting. A $175 registration fee applies to all Summit attendees.