The Connected Company
Recognition Next 2026 brings together the Achievers community to explore how the world’s most successful organizations are building Connected Companies — where recognition fuels performance, confidence, and belonging, every day.
June 9th, 2026
The Quay
Toronto, ON
Event details
Why attend Recognition Next?
This is an event where strategy meets practice and connection comes to life.
Gain exclusive insights into the future of recognition and employee experience
Learn how leading organizations are strengthening connection at scale
Connect with peers who are solving the same challenges you are
Get a first look at what’s coming next from Achievers
Purchase tickets
Invest in one day, benefit a lifetime.
Early Bird
$299*
($300 savings)
Limited quantity
Ends April 30, 2026
Advanced Purchase
$449* ($150 savings)
Ends May 31, 2026
General admission
$599*
*All prices in CAD. Taxes and fees not included
Event schedule
See whats on the agenda
8:30am
Arrival Breakfast & Networking
9:30am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:35am
CEO Keynote: A Vision for What’s Next
10:05am
Fireside Chat with Harvard Business Review
10:35am
Guided Networking Experience & Activation Floor Open
11:35am
Product Vision & Roadmap
12:35pm
Lunch & Activation Floor Open
2:05pm
A List Awards Celebration
2:20pm
Concurrent Panel: Leading Through Change with Recognition
2:20pm
Concurrent Panel: Evolving Recognition: Driving Business Impact at Every Stage
2:20pm
Concurrent Panel: Turning Recognition Investment into Measurable ROI
3:05pm
Guided Networking Experience & Activation Floor Open
3:50pm
Workshop: From Feel-Good to Business Critical: Your Prescription for Going from Good → Great
4:35pm
AWI Presentation: State of Recognition
5:05pm
Closing Remarks: Commitments & Next Steps
5:20pm
Post Event Happy Hour & Networking
Shape your career – earn certification credits
Attend Recognition Next and earn 5 SHRM credits. Achievers is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDC) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.
Program highlights for Recognition Next 2026
CEO Keynote
Hear directly from Achievers’ CEO Scott Landers on the future of recognition, connection, and performance in a rapidly changing world.
Product Roadmap Session
Join Jordan Ekers for an inside look at how Achievers evolves our platform to power the Connected Company — ours, yours, today and tomorrow.
2026 State of Recognition Report
Emma Harvie shares the first look at the findings from AWI’s Annual report, revealing the latest insights on recognition , productivity, and change readiness.
Our speakers
Get expert insights
Alex Clemente
Managing Director, HBR Analytic
Harvard Business Review
Carol Chapple
VP, Talent Effectiveness
Ryan, Inc.
Courtney Patterson-Holloway
Senior Manager, National Operations Support
Cineplex
Iona Terziyska
VP Human Resources and People Development
Wurth
Jennifer Millar
Senior Project Manager, Pay Equity & Recognition
Bell Canada
Lowell Fernander
Chief Medical Officer and Vice President, Benefits and Wellness
Rocket
Sandra Garcia
Manager, Recognition and Special Projects
General Motors
Anu Subramanian
Chief Technology Officer
Achievers
Brennan Wilkie
VP of Customer Success & Account Management
Achievers
David Bator
Managing Director
Achievers Workforce Institute
Emma Harvie
Global Head of Recognition and Rewards Insights
Achievers Workforce Institute
Jordan Ekers
VP of Product Marketing & Commercial Strategy
Achievers
Kristian Gaetano
Chief Operating Officer
Achievers
Scott Landers
Chief Executive Officer
Achievers
Celebrating excellence
We’ll be hosting our 2nd Annual A-List Awards where we honor customers who set the standard for recognition, culture, and connection.
On-site activations
Explore live demos and practical takeaways
Throughout the day, connect face to face with Achievers experts through hands on activations designed to help you get more out of your recognition program, including:
Achievers Intelligence
Talk directly with our experts about unlocking deeper, more timely insights and clearly connecting recognition to business impact.
Reward Marketplace & Gifting
Explore live demos and see how recognition translates into meaningful rewards that drive connection, motivation, and retention.
Redesigned Awards module
Learn how committee based nominations and new self serve functionality make it easier to scale awards programs.
External Recognition
Experience it firsthand and learn about recent enhancements, including member specific QR codes.
Campaign Co-Creation booth
Work collaboratively with Achievers experts to shape and activate a tailored campaign, turning goals into a clear, actionable plan in real time.
You’ll also get a first look at enhancements to Purchase Points and Global Top Up.
Venue: Hotel X Toronto
Located on the Lake Ontario waterfront in downtown Toronto – close to retail shopping, dining, and must-see attractions.
Address
111 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3
Connect with what’s next. Recognition Next 2026.
June 9th, 2026
Alex Clemente is the founding managing director of Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, an independent research unit within Harvard Business Review Group, that conducts research and comparative analysis on management challenges and emerging business opportunities for corporate sponsors. He was previously the associate publisher of Harvard Business Review in charge of global sales and marketing. Prior to joining Harvard Business Publishing, Clemente was senior VP of sales and marketing for CFO Magazine/The Economist Group and prior to that senior director of international advertising for USA Today. He is a member of the Harvard University Analytics Staff Consortium and a former board member of the International Advertising Association of New York. He appears frequently, presenting research findings, on HBR Analytic Services Webinars via HBR.org and live events.
Carol A. Chapple is Vice President of Talent Effectiveness at Ryan, LLC, where she partners with business leaders to elevate performance through data-driven talent strategies. She leads the firm’s global learning function and oversees initiatives spanning employee engagement, performance management, and succession planning, delivering tailored development and consulting solutions that align with evolving business needs. A licensed Industrial-Organizational Psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, Carol brings deep expertise in people analytics and organizational effectiveness. Prior to joining Ryan, she served as Chief Analytics Officer for an assessment firm, advising Fortune 500 companies on reducing turnover, enhancing employee performance, and strengthening leadership capability. Carol was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as a recipient of the North Texas Women in Technology Award.
Anu Subramanian
Chief Technology Officer, Achievers
As the Chief Technology Officer at Achievers, Anu Subramanian is responsible for leading the company’s product strategy and execution. She is customer obsessed and has 25+ years of experience building scalable, high performant software systems that have been deployed at enterprises worldwide. She is most proud of her roots as an engineer and building/leading world class teams that have brought innovative solutions to market. Prior to Achievers, Anu has held leadership roles at CloudCheckr, NetApp, Consumer Edge, Veracode and Carbon Black. Anu has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from College of Engineering Guindy, a Master’s degree in Computer Science from University of New Hampshire, Durham and a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College.
David Bator
Managing Director, Achievers Workforce Institute
David Bator thinks and writes about how work should work. David leads Achievers Workforce Institute, a strategic practice whose focus on Research, Community and Advisory empowers global executives with tactical, practical approaches to changing how the world works. David is passionate about people, and has spent the last 20 years working closely and consultatively with HR, IT and Communications leaders to build programs that position individuals, teams and companies grow.
Jordan Ekers
VP, Product Marketing and Commercial Strategy
He’s a tech entrepreneur who believes that smart ideas driven by great people can change industries for the better. Jordan helped build and scale software companies through periods of early product market fit, rapid revenue growth, fundraising, and successful acquisition. His latest venture, Nudge, was acquired by private equity in 2022. At his core, Jordan driven by a passionate curiosity to understand problems and build smart solutions that drive customer value, while building high-performing teams that execute with unparalleled speed and accuracy. He takes great pride in helping to drive the business’s vision and strategic direction with our investors, board of directors, customers and employees, and Jordan thoroughly love what he does.
David Bator thinks and writes about how work could work. David leads Achievers Workforce Institute, a global research practice that studies the conditions that need to exist so employees can do the best work of their lives. David is passionate about people and has spent the last 20 years working closely with leaders to build programs that position their people, teams and company to grow. David’s work has appeared in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and The Globe and Mail.
Sandra V. García, CCP®, GRP®, CRP® is a Total Rewards Manager at General Motors with more than 26 years of experience leading enterprise-wide rewards and employee experience strategies. Since 2016, she has led GM’s employee recognition strategy, transforming GM’s recognition and award programs to strengthen employee engagement and support the company’s culture evolution. Her work has helped improve talent outcomes and create a more meaningful experience across GM’s global workforce. She also leads strategy for GM’s Total Rewards portal, helping shape a personalized, globally scalable employee experience. Through cross-functional collaboration, she has helped define consistent standards, governance, and content approaches that support a more connected experience across regions and employee groups. Sandra has spoken at major HR conferences including Achievers ACE, SHRM, HR Technology, and Gartner ReimagineHR, where she has shared insights on recognition, digital transformation, and employee experience.
As the Chief Technology Officer at Achievers, Anu is responsible for leading the company’s product strategy and execution. She is customer obsessed and has 25+ years of experience building scalable, high performant software systems that have been deployed at enterprises worldwide. She is most proud of her roots as an engineer and building/leading world class teams that have brought innovative solutions to market. Prior to Achievers, Anu has held leadership roles at CloudCheckr, NetApp, Consumer Edge, Veracode and Carbon Black. Anu has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from College of Engineering Guindy, a Master’s degree in Computer Science from University of New Hampshire, Durham and a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College.
As the Chief Operations Officer at Achievers, Kristian Gaetano leads all post-sales functions, ensuring customers receive exceptional experiences and long-term value. This includes Customer Success & Account Management, end-user support (contact centers, technical support, and fraud), Professional Services & Implementation, and the Global Rewards Marketplace (eCommerce experience, supply chain, and fulfillment to over 190 countries globally). His focus is on delivering for customers, building a world-class team, and driving customer retention and growth. Since joining Achievers in 2011, Kristian has held leadership roles including Director of Customer Success, Senior Director of Revenue Operations, and Chief Transformation Officer. He began his career in HR with Grant Thornton, Vale Inco, and the Rotman School of Management before joining Achievers to support its mission of Changing the Way the World Works. Kristian holds a degree in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University and a postgraduate certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College.
David Bator thinks and writes about how work could work. David leads Achievers Workforce Institute, a global research practice that studies the conditions that need to exist so employees can do the best work of their lives. David is passionate about people and has spent the last 20 years working closely with leaders to build programs that position their people, teams and company to grow. David’s work has appeared in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and The Globe and Mail.
Emma Harvie leads global studies such as the Achievers Workforce Institute State of Recognition Report, uncovering trends that shape the future of work, and advising leaders on how recognition can drive performance, retention, and belonging at scale. With more than a decade of experience in employee experience and workforce strategy, Emma is passionate about connecting the science of recognition with the art of leadership. Emma has presented at leading conferences globally, including Gartner HR Symposium and Total Rewards Asia, and regularly facilitates thought leadership sessions and webinars across APAC, North America, and EMEA.
He’s a tech entrepreneur who believes that smart ideas driven by great people can change industries for the better. Jordan helped build and scale software companies through periods of early product market fit, rapid revenue growth, fundraising, and successful acquisition. His latest venture, Nudge, was acquired by private equity in 2022. At his core, Jordan is driven by a passionate curiosity to understand problems and build smart solutions that drive customer value, while building high-performing teams that execute with unparalleled speed and accuracy. He takes great pride in helping to drive the business’s vision and strategic direction with our investors, board of directors, customers and employees, and Jordan thoroughly love what he does.
As the Chief Operations Officer at Achievers, Kristian Gaetano leads all post-sales functions, ensuring customers receive exceptional experiences and long-term value. This includes Customer Success & Account Management, end-user support (contact centers, technical support, and fraud), Professional Services & Implementation, and the Global Rewards Marketplace (eCommerce experience, supply chain, and fulfillment to over 190 countries globally). His focus is on delivering for customers, building a world-class team, and driving customer retention and growth. Since joining Achievers in 2011, Kristian has held leadership roles including Director of Customer Success, Senior Director of Revenue Operations, and Chief Transformation Officer. He began his career in HR with Grant Thornton, Vale Inco, and the Rotman School of Management before joining Achievers to support its mission of Changing the Way the World Works. Kristian holds a degree in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University and a postgraduate certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College.
Scott Landers joins Achievers with over 25 years of leadership experience in the software industry. Over the course of his career, Landers has demonstrated a strong track record of transformative leadership. Most recently, he served as Chair and CEO of Harver, a market-leading volume hiring software solution where he spearheaded the integration of key acquisitions and execution of the company’s post-pandemic strategy. Landers previously spent over a decade at Monotype, first as CFO and subsequently as EVP and COO of the then-publicly listed company, before taking over as President and CEO. He led Monotype to grow significantly at scale, starting with the launch of the company’s first SaaS offering and continuing through its complete transformation into an enterprise SaaS business. Earlier in his career, Landers held executive roles at MapInfo and Pitney Bowes.