Recognition next
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Recognition Next 2026
Recognition Next 2026
Recognition Next
Recognition Next

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

Yellow Line

The Quay

Yellow Line

Toronto, ON

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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. 

Register now

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 

Recognition Next 2026

Event schedule

See whats on the agenda

8:30am

Arrival Breakfast & Networking

Speaker

Kristian Gaetano

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Speaker

Scott Landers

Overview

According to Achievers CEO Scott Landers, AI Isn’t the Problem — Feeling Replaceable Is. As AI accelerates across workplaces, many organizations are prioritizing technical capabilities while overlooking growing human risks. The reality is, fear of job displacement, uncertainty, and eroding trust are quietly driving disengagement, even in high-performing organizations. Scott Landers, CEO of Achievers, will share that when employees don’t feel seen or valued, AI becomes a threat instead of a tool. Scott will share that it’s a business imperative to “bring back the people.” Scott will share how recognition directly offsets AI-driven disengagement by boosting trust, productivity, and retention at a time when many leaders are focused almost exclusively on efficiency gains.

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Speakers

Alex Clemente, David Bator

Overview

What does the latest research reveal about the connection between appreciation, recognition, and business performance? In this session, David Bator of Achievers sits down with Alex Clemente of Harvard Business Review Analytic Services to unpack the key findings from HBR’s upcoming research report. Together, they’ll explore what the data tells us about the role frequent and meaningful appreciation plays in shaping culture, influencing behaviour, and driving business outcomes. Attendees will leave this exclusive sneak peek with a clearer understanding of the trends, insights, and implications leaders should be paying attention to right now.

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10:35am

Guided Networking Experience & Activation Floor Open​

Speakers

Anu Subramanian, Jordan Ekers

Overview

Join Achievers Product Leadership for an inside look the evolution of the most impactful recognition & reward software in the world, and how investments in recognition & reward, behavioural insights and connected ecosystems are shaping change-ready companies that perform.

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12:35pm

Lunch & Activation Floor Open

Speaker

Cassidy Fenton

Overview

Honoring organizations who are setting the standard for recognition, culture, and connection.

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Overview

Join this moderated panel discussion featuring 2026 A List Award–winning organizations as they share how they use recognition to lead through change and drive meaningful behavior shifts. Panelists will highlight the practical approaches they’ve taken to reinforce priorities, guide employees through transformation, and support new ways of working.

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Overview

Join this moderated panel discussion featuring 2026 A List Award–winning organizations as they share how their recognition programs have evolved to drive real business impact. Panelists will walk through the approaches they’ve used to turn recognition into a lever for performance, efficiency, and measurable outcomes.

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Overview

Join this moderated panel discussion featuring 2026 A List Award–winning organizations as they share how they’ve turned recognition investment into measurable ROI. Panelists will walk through the strategies they’ve used to expand and optimize recognition spend, embed it into everyday work, and translate program activity into tangible business outcomes.

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3:05pm

Guided Networking Experience & Activation Floor Open

Speaker

Brennan Wilkie

Overview

Recognition makes people feel good — great recognition helps organizations perform better. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how leading organizations move their recognition programs from good to great by using recognition as a deliberate driver of behavior, performance, and business outcomes. You’ll leave with a clear, practical way to activate manager led recognition, align investment to goals, and create undeniable ROI from your existing program.

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Speaker

Emma Harvie

Overview

Emma Harvie, Global Head of Recognition & Reward Insights at the Achievers Workforce Institute, will share a first look at findings from AWI’s signature report—revealing the latest insights on recognition, engagement, productivity, and change readiness in the AI era. Emma will challenge the traditional view of recognition and reward as a feel-good engagement layer and reframe it as a critical change infrastructure. Technology may trigger change. Strategy may define direction. But people determine outcomes. Recognition is the lever — and it’s time we start treating it that way.

Key takeaways:

  • A new lens on recognition as a behavioural system — not a perk
  • Insight into how recognition acts as real-time telemetry for trust, adoption readiness, and alignment
  • Practical strategies to reinforce experimentation, learning, collaboration, and resilience during AI and organisational change
  • A clear understanding of why recognition is no longer discretionary — it is the lever that makes transformation stick
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Speaker

Kristian Gaetano

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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.

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Program highlights for Recognition Next 2026

CEO Keynote

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

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

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

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Alex Clemente
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Alex Clemente

Managing Director, HBR Analytic

Harvard Business Review

Carol Chapple
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Carol Chapple

VP, Talent Effectiveness

Ryan, Inc.

Lowell Fernander
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Lowell Fernander

Chief Medical Officer and Vice President, Benefits and Wellness

Rocket

Jennifer Millar
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Jennifer Millar

Senior Project Manager, Pay Equity & Recognition

Bell Canada

Courtney Patterson-Holloway
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Courtney Patterson-Holloway

Senior Manager, National Operations Support

Cineplex

Iona Terziyska
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Iona Terziyska

VP Human Resources and People Development

Wurth

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David Bator
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David Bator

Managing Director

Achievers Workforce Institute

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Kristian Gaetano
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Kristian Gaetano

Chief Operating Officer

Achievers

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Emma Harvie
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Emma Harvie

Global Head of Recognition and Rewards Insights

Achievers Workforce Institute

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Scott Landers
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Scott Landers

Chief Executive Officer

Achievers

Brennan Wilkie
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Brennan Wilkie

VP of Customer Success & Account Management

Achievers

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Jordan Ekers
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Jordan Ekers

VP of Product Marketing & Commercial Strategy

Achievers

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Anu Subramanian
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Anu Subramanian

Chief Technology Officer

Achievers

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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.

Highlights from Recognition Next 2025

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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

Venue: Hotel X Toronto
Recognition Next 2026
Recognition Next 2026
Recognition Next 2026
Recognition Next 2026

Connect with what’s next. Recognition Next 2026.

June 9th, 2026

Register now