Blog
CALA Connects 2025 – Speaker Highlights
[Ottawa] – We’re thrilled to share the full speaker lineup for CALA Connects 2025 taking place on May 7th in Montreal.
This year’s agenda brings together a dynamic mix of incredible industry leaders and subject matter experts who will explore the evolving landscape of laboratory excellence.
From the strategic importance of Artificial Intelligence to practical challenges like PFAS, automation infrastructure, regulatory expectations in emerging sectors such as cannabis manufacturing, the day is packed with timely and relevant insights.
You will hear from leaders at SGS, ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), National Research Council (NRC), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and more.
Conference Agenda:
| Meeting times | Meeting name | Speaker |
| 7:30am |
Registration & Breakfast | |
| 8:30am |
Land Acknowledgement & Opening Remarks | Kevin McKinley – CALA, CEO Sylvie Boisvenue – CALA Board, Chair |
| 9:00am | Keynote Speaker – Strategic Importance of Artificial Intelligence | Noah Redler – Arche Innovation, Founder and President |
| 10:00am | Strengthening North American Trust in accreditation | R. Douglas Leonard Jr. – ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), Executive Director |
| 10:30am | Morning Break | |
| 11:00am | PFAS Current State | Dr. Terry Obal – SGS, Specialty Testing Practice Leader |
| 11:30am | Building the Automation Infrastructure at the Acceleration Consortium | Nipun Gupta – Acceleration Consortium, Senior Scientist |
| 12:00pm | Lunch | |
| 1:00pm | Lean Management | Nadine Lewis – PTC, Program Officer |
| 1:30pm | Understanding the Lifetime of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) | Ruth Perez – Biotoxin Metrology of National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Technical Officer/Quality Assurance Coordinator |
| 2:00pm | Lab Obligations to Customer around Measurement Uncertainty and Decision Rule | Harold Malle – Independent, Senior Scientist |
| 2:30pm | Afternoon Break | |
| 3:00pm | Fitting Ecotoxicity into the ISO/IEC 17025 framework | Leana Van Der Vliet – Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Senior Scientist |
| 3:30pm | NRC Metrology and International System of Units (SI) | Georgette Macdonald – Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Director General |
| 4:00pm | Equipment Calibration: exploring requirements, practices in place, and pathways to improvements | Christine de Groot – National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Leader, Assessment Services |
| 4:30pm | Quality Management in Regulated Cannabis Manufacturing | C45 Quality Association, Chairman/Protonify Corporation, CEO, Founder Director |
| 5:00pm | Closing Remarks | Kevin McKinley – CALA, CEO |
Plus, don’t miss the Cause Analysis in French course on May 6, offered in-person at a special conference rate.
Secure your spot today to learn, network, and stay at the forefront of innovation.
For the full agenda, speaker details, and registration, visit CALA Connects 2025!
CALA Connects 2025
Sponsorship and Exhibit opportunities: CALA Connects 2025 Brochure
Questions can be submitted through the website submission form.
