The Stratford Perth Centre for Business is bringing artificial intelligence to the forefront this fall with the launch of the Stratford AI Summit: Real Skills. Real People. Real World AI.
The full-day event takes place Monday, September 29, inside Lazaridis Hall at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Designed to make artificial intelligence approachable and practical, the summit will give business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals the tools they need to work smarter with AI.
The morning session will feature acclaimed tech educator and best-selling author Avery Swartz, who will deliver a fast-paced, interactive keynote with live demonstrations, a Q&A, and practical insights into how AI can transform business operations, marketing, human resources, and finance.
Following a networking lunch, attendees will hear from a panel of local business leaders who have already begun integrating AI into their workplaces. The panel includes Brock Hart, Co-founder of Overlap Associates; Greg Orr, Account Executive with Orr Insurance; and Shelley Windsor, Partner at Windsor Hospitality. The discussion will be moderated by Joani Gerber, CEO of investStratford.
“We were inspired to bring the Stratford AI Summit to our community because it’s important that local businesses have access to opportunities like this — a chance to make AI approachable and turn curiosity into real skills for growth,” said Gerber.
"Perth County is proud to co-present this first-of-its-kind event," Meredith Forget, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for Perth County, added. “Supporting our businesses as they adapt to new technologies is key to building a resilient economy, and the Stratford AI Summit will help them explore AI in practical, responsible ways that make sense for their future.”
The Stratford AI Summit is presented by the Stratford Perth Centre for Business and Perth County, with sponsorship from Perth Community Futures Development Corporation, the Town of St. Marys, and Meridian.
Tickets are $100 and include all sessions, a continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments. The event runs from 9 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m.
For more information or to register, visit the Stratford Perth Centre for Business website.