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The Catalysts for Change conference is a one-day virtual event designed to empower healthcare professionals to drive transformative change. Through inspiring keynotes, practical workshops, and collaborative sessions, attendees will gain actionable strategies to overcome barriers, foster innovation, and create meaningful impact in their organizations.

This year, Catalysts for Change will also serve as one platform for providing valuable input into the LEADS in a Caring Environment Refresh 2026. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to contribute their voices to the next iteration of this national leadership framework, ensuring it reflects the needs, priorities, and values of today's healthcare leaders.

This event brings together influential voices in healthcare leadership, including Lucien Engelen and Marlies Van Dijk, alongside other thought leaders who will challenge conventional norms and equip attendees with the tools to lead with purpose and impact.

Whether you’re an aspiring or emerging leader or an experienced professional, this conference will ignite your passion for healthcare transformation and connect you with a community of like-minded changemakers.

Event Highlights

Interactive Workshops:
Shaping the future of LEADS
Co-Designing Change: A Toolkit for Transformative Leadership
Turning Advocacy into Action: Building Coalitions for Change

Panel Discussion:
Navigating Power and Influence for Positive Outcomes

Live Collaboration Session:
Building Movements, Not Moments

Shaping the Future of LEADS:
Contribute directly to the LEADS in a Caring Environment Refresh 2026, capturing your insights and priorities to shape the framework for years to come.

Networking Opportunities:
Connect with fellow attendees through breakout rooms and interactive tools.

Digital Resource Toolkit:
Receive exclusive post-event materials to support your ongoing leadership journey.

Keynote Speakers

Lucien Engelen
Renowned global leader in digital transformation and healthcare innovation

Through his small company Transform.Health as a vehicle, he operates at the convergence of Innovation & Strategy for executive boards, governments, corporates, and professionals i.e. via his (part-time) role as Edge Fellow for the Deloitte Center for the Edge (Global role, Amsterdam, Melbourne and San Francisco), Laurentius Medical Center Roermond, and is faculty at Next Med Health since 2011 (formerly know as Exponential Medicine at Singularity University) in Silicon Valley. Additionally, he is in high demand as a global keynote speaker on the change of health(care) and the future of work.

It is at the intersection of technology and (digital) patient empowerment that Lucien feels most at home. With his roots in the family company in automotive and emergency medical services (amongst others), he grew the EMS branch to the forefront of innovation (inter)nationally. After merging his company into the foundation, he founded and acted as the CEO for the next 7 years. He also served on many national boards in this position. Once this RAV was established into a solid organization, he resigned to find himself a new endeavor.

After being approached by Radboud University Medical Center, he started a dual assignment as head of the acute healthcare region, including the responsibility for the Trauma helicopter and as advisor of the executive board.

The latter gradually transformed organically into an innovation-focused ambition and journey. As the founding director of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre REshape Center and advisor to the Board of Directors (2007-2018), his experience in healthcare has brought him to the forefront of health(care) innovation for the past 3-4 decades. Involved in creating the case for change, making efforts in IT, human capital, real estate, and business modeling, and advocating changes in policies and legislations needed for those. Building, exploring, and cherishing his huge international network, he can connect to many influential and changemakers globally. His keynoting/speaking practice brings him to many boardrooms, institutions, start-ups, governments, and think tanks across the globe.

His modus operandi is always challenging, ‘sometimes’ provocative, but always techno-realistic. His goal is to prepare for a soft landing in the future by bringing tomorrow's problems to today while creating sustainable global health(care) for all. Challenging the status quo to improve the current and future model into a sustainable health(care) for all.

His #patientsincluded, and #nurseincluded initiatives raised the notion and the impact of including the whole system in the room worldwide.

Lucien is one of the founding members of Washington Post’s “The collective” on change in health(care).
In his latest book https://lucienengelen.com/book/ he describes what dramatic change is ahead for health and healthcare.

Marlies Van Dijk, RN, MSc
Innovative leader in healthcare transformation and co-design expert

Marlies (she/her) is a change consultant and lead of the Pivot Group. The Pivot Group is a consultancy group that helps healthcare organizations across Canada to tackle complex problems and design new services models. Marlies previously founded and led the Design Lab at Alberta Health Services. She has led large scale change initiatives at both a provincial and national level since 2005. One of her proudest accomplishments is when she led the BC Surgical Quality Action Network to reduce surgical site infections across 25 surgical programs. Marlies is a nonconformist and calls herself a positive rebel. She is a huge proponent of using social movement theory, crowdsourcing and liberating structures to guide her work. Her current challenge, using system design thinking to solve complex problems in healthcare.

  Refresh

The LEADS in a Caring Environment framework, published in its final form in 2009, has served as a cornerstone for leadership development in Canadian healthcare. However, the dynamic nature of the healthcare landscape necessitates a thorough review and revision of this framework. The intent of this project is to refresh the LEADS framework, aligning it with the best and most current global leadership practices while adhering to Canadian values and healthcare needs. This initiative seeks to ensure that the framework remains relevant, effective, and a guiding resource for health leaders across Canada.

Since its inception in 2006, the LEADS framework has provided a foundational structure for leadership within Canadian health organizations. In light of evolving challenges such as workforce retention, aging populations, and systemic inequities, it is imperative that the framework be updated to encompass the skills and competencies required for today’s healthcare leaders and the 21^st century health system.

We encourage stakeholders to share their experiences and insights, which will be instrumental in shaping the refreshed framework.

Through this project, the refreshed LEADS in a Caring Environment framework will embody the evolving needs of healthcare leadership in Canada, fostering effective practices that respond to contemporary challenges and opportunities.

Agenda

All times are in Mountain Standard Time (MST).

Why Attend?

• Learn from Experts: Hear from world-renowned leaders on the cutting edge of healthcare transformation.
• Shape the Future of Leadership: Help define the next iteration of the LEADS in a Caring Environment framework for 2026.
• Gain Practical Tools: Participate in workshops designed to provide actionable strategies for co-design, advocacy, and innovation.
• Engage with Peers: Join a vibrant community of healthcare leaders and collaborate to build a movement for change.
• Drive Impact: Be part of live, interactive sessions that contribute to a shared vision for healthcare transformation.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Conference Cancellation Policy
Conference cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to elarning@cchl-ccls.ca and received no later than the early bird deadline. Registration fees will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee. There will be no refunds for cancellation requests received after the early bird deadline.

No-shows occur when individuals register but do not attend the conference. No-shows are not eligible for a refund.