2025 Americas Summit Vancouver
June 10-14, 2025 | Vancouver, Canada
Held in Vancouver, the 2025 Americas Summit brought together business, civic, cultural, and community leaders from across the hemisphere for four days of exchange, diplomacy, and collaboration. With 20 panels and sessions hosted across 28 venues, the Summit highlighted cross-border innovation, Indigenous leadership, sustainable development, and the role of arts and culture in shaping resilient, inclusive futures
Presented By
supported By
Thematic Priorities
Summit programming was centered around five key themes:
Infrastructure, Trade & Workforce
Connectivity, skilled workforce development, and services-driven regional innovation.
Culture & Belonging
Festivals, arts, storytelling, and waterfronts as spaces of memory, resistance, and identity.
Sustainability & the Built Environment
Climate-conscious urbanism, housing, and intergenerational well-being.
Indigenous Knowledge & Stewardship
Centering Indigenous perspectives, sovereignty, and cultural heritage.
Corporate Purpose & Social Innovation
Purpose-driven investment, health, and cross-sector collaboration for equity and resilience
Summit Highlights
DELEGATES PARTICIPATED IN A MULTI-DAY PROGRAM OF PANELS, TOURS, CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, AND RECEPTIONS DESIGNED TO SHOWCASE VANCOUVER’S LEADERSHIP IN INNOVATION, INDIGENOUS STEWARDSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CROSS-BORDER PARTNERSHIP. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:Tours of regenerative agriculture cooperatives and local coffee/cheese producers
Panel discussions on regional trade, infrastructure, workforce development, and social innovation, hosted across 28 venues in Vancouver.
Cultural showcases such as VanCity Vibes and Flowing Cultures, celebrating music, festivals, and arts as drivers of belonging and economic vitality.
Indigenous-led programming and experiences at the Museum of Anthropology, the Bill Reid Gallery, and other landmark sites.
Networking events that fostered 85 new cross-border connections between civic, cultural, and business leaders.
Marketplace activations that supported 32 small businesses and rural vendors, spotlighting local entrepreneurship.
2025 Americas Summit Vancouver
Agenda + Speakers
Tuesday, June 10
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Denver International Airport | Mezzanine space at gate A28
Gateway of a global city + Brunch
Panel Overview:
This opening session of the 2025 Americas Summit brings together leadership from DEN, airport-rooted entrepreneurs, and regional economic voices to explore how infrastructure and innovation fuel opportunity, mobility, and urban transformation. With major expansions underway—including the $2 billion Great Hall renovation and redevelopment of Peña Boulevard—DEN is preparing to serve over 100 million passengers by 2027.
Artist Thomas “Detour” Evans will also join the conversation to share the story behind his new permanent installation at DEN: It’s Not What You Take, It’s What You Bring Back, a vibrant sculpture crafted from 183 pieces of community-donated luggage. The work honors the diverse journeys that shape Colorado and reflects the airport’s unique role as a space of movement, memory, and identity.
Panel Speakers
Sponsored by
Welcome Reception
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Bill Reid Gallery
Panel Overview:
Join us for a meaningful evening bringing together British Columbia leadership and the Colorado delegation led by Governor Jared Polis to open the 2025 Americas Summit Vancouver. In a time that calls for deeper cooperation, this reception celebrates the belief that when we build bridges and allow the flow of people and ideas, we unlock new opportunities for collaboration, strengthen our regions, and shape a more connected, prosperous future.
Held at the Bill Reid Gallery, a cultural landmark dedicated to Northwest Coast Indigenous art, the evening will unfold in a setting that reflects the values of place, continuity, and dialogue—central to the Summit’s curatorial approach of honoring local context while fostering hemispheric exchange.Welcoming remarks from distinguished leaders from the Musqueam Nation, British Columbia, and Colorado will set the tone for a week of cross-sector collaboration, creative diplomacy, and shared leadership rethinking the future of the region.
Panel Speakers
Sponsored by
Venue Partners
Wednesday, June 11
Briefing Breakfast
with U.s. Consulate General in Vancouver
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Emerald Ballroom at the Fairmont Pacific Rim
Briefing Overview
This session provides a timely diplomatic update on U.S.-Canada relations, cross-border cooperation, and evolving regional priorities. Delegates will receive key insights into the economic, cultural, and geopolitical landscape of British Columbia.
Speaker
In partnership with
Work, live, thrive:
Building a global and skilled workforce
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Amazon Vancouver Office
Panel Overview:
As global forces like automation, AI, and demographic shifts reshape how and where we work, regions must reimagine how talent is developed and supported. In this session, leaders from Colorado and British Columbia—two centers of innovation—discuss bold, collaborative approaches to workforce transformation.
Hosted at Amazon’s Vancouver office, the conversation will explore how governments, major employers, and workforce platforms are partnering to expand access to opportunity through reskilling, apprenticeships, and credential pathways. From scalable education models to inclusive hiring strategies, panelists will share insights on building a resilient, future-ready workforce—one that reflects the diversity, dynamism, and shared ambitions of the Americas.
Panel Speakers
Sponsored by
redefining Trade:
Services & Regional innovation
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
SFU Morris J. Wosk Centrę for Dialogue
Panel Overview:
As global trade faces uncertainty—from shifting geopolitical alliances to climate-driven supply chain disruptions—services are becoming critical anchors of resilience, innovation, and export diversification. Clean technology, digital infrastructure, professional services, education, and creative industries are reshaping economic opportunity across borders, and in both British Columbia and Colorado, services now account for the majority of GDP. This timely conversation brings together public and private sector leaders to explore how two dynamic, services-driven economies are leveraging their strengths to redefine trade, foster innovation, and deepen cross-border partnerships.
British Columbia leads in film and digital media, clean tech, fintech, and higher education, with Vancouver positioned as a gateway to Asia-Pacific markets. Colorado is a hub for professional and technical services, cloud-based SaaS and AI, aerospace and R&D, and financial and consulting services, with strong connections to Latin America and U.S. innovation corridors. Together, these regions offer complementary strengths and a shared commitment to sustainable, innovation-led growth. This session will explore pathways for collaboration, shared opportunities in service-sector trade, and the groundwork for future cooperation in innovation-driven development.
Panel Speakers
Sponsored by
Venue Partner
Seabus Transfer
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Waterfront Terminal/Lower Lonsdale
ABout:
The SeaBus is a scenic 12-minute passenger ferry operated by TransLink that connects downtown Vancouver with North Vancouver’s vibrant Lower Lonsdale district. More than just a commuter route, the SeaBus offers sweeping views of Burrard Inlet and the Coast Mountains, creating a memorable first impression for those arriving to explore North Vancouver’s cultural and economic hub.
As part of TransLink’s commitment to reconciliation and placemaking, the terminals and vessels feature Indigenous public artworks that honor the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. This daily journey across the water is not only a sustainable transportation solution, but a symbolic connector—bridging urban development, cultural heritage, and community life across the region.
Speaker
north vancouver Development:
Lunch & Insights
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Lunch at JOEY Shipyards followed by Shipyards Tour
EVENT Overview:
An afternoon exploring North Vancouver’s dynamic urban transformation, anchored in the Shipyards District—an award-winning waterfront revitalization that blends heritage, innovation, and community. This program will convene civic and business leaders shaping the future of Lower Lonsdale for an exchange of ideas over lunch, followed by a guided site experience.
Sponsored by The Sullivan Group, this afternoon program explored North Vancouver’s urban transformation through the lens of the Shipyards District— an award-winning waterfront revitalization that blends heritage, innovation, and community. Civic and business leaders shaping the future of Lower Lonsdale gathered for a lunch dialogue and a guided site experience, fostering meaningful exchange around placemaking and urban development.
Speakers
Sponsored by
Content Partner
flowing Cultures:
Festivals as economic catalysts
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
The Polygon Gallery
Panel Overview:
In an era defined by movement—of people, ideas, and cultures—international festivals and cultural gatherings have emerged as powerful anchors for innovation and regional development. This conversation brings together creative leaders who shape public imagination through place-based storytelling, diaspora narratives, and large-scale events that celebrate tradition while shaping the future.
From Indigenous fashion weeks to outdoor festivals and city-wide art crawls, panelists will explore how international cultural events preserve heritage, foster belonging, and stimulate economic and civic renewal. What does it mean to hold space for diasporic identity in the public realm? How can festivals serve not just as showcases, but as living laboratories of inclusion, sustainability, and creative economy building?
Anchored by voices across fashion, art, urban policy, and community engagement, this panel will illuminate how rooted-yet-fluid cultural expressions can transform regions—and reveal the global in the local.
Panel Speakers
Sponsored by
Venue Partner
Diaspora Stories:
Dinner & Talks
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Anh and Chi
EVENT Overview:
This event consisted of intimate evening of storytelling and culinary exploration at Anh and Chi, one of Vancouver’s most beloved family-run restaurants. This special dinner will feature reflections by Amelie Nguyen, co-owner of Anh and Chi, her brother Vincent Nguyen, and a guest chef whose work is shaped by migration, memory, and identity.Through food and conversation, we’ll explore how the Vietnamese diaspora—and other immigrant communities—have transformed not only recipes, but the cultural and economic fabric of the cities they call home. From generational resilience to reimagined traditions, the evening will highlight how restaurants become powerful sites of belonging, entrepreneurship, and narrative.
Speakers
Venue Partner
Thursday, June 12
Summit yoga
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Lululemon Headquarters
Event Overview:
Delegates were able to start their day with intention and movement at Lululemon’s global headquarters in Kitsilano. This optional morning yoga session—led by one of Lululemon’s expert instructors—offered delegates a chance to recharge mind and body. Lululemon mat complimentary, and all levels were welcome.
Instructor
Hosted by
The Built Environment:
Sustainable Urbanism
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
UBC Faculty of Forestry
Panel Overview:
As environmental pressures mount and urban populations surge, cities must evolve to meet the demands of a more climate-conscious future. This panel convenes pioneering voices from architecture, engineering, and public policy to explore the transformative potential of sustainable design—particularly through the lens of wood-based construction and regenerative urban planning.
Panelists will delve into innovative approaches that not only reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact, but also center community well-being, cultural continuity, and ecological resilience. From mass timber innovations to policy frameworks that enable sustainable development, this conversation examines how the built environment can become a tool for healing and regeneration in a rapidly changing world.
Panel Speakers
Sponsored By
Venue Partner
Voices of the land:
Indigenous knowledge & Stewardship
11:00 AM - 12:30 AM
Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Event Overview:
Delegates joined us for a guided visit to MOA, located on the traditional territory of the Musqueam people. Guests experienced the iconic Great Hall—featuring monumental carvings and canoes—as well as contemporary exhibitions that amplify Indigenous voices and worldviews, offering rich context for discussions on cultural stewardship and sovereignty.
Speakers
Venue Partner
Crafted Locally:
Lunch & COnversations
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Lunch at Alimentaria Mexicana & Granville Island Public Market Exploration
Event Overview:
Delegates joined us for lunch at Alimentaria Mexicana at Granville Island Public Market, where they gathered over meal and connected with local artisans, small businesses, and specialty vendors that showcased the creativity and cultural diversity of British Columbia’s maker economy. After lunch, they could enjoy a self-guided exploration of the market at their own pace.
Sponsored By
Prescribing Health:
Art, Nature, and Belonging
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Arts Umbrella
Panel Overview:
This panel will explore how health foundations, arts organizations, and public policy leaders can work together to enhance mental health, environmental health, and community well-being. Experts from diverse sectors will discuss cross-sector partnerships, the impact of creative interventions in healthcare, and scalable strategies for addressing public health challenges through the integration of arts and health initiatives.
By bringing together leaders from arts, medicine, philanthropy, and policy, this session will highlight best practices, successful case studies, and actionable insights to strengthen collaborations that improve holistic well-being.
Panel Speakers
Venue Partner
SHIFTING CURRENTS:
Waterfronts as Places of Exchange, Resistance, and Belonging
6:45 PM - 10:00 PM
Vancouver Coal Harbour
Keynote:
Waterfront cities lie at the restless edge—where land meets water, where histories collide, and the horizon always gestures elsewhere. These liminal spaces have long been thresholds of exchange and amnesia: conduits of goods, people, dreams, and power. Yet they are also charged grounds of resistance, cultural memory, and transformation. A place where tradition and change co-exist - where the stranger and the passerby have a place of arrival. Where the remnants of entangled colonial histories are striving for legibility and justice.
As seas rise and cities swell, the waterfront emerges anew—not merely as a line on a map, but as a contested terrain where questions of belonging, and survival flow together. Here, the right to the city meets the right to the shore.
From colonial ports etched by extractive empires to present-day coastlines reclaimed by frontline communities, waterfronts pulse with the stories of those who have arrived, resisted, and re-rooted. They are not static vistas, but living archives—of movement and memory, of displacement and resilience. The waterfront is a commons of possibility—where identity is shaped, alliances are forged, and the city’s soul meets the sea.
Keynote Speaker + Performance
Sponsored By
Friday, June 13
Designing the future:
technology & Creativity
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Panel Overview:
Design is no longer just a discipline—it’s a tactic for reimagining how we live, work, and build systems. In an era shaped by rapid technological shifts and fractured institutions, this panel explores how creative thinking is becoming essential infrastructure for business, education, and workforce development.
Hosted at Emily Carr University and moderated by Creative BC’s Executive Director Prem Gill, this conversation brings together cultural leaders who are redefining the role of design—from immersive media and Indigenous futurism to corporate storytelling and civic imagination. What happens when artistic risk becomes a leadership strategy? How can post-secondary institutions, government and industry collaborate to grow not just the economy, but the people who shape it?
Speakers
Sponsored by
Foundations of well-being:
Intergenerational Policy & Housing
10:00 AM - 12:30 AM
Chinatown Storytelling Centre
Panel Overview:
What does it take to revitalize a city in a way that truly serves its people—across generations, cultures, and income levels? This timely conversation explores housing, culture, and social infrastructure as cornerstones of urban well-being.
From Chinatown to community land trusts, and from transitional housing to public art, this session brings together changemakers reimagining how cities can care for their residents. Panelists will explore how strategic investments in housing, cultural spaces, and neighborhood revitalization can foster healing, inclusion, and economic resilience. Together, they offer powerful models that prioritize people over profit and care over displacement.
Panel Speakers
Venue Partner
preserving chinatown:
Lunch & conversations
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Chinatown | DD Mau | Chinatown BBQ | Jade Dynasty
Lunch Overview:
Join us for a community-hosted lunch across three beloved restaurants in Vancouver’s Chinatown, where delegates will be split into smaller groups joined by local community members, offering a unique opportunity to connect over food and stories rooted in the neighborhood’s cultural heritage.
Vancouver’s Chinatown, established in the late 1800s, is one of the oldest and largest in North America, once home to over 5,000 Chinese immigrants by 1911. While the neighborhood faced decades of systemic discrimination and urban decline, recent revitalization efforts have spurred over $300 million in public and private investment. Today, Chinatown is a dynamic cultural district balancing preservation and progress, with over 50 heritage buildings and a growing number of contemporary businesses led by a new generation of Asian-Canadian entrepreneurs.
Sponsored by
corporate purpose:
Social innovation Investments
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
TELUS Garden
Panel Overview:
What does it mean to lead with purpose in today’s economy—and how do values shape where and how capital is deployed? This conversation brings together executives from telecom, finance, healthcare, and consumer goods to explore how purpose-driven leadership is reshaping industries and influencing investment decisions.
From corporate venture funds investing in climate solutions, to hospitals reimagining philanthropy for systemic change, and companies centering social good alongside growth, these leaders are proving that purpose is not a side project—it’s a competitive strategy.Bridging perspectives from British Columbia, Colorado, and beyond, this session will spotlight innovative approaches to embedding equity, sustainability, and community well-being into business models and financial systems across the Americas.
