* Please note that this webinar will be offered in English and is open only to employees of Canadian universities and colleges.

Date and Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 1:00-2:30 PM ET

Universities increasingly rely on a small number of global technology providers for critical services—from email and cloud infrastructure to research platforms, student systems and artificial intelligence. These relationships bring significant benefits, but they can also create dependencies that affect an institution’s ability to control its data, respond to changing laws and geopolitical conditions, manage costs, and change direction when circumstances require.

This webinar will examine digital sovereignty from a practical university perspective. Rather than asking whether institutions should seek technological independence, the session will focus on a more useful question: who retains the ability to decide when it matters?

Participants will explore where universities are most exposed to external technology dependencies, how to distinguish routine reliance on vendors from dependencies that create material institutional risk, and why data residency alone does not necessarily provide meaningful control. The session will also consider how procurement, contracting, system integration and renewal decisions can gradually reduce institutional flexibility.

Drawing on emerging Canadian and international developments, as well as recent survey findings from Canadian universities, the webinar will identify practical, proportionate steps institutions can take through existing governance, risk-management, procurement and technology processes to preserve choice, strengthen resilience and manage critical digital dependencies.

The webinar would be relevant to a broad university administrative audience, including:

• senior administrative leaders;
• finance and procurement professionals;
• risk, legal and privacy professionals;
• institutional governance and policy leaders;
• information technology leaders; and
• administrators responsible for services that depend heavily on external technology platforms.

There will be opportunities for interaction during the webinar via a Q&A session that will follow the presentation.

This CAUBO PD activity may count towards credits for accreditation programs and designations in your field. Visit the CAUBO website for more details.

Presenter:

David Almond AVP, Information Services and CIO MacEwan University David Almond brings nearly five decades of experience across the private and public sectors in Canada and the United States. Throughout his career, he has held roles with globally recognized organizations including Microsoft, Honeywell, American Express, and Imperial Oil, as well as public institutions such as the County of Los Angeles and the states of Arizona, California, and Oregon. In Canada, his experience also includes SHL Systemhouse, Alberta Innovates, and MacEwan University. Across a diverse range of roles and sectors, David has developed extensive expertise in management, strategic thinking, operational efficiency, innovation, and leadership. His multidisciplinary career reflects an ability to adapt and lead in complex, evolving environments. Now serving as AVP, Information Services and CIO at MacEwan University, David brings a broad perspective shaped by decades of experience at the intersection of technology, organizational leadership, industry, and the public sector.

Share your expertise and experience with your peers and colleagues!
Proposals accepted now through Thursday, October 22, 2026

CAUBO builds the capacity of leaders in the higher education sector by connecting them with peers and information enabling insights into effective practices, and new and different perspectives.

We invite you to share your expertise and experience by submitting a content proposal for the CAUBO 2027 Annual Conference and Functional Seminars, which will take place in Niagara Falls, Ontario from June 14-16, 2027.

CAUBO is looking for energetic and engaging speakers to deliver diverse, interactive, and thought-provoking conference presentations tailored to HE administrators. We are looking for a combination of presentations that provide an overview of a topic and those that also provide a “deeper dive”.

CAUBO’s 2027 Call for Proposal submission period remains open until October 22, 2026.

• demonstrates practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve decision-making, service delivery, productivity, or institutional effectiveness
• shares effective change management and organizational transformation strategies, including lessons learned and measurable outcomes
• highlights innovative approaches to enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation, optimization, integration, or modernization
• promotes a culture of shared stewardship, collaboration, and evidence-informed decision-making across the institution
• highlights programs, practices, or policies that have a broad institutional impact (e.g., workforce planning, space management, digitalization)
• provides insights into mitigating risks facing higher education administration (e.g., sustainability, internationalization, emergency preparedness, cybersecurity)
• proposes approaches to addressing financial sustainability through revenue diversification, cost management, multi-year financial planning in times of uncertain enrolment, resource optimization, or organizational efficiencies
• fosters improved service delivery and enhances productivity, effectiveness, or operational efficiency within a team, function, or institution
• promotes campus well-being, including mental health, employee engagement, organizational culture, and inclusive workplaces

We want to hear from you. Find out more about the content guidelines and how you can submit a conference presentation proposal by click here.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and connecting with you in Niagara Falls in June 2027!

The list of accreditation programs and organizations that may provide continuing education credit for CAUBO professional development activities is below. This list may be incomplete, so if you know of others that should be added, please let us know by emailing kserjak@caubo.ca.

• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
• American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
• Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA)
• Association For Supply Chain Management
• Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP)
• Board of Certified Safety Professionals
• Canada’s Association of I.T. Professionals (CIPS)
• Canadian Institute of Traffic & Transportation (CITT)
• Canadian Payroll Association
• CFA Institute
• Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR)
• CIM Chartered Managers Canada
• CPA Canada
• The Institute of Internal Auditors Canada
• ISACA
• Institute for Supply Management in the US
• LEED Green Associate/LEED AP
• National Institute of Government Procurement (NIGP)
• Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA)
• Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
• Supply Chain Canada