Magnet Network Live (MNL), held across eight venues in Toronto's Distillery District, welcomed a wide array of experts, partners, and thought leaders across sectors, all focused on shaping the future of work.
Designed by Magnet, TMU's innovation centre for the future of work, the summit aimed to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. With a variety of venues and a novel format, MNL offered a collaborative space for innovators to connect, share insights, and tackle emerging challenges head-on.
MNL breaks the mould with a new format for real-time collaboration
MNL prioritized dynamic, immersive formats that fostered genuine collaboration and idea-sharing. The summit featured more than 40 notable speakers (full list can be found here), including Vivienne Ming, renowned for her pioneering work at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human potential, and Duke Redbird, a respected elder from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.
"The Magnet team did what they do best," said Patrick MacKenzie of the Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia (IECBC). "They brought Canada's leading policy and technology innovators together for two days of conversation, collaboration, and forward thinking. Canada is at an inflection point and we need more organizations like Magnet who understand the complexity of the world, and have faith in people to work together to find meaningful solutions."
Many of Canada's most influential voices in the future of work conversation attended, and were interviewed as part of a live recording for Magnet's upcoming Future of Work Master Series podcast hosted by Maggie John and Emily Madden, with guest host Jeremy Strachan. These segments offered attendees a deeper look at how voices from different fields are converging to tackle Canada's workforce challenges.
Another standout was a keynote performance by Juno award-winning singer/songwriter Jully Black, who brought a powerful cultural and artistic dimension to the summit.
Celebrating TMU's approach to community building
The closing ceremony of MNL placed TMU at the heart of the celebration, showcasing its leadership in innovation, community building, and strategic alliances.
Steven Liss, TMU's vice-president of research and innovation, set the tone with reflections on the summit's purpose.
He noted the critical role of Magnet and underscored the importance of technology and deep domain expertise in enabling the work of organizations represented in the room.
"Over the past two days, Magnet has demonstrated its role as a catalyst for collaborative innovation and inclusive growth," Liss said. "Together, we've explored bold ideas and solutions to shape the future of work."
As he spoke, he painted a compelling picture of the future one in which strategic innovation and technological advancement empower communities, industries, and institutions to drive meaningful impact together.
Leaders from seven of TMU's strategic initiatives the Dais, the Diversity Institute, the DMZ, CERIC, Cybersecure Catalyst, the Future Skills Centre, and Magnet took the stage, sharing stories and projects that exemplified the university's reach across diverse sectors.
Each leader's presentation reflected TMU's mission in action, demonstrating a commitment to fostering meaningful, enduring partnerships and communities of change-makers.
In a culminating toast, TMU President Mohamed Lachemi celebrated Magnet's 10-year anniversary, and the university's enduring leadership in innovation and strategic collaboration.
The closing ceremony left a clear message of TMU's continued dedication to fostering collaboration, community and a visionary future of work.
