The Best Recruitment Conference You'll Attend in 2027
By Tony Restell
Recruitment conferences can sometimes feel surface-level or too sponsor-focused. If I were designing the best recruitment conference on the planet, I’d want practical strategies from people who are running and growing recruitment businesses, not just theory. In fact, I'd want pretty much exactly what the Canadian Staffing Industry Summit delivers - it really is a conference you don't want to miss.
I had the chance to speak on a panel at the first of these conferences. What struck me was the ambition in the room, and how willing people were to share what was working. Recruitment is often described as a guarded industry, where firms are wary of competitors. This summit felt different: leaders were open to learning from one another and exploring where collaboration could help everyone move forward.
Some of the biggest names in recruitment have featured at the summit, including Hung Lee, creator of Recruiting Brainfood; Bill Boorman, the advisor behind #tru, The Recruiting Unconference; and Mark Coetzee, a recipient of the 2024 Canadian Staffing Summit Leadership Award with more than 30 years of executive and board-level experience across five continents.
A note on the name, and my connection
One quick point of clarification - don’t be fooled by the name. The summit takes place in Canada and attracts many Canadian staffing firms, but recruitment leaders and founders travel en masse from around the world to attend.
I’m recommending this event based on the amazing feedback it's had these last 4 years, and knowing it's been a sell-out success each time. Plus, my own experience as a panel speaker and attendee of the VIP dinner was top notch. I can't speak highly enough of this event, I hope that's coming across!
One person central to the event is Suky Sodhi, who came up with the idea to create this summit and is consumed with making it a great experience each year. Suky has spent more than 25 years in the staffing and recruitment industry. She is an award-winning industry coach and trainer, and a serial entrepreneur whose clients include global staffing brands, start-ups, mid-sized agencies and European recruitment businesses expanding into North America.
Suky is also a big personality at the summit: she opens the event, introduces industry leaders to one another and helps make the connections that bring the room to life. She also moderates the live virtual stream, bringing remote participants into the conversation.
The blueprint for a great recruitment conference
The 2027 summit marks its fifth anniversary, with this year's theme being “Shift & Scale 2027”. Here are five reasons the agenda looks relevant to recruitment leaders.
1. Leading through disruption and market volatility
The confirmed headline keynote is Carolyn Levy, President, Consulting NA for Procom and a veteran Canadian recruitment leader. Her April 15 session, “Architecture of Contribution: The Blueprint for Execution Excellence,” is set to explore resilience, strategic vision and front-line execution.
For agency founders and senior leaders, the practical question is how to protect margins and build a business that can respond to changing market conditions. A keynote grounded in operational experience is a useful place to start.
2. Making AI a strategic question, not a sideshow
On April 14, Bill Boorman will lead a four-hour, open-laptop strategy masterclass: “When Friction Disappears, Only the Moat Remains.” It focuses on how agencies can prepare as AI changes sourcing costs and workflows, and how to strengthen the human relationships and client value that technology cannot easily replace.
This is a working session, not just a presentation: attendees are invited to bring a laptop and develop practical ideas for their own agencies. It takes place at One King West in Toronto, with a live interactive Zoom stream. A separate ticket is required, and the session is live-only, with no recordings. Bill was the highest-rated keynote speaker at the 2026 summit, so this workshop will be a great addition to your event experience.
3. Scaling an independent agency without losing its edge
The “Outperforming Giants: Scaling Speed, Domestic Dominance & The Boutique Moat” panel is designed for independent firms looking to grow while keeping the qualities clients value: responsiveness, specialist knowledge and close relationships.
Panelists will be announced over the coming weeks. The focus, however, is clear: how to build the operational strength to win larger contracts without losing the agility and character of a boutique agency.
4. Learning with peers, not just listening to speakers
For the first time, the summit agenda includes C-Suite working roundtables. Attendees can choose topic-specific tables, each guided by a subject matter expert, to discuss operational, legal or strategic challenges with peers.
That format matters. A useful conference should leave you with more than notes; it should give you the chance to test your thinking with people facing similar decisions.
5. Connecting strategy with commercial results
The confirmed CEO panel brings together Janelle Bieler, Travis O’Rourke, Craig Brown and Mark Coetzee. This has been a regular feature of each summit, and the discussion is set to cover growth, operational challenges, economic cycles, margin protection and building long-term business value. For founders and executives, those are the issues that link conference insights to the performance of the agency.
A track record of experienced speakers
The summit’s past speaker roster illustrates the range of experience it has attracted. The full 2027 line-up is still being announced, so the names below are a guide to the calibre of speakers you can expect for 2027.
- Janelle Bieler (Confirmed): President of Akkodis US and former senior executive and President at Adecco Canada and Employbridge. A SIA Global Power 150 honouree, she has spoken on culture transformation, turnarounds, P&L management and leadership.
- Craig Brown (Confirmed): CEO of Agilus Work Solutions and Synergie Canada, with more than 25 years in staffing and retail. A multi-year SIA Staffing 100 North America honouree, he brings a consultative approach to sales and service excellence.
- Travis O’Rourke (Confirmed): President of Hays Canada and a talent strategy expert for Canada and the USA. A 2023 SIA 40 Under 40 honouree and LinkedIn Top Voice, he has addressed disruption, human-led recruitment and the future of work.
- Aimee Hagerty: Founder and CEO of her own consultancy, speaking on organisational structure, executive talent management and talent acquisition efficiency.
- Andrea Mancini: A recruitment Vice President whose topics have included scaling teams, retention and improving recruitment desk workflows.
- Anthony Calce: A recruitment co-founder and technology innovator, with experience in digital ecosystems, automation and modernising agency tech stacks.
- William Branum: Former Navy SEAL Commander and founder of Naked Warrior Recovery, bringing leadership insights on resilience and high-stakes environments.
- Hung Lee: Creator of Recruiting Brainfood, speaking on international talent patterns, workplace culture and AI in sourcing.
- Bill Boorman (Confirmed): Advisor behind #tru, known for direct perspectives on recruitment technology, candidate behaviour and social recruiting.
- Carolyn Levy (Confirmed): A recruitment industry pioneer and former national President of a multi-billion-dollar staffing enterprise, focused on volatility, growth and front-line leadership.
- Mark Coetzee (Confirmed): A strategic staffing leader and 2024 Leadership Award winner, with more than 30 years’ executive and board-level experience, including work in private equity environments and two PE exits and a stock-exchange listing.
The summit website is the place to check for confirmed 2027 speaker announcements.
More than a day on stage
The pre-event masterclass gives attendees a chance to work through AI and agency strategy in depth. On the evening of April 15, the programme includes a C-Suite cocktail hour after the awards, followed by a closed-door, three-course VIP executive dinner at One King West for VIP pass holders.
I attended the VIP dinner and can highly recommend it. It’s a more intimate setting for continuing conversations with fellow leaders, speakers and agency owners.
When and where is the 2027 summit?
The 5th Canadian Staffing Industry Summit takes place on April 14–15, 2027, at One King West in Toronto. The event website states there will be 200+ C-suite attendees, says 20% of tickets are already sold, and notes that early-bird pricing is available at the time of publication.
The programme also includes the 2027 Canadian Staffing Industry Excellence Awards. Nominations close on March 3, 2027.
If you’re considering attending, you can view ticket options and book your place.
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