Navigating Change, Fueling the Future
From December 3-4 in Orlando, FL, we will delve into practical, actionable steps you can take today to prepare for the changes anticipated (and unanticipated) in the near future. Turning insights that you glean from experts, consultants, and monitoring weak signals into action is a daunting task. IRI’s aim with our Innovating the Future event is to help you plan out your actions from the conference while you’re there. Following each insightful presentation, you will have an opportunity to poke and explore each topic with your peers and discuss how it will impact you, your company, and your industry. When you return to the office, you’ll have fresh ideas along with the plan to actually implement them.
- WHY ATTEND
- AGENDA
- SPEAKERS
- HOTEL
- PARTNERS
- KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- CTO Forum – Friday, December 5
What to Expect at Innovating the Future:
- Develop resilient innovation strategies that can weather geopolitical instability, policy flux, and market shifts.
- Work hands-on with peers to evaluate potential future disruptions — and plan how to respond with confidence and speed.
- Explore how to staff and train future-ready teams in an AI-augmented world where human capabilities still matter most.
- Clarify your approach to sustainability, aligning innovation with both shifting expectations and business results.
- Discover how to expand your value chain, identifying new partners and opportunities across traditional industry lines.
Innovation leaders today are navigating uncharted waters — from global volatility and regulatory shifts to AI transformation and evolving value chains. Innovating the Future is your opportunity to learn from those who are already adapting, experimenting, and building what’s next. This action-oriented event blends expert insights with facilitated, peer-driven problem solving to help you develop strategic responses to disruption, rethink your workforce in the age of AI, embed sustainability into innovation, and expand your value chain vision. Walk away not just inspired, but equipped.
What You Will Gain
Build Relationships: Connect with subject matter experts, industry leaders, and fellow innovators during formal and informal networking time.
Collaborate: Find your next partner, big idea, or solution to a challenge during collaborative sessions.
Get Cutting-Edge Insights: Straight from the experts, get a combination of high-level perspective and practical action items you can apply to your organization.
Meet the Experts: Rub elbows with keynotes and other top innovators during facilitated sessions.
Get Practical with AI: Start preparing now for the changes that AI will bring to the way we work.
Gain Action Steps for Sustainability: Hear how leading organizations are preparing for the next level of sustainability needs.
Get Prepared: Develop practical steps to prepare for the future and gain confidence in your ability to prepare for the unexpected.
Future Workforce: Determine the structures that you need now to develop the workforce that you will need in the future.
| Wednesday, December 3 |
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| 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception |
| Thrusday, December 4 |
| 7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Breakfast |
| 8:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Taking the Helm in Rough Seas: Leading Innovation Toward the Future Amid Global Uncertainty Setting an innovation strategy has never been more challenging — or more critical. From global upheaval to shifting public policy and volatile markets, innovation leaders must chart a path forward while the ground beneath them constantly shifts. This session features real-world examples from IRI members who are defining future visions, gaining buy-in, and adapting their strategies in the face of disruption. |
| 9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Facilitated Session: How to Adapt and Take Action This session provides groups with potential future developments and asks them to explore both the opportunities or benefits and threats or challenges. See how your peers across industries plan to react and discuss how to execute your responses. |
| 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Networking Break |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Preparing the Crew: Planning Your Future Workforce in the Age of AI AI and other disruptive trends are challenging leaders to re-think the way they staff, build, and train their teams. Still, the robots aren’t ready to replace us all just yet, which means for the foreseeable future our teams will be made up of humans working with AI. This session brings in experts and IRI members to talk tools, training, workflows and implementation. |
| 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Facilitated Session: How to Build the Workforce of the Future IRI members will discuss their team-building strategies and brainstorm on how to develop the skills, attributes, and experiences that your teams will need to flourish in the future. |
| 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Networking Lunch |
| 1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Keeping the Ship in Order: How to Think About Sustainability in Innovation Today Innovation teams have been working not just to deliver on growth but also to support sustainability efforts. While reducing impact is still on the agenda, the vibe has shifted: Targets have changed, regulatory direction is unclear, and sustainable innovations need to be more clearly tied to business outcomes. This session explores how leaders can incorporate sustainability into their processes and frameworks in this environment. |
| 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Facilitated Session: Strategic Approaches to Sustainability in Uncertain Times In a shifting landscape of regulation, stakeholder pressure, and market change, companies must take deliberate stances on sustainability. This interactive session explores how different strategic approaches — from aggressive investment to cautious alignment — can shape innovation outcomes under uncertainty. |
| 2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Networking Break |
| 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Exploring New Lands: Breaking Down Industry Boundaries and Building New Value Chains Many industries are going through transitions that mean the customers, partners, and suppliers of tomorrow may not be the same as those of today: Auto OEMs are working with electric utilities, polymer makers with waste management firms, and CPGs with biotechs. This session looks at how to identify and engage the new value chain partners you will need in the future. |
| 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Facilitated Session: Preparing Your New Value Chain IRI members discuss the steps they have taken to cultivate new value chain partners — and those they believe they’ll need to take in the future — as well as how to develop the capabilities and technologies that their organizations will need in order to work with them effectively. |
| 4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Pulling into Port: Lessons Learned and Looking Forward Leading IRI member(s) look back on the day and highlight some of the key takeaways from the sessions and discussions, as well as some of the key next steps to put into action back at home to place them in the best position to innovate the future for their firms. . |
| 5:15 p.m. 6:45 p.m. Closing Reception |
| Friday, December 5 |
| CTO (or equivalent) Forum 2025: See CTO Forum tab above for details. |
This year’s lineup of speakers will include industry pioneers, thought leaders, and visionaries who will inspire and educate attendees on the latest trends, strategies, and best practices in innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow innovators and learn from the best in the field!
Group Rate Information
Conrad Orlando
Book before Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Innovating the Future
$339.00/night
To make your reservations online, please click below and continue to book your room or call (407) 387 – 2000 and reference the 2025 NAM/IRI room block.
To make the most of your experience, take advantage of our exclusive group rate at the Conrad Orlando, where a block of rooms has been reserved for $339.00 per night. To make reservations online, please click on the reservation link above, and the group rate will automatically be applied or call the hotel directly.
The group rate reservation cut-off date is November 12, 2025. However, availability is not guaranteed once the room block is filled, which may occur before this date.
Partnership Opportunities with the IRI Innovating the Future
If you are interested in partnering with us, please fill out the form below or email Anna Chongpinitchai at AChongpinitchai@iriweb.org.
Who You’ll Meet
IRI’s Innovating the Future event is designed for CTOs, Directors, VPs, and leaders of R&D, innovation, new product development, technology, engineering, and growth. Past attendees at IRI events come from industry leaders such as Campbells, Boeing, Mars, PPG, Nestle Purina Petcare, NASA, National Gypsum, Timken, A.O. Smith, USG, and many more!
What to Expect
The IRI connects you with a community of innovators and experts who can help you increase speed to market, save time and costs, and bring out the best in your team. Experience fireside chats, panels, presentations, interactive sessions, and cocktail receptions.
Attire
The dress code for this event is resort style business casual.
The business casual dress code typically includes collared shirts, slacks, dresses, skirts, blouses, and sportscoats. We recommend avoiding jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, or overly casual clothing items while maintaining a professional appearance.
Nearby Airport
Orlando International Airport
- Address: 1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827
- Phone number: (407) 825-2001
Kissimmee Gateway Airport
- Address: 401 Dyer Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34741
- Phone number: (407) 847-4600
Business Cards
We encourage attendees to bring business cards to network and exchange contact information easily with other attendees, fostering valuable professional connections. They serve as convenient tools for making a lasting impression and staying connected beyond the event.
Hotel Parking
Self-Parking: Not available
Valet Parking: $50
EV charging: Available
Secured: Available
Covered: Not available
In & out privileges: Available
CTO Forum 2025: Agenda coming soon!
December 5, 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Designed exclusively for senior technology leaders, the CTO Forum offers a candid, collaborative space to tackle the toughest challenges of leading innovation in uncertain times. Join fellow CTOs to exchange strategies, test ideas, and explore bold solutions that shape the future of your organization.