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MEF Leadership Forum – On Demand

 

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MEF returned to Toronto for the 2025 edition of the MEF Leadership Forum Canada, in partnership with The Canadian Telecommunications Association – which brought together telecom leaders, enterprise innovators, and policymakers for a high-impact day of discussion on the future of mobile communications. The event tackled some of the industry’s most pressing topics, from political and regulatory change to mobile fraud and evolving consumer expectations. The event was held in the prestigious premises of TELUS Partner Solutions.  

Welcome Address: Connecting Canadians

  • Caitlin O’Neill, Director, Messaging Product Development – Canada Telecommunications Association
  • Dario Betti, CEO – MEF

HEADLINER KEYNOTE: Smart Defence: Navigating Telecoms, Trade, Tariffs and Securing Canada’s Digital Future

  • Lawrence Zhang, Head of Policy – Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

In a world where trade policy is weaponized, telecoms sit at the intersection of infrastructure, innovation, and sovereignty. We explore how Canada can respond strategically–not just reactively–to US tariff actions. Canadian telecoms need not act as passive collateral in trade wars, but as essential strategic assets, leveraging policy, cross-border partnerships, and innovative leadership to defend Canadian competitiveness, and build resiliance and leadershp in a fragmented economic order.

MEF Data: The Potential for Rich Mobile Messaging Growth in Canada

  • Gavin Patterson, Director of Data – MEF

Learn the recent trends in both complaints and losses from SMS-related fraud in Canada, feedback from MEF’s 11th Annual Consumer Survey, and how the adoption of Google’s RCS messaging platform by major Canadian mobile network operators, together with Apple’s support for RCS messaging in iOS 18, could help mitigate fraud in the A2P SMS channel while triggering a richer future for carrier messaging.

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From RCS Pioneer to AI Sovereign: The Telecom Transformation Journey by TELUS

  • Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
  • Anne Locke – Director, Trust & Stakeholder Engagement, Data & Trust Office – TELUS
  • Ryan Tollofson, Director, Marketing and Emerging Services – TELUS
  • Hemant Agrawal, Director of Products – TELUS AI Factory
Canada’s telecom transformation is being redefined by TELUS—from RCS messaging adoption to the launch of sovereign AI factories powering the next wave of digital services. In this session, MEF CEO Dario Betti speaks with TELUS leaders about how the company is leveraging its wholesale strategy, data governance, and AI investments to shape the future of global telecommunications. Discover how TELUS is driving forward trusted communications, intelligent automation, and resilient digital ecosystems—setting a benchmark not only for Canada but for telcos worldwide.

Unlocking the Power of Phone Number Intelligence: Building Trust, Visibility and Value

  • Bill LaRuffa, Senior Director, Business Development – Somos

Phone numbers are more than just contact points — they’re critical data assets that can help organizations verify identity, combat fraud, optimize routing and strengthen trust across communications. In this session, Somos will explore how unified phone number intelligence supports smarter, faster, and more secure decision making. Whether you’re focused on fraud prevention, customer engagement or infrastructure optimization, this session will show how phone number data can be a powerful ally.

The Power of Industry Collaboration: Strengthening Canada’s A2P Messaging Market

  • Paul Ruppert, Advisor – MEF
  • Caitlin O’Neill, Director, Messaging Product Development – Canada Telecommunications Association
  • Jonathan Vimont, Director, NA Compliance Operations – Sinch
  • Alison Billings, RVP, Industry Compliance – Twilio
  • John Bruner, President & CEO –  Aegis Mobile

Canada’s A2P messaging ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with collaboration at its core. This session will explore how telecom providers, aggregators, enterprises, and regulators are working together to drive innovation, combat fraud, and grow the market. Learn how partnerships are shaping best practices, fostering ecosystem trust, and unlocking new opportunities for businesses to connect with consumers. Gain insights from industry leaders on what’s working—and what’s next—for Canada’s A2P future.

Unlocking RBM in Canada: From Market Adoption to Overcoming Barriers

  • Stuart Jones, Director, Strategy and Technical Marketing – Proofpoint
  • Diksha Goyal, Product Manager, Messaging and Applications Services – TELUS
  • Caitlin O’Neill, Director, Messaging Product Development – CTA
  • Lawrence Byrd, Head of API Product Marketing – Vonage 
  • Christen Emery, Associate Director of Carrier Relations – North America, Sinch

Rich Business Messaging (RBM) represents the next wave of business communications, but adoption in Canada has been slower than expected. What’s holding businesses back, and how can we accelerate progress? This session will explore the technical, regulatory, and market barriers to RBM adoption, as well as highlight successful use cases. Discover strategies to engage brands, streamline onboarding, and drive consumer adoption in Canada’s RBM ecosystem.

Consumer Trust & Business Messaging: Balancing Security, Privacy & Adoption

  • Stefan Heller, VP Business Development and Partnerships – The Campaign Registry
  • Jennifer Quaid, Executive Director –  Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX)
  • Nick Bednarz, CEO – Rogers Bank
  • Nima Golchini, Head of Presales Americas, Network Security – ENEA
  • Nathan Robbins, Vice President of Go-to-Market Strategy and Alliances – Syniverse

In a world of rising cyber threats, data breaches, and evolving regulations, trust is more important than ever. How can businesses and telecom providers protect consumers while ensuring seamless, engaging communication? This session will explore the intersection of security, privacy, and user experience, featuring insights from industry leaders on balancing protection with innovation.

This session is not available

The Role of AI in Mobile Messaging & Customer Engagement

  • Paul Ruppert, Advisor – MEF
  • Sean Harding, Head of Product – Postscript
  • Rally Khouri, Manager, Product Marketing – Emerging Products – Postscript
  • David Carter, CEO, Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing customer engagement through chatbots, predictive messaging, and automation. But how far can AI go in transforming business messaging? This session will explore AI’s role in mobile communications, with real-world examples from enterprises using AI-powered messaging solutions.

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The Billion-Dollar Blind Spot: Why Data Silos Are Fueling Fraud

  • Tina Donaldson, Vice President, Strategy – netnumber
  • Catalin Badea, Vice President of Product Management – netnumber
  • Pooja Paturi, Director, Digital Payment Fraud Prevention – Canadian Bankers Association
  • Nima Golchini, Head of Presales Americas, Network Security – ENEA
  • Melissa Blassingame, RVP, Partner Alliances – Twilio
Fraudsters thrive in security gaps. As their tactics become more coordinated and cross-industry, our siloed defenses are becoming their biggest asset. This isn’t a theory; it’s the reality of modern fraud. This compelling session pulls back the curtain on why breaking down these organizational barriers is not just beneficial, but absolutely critical. Join industry leaders as they unveil the power of shared fraud intelligence between telecom, financial institutions, and other sectors—revealing how collective action can drastically enhance early detection, protect your customers, and transform your response capabilities. 

Messaging Made Clear: Industry Perspectives on Effective Channel Strategies

  • Stephanie Lashley, VP Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure – Bandwidth
  • Caitlin Long, Sr. Director, Product Management & Strategy – Bandwidth
  • Stacy Rampersad, Sr. Strategic Account Executive – IC Mobile
  • Britt Buchan, Global Wholesale Development – The Americas – Twilio
  • Noelle Meyers, Manager of SMS Compliance and Operations – Infobip
Optimizing Messaging Channel Strategy in the Age of Advanced Messaging
As organizations navigate the evolving messaging landscape, understanding the unique use cases for each channel is vital. This panel session focuses on optimizing messaging channel strategies within the context of advanced messaging in Canada, the US, and globally.

Securing the Mobile Ecosystem: Evolving Identity, Authentication & Fraud Prevention

  • Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF
  • Omar Mansour, Principal, Solutions Architect – TransUnion
  • Marcelo Frizzo, Head Operations Partnerships – Infobip
  • Eddie DeCurtis, CEO and Founder – Shush
  • Sukhmani Dev, Senior Vice President, Digital Product Management, North America – Mastercard

As mobile communication becomes more central to our digital lives, fraudsters are evolving their tactics – from SIM swap and porting fraud to advanced identity spoofing and network manipulation. This session brings together experts to explore how mobile identity and authentication are adapting to meet these threats. Learn about the latest innovations in passwordless security, SIM-based authentication, network APIs, and real-time fraud detection, and how collaboration across sectors is key to staying ahead.

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SMS to RCS to AI: Messaging Evolution in Motion

  • Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
  • Virginie Debris, Managing Director, Messaging – Sinch
As the Forum comes to a close, we turn to the horizon with an insight rich chat on the evolving state of RCS–the industry’s most promising, yet complex, opportunities.
As the day’s capstone session, Virginie Debris of Sinch shares an on-the-ground perspective on RCS adoption, with a candid look at the challenges and lessons from Sinch’s frontline messaging teams. What does it take to transition enterprise customers from traditional SMS programs to RCS? What’s resonating with clients—and what’s still missing from the equation?

QUESTION TIME AND CLOSE

  • Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
  • Virginie Debris, Managing Director, Messaging – Sinch

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MEF