Main Program Presentation Guidelines

Thank you for agreeing to present at IDEA2026, we’re excited to have you as part of the program!
 
You are scheduled to speak during the IDEA2026 Main Conference on either Wednesday, June 24 or Thursday, June 25. Please refer to the Preliminary Conference Program to confirm the exact timing of your session, or login to Conference Harvester for details.
 
This Speaker Resource Page is your one-stop guide for everything you’ll need to know or do before stepping onto the podium in Ottawa. We recommend bookmarking it, as updates will be posted here and shared with you via email as well.
 
Your presentation is scheduled for 25 minutes, 18-20 minutes for your presentation, followed by 5-7 minutes for Q&A. Your presentation is part of a session track of similar-themed presentations. There will be a moderator in the room with their main responsibility to introduce your presentation, facilitate audience Q&A, and keep the session on schedule.

Important Deadlines and Due Dates

Submit Signed Speaker Contract
Friday, April 10, 2026

Registration & Payment Deadline
Friday, April 17, 2026

PowerPoint Submission Deadline
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
(minor edits can be made to your presentation through Friday, June 12)

Prerecorded Video Submission Deadline
Friday, June 12, 2026

Onsite Logistics

You’ve completed your PPT. You’ve recorded your video. Now you just have to get up on stage and give your presentation. Here’s what you need to know.

Main Program Presentations will take place in one of four to five concurrent meeting rooms. Each session is part of a session track, which includes similarly themed sessions. The number of sessions in a track can range from 2 to 3. 

Your session is 25 minutes, which amounts to 18-20 minutes for your presentation, followed by 5-7 minutes for Q&A.

The room set for all main conference presentation rooms is the same in every room, including:

  • A mic’d podium for presenters, on a riser/stage positioned at the front-middle of the room. 
  • A 6' table on stage, next to the podium, to allow seating for sessions with multiple presenters.
  • An IDEA laptop on the podium, with presenter's PPT presentation preloaded. 
  • A large screen (where slides will be projected) set up in the corner of the room.
  • A microphone for audience questions, stationed in the middle of the room, 

Each session track has a moderator who will do a quick intro of the session and speakers. To save time, your full bio will not be read as people can read it in the app. The moderator will also field questions from the audience at the conclusion of your presentation, during the Q&A period.

An AV tech and an IDEA staff member will also be on hand to assist when needed.

IDEA asks that the speaker(s) for each presentation be present in the room at the beginning of their session track's time block, ready to go on stage when it is time for their presentation to begin.

Onsite Logistics

Speaker and Moderator Orientation Meeting
Wednesday Speakers: Salon 210, 7:15-7:45am
Thursday Speakers:  Salon 210: 7:15-7:45am

On the day you are scheduled to speak at IDEA2026 (Wednesday or Thursday), you are required to attend the Speaker and Moderator Orientation Meeting at 7:15am (with a delicious free breakfast) in Salon 210, located on the second floor of the Rogers Centre.

In the Speaker Orientation Meeting, you will meet the moderator for your session and review last-minute session logistics with IDEA Staff members Emily Riskalla and Jason Beal.

This is a mandatory meeting and a great way to connect with fellow speakers and the moderator in your room.