Hundreds of HR pros swap the boardroom for bold ideas, escape rooms, wine tastings and F1 simulators at the inaugural HRFutureFest event in Toronto
More than 700 HR professionals gathered at the first annual HRFutureFest in Toronto on June 3 for a day of connections, career inspiration and fun. The festival shook up the typical, often predictable, conference experience by combining hands-on learning with fun experiences. Think big ideas, bold conversations and fun networking that left HR professionals invigorated instead of sleepy.
“Guess what? I just drove an F1 simulator.”
That was just one of many moments overheard at the inaugural HRFutureFest, where the lines between work and play blurred in the best possible way.
What do AI and HR, yoga, wine tasting and cutting-edge HR content all have in common? They all came together under one wildly creative roof to deliver an experience unlike anything the industry has seen before.
Attendees enjoyed more than 25 content lounges packed with practical HR insights and big ideas—so popular that plans are already in motion to expand on this program at next year’s festival. The event’s team-building activities, from the sold-out escape room challenge to cocktail-making classes, gave HR leaders a chance to unwind and collaborate in style.
With a festival-style layout and a buzzing atmosphere, HRFutureFest kept the vibes good and the energy high, from poolside networking sessions all the way through to a high-octane afterparty that ended with a saxophone–DJ combo that had the crowd dancing into the night.
The festival was a celebration of everything the future of HR can be, featuring conversations with top HR leaders on vital topics like workplace culture and the role of AI in HR. These interactive sessions didn’t shy away from the big issues, delivering bold, thought-provoking content that challenged the status quo and sparked real dialogue among attendees.
In one panel discussion, titled "Brand or be Bland: Crafting an EVP to attract top talent," Linda Krebs, global head of talent acquisition at Nokia, articulated how listening to employees is the most powerful tool for boosting engagement and retention. Krebs highlighted a recent company initiative in which employees were invited to voice concerns without executives present. This feedback led to targeted development programs and engagement activities that employees actually wanted.
“We created focus groups and listened. That's all we did, and sometimes it's just that to boost engagement,” she said. “Our employees had that opportunity in a smaller setting to speak, and they were able to voice their opinions.”
Following sessions like this, attendees flocked to social media to express their enjoyment of the event, which Andria McKay described on LinkedIn as “[an] innovative and highly engaging event [that] brought together HR leaders from across the country.”
Meanwhile, Amanda Tobe praised the event for being “anything but your typical conference.”
“Panels were held outdoors (yes, in the sun!), mixed in with breathwork sessions, F1 racing simulators, headshot booths, and plenty of great food and conversation. HR future fest is described as a choose-your-own-adventure where HR innovators and business leaders come together, which is exactly what it was,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “Excited to keep pushing boundaries in HR — events like this show just how much possibility lies ahead.”
Plans are already under way to make HRFutureFest even bigger next years, finding new ways to blend professionalism with play.
