2026 Leadership Summit

The 24th Annual Leadership Summit
December 7 I 8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. I Oregon Convention Center

Join Us for the 24th Annual Leadership Summit

December 7 | Oregon Convention Center I 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. with a reception to follow

Get ready as the Summit returns for its 24th year on Monday, December 7. For more than two decades, the Leadership Summit has brought together Oregon’s business, civic, and community leaders to confront the challenges that will define our state’s future. 

This year, that future feels more uncertain than ever. Oregon is entering a new era marked by slowed population growth, weakened economic momentum, strained public institutions, and intensified competition for talent and investment. The guiding assumptions of past growth no longer work for the challenges ahead.

Last year, we gathered under the theme At A Crossroads. Today, we face a more consequential moment. The critical question is no longer how to manage growth, but whether we can generate it. Can Oregon remain competitive in a nation where people, capital, and opportunity are increasingly mobile? Are we ready to make the tough choices necessary to strengthen our economy, restore public confidence, and secure long-term prosperity?

The greatest threat to Oregon is not change; it’s drift. A pattern of incremental responses to structural challenges risks leaving our state with slower growth, mounting fiscal pressures, and fewer opportunities for future generations.

The 2026 Leadership Summit will focus on the pressing challenges facing our state. Participants will engage in breakout discussions during lunch and in the afternoon. The day will conclude with a reception, continuing the dialogue and partnership-building to advance Oregon.

The challenges are real, but so are Oregon’s strengths. The question is whether we have the clarity, urgency, and resolve to act. Join us on December 7 as we help define Oregon’s next chapter.

Registration will open at the end of July. Stay tuned for further updates and be sure to register early!

Accessibility

The Oregon Business Plan is rooted in a commitment to Shared Prosperity — a vision where all Oregonians, regardless of race, region, economic circumstance, or ability, have the opportunity to thrive. We partnered with Relay Resources as we strive to make greater shared prosperity a reality for all, recognizing that prosperity includes accessible opportunities for Oregonians with disabilities. We’re dedicated to creating an inclusive space where every voice is heard, and every attendee is supported.

Relay Resources is a social enterprise nonprofit and the leading disability inclusion partner in the Pacific Northwest. With a mission to transform workplaces and communities through disability inclusion, Relay Resources works closely with organizations to implement ADA accommodations and provide guidance to support all attendees. Learn more about their work here.

Accessibility Features at the Leadership Summit:

  • ASL Interpreters & Captioning: ASL interpreters will join us for the day, and live captioning was available on screens, making it easier for those with hearing needs to engage in the conversation.
  • Sensory Break Rooms & Bags: Sensory bags and designated sensory break stations provided a calm environment to help attendees recharge and remain engaged.
  • Sunflower Lanyards: To support those with nonapparent disabilities, we offered optional sunflower lanyards, which help others recognize and respect their needs.
  • Interaction Pins: New this year. Take a pin to indicate your openness to networking or if you prefer some personal space, showing your communication preferences.
  • Accessibility Table at Registration: Our dedicated team from Relay Resources was available near registration, with trained accessibility specialists on hand to offer support throughout the day.
  • Wheelchair Reserved Seating. Designated seats at the front of the room for those with wheelchair access needs.

The Groundwork

2025 Summit Photos & Videos

Catch up on 2025 Summit videos, plenary session and breakout photos, and Food Forward photos.

Oregon’s Choice

Oregon At A Crossroads: How We Can Compete & Thrive, released prior to last year’s Leadership Summit, outlines the structural challenges undermining Oregon’s competitiveness. From outdated land-use and regulatory systems to soaring housing costs, underperforming schools, worsening wildfire seasons, and a volatile tax structure, these pressures are converging as population growth slows. This decline contributes to manufacturing losses, talent shortages, and a deteriorating business climate. The report emphasizes the urgent need for a focused, statewide effort to rebuild Oregon’s economic development capacity.

Reflecting on last year’s Oregon’s Choice webinar, we engaged deeply with the pressing questions facing our state. John Tapogna provided invaluable insights into Oregon’s economic crossroads, highlighting the challenges of stagnation while identifying our inherent strengths. The discussions laid a solid foundation for the 2025 Leadership Summit, emphasizing the need for deliberate growth and adaptation. This year, we’re excited to continue this essential dialogue with another round of Oregon’s Choice. Stay tuned for further details as we prepare to explore how we can navigate the complexities of our state’s future together.