As energy systems become more central to questions of economic competitiveness, national security, artificial intelligence, and public trust, Energy Disruptors: UNITE is bringing a wide range of global voices to Calgary.
The 2026 summit has announced its first featured speakers: Margaret Atwood, Lord David Cameron, and Tyler Cowen.
Taking place September 28–29, 2026, Energy Disruptors: UNITE will convene 3,000 founders, investors, policymakers, executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators to explore how the world can build energy systems that are resilient, competitive, secure, and capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly changing economy.
Hosted in Calgary, one of the world’s most significant energy capitals, the summit has built an international reputation for bringing together voices that do not always agree, but whose ideas help leaders understand the forces reshaping industries, economies, and societies.
“At a moment when public discourse is increasingly polarized, we believe leaders need exposure to a wider range of perspectives,” said Co-Founder and CEO Graeme Edge. “Margaret Atwood, David Cameron, and Tyler Cowen each bring distinct and fundamentally different lenses on the future. Together, they represent exactly the kind of intellectual diversity and constructive tension that EDU was built to create.”
Atwood, one of Canada’s most celebrated authors and public intellectuals, has spent decades exploring the relationship between technology, power, democracy, human behaviour, and societal change.
Across more than 50 books published in over 40 languages, Atwood has examined themes that are increasingly relevant to the energy transition, including environmental stewardship, governance, resilience, and the stories societies tell about the future they are trying to build.
Her landmark novel The Handmaid’s Tale remains one of the most influential works of contemporary literature, while her broader body of work continues to challenge audiences to think critically about innovation, identity, and the values that guide periods of rapid change.
Lord David Cameron, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, will bring a political and policy lens to the summit.
Cameron led the U.K. through economic recovery following the global financial crisis, the Scottish independence referendum, and major debates over national identity, regional autonomy, energy security, and economic competitiveness.
His experience offers a timely perspective for countries navigating the tension between energy affordability, regional interests, public trust, and long-term economic resilience.
Cowen, one of the world’s most influential economists and public intellectuals, brings a direct connection between energy, innovation, and the next era of economic growth.
A leading voice on artificial intelligence, productivity, innovation, and the future of work, Cowen has argued that the future of AI will depend not only on advances in computing, but on access to abundant, reliable, and affordable power.
That relationship between energy and technology is becoming increasingly important as countries race to build the infrastructure needed to support AI-driven industries, electrification, advanced manufacturing, and broader economic growth.
For CleanEnergy.ca readers, the speaker lineup underscores how the energy conversation is no longer limited to supply, demand, and emissions. It now sits at the intersection of power generation, grid reliability, industrial strategy, democratic institutions, and global competitiveness.
Energy Disruptors: UNITE 2026 will take place September 28–29 in Calgary. Additional speakers and programming announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
Early Bird registration is available until June 23.