Laura Purdy’s leadership at Exhibition Place has been shaped by more than two decades of hands-on experience across the exhibition and event management industry. Her journey began over 25 years ago when she joined the opening management team of the Enercare Centre, now Canada’s largest convention and exhibition facility, located at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
Over the years, Purdy has held a wide range of leadership and operational roles, spanning business development, arena renovation projects, and the transformation and relaunch of the venue’s conference centre. These diverse experiences allowed her to work closely with cross-functional teams, industry professionals, and suppliers, giving her a deep understanding of team dynamics and operational complexity. According to Purdy, this exposure reinforced a leadership style rooted in collaboration, empathy, trust, and accountability, while encouraging shared values and teamwork across all levels of the organization.
Her extensive work with hundreds of event organizers, promoters, and planners further refined her customer-centric leadership approach. Viewing leadership through the lens of service delivery, Purdy emphasizes the importance of equipping teams with the right tools, processes, and support to consistently deliver successful events. She believes that shared responsibility between venue operators and clients strengthens outcomes and builds long-term partnerships.
Beyond venue operations, Purdy’s leadership philosophy has been significantly influenced by her active participation in industry associations. She currently serves on the boards of the Convention Centres of Canada and Meetings Mean Business Canada, as well as the Board and Executive Committee of UFI. She is also a founding member of Women in Exhibitions North America. These roles have provided her with a global perspective and reinforced her commitment to lifelong learning, collaboration, and volunteerism within the exhibitions industry.
Sustainability remains a cornerstone of Purdy’s vision for Exhibition Place. As Canada’s largest convention and exhibition centre, she believes the venue has a responsibility to lead by example in environmental stewardship. Exhibition Place’s long-standing commitment to sustainability dates back to 2004 with the launch of the GREEN Smart program, designed to showcase innovative green technologies across its 192-acre campus and support sustainable development.
This commitment has earned international recognition, including the 2025 UFI Operations & Services Award for a sustainable food service initiative. Purdy notes that sustainability is not just a program, but a guiding principle embedded within Exhibition Place’s Strategic Plan, shaping business decisions, daily operations, and service delivery.
