Senior Executive Conference

AI-Driven Discovery & Innovation

October 11–13, 2026

Half Moon Bay, CA | The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

PROGRAM

REGISTRATION FEES

LOCATION & HOTEL INFO

FAQs

REGISTER

Senior leaders from across the ALDA community will come together in Half Moon Bay, CA, for the 2026 Fall Senior Executive Conference, one of the association’s cornerstone opportunities for peer engagement and strategic insight.

Our sessions this fall will focus on AI-Driven Discovery & Innovation. The program will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way science is conceived, tested, validated, and translated, with a particular focus on what these changes mean for ALDA member companies that enable this discovery and development.

A central question will be how AI expands scientific demand and reshapes the wet lab, data, automation, and validation needs required to turn computational insight into real-world discovery. The agenda will bring together leaders from AI, pharma, research, and the ALDA member community to examine where the practical opportunities and business implications are likely to emerge in the years ahead.

In addition to the program, the conference provides a trusted space for meaningful conversations with fellow leaders from across ALDA’s membership.

ALDA’s semi-annual conferences are for C-suite and full-time senior executive employees of ALDA member companies, directly involved in the daily strategic management of their organizations. Please view the Attendance Guidelines for more details.

Speaker and session details will be announced soon. All times are PT.

Sunday, October 11

4–6 p.m. | Registration

6–9:15 p.m. | Welcome reception and dinner featuring a guest speaker to be announced.

Monday, October 12

9 a.m.–4:15 p.m. | Welcoming remarks followed by AI-Driven Discovery & Innovation programming. More program details coming soon.

Tuesday, October 13

8–9:15 a.m. | Keynote speaker to be announced.

9:15 a.m. | Adjournment

We’re pleased to keep registration rates unchanged from previous years.

First attendee from your company:
$2,795

Additional attendees from your company:
$2,295

Registration Cancellation Policy: No refunds of meeting registration fees will be made for registration cancellations after Wednesday, September 30, 2026. If you must cancel, please remember that you are also responsible for canceling your hotel reservations.

Registration Payment: Conference registration fees must be paid in full prior to the conference.

Spouse/Partner Attendance: We encourage attendees to bring their spouses/partners to our conferences to enjoy the social aspects of the event. Spouses are welcome to attend the two receptions and dinners, and the Tuesday morning closing keynote speaker. To assist with planning and accurate headcounts, spouses must be registered by Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Spouse registrations received after September 1 will include a fee of $150 per evening event. (Please register your spouse with attendee registration.)

Please note that attendees’ agreement to abide by our Code of Conduct and our conference Attendance Guidelines is mandatory.

Half Moon Bay, California, US
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
1 Miramontes Point Rd
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Main Hotel Phone: (650) 712-7000

On a bluff overlooking the ocean, just 20 miles from San Francisco International Airport, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay celebrates its surroundings with an experience rooted in rich natural resources and beauty. The property offers sweeping coastal views, scenic walking paths, and a relaxed setting to enjoy the Northern California coastline.

Hotel Accommodations:

ATTENDEES MUST MAKE THEIR OWN HOTEL RESERVATIONS.

ALDA is pleased to offer a room block at The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay at the group rate of $499.00 for Deluxe Guest Rooms, $570.00 for Coastal View Guest Rooms, and $700.00 for Direct Ocean View Guest Rooms (available for Sunday and Monday nights only). The rates listed do not include a $49.00 resort fee.

Room reservations are available through Friday, September 18, or until our block sells out. The hotel reservation link will be included in your conference registration confirmation email from info@thealda.org.

Note: There may be penalties for rooms vacated prior to the scheduled departure date, and “no-show” reservations will be billed to your account for the full dates of the reservation.

What can I expect?

As the cornerstone events of the ALDA community, our Senior Executive Conferences offer valuable opportunities to build meaningful connections, gain strategic insights on emerging trends, and exchange perspectives with industry-leading peers. With no exhibitors, sponsors, or analysts in attendance, the conferences provide a unique environment for open conversation among senior executives.

When is the conference?

The conference begins on Sunday, October 11, at 6 p.m. with a welcome reception, followed by a guest speaker and dinner. We conclude with a keynote speaker on Tuesday, October 13, around 9:15 a.m.

Who should attend?

C-suite and full-time senior executive employees of ALDA member companies, directly involved in the daily strategic management of their organizations. Spouses are also welcome to attend the Sunday and Monday dinners and the closing session on October 13.

Please read more information in ALDA’s Attendance Guidelines.

**This conference is for ALDA members only. If you are interested in attending and are not a member, please contact ALDA staff regarding membership and the necessary next steps.

What is the cost to attend?

First attendee from your company: $2,795
Each additional attendee: $2,295

Where can I stay?

Attendees must make their own hotel reservations. ALDA is pleased to offer a room block at the conference host hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. The hotel reservation link will be included in the conference registration confirmation email from info@thealda.org.

How do I register?

Sign in to the website with your username and password. If you’re a member, you can reset your password here if needed. Or please contact us for assistance signing in.
To register only yourself, select “Add Me.” Click “Save/Continue” to proceed through registration.
Group registration: to register more than one person from your company and use one payment method for all registrants, use “Add Someone Else” to search for records in our system. If any registrant is not in our system, you can add them. Once all registrants are added, click “Save/Continue” to proceed through registration.

I have more questions – who can I contact?

Please email Carol Starke or call her at (703) 282-0902 with any questions.