Speaker Biographies

Ali Emadi
Professor and Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate
McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC), McMaster University

Dr. Ali Emadi is a Professor and Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate at McMaster University.

He is also the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Transportation Electrification and Smart Mobility. He is the Founder and CEO of Enedym Inc. – a university spin-off company of McMaster University. Before joining McMaster University, he was the Harris Perlstein Endowed Chair Professor of Engineering and Director of the Electric Power and Power Electronics Center and Grainger Laboratories at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Emadi is a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors and has successfully transferred technology from his university research to industry. For the past 20 years, he has been leading many industry-university initiatives and has contributed significantly to numerous products commercialized by the industry.

He is the principal author/coauthor of over 800 journal and conference papers as well as eight books. He was the founding Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification from 2014 to 2020.

Brett McQueen
Director of Innovation, North America
Linamar Corporation

Brett is the Director of Innovation at Linamar’s Innovation Hub (iHub) where he is leading Linamar’s Vision 2100 pursuits.

The iHub is discovering solutions to global problems by partnering with aspiring entrepreneurial start-ups to create a new future with products that are world leaders in technology, innovation & manufacturing. As part of the Innovation Team, he is identifying new products and technologies to position Linamar to serve key markets such as mobility, infrastructure, agriculture, MedTech, power & water.

Brett has held various roles at Linamar in Program Management & Engineering. He received his Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University.

Brian Petrie
Mayor
Town of Ingersoll

Mayor Brian Petrie was first elected to Ingersoll Town Council in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 before being elected Mayor in 2022.

A lifelong resident of Ingersoll with deep family roots in the community and surrounding area, Mayor Petrie has been actively involved in various committees and boards throughout his career. He is dedicated to fostering collaboration with the Town’s partners to achieve the shared goals of long-term prosperity for Ingersoll and the broader region.

As a member of the Ontario Auto Mayors group he is chairing an initiative focusing on special purpose properties taxation reform in the auto sector.

Caroline Olsen
R&D Director, NAM
SGS Canada Inc. (Québec)

Caroline Olsen has 30 years of experience in applied mineral processing research. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Chemistry, with a specialization in gold behavior from the University of Sherbrooke. As a senior innovation specialist and business strategist, she has participated in the continuous improvement of the performance of numerous plants and has developed skills in partnership development, supervision and financing of large-scale projects in a sustainable development approach. 

She has extensive knowledge of critical and strategic minerals, precious and base metals, electrochemistry, surface chemistry, speciation and clean technologies. Her many successes in implementing innovation have led her to develop transversal skills such as an understanding of the metals market, the circular economy, investors, end users, trade as well as laws and policies related to the mining sector.

Caroline has built an extensive network in the critical mineral and battery sector especially within the unique ecosystem of Quebec, working across academic institutions, government, industry associations and companies. 

She is actively involved in various committees such as the MCS Scientific Network (VP enterprise) set up by the MRNF and the CRITM, the CIM Quebec Chapter, EcotoQ (ecotoxicology), Prima, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian ISO 345 Committee – Minerals and Specialty Materials.

Caroline joined SGS in 2022 in her current role of Director R&D focused on growth through R&D, innovation and strategic partnerships.

Collin Shaw
President
MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association

Collin Shaw is the president of MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers. He has also served as chief commercial vehicle officer for MEMA, chief operating officer for the MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers, and president and chief operating officer of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), MEMA’s former commercial vehicle supplier division.

As MEMA’s president, MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers will leverage technology to enhance connectivity with members, expand its reach to meet the changing dynamics of the industry, and promote global competitiveness. Shaw is focused on strengthening the position of suppliers at the forefront of innovation and sustainability.

Before joining MEMA in 2022, Shaw was responsible for North American business strategy at ZF Group. He has more than 15 years of experience in the mobility industry from the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors. He has worked for several global companies and brands, with roles in marketing, communications, strategy, digital solutions, and business development. At FCA (now Stellantis), Shaw served as Jeep’s global brand manager and in Chrysler’s Leadership Development Program. While at WABCO, he partnered with heavy-duty OEMs to develop advanced technology roadmaps.

Dan Blondal
Chief Executive Officer
Nano One Materials Corp.

Dan has led Nano One since 2011 and is recognized as a thought leader in lithium-ion battery materials.

Dan has 30+ years of experience as a professional engineer managing high-growth technology. His career has spanned materials handling, medical devices, industrial printing, nuclear fusion and materials science.

Dan has honed his skills in a wide range of technology leadership roles at Creo, Kodak and General Fusion. This includes globally recognized expertise as a 15-year veteran in print quality systems, engineering, marketing and business.

David Wilson
Vice President and CEO
Siemens Digital Industries Software

David Wilson is Vice President & Country Manager, Siemens Digital Industries Software. Siemens Digital Industries Software and the comprehensive digital twin enable companies to optimize their design, engineering and manufacturing processes to turn today’s ideas into the sustainable products of the future. From chips to entire systems, from product to process, across all industries.

In his role, Mr. Wilson is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the software business in Canada, including sales, marketing and services for Siemens Digital Industry Software. This includes responsibility for the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio and its integrated software and application tools tailored to meet customers’ specific needs as they pursue digital transformation.

Mr. Wilson began his career with Siemens in 2019 as an Enterprise Sales Executive and he also served as Vice President, Sales for the Software business in Canada.  Prior to his time at Siemens, he spent more than 10 years in sales and leadership roles related to Enterprise Software focused on Industrial verticals.

Désirée Tremblay
Manager Innovation and Finance Strategy
Dana Canada

Ms Tremblay has been in cleantech for the past 21 years (EV and electrical energy) with the past 10 years in innovation. She has held several positions with Dana, a manufacturer of electric vehicle parts including EV cooling plates and propulsion systems. Throughout her career, her roles included account manager, product strategy, project management, business development and collaborative innovation manager.

During many years, she supported the Québec division Dana TM4 in building its business model in a rapidly evolving market. Within her current role as Manager of innovation strategy and financing, she is responsible for implementing Canadian wide research partnerships, IP agreements and consortiums for demonstrations of electric Transportation.

Throughout her career, Ms Tremblay has witnessed and helped shape the evolution of the local EV industry from its infancy as a niche market to its penetration into the mainstream. She has also experienced the challenges of financing R&D projects and synchronizing the commercial goals of for-profit companies with the longer-term objectives of R&D institutions and academia.

Passionate about innovation stimulating electrification, Ms Tremblay has served as president of InnovÉÉ, a non-profit organization whose goal is to encourage collaborative research in the fields of EV and electric energy production. She also served as Chair of the Institut du Véhicule Innovant, a college-based applied research institute specialized in EVs and autonomous vehicle technology.

Ms Tremblay had an engineering degree in chemical engineering and a second one in electrical engineering. She also has an MBA from the Université de Sherbrooke. Her expertise in strategic planning, technology roadmapping, financing of innovation and building large and complex partnerships.

Emma Jarratt
Executive Editor
Electric Autonomy

Emma Jarratt is an award-winning journalist with a strong background in investigations, clean tech and international affairs; holding credits in television and print for some of Canada’s largest media outlets.

Eddy Zuppel
Program Director (acting), e-Auto
National Research Council

Eddy Zuppel is currently the Program Leader of the Clean & Energy Efficient Transportation program. As Program Leader, he manages research and development activities aimed at assisting industry and policy development in the low carbon mobility sector. Specifically, he oversees over 50 projects in the areas of aerodynamics, alternative fuel applications, batteries, electrical machines, fleet energy efficiency, and hydrogen applications.

He joined the NRC in 2015 as a senior project manager following eleven years in the aerospace industry where he held different managerial positions, including Section Chief of a multidisciplinary team of 20 engineers which supported the development of special mission aircraft.

He holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University and has co-authored eight scientific publications.

Flavio Volpe
President
Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association

Flavio Volpe is an internationally recognized champion of Canada’s automotive industry. Since 2014, he has proudly led the APMA, one of the world’s most influential automotive industry bodies.

Working closely with officials in Ottawa, Washington & Mexico City during the 2017-19 NAFTA renegotiations, he led the effort to secure an unprecedented increase in Regional Content for suppliers in the new USMCA.

When the global COVID19 pandemic created a dangerous medical equipment shortage in Canada in 2020, he launched one of the biggest peacetime mobilizations of the country’s industrial capacity in its history. Dubbed a ‘Manufacturing Hero’ by the Toronto Star for his leadership, this work resulted in the largest build-orders of critical ventilators, PPE & test swabs in Canada’s history.

In 2022, when anti-government actors illegally blockaded the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor costing the industry $1B, he led the APMA to secure the injunction in Ontario Superior Court that forced the reopening of Canada’s most critical international border crossing. In 2022, he was named to the Ontario Premier’s Council on US Trade & Competitiveness.

A passionate technology leader, his response to the Prime Minister’s challenge for a net-zero economy by 2050 was to launch an all-Canadian, zero-emissions, autonomous concept prototype, Project Arrow. Described by the Globe & Mail as ‘an audacious play to build an all-Canadian electric car’, it was revealed at the 2023 CES in Las Vegas to global coverage & serves as a premier showcase of Canada’s automotive technology cluster.

Flavio is a sought-after voice by leading global publications including The Economist, NYT, Bloomberg, WSJ, CNN, BBC, CNBC, FOX & the Washington Post. He speaks frequently at House of Commons Standing Committees in Finance, Industry & Trade.

Flavio is a Member of the Order of Canada and is a member of the recently formed Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations.

Francisco N. González Díaz
Executive President
Industria Nacional de Autopartes, A.C.

Francisco N. González Díaz is the Executive President of the National Auto Parts Industry Association (INA). Additionally, he is a member of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment, and Technology (COMCE); CEAP, Mexico chapter; an associate of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations; and a founding partner of Bratus Consultores.

He also served as Managing Director of the National Foreign Trade Bank (Bancomext) and previously as Managing Director of ProMéxico and as Mexico’s ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.

He has been honored by Germany, Spain, and Denmark.

He has been a finance lecturer at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN). He has represented Mexico at international associations and chambers such as UNCTAD and the World Economic Forum. He was President of the Board of Directors of Guadalajara Ciudad Creativa Digital A.C. and is also a mentor at Endeavor.

Francisco N. González holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), a Master’s in Administration from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas.

In the private sector, he actively participates as an entrepreneur in the health, biotechnology, foreign trade, hospitality, banking, and finance sectors.

Greta Cutulenco
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
Acerta Analytics Solutions

Greta Cutulenco is CEO and co-founder of Acerta AI, provider of predictive quality software solutions for automotive and discrete manufacturing. Greta co-founded Acerta in 2017 and currently leads the company’s senior leadership and product teams. She works directly with automotive OEMs and Tier-1 manufacturers, helping them make sense of their manufacturing data. Named a Forbes 30-Under-30 for Manufacturing, an Industry All-Star and a Canadian to Watch by Automotive News Canada, Greta has served as Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) board member since 2020.

Ibrahim Yimer
Vice President , Transportation & Manufacturing Division
National Research Council

Dr. Ibrahim Yimer is currently Vice President of the Division of Transportation and Manufacturing at the National Research Council of Canada – Canada’s largest federal research and development organization with over 2000 scientists and engineers, advancing innovation in life sciences, engineering, transportation and emerging technologies. For the past 15 years, Dr. Yimer has held positions of increasing responsibility at the NRC, including Director General of the Aerospace Research Center and Director of the Gas Turbine Laboratory.

Dr. Yimer has successfully led the creation and implementation of various large-scale, R&D partnerships with industry and government stakeholders both nationally and internationally. As a renowned expert in the field of gas turbine combustion, he has been recognized by the Public Service Award of Excellence from the Governor General of Canada for Scientific Contribution to the 100% Biofuel Flight Demonstration, in 2013.

He is also well recognized in the Aerospace science and technology community where he currently serves in the Board of Directors of Aero Montreal, Past Chair of the International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR), and Advisory Committees of Aerospace Programs in Canadian Universities that includes WISA at the University of Waterloo and CIADI in Concordia University.

Dr. Yimer holds an MSc and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

Jeff Gaulin
General Manager, Corporate Affairs – Canada, U.S., U.K., E.U.
Vale Base Metals

Jeff Gaulin is the head of Corporate Affairs for Vale Base Metals, the Canadian-based global critical minerals company whose ambition is to accelerate the energy transition and protect national energy security.

Mr. Gaulin leads the company’s global public policy and government relations – from its global headquarters in Toronto to all corners of the world. He is a Board member of the Mining Association of Canada and Eurometaux, along with the Critical Minerals Council of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Vale Base Metals is Canada’s largest producer of nickel, copper and cobalt – essential raw materials for the world’s energy transformation. From its global headquarters in Toronto, Vale Base Metals operates mines and refineries in Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and Indonesia. It is now building the world’s largest nickel sulphate plant outside China, in Bécancour, Québec.

Mr. Gaulin joined Vale Base Metals in June 2023 from Invest Alberta, where he served as the Chief Corporate Development Officer for the provincial investment attraction agency. At Invest Alberta his role was to expand internationally the marketing reach of Alberta’s pro-investment message, to support the investor journey, and to build a high-performing culture where people want to build a career with impact.

Mr. Gaulin has previously been an executive with Philip Morris International (Canada), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Tervita Corporation, TransAlta Corporation and the British Columbia government. He was also an award-winning journalist.

In his spare time, Mr. Gaulin is a writer and explorer. He is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society and has kayaked with belugas in the Arctic, been chased by killer whales off the coast of British Columbia, camped in the world’s largest cave in Vietnam and climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mr. Gaulin has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Victoria (2002), a Master of Arts (Journalism) from the University of Western Ontario (1994), and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University (1994).

He is of Métis heritage and lives in Toronto. He is the father of two university-students.

John Laughlin
Chief Technology Officer
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada

John joins NGen from the UK where he was responsible for setting the strategies and running high profile government R&D programmes at Innovate UK worth more than $8.5 billion across the automotive, aerospace and intelligent mobility sectors.

John held senior engineering and programme management positions at Visteon working with Ford, Honda, Mazda, Toyota, Suzuki and Volvo. At London Underground his brief was to deliver part of the Olympic Transport Strategy for the London 2012 games. He co-founded Appleseed Solutions, where he helped businesses across the transport sector achieve sustainable business growth, developed the UK Automotive Council’s Strategic Product Roadmap and was the architect and Technical Advisor for Nesta’s Drones Flying High Challenge. He served as Launch Manager to set up Zenzic, a not-for-profit leading on R&D investment strategy in the connected and autonomous vehicles sector.

John holds a Bachelor of Engineering Honours Degree in Manufacturing Systems Management and a Diploma in Industrial Studies. He is an accredited IP advisor by the UK Intellectual Property Office. He is a Chartered Engineer in the UK and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Joseph McCabe
President & Chief Executive Officer
AutoForecast Solutions

As President and CEO of AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS), Joe leverages his decades of industry experience and knowledge to provide production forecasting and advisory services to the global automotive community. Joe manages the automotive turnkey operations at AFS including the global light vehicle, powertrain, drivetrain, and alternative propulsion forecast as well as a suite of AFS proprietary opportunity and sales planning software. AFS supports all tiered suppliers, VMs, government agencies, financial institutions, and the academic community with data, planning solutions, and a personalized support to help identify new business opportunities while mitigating risk.

Joe’s three-decade career in automotive forecasting ranges from his tenure at AutoFacts, PwC, AutomotiveCompass, and now as founder of AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS).

Joe earned his Bachelors of Chemical Engineering degree at Villanova University and an MBA at Pennsylvania State University.

Kimberly Berman
Principal Consultant – Energy Transition Metals and Technology Specialist
Pivot Research

Kimberly is an independent consultant working with Avicenne Energy, Positive Materials and SFA (Oxford). She is an internationally recognised specialist on lithium-ion and next-gen battery technologies, alternative fuels, electric vehicles, stationary power storage, renewable energy generation, and the deglobalisation of battery supply chains. She has presented at leading industry conferences and has researched, written/co-written and published numerous significant papers, including a recent study on battery value chains in the DRC for the World Bank Group.

Before joining SFA, Kimberly worked as a special projects analyst for a major Canadian bank where she developed proprietary knowledge around battery chemistry, hydrogen and the power storage market. Her work connects the dots from extractive industries for speciality inputs and commodity markets through the lithium-ion battery value chain. She has leveraged this analysis to benefit the auto parts, automotive manufacturers, chemicals and oil and gas sectors.

Kimberly is a seasoned research professional working in highly scientific fields. She has an MA in International Economics and Finance, a BSc in Applied Chemistry and Biology, and a BA in Political Economics focusing on sustainability.

Prof. Linda Nazar
University Professor, Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials
University of Waterloo

Linda Nazar carries out research in inorganic materials chemistry, solid state chemistry and electrochemistry. Her research is focused on the development of electrochemical energy storage devices and materials.

One of the most interesting aspects of materials chemistry is the design of structures with specific physical properties. Using guided principles, Professor Nazar’s team synthesizes new materials, determines their structures and investigates their physical properties. She is, in particular, interested in ion and electron transport in materials as these properties are central to solid state electrochemistry and energy storage batteries. Her group is proficient in a range of methods and fields of investigation including X-ray and neutron diffraction, electrochemistry, ac impedance and solid state inorganic and nanomaterials synthesis.

Professor Nazar holds the Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials since 2004, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society (UK) in recognition of her excellence in research. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Matthew Fortier
Chief Executive Officer
Accelerate ZEV

Matthew Fortier is President and CEO of Accelerate, which represents key public and private-sector stakeholders in Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle supply chain. Accelerate is a national alliance with a mandate to organize and align Canada’s ZEV supply chain to ensure its growth and success.

Prior to this, Matthew was Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs at the Institute of Corporate Directors, where he led content and strategy development on matters of public policy, legislation and regulation, including sustainability, climate change reporting and the future of work.

Previously, Matthew was an executive at Re:Sound and directed policy development and government relations strategies on Canadian intellectual property issues. He has also held senior corporate roles at TD Bank, TD Securities and the Business Council of Canada.

Matthew began his career in federal politics and holds an MA from Goldsmiths College, University of London, and a Director Designation from the Rotman School of Business.

Maciej Hryniewicki
Canada Data & AI Lead for Utilities
Accenture Canada

Maciej (pronounced: “match+ay”) is a business & emerging technology leader based in Toronto, ON with close to a decade of experience advising Power & Utilities clients globally on novel strategies & state-of-the-art solutions related to cloud computing, data & AI.

He is passionate about leveraging the capabilities of AI to foster transformation in the Power & Utilities industry towards cleaner, more affordable and reliable electricity across Canada, particularly as the demand for electricity in Canada rises exponentially due in part to the unprecedented growth of datacenters, AI and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) such as EVs and battery storage facilities across the country.

Maciej holds a PhD in Aerospace Science & Engineering from the University of Toronto and has authored 11+ international publications in high-performance computing, machine learning & AI. In his spare time, he is an avid car enthusiast and constantly reading about advancements in automotive technology such as those being continually developed in racing series such as Formula One and World Endurance Championship (WEC) international racing.

Marilyn Spink
Director, Operations
Canadian Critical Minerals & Materials Alliance

Marilyn Spink is an award-winning professional engineer and expert in metallurgical and mining, having spent over 30 years managing the delivery of complex mine development projects throughout the world.

Today, Marilyn lends her considerable knowledge as a trusted advisor to the clean tech and energy transition materials sector in Canada. She currently serves as Director, Operations with the Canadian Critical Minerals and Materials Alliance (C2M2A), an SME advocacy body whose goal is to build a Canadian materials sector by adding value to Canada’s resource wealth which will secure our economic future and meet the needs of materials demanded by the global energy transition.

Further to her distinguished career, she is also a sought-after speaker with over 100 engagements to various industry groups, higher education, and policy think-tanks, and in 2023, she was inducted as a Fellow in the Canadian Academy of Engineering, one of the highest honours bestowed an engineer in Canada, for her considerable contributions to the mining sector.

Nino Di Cara
Founder & President
Electric Autonomy

Nino is a passionate believer in electrification and the benefits that technology will bring to our future mobility.

In 2019, Nino launched Electric Autonomy, a business to business media and events company reporting on the transition to electric vehicles. Recognized as the “media of record for the electric vehicle industry in Canada”, Electric Autonomy has launched major initiatives such as the EV Charging Station of the Future Design Awards, the EV & Charging Expo, the EV Fleets Pro Academy, as well as the EV industry defining original journalism published on a daily basis.

Nino is a past president of the National Media Awards Foundation and the recipient of the EV Society’s 2020 Howard Hutt Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Electric Transportation. He is regularly sought after for comment by media including Global News, CBC, Fast Company, Globe & Mail and others.

Norm Marks
Global Vice President – Automotive Industry
NVIDIA

Norm Marks is responsible for driving NVIDIA’s global automotive industry enterprise go-to-market strategy.

Marks is focused on establishing areas of application for the NVIDIA open, full-stack and software-defined computing platform to transform the automotive and transportation industries. He speaks frequently on topics related to autonomous vehicles, including Artificial Intelligence/ Deep Learning, Data Management, Validation, Simulation and RePlay, as well as Connected Everything, Smart Mobility, Digital Twins and Immersive Experiences.

Marks earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University and went on to complete the rigorous Executive Management Program at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. On a personal level, he is committed to building awareness and a network of community support for families dealing with autism spectrum disorders.

Paulina Karwowska-Desaulniers
Executive Director
SmartTO

Paulina Karwowska-Desaulniers is a seasoned Higher Education professional and the Executive Director of SmartTO, Ontario’s newest mobility hub.

With a PhD in Biological Chemistry (Wayne State University) and extensive expertise in translating academic research into practical, impactful applications, Paulina has held pivotal roles, including Director of Research and Partnerships at the Lassonde School of Engineering, York University.

A passionate advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), she has led transformative initiatives and policies aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and empowering marginalized communities.

In her role at SmartTO, Paulina focuses on forging strategic partnerships across sectors within the mobility ecosystem, reducing barriers to innovation for Ontario’s startups. Known for her collaborative spirit and positive outlook, she is dedicated to building innovative, inclusive solutions that shape a more equitable future.

Rob Burton
Mayor
Town of Oakville, Ontario

Rob Burton became Oakville’s 45th mayor in 2006.

Mayor Burton’s vision is to make and keep Oakville, a vibrant and livable community for all.

He leads urban planning to control growth to conserve the character of Oakville’s stable established neighbourhoods by directing intensification to well planned growth nodes and corridors.

He keeps debt and tax increases low, protects green space and the environment, and creates innovative community facilities to meet community needs.

He serves on the boards of the Oakville Municipal Development Corporation and Oakville Enterprises, both of which he created to generate new, non-tax revenue for Town improvements.

Prior to public office, Mayor Burton capped his career as a businessman, director, and producer in journalism, film, and television by creating the YTV network. He holds a Master of Science degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Sheri Williams
Industry X Lead
Accenture Canada

industrial landscape towards digitization and sustainability through technology tools like cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins, machine learning and robotics. 

Before Accenture, Sheri was the Vice President of Operations at Callisto Integration Ltd. (acquired by Accenture in May 2020), a manufacturing consulting and technology company specializing in solutions from plant floor to enterprise resource planning (ERP). As VP Operations for Callisto, Sheri was responsible for the successful delivery of all customer engagements around the globe and building long-term relationships with her customers.

Sheri’s portfolio of work includes the successful design, implementation, and adoption of programs related to capital project investment, intelligent asset management,  product design and lifecycle management, operations optimization, quality and compliance, and supplier integration. By thinking about the end to end supply chain, she helps ensure alignment and optimization between manufacturing facilities and the ecosystem of related business units, partners, suppliers, consumers, and regulatory bodies required to drive success.  She loves working with customers to understand what they are trying to accomplish, and how taking a program view across people, process, and technology can help get them there. 

Today, the world is more connected than ever, and understanding the relationships and context between supply chain and manufacturing provides Sheri with a unique perspective on how to prepare customers for the continued evolution of their market space. With 25 years of experience in manufacturing and technology, Sheri uncovers the value a client aims to achieve in the long term and creates the right end-to-end solution to accomplish their objectives. By working across industries, Sheri has realized the value of sharing cross industry knowledge and learnings with customers.

Tom Schnekenburger
Director, Research Partnerships
University of Windsor

University of Windsor. A seasoned leader in technology development, business strategy, and entrepreneurship, Tom began his career in the startup ecosystem, where he excelled in developing and launching innovative products.

Building on this foundation, Tom now dedicates his efforts to supporting the commercialization and mobilization of academic research. He plays a pivotal role in translating cutting-edge discoveries into real-world solutions, fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and the broader community.

Tom continues to advance initiatives that drive innovation, support entrepreneurial growth, and create pathways for impactful partnerships.