SOLD OUT -- Future of Manufacturing Symposium

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Speakers:

• Jan De Silva, President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

Jan De Silva, President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

Jan De Silva is President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, one of the largest and most influential business organizations in North America. She is spearheading efforts to make Toronto one of the most competitive and sought-after business regions in the world.   

Jan brings to the role more than 14 years of international CEO experience building ambitious, high-growth organizations. Anchored in her leadership is her belief in the power of economic development to lift communities. 

Prior to joining the Board, she served as CEO of Sun Life Financial’s Hong Kong and Mainland China businesses and co-founded and later sold Retail China Limited. Jan also served as Dean of Ivey Asia for Ivey Business School of Western University.

Highly respected for her business advocacy and government engagement, Jan has been Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Chair of the Canada China Business Council in Beijing and served on the Board of the Asian Corporate Governance Association. In 2019, she was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to represent Canada on the APEC Business Advisory Council. Jan also sits on the board of Intact Financial Corporation, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

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Introductory Remarks:

• Jan De Silva, President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

Speaker:

• The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

Moderator:

• Giles Gherson, EVP and Chair, Economic Blueprint Institute, Toronto Region Board of Trade

The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

Premier Doug Ford is a builder.

As a businessman, he built a successful company.

As a Toronto city councillor, he championed building subways and kept costs down for families.

As premier of Ontario, he is building roads, highways and transit for a growing province. He’s building a stronger economy with 660,000 more jobs and is attracting game-changing investments to build electric vehicles and batteries right here in Ontario.

Premier Ford is passionate about the Etobicoke neighbourhood where he grew up. He is a dedicated husband to Karla and a proud father of four daughters.

Giles Gherson, EVP and Chair, Economic Blueprint Institute, Toronto Region Board of Trade

Giles Gherson is the Executive Vice President and Chair of the Economic Blueprint Institute at the Toronto Region Board of Trade.

A seasoned leader, Giles has 15 years of experience with the Province of Ontario where he has served under different parties and leaders. He’s held Deputy Minister roles in multiple portfolios, including; Cabinet Office Policy; Cabinet Office Communications; Economic Development, Trade and Investment; Infrastructure and Government Realty; Research Innovation and Science; Red Tape and Regulatory Burden Reduction; Small Business; and Consumer Services.

Prior to his role in government, Giles held positions within the Canadian media landscape, including as editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star, political editor of the National Post and editor of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. 

As the world looks to reduce its carbon footprint and embrace a more sustainable future, the manufacturing industry is undergoing a green revolution. 

The region’s manufacturers are in a unique and unprecedented position to take advantage of Ontario’s world-leading clean energy grid, and forthcoming federal and provincial investments in green technology and manufacturing. During discussion panelists will explore the latest trends and technologies driving the green revolution, including those made available through the Canada Growth Fund and Inflation Reduction Act, as well as general market opportunities. In qualifying the unique opportunities that lay ahead, panelists will consider,  

• What advantages do Ontario’s clean-energy grid and forthcoming infrastructure projects offer, and what implications might they have for the region’s competitiveness?

• What specific and immediate opportunities can manufacturers leverage to become more sustainable and efficient while also reducing their costs?

Introductory remarks:

• Jayson Myers, CEO, NGen

Panelists:

• Martin McLaughlin, CFA, Associate Partner, Business Tax Incentives, EY
• Teresa Schoonings, Senior Director, Sustainability, Bimbo Canada
• Jean Marc Leclerc, President and CEO, Honda Canada 

Moderator:

• Kerri Lui, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault

Jayson Myers, CEO, NGen

Jayson Myers is the Chief Executive Officer of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster, an initiative funded by the Government of Canada that will leverage more than $500 million over the next three years in collaborative, industry-led projects aimed at building world-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities in Canada.

Jay is an award-winning business economist who specializes in industrial and technological change. Between 2007 and 2016, he served as President & CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Canada’s largest industry and trade association.

Jay has been widely recognized as one of the most influential economic policy advocates in Canada. He is an advisor to both private and public sector leaders, and has counselled Canadian prime ministers and premiers, as well as senior corporate executives and policymakers around the world.

He is a member of the Advisory Board of the World Manufacturing Forum and a leading advocate on the world stage on behalf of advanced manufacturing in Canada.

Martin McLaughlin, CFA, Associate Partner, Business Tax Incentives, EY

Martin is a Associate Partner in our Tax practice at EY helping companies in both the public and private sector access cash tax savings. With over 18 years of experience Martin specializes in helping his clients with Capital Asset Review, Cost Segregation, SR&ED, and Business Tax Incentives.

In his role as the Central Region Capital Asset Review (CAR) Leader Martin works closely with companies to identify assets that are eligible for accelerated capital cost allowance (CCA), immediately deductible costs, as well as capital asset tax planning and other incentive opportunities around capital asset spending. Martin also has extensive the SR&ED program working with companies to optimize their tax credits.

Martin holds CFA designation and a Bachelor of Science from University of Waterloo.

Teresa Schoonings, Senior Director, Sustainability, Bimbo Canada

Teresa is the Senior Director, Sustainability of Bimbo Canada; a subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo. She is responsible for driving our sustainability strategy and embedding sustainable behaviours into our culture; as well as the development and implementation of a diversity, equity and belonging strategy.

Teresa has a diverse background in varying fields.  With Bimbo Canada since 2010, Teresa was previously responsible for establishing a communications department and initially joined the company as the Vice President, Franchise Management.  She then went on to leader Government Relations and Sustainability.  Her early career was spent in the non-profit sector with United Way and shifted to working in the private sector for many well-known franchise systems, in a variety of roles that helped provide her with a strong cross-functional understanding of business.

In her spare time, Teresa spends her time volunteering in her community, being active outdoors and cooking.

Jean Marc Leclerc, President and CEO, Honda Canada

Like many of us who love cars, Jean Marc Leclerc’s fascination with automobiles began as a child, on long summer car trips from Ottawa to northern Quebec with his family. The seed that was planted on those drives has grown into a 35-year career in the Canadian automotive industry, the last 25 of which have been spent at Honda Canada.

As President and CEO of Honda Canada, Jean Marc now has the opportunity to share this passion with a new generation of Canadians. He is responsible for setting the overall direction for Honda in Canada, as well as leading all of the company’s business operations. Jean Marc feels strongly that there has never been a more interesting time to lead a Canadian automotive company. From the unprecedented social and economic upheaval we’re living through to the global shift to electrification to the ways in which the Internet is forever changing how vehicles are bought and sold, there is never a dull moment.

Since joining Honda in 1995, Jean Marc has held at least nine different roles across all of the company’s divisions including Honda, Acura, Motorcycle and Power Equipment and Honda Financial Services. Most recently, he was SVP of Sales and Marketing where he was responsible for all facets of Honda Canada’s automotive, motorcycle and power equipment brands. There he oversaw product planning, marketing and communications, transportation logistics, as well as sales and customer engagement.

As President and CEO of Honda Canada, Jean Marc is also a member of Honda’s North American Regional Operating Board. 

Jean Marc’s passions extend well beyond his work. He enjoys cottaging with his wife Jennifer and grown children Jonathan and Julia, as well as fishing, golfing and playing hockey.

Kerri Lui, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault

Kerri Lui is a partner in McCarthy Tétrault's Business Law Group in Toronto. She maintains a general corporate transactional practice with a focus on projects in the energy, mining and defence industries.

In particular, Kerri has significant experience advising acquirers, joint ventures, investors and developers of various power generation assets in connection with private mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, procurements and project agreements. She has also frequently advised Canadian and international financial institutions and borrowers on secured lending and project finance transactions, including syndicated and cross-border deals.

In 2016, Kerri completed a six-month, full-time secondment to the Canadian in-house legal department of a major US-based power developer, where she advised on project agreements and corporate matters. In 2012, she completed a secondment to the in-house legal department of a major Canadian bank. She has been ranked by Lexpert Special Edition: Energy as a Leading Lawyer.

Speaker:

• Frank Voss, President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada

Frank Voss, President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada

Frank Voss, President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC), is responsible for Toyota's automotive manufacturing operations in Canada. With assembly plants in Cambridge and Woodstock, Ontario, Frank oversees the production of the Toyota RAV4, Lexus RX, and Lexus NX models, encompassing both gas and hybrid variants.

With a successful career spanning over three decades in the automotive industry, Frank has held various key positions within Toyota in Canada and the US. He joined the company in 2002 as General Manager of Information Systems before transitioning to roles in Production Control and Manufacturing. His leadership and expertise have contributed to the efficiency and success of Toyota's manufacturing operations.

Frank is a registered Professional Engineer with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. In addition to his professional achievements, he actively participates in community engagement, serving on numerous boards. Frank and his wife Diane reside in Kitchener, Ontario, embracing the local community and contributing to its growth.

As President of TMMC, Frank exemplifies excellence in automotive manufacturing. With his technical knowledge, strategic vision, and commitment to quality, he leads the company towards continued success, making a significant impact in the industry.

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In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, staying competitive means leveraging the latest technological advancements to optimize operations and maximize return on labor.

There are an incredible range of cutting-edge tools available to manufacturers looking to cement their position within global supply chains. In this thought-provoking panel, we'll explore how robotics, quantum computing and AI are currently disrupting traditional manufacturing processes and discuss how manufactures can prepare for the future of the industry. In doing so, the panel will answer questions such as,

• What are the technology opportunities available to manufacturers right now?

• What are the practical challenges of developing strong advanced manufacturing capabilities by integrating existing and immediate technology solutions?

Panelists:

• Alex Palmer, Managing Director, Accenture Industry X
• John Murdoch, VP of Platform and Operations, Canvass AI
• Jason Ball, VP & General Manager, Burloak Technologies Inc., a division of Samuel, Son & Co., Limited
• Jeffrey Liaw, General Manager, Martinrea International

Moderator:

• Kosta Kalogiros, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault

Alex Palmer, Managing Director, Accenture Industry X

Alex Palmer is a Managing Director at Accenture, part of the Industry X practice.

Alex brings 15 years of Industrial Automation and Manufacturing Execution Systems experience, focused on Food Manufacturing and Supply Chain. He has led clients through digital transformations of the manufacturing process, implementing advanced technologies such as AI enabled process control to solve complex problems.

John Murdoch, VP of Platform and Operations, Canvass AI

John Murdoch is the VP Platform at Canvass AI, where he pursues his passion for using Machine Learning to solve complex industrial challenges. He has over 30 years of experience in helping clients apply information technology to their business problems. John has held various leadership roles in his career, including CEO of an industrial automation firm and Partner at Deloitte and The Capital Markets Company. He also advises local Toronto software start-ups in his spare time.

Jason Ball, VP & General Manager, Burloak Technologies Inc., a division of Samuel, Son & Co., Limited

Jason Ball is Vice-President and General Manager of Burloak Technologies as of December 2021. In his role, he is responsible for leading the Company’s global operations and further accelerating the adoption of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies across various industries. Jason began his career at GE in 2000, and held several increasingly complex leadership roles in engineering, quality, and product management in GE divisions including GE Power and GE Additive. In 2018, Mr. Ball led the development of GE Additive’s A.T.L.A.S. (Additive Technology Large Area System) Program. Following his time at GE Additive, Mr. Ball joined SLM Solutions, a manufacturer of industrial 3D metal printing machines, where he was first head of product management at the company’s headquarters in Germany, then General Manager of its Canadian business. Mr. Ball is a licensed engineer and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo.

Jeffrey Liaw, General Manager, Martinrea International

Jeffrey Liaw at his current role as General Manager applies over 31 years of automotive manufacturing experience to lead the Martinrea Alfield location, driving culture as a competitive advantage, developing adaptive, machine learning, A.I. technology and focuses on value generation for manufacturing in a high-cost centre.

Prior to this role he worked as Assistant General Manager and Engineering manager, capitalized on a new organization structure that is based on Tech Leads; a small cellular agile team, which leverages an abundance of focussed technical/operations team leaders.  launched numerous major complex lightweight vehicle body structures achieving a flawless launch and highest vehicle body metrics globally with GM.  He led R&D efforts; applied A.I. in resistance welding enabling built-in quality, adaptive MIG welding process that produces low level spatter ejection with high arc stability amongst other technical developmental work.

Jeffrey has previously worked at SoZo group an international Investment Firm as Executive Director of Manufacturing Science and Technology using EB5 Economic development, a vehicle for overseas investments into the U.S. He also served as Director of Engineering Services for Kobotic Ltd., specializing in Robotic welding and automation, and engineering consultation. Jeffrey held various engineering and R&D related positions at Van-Rob Inc. over an eight-year time span.

Jeffrey is a registered Professional Engineer, earned a Bachelor of Applied Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a regular speaker at the SAE world congress, Innovation in Mobility and AMG Smart Manufacturing conferences.

Kosta Kalogiros, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault

Kosta is a partner in our Litigation Group in Toronto. He maintains a broad litigation practice, assisting public and privately held corporations with their corporate/commercial disputes and automotive and technological matters. He also has experience in domestic and international arbitration, professional negligence, commercial leasing and real property, product liability, telecommunications and estates.

As a leader in the firm’s Automotive Industry Group, Kosta advises key players on issues relating to autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence, particularly in the infrastructure and transportation contexts. A strategic adviser, Kosta provides pragmatic advice to the firm’s clients on risk management strategies and the disruptive impact of these and other new technologies. With a keen interest in disruption, Kosta always looks for the most innovative solutions to clients’ problems.

Kosta is actively engaged in developments in the AI and deep learning space. He is also a member of MT❯Play, a global gaming consultancy, with a particular industry focus on eSports. Kosta has appeared before all levels of the Ontario courts. He has also appeared before administrative bodies, including the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board and the College of Physiotherapists. As well, he has acted for claimants and respondents in private domestic and international arbitration matters.

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As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, the demand for electronic and micro-chip manufacturing continues to grow.

Ontario has a unique opportunity to position itself as a leader in this rapidly evolving industry, thanks to forthcoming investments in the Ring of Fire and developments in advanced manufacturing technology. During this exciting discussion, panelists will explore how manufacturers can use Ontario’s raw resources along with cutting edge technology advancement to drive growth, and position Ontario as a global leader in electronic component and micro-chip manufacturing. Join us, as panelists look to answer,

• What opportunities and supply chain challenges lay ahead for electronics manufacturers as Ontario ‘cracks’ open opportunities in the Ring of Fire?
• What kind of capital investments are needed for the regions electronic manufacturers to compete globally?

Panelists:

• Brendan Sweeney, CEO, Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing
• Melissa Chee, President and CEO, ventureLAB
• Brett McQueen, Director of Innovation - North America, Linamar Corporation

Moderator:

• Vincent Caron, Director, Policy and Ontario Government Relations, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME)

Brendan Sweeney, CEO, Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing

Brendan Sweeney is the Managing Director of the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. Prior to his appointment with the Trillium Network, Brendan served as the Project Manager and Research Director of the Automotive Policy Research Centre (APRC) at McMaster University, where he also taught in the DeGroote School of Business and the School of Labour Studies. Brendan holds a PhD in Geography from Queen’s University and a B.A. in Labour Studies from McMaster. He has also held appointments in the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University and the Department of Economics at the University of Manitoba and spent a year at the University of Washington as a Visiting Fulbright Scholar.

Melissa Chee, President and CEO, ventureLAB

Melissa Chee is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of deep tech expertise and a proven track record growing successful start-ups and global companies. Melissa is the President and CEO of ventureLAB, a leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies. Under Melissa’s leadership, ventureLAB launched the Hardware Catalyst Initiative, Canada’s only lab and incubator for hardware and semiconductor-focused start-ups and scale-ups and is a founding member and Vice-Chair of Canada’s Semiconductor Council. Prior to joining ventureLAB, Melissa led New Initiatives at a major division of Constellation Software, one of Canada’s largest publicly traded enterprise software companies. Previously, as the Executive Officer responsible for Product, Operations, and Marketing at a publicly-traded, Canadian-founded semiconductor company, Melissa headed global supply chain operations, product management, and corporate marketing where the company’s products were designed into major consumer brands including LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Facebook. In this capacity, Melissa played an important role in the company’s transition to public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Melissa started her career at Nortel, one of Canada’s largest telecommunications multinationals at the time, where she held roles in product management, marketing, and systems engineering. She has held numerous board positions through national and community impact organizations and is a passionate advocate for innovation in Canada to advance our nation’s global competitiveness, technology commercialization, and women in STEM. Melissa holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering from McGill University.

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. Prior to this he was the Engineering Manager at Linamar’s production facility responsible for launching programs for General Motors, Ford & Stellantis. Brett is a graduate of Conestoga College, Nipissing University and holds an MBA from Queen’s University.

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.

Vincent Caron, Director, Policy and Ontario Government Relations, Canadian Manufacturers Exporters

Since 1871, CME has made the difference for Canada’s manufacturing and exporting communities. The association directly represents more than 2,500 leading companies nationwide. More than 85 per cent of CME members are small-and-medium sized enterprises. 

As Director, Policy & Ontario Government Relations, Vincent works with member companies and the Ontario government to promote policies that lower costs and increase investment for manufacturers. 

Prior to joining CME, Vincent worked in the governments of Ontario and Canada for 15 years, with a primary focus on economic policy. He advised six federal ministers in various departments, including Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Public Safety Canada. 

Originally from Quebec City, Vincent has a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Bristol in England.

With ever-increasing competition from large, consolidated, and foreign entities, it's more important than ever for manufacturers to assess and leverage new ideas and opportunities to gain an advantage early on.

The Toronto region is world-renowned for its research and innovation capacity. Regionally developed advances at the intersection of tech, aerospace, and health present a wealth of exciting new opportunities for manufacturers. Our panelists will share insights and real-world examples of how manufacturers can explore and leverage the successes in adjacent industries and apply them to their own processes. During the discussion, panelists will explore questions like,  

• What components or sub-sectors of adjacent industries can manufacturers look to for new ideas?  

• How can manufacturers position and contextualize their existing challenges or problems to ensure those with the right solutions hear them?

Introductory remarks:

• Derek Newton, Assistant Vice-President, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, University of Toronto

Panelists:

• Joris Myny, Senior Vice-President, Digital Industries, Siemens Canada Limited
• John Laughlin, CTO, NGen
• Amber Batool, Board Member; College of Patents Agents & Trademark Agents
  Executive Director, Investment Banking; CIBC Capital Markets

Moderator:

• Hallie Siegel, Co-Chair and Founder, Canadian Robotics Council, Managing Director, Strategy and Partnerships, Toronto Robotics Institute

Derek Newton, Assistant Vice-President, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, University of Toronto

Derek is the Assistant Vice-President, Innovation, Partnerships, and Entrepreneurship at The University of Toronto (U of T).  He supports the university’s bold innovation agenda towards fostering the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs, developing successful corporate research partnerships, and managing the IP portfolio of the university.  

U of T is a global leader in turning research into products, services, companies and jobs. In the past several years, companies emerging from U of T have secured more than $1.5 billion in investment and capital and the university is ranked among the top 10 university-managed start-up incubators in the world.

Derek held previous senior roles at Western University, he worked at a large biotechnology funding organization and also at a management consultancy firm specializing in biotechnology. He holds a PhD from U of T in biomedical research.

Joris Myny, Senior Vice-President, Digital Industries, Siemens Canada Limited

Joris Myny is the Senior Vice President and Country Division Lead for two of Siemens Canada’s divisions: Digital Factory and Process Industries and Drives. Mr. Myny is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of these businesses in Canada, including sales, marketing and service operations within the fields of Automation, Integrated Drive Systems including Gear Units, Motion Control, Instrumentation, Industrial Control and PLM Software.

Mr. Myny began his career with Siemens in 1990 with the Automation & Drives Group in Belgium and has extensive international management experience, most recently as the Vice President, Sales Integration, Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas. Prior to that assignment, he was the Director, Business Development, Overseas, for Automation Systems covering Asia, Australia, Near and Middle East, Africa and Latin America. In addition, Mr. Myny was also the Manager of Automation and Machine Tool business at Siemens Canada from 1998-2004.

Mr. Myny is an Electrical Engineer. He is an executive board member of the Electro-Federation Canada and chair of the 2015 EFC Scholarship Program, a scholarship initiative that encourages Canadian post-secondary students to pursue careers in the electrical, electronics, and telecommunications industries.

John Laughlin, CTO, NGen

John is the Chief Technology Officer at NGen, a not-for-profit organization which builds world-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities, drives innovation and creates jobs across Canada. He is responsible for setting the technology strategy for NGen and overseas a project portfolio of over $600m of advanced manufacturing R&D projects.

John joined NGen from the UK where he was responsible for setting the strategies and running industrial R&D programs in the automotive, aerospace and intelligent mobility for Innovate UK. In 2007, John joined London Underground where his brief was to deliver part of the Olympic transport strategy for the 2012 London Olympic Games. John previously held several engineering and program delivery roles at Visteon. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Amber Batool, Executive Director, Investment Banking; CIBC Capital Markets Board Member; College of Patents Agents & Trademark Agents

Amber Batool is an Executive Director, Strategic Advisory Group, Global Investment Banking at CIBC. Amber has held executive level positions in the public and private sector in both Canada and the UK. Amber has worked closely with the oil and gas, climate technology and sustainability sectors. She has deep networks and expertise in intellectual property strategy. In her previous role, she developed and ran workshops on intellectual property for cleantech entrepreneurs. In the UK she worked for the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury during the 2008 financial crisis. Amber was Chief of Staff to several Cabinet Ministers and speechwriter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Amber has an LLB (Hons) and a post-graduate diploma in law from the UK.

Hallie Siegel, Co-Chair and Founder, Canadian Robotics Council, Managing Director, Strategy and Partnerships, Toronto Robotics Institute

Hallie Siegel is Managing Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the University of Toronto Robotics Institute, where she guides the largest and most diverse robotics research portfolio in Canada. Since joining U of T in 2019, she has helped to elevate robotics as a strategic priority initiative for the university. She got her start in robotics in 2007 at the D'Andrea Lab at ETH Zurich, and has since helped shape the strategic communications of robotics research labs, universities, publications, and startups in North America, Europe and Asia.

Speaker:

• Giles Gherson, EVP and Chair, Economic Blueprint Institute, Toronto Region Board of Trade