Automotive Intelligence Series

The Future in Focus

February 16 at 10:30AM-12:00PM in Room 801

This year the 2018 Canadian International Auto Show is launching the Automotive Intelligence Series – a speaker series bringing together expert panelists to discuss timely topics related to the Canadian automotive industry and roadways. The first event – Industry Day: The Future In Focus, Presented By auto Trader - brings together several of Canada’s top automotive leaders to discuss many hot subjects including NAFTA, electrification, autonomous mobility, Canadian consumers’ buying patterns, and much more. Media and guests will have the opportunity to join what’s sure to be a lively discussion on each company’s perspective on the various subjects, as well as what each brand is and will be working on. Industry Day begins at 10:30am in the South Building at Room 801 with one-on-one interviews to follow the CEO panel discussion.

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Guest Speakers

Mark Richardson - Moderator President, AJAC - Moderator

Mark Richardson is a veteran journalist with staff experience at the Ottawa Citizen, Worldwide Television News, and the Toronto Star. He was the editor of the Star’s Wheels section for 10 years until 2012, and is now a freelance automotive journalist who contributes to The Globe and Mail, Automotive News Canada, the CAA and Autofile.ca, among others. Mark is also the current president of the Automobile Journalists Associations of Canada (AJAC).

Don Romano President and CEO, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.

Having initially joined the organization as its Chief Operating Officer in January 2014, Don Romano was appointed President and CEO the following May. Mr. Romano has accumulated a wealth of automotive experience over 30 years through increasingly senior positions in Canada, the United States, and abroad. After entering the automotive industry with Nissan North America in 1985 as its Corporate Product Marketing Manager, Mr. Romano joined Mazda Motor Corporation in 2000. Starting as a National Brand Manager in the company’s California office, he progressed through a number of sales and marketing focused positions before becoming the Managing Director and President of Mazda Canada in 2006. In 2010, his responsibilities at Mazda expanded. With the added title of Chief Marketing Officer, he led the company’s marketing activities across North America. In 2012, Mr. Romano became the Senior Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer with ALJ International – his most recent position prior to Hyundai – where he established Toyota Saudi Arabia as the largest independent distributor for Toyota in the world with annual sales exceeding 300,000 units.

Joni Paiva President, Nissan Canada Inc.

With over 20 years of collective experience with Renault and Nissan, Joni Paiva joined Nissan Canada Inc. as president in January 2016. He oversees all Nissan operations in Canada, including Sales and Marketing, Finance, Dealer Network, Product and Corporate Planning, Aftersales, Legal, Human Resources and the Captive Sales finance company. Paiva began his career at Renault in 1993, and worked as Zone Manager for Mercosur and Chile in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In this role, he was in charge of product planning definition, sales development and industrialisation of local production for Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. He became General Manager at Renault in France in 1999 and went on to hold several sales and marketing positions within the company. In 2013, Paiva was named director, chief marketing manager at Nissan North America, where he oversaw marketing strategy for key Nissan core models, including sales, pricing and product position. Joni brings to Canada a wealth of international experience from working in five different countries, and is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Paiva earned a Master of International Affairs from the Université de Haute-Alsace Mulhouse-Colmar, France. He also holds a Certificate of Authentic Leadership from Harvard Business School.

Ted Lancaster Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kia Canada Inc.

Appointed to the role of Vice President & Chief Operating Officer in August 2015, Mr. Lancaster leads a national team of 164 corporate staff and 189 Kia dealerships responsible for the business development and growth of Kia in Canada. Throughout his 20-plus year career in the automotive industry, Mr. Lancaster has excelled in roles within District, Regional and National Sales, Finance, Brand Development, and most recently as VP of National Sales and Operations. Having experience with both the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Retailer (Dealership) sides of the business, Mr. Lancaster is able to offer valuable perspective and provide strategic solutions where others may not. Mr. Lancaster attained a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Law from George Mason University and has continued his education through various programs, including the completion of the Acumen Learning program - designed from the #1 Wall Street Journal and New York Times best seller “Building Business Acumen” (Kevin Cope) - and Situational Leadership 1 and 2, presented by the Ken Blanchard Group of Companies. Passionate about travel, sports, marketing, management training and business and staff development, Mr. Lancaster is also active within the community and sits on the Board of Directors for many organizations, including Junior Golf Development Canada and Golf Canada’s RBCCO Ambassador Program.

Brian Fulton President and CEO, Mercedes-Benz Canada

Brian Fulton took over the position of President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada in May 2016. Brian and his team are responsible for the sales, marketing and service of the Mercedes-Benz and AMG passenger vehicles, Mercedes-Benz Vans and smart. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. employs approximately 1,700 people in 21 locations across Canada. Through a nationwide network of 11 Mercedes-Benz owned retail operations and 48 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 52,298 vehicles in 2017. This represents the best year ever for the company and has positioned Mercedes-Benz as the top luxury manufacturer in Canada for the fourth consecutive year. Brian is the first Canadian-born President and CEO since the company was founded in 1955. Brian was previously Vice President of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA, LLC. He oversaw operations within Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in the United States, leading a team of approximately 180 employees. He was also a member of the Daimler Financial Services Americas Region executive leadership team. Previous to this role, Fulton was President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Auto Finance China, where he was responsible for the overall financial services operations for China and Hong Kong. Throughout his career, Fulton has worked in both commercial vehicle and passenger car financing. Fulton began his career in the automotive finance industry in 1985, after earning his bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He worked at Ford Motor Credit and Toyota Motor Credit before joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada in 1994 as an Assistant Region Manager. Since then, he has held leadership positions in Canada, the United States and Asia.

Edwin Ulak Chief Product Officer, autoTRADER.ca

Edwin Ulak is Chief Product Officer of autoTRADER.ca. Edwin is responsible for the continued growth of autoTRADER.ca and the development of autoTRADER’s robust product suite. His goal is to drive more results for advertisers and create product solutions that will support industry innovation.

Cannabis and Cars. Are we ready?

February 17 at 1:00PM-2:00PM in Room 801

Recreational use of cannabis is slated to become legal in Canada sometime in the summer, and the impact on driving has become a hot-button topic that has created varying degrees of opinions and concern. Critics who lobbied against legalizing marijuana are concerned that allowing people to operate a vehicle under the influence of the drug will create more traffic offences and increase fatalities, but some advocates who lobbied to legalize cannabis dispute those claims. There are also questions about what specific tests the police will employ to detect marijuana usage, in particular oral fluid samples, an idea that has been proposed as part of federal Bill C-46 that is currently under discussion in the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Some understanding of all of this can come from the United States, where several states allow the use of recreational marijuana and there is specific data to explain the impact and effects on driving.

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Guest Speakers

Barb DiGiulio - Moderator Host, The Nightside on Newstalk 1010 - Moderator

Barb DiGiulio is the host of The Nightside on Newstalk 1010. She is a veteran of more than 25 years in the broadcast industry, including 22 years with Rogers as a reporter and host on Sportsnet 590 The Fan and 680 News.

Glenn Davis Safety Manager, Colorado Department of Transportation Highway

Glenn Davis is the Colorado Department of Transportation Highway Safety Manager, responsible for Impaired Driving, Police Services, Motorcycle Safety, Young Drivers and Speed Enforcement. He represents the CDOT on the Governor’s Marijuana Working Group, Marijuana Education Oversite Committee and POST Marijuana Working Group. He retired from Littleton Police (Colorado) after 25 years of law enforcement. He has participated in the Governor’s Highway Safety Association of the “Drug-Impaired Driving: A Guide to What States Can Do” project.

Wayne Jeffery Toxicology/Drug Consultant

Wayne Jeffery is a Toxicology/Drug Consultant based out of Burnaby, British Columbia. Prior to this he worked in I/C Toxicology Section Forensic Lab Vancouver for almost 30 years. He has also worked as a Member of the Toxicology Section, Forensic Lab, in Edmonton, and as a member of Alcohol Section, Forensic Laboratory, in Edmonton. He has instructed on police courses on drug identification, drug undercover investigative techniques, clandestine laboratory investigations and chemical safety and drug awareness training. He developed the training course which was given to the British Columbia Liquor Inspectors on “Detecting the Impaired Subject.”

Eric R. Dumschat Legal Counsel, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada

Eric R. Dumschat is Legal Counsel for MADD Canada. He received a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Waterloo and a M.A. in Political Science and J.D. from the University of Western Ontario. Before becoming Legal Counsel for MADD, Eric worked for its National Director of Legal Policy as a research assistant, and articled at a top litigation boutique. Eric’s work is focused on preventing impaired driving in all its forms.

Jodie Emery Canadian Cannabis Rights Activist

Jodie Emery is a long-time high-profile cannabis activist, public speaker and legalization advocate. She was owner and operator of Cannabis Culture Magazine, Pot TV, and Cannabis Culture head shops and lounges from 2009 to 2016, with dispensary franchises from May 2016 to March 2017. She has run for provincial office four times, including two B.C. Green Party campaigns, and sought the 2015 Liberal Party of Canada nomination candidacy in Vancouver East. Jodie supported her husband Marc through a five-year U.S. prison sentence, and was recently convicted in relation to the new model of Cannabis Culture dispensary franchises. Despite her legal challenges, Jodie continues to focus on cannabis advocacy to protect civil liberties.

Sergeant Dave Wallbank Provincial Coordinator Drug Evaluation & Classification, Ontario Provincial Police - Highway Safety Division

Dave has over 30 years policing experience throughout Ontario. He started his policing career with the Toronto Police Service, where he worked for 13 years primarily specializing in collision reconstruction, breathalyzer operation and traffic related investigations. Dave has investigated over 1600 collisions, over 200 traffic fatalities and conducted over 500 breath tests on impaired driving suspects. In 2001 he left the Toronto Police Service and joined the OPP. During his 17 years with the OPP he has worked in the Orillia area as well as north western Ontario. In early 2013 he became the Provincial Coordinator of the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program for the province. The DEC program encompasses the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) program and the Drug Recognition Expert/Evaluator (DRE) program. These programs are at the forefront of combatting Drug Impaired Driving as Canada moves towards the legalization of Cannabis. Dave works with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the RCMP and Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and all municipal police services in the development and delivery of the program throughout Ontario.

Automobiles, Mobility & Aging Population

February 18 at 1:00PM-2:00PM in Room 801 MTCC

Statistics Canada recently revealed that, according to the most recent census, there are now more senior citizens in Canada than there are children. Is the automotive industry aware? Is it reacting? If so, how? A panel of researchers, experts and an access activist will discuss this emerging issue.  

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Guest Speakers

Robyn Robertson President and CEO, Traffic Injury Research Foundation

Robyn Robertson is the President & CEO of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation and holds a Master of Criminology Applied degree. During her 17 years in the research field, Ms. Robertson has published more than 200 reports and articles on a broad range of road safety issues with a focus on education, policy and program development and evaluation. She has delivered technical assistance for road safety programs in several countries and is the author of TIRF’s knowledge translation model. Robyn is well-versed in implementation strategies and operational practices across transportation, criminal justice and health systems, and industry. She is a member of or serves on several academic and professional boards and committees.

Cynthia Skinner Access Activist

Cynthia Skinner is a 75-year-old semi-retired nurse who’s interested in just about everything. When we say semi-retired, it’s because she has dual citizenship, winters in Jacksonville, Ark., a suburb of Little Rock, and still handles some management duties on weekends at a hospital in that area. She wrote a letter to the editor of Toronto Star Wheels and said this: “More than half of the drivers are women, yet you have never had an article of the least interest to us. We don’t care about off-road, which is irresponsible and wrecking the environment. Or how quickly a car goes from zero to 60. Or its sleek appearance. I want to know where I can hide my purse. This is an aging society, in case you haven’t heard, but nobody is designing easy-to-access cars. When will someone start writing about this?

Katie Allanson Ergonomics Expert, Ford Motor Co.

Katie Allanson is a human factors engineer in the User Experience (UX) group at Ford's global headquarters in Dearborn, MI. She leads the development and usability testing of touchscreen infotainment systems in North America, while also evaluating driver assist technologies and other semi-autonomous features with customers of all ages and driving experience levels. Katie’s team is instrumental in ensuring that inclusive design principles are applied in every Ford and Lincoln vehicle, in part by using wearable suits and other technology to give employees a sense of how the aging population interacts with Ford products. Katie is a Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist, the convener of the global ISO group responsible for symbols found inside vehicles, and the chairperson of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group for vehicle controls and displays. She has held various roles in ergonomics and engineering since 2002. Interestingly, Customs Officers routinely ask Katie about mystery buttons found in cars while commuting daily across the border to and from her home in LaSalle, ON.

Jay Donnelly Head of Strategy, Age of Majority

Jay Donnelly is Head of Strategy for Age of Majority. A new marketing consulting shop that’s focused on helping companies to identify and exploit opportunities with active aging consumers. With over 30 years of experience working with some North America’s top consumer brands, he brings a well-rounded view to how brands can better understand and engage the mature population. Jay has held senior executive positions at financial companies like Great-West Life and President’s Choice Financial, and with large retailers including Loblaw and the Hudson Bay Company. He holds an MBA in marketing along with undergraduate degrees and started his career on the advertising side with J. Walter Thompson.

John Waldie Retired Auto Dealer

John Waldie is a retired automobile dealer from Stratford, Ont., who represented General Motors in the Southwestern Ontario town. His wife recently underwent surgery for a knee replacement, so he is very aware of the difficulties faced by seniors getting in, out of, and around in modern automobiles. Very active in his church, Mr. Waldie led a delegation from Stratford to New Orleans to help out after that U.S. city was hammered by Hurricane Katrina. A fan of motorsport, he sponsored most of the drag racers and stock car racers in the Stratford-London-St. Thomas area and is a member of the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

Dave Redinger - Moderator Host, Dave's Corner Garage

Dave Redinger is an accomplished broadcaster and automotive expert. He has either appeared as host or acted as producer of more than 900 radio shows and 250 television shows for  AM740, Sirius XM and TSN. He has an engineering degree from Ryerson University and is a licensed mechanic. He is a licensed used car dealer and salesman and is an expert witness for OMVIC (the Ontario motor Vehicle industry Council). He is best known these days as the host of Dave’s Corner Garage, a radio talk and phone-in program on Radio Station AM740.

Driving into the Age of Autonomy

February 20 at 1:00PM-2:00PM in Room 801 MTCC

Can you imagine a world in which automobiles drive themselves? Well, that is certainly something that is forecasted in the future, although the timeline is mere speculation because there are various levels that need to be reached before automobiles can truly themselves without any human assistance. There is a belief that the first wave of vehicles in this new era of automation will happen in the next few years and will be something representing partial automation and conditional automation. Automobile manufacturers are spending hundreds of millions of dollars in research and development, either on their own or in partnerships with technology companies, developing systems to become the first in line to deliver autonomous cars. Governments are also investing heavily in autonomous vehicle research. The Province of Ontario announced in 2017 an allocation of $80 million for an Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network and designated Stratford as the hub of it. It all makes for an interesting discussion, something that seemed so futuristic years ago but is now moving toward the present. Registrants must also purchase a ticket to the 2018 Canadian International AutoShow in order to attend this talk.

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Guest Speakers

Dan Mathieson Mayor of Stratford

Dan Mathieson is in his fourth term as Mayor of Stratford and has sat on municipal council since 1995. He is currently Chair of the Ontario Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), Past Chair of Kings University College at Western University, Chair of the Stratford Police Services Board, a member of the Board of Directors of Festival Hydro, Rhyzome Networks and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Dennis DesRosiers President, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants

Dennis DesRosiers is president of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, which he started in 1985. He is considered one of the leading experts and analysts in the North America automotive industry. In 2012 he was awarded The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for his contribution to the automotive sector in Canada.

Ross McKenzie Managing Director, University of Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research

Ross McKenzie is the Managing Director for the University of Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WATCAR), which conducts advanced research to further automotive innovation and competitiveness. Ross is responsible for facilitating collaborative research between industry partners and faculty. Ross is on the board of ITS Canada and chairs Electric Mobility Canada’s annual student competition. In 2016 he addressed the G7 Transport Ministers in Japan, summarizing Canada’s activities and initiatives in connected and autonomous vehicles. In 2017 Ross was presented with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Partnership Award, recognizing significant contribution to road safety.

Chris Candy Vice President of Business Development, SevenMedia

Chris Candy is Vice-President of Business Development for Toronto-based SevenMedia, which is focused on Augmented Reality. SevenMedia works with global brands, agencies and corporations by identifying ways AR can help meet their marketing and corporate strategic goals. Car manufacturers are using AR technology to enhance the driving experience.

Ted Graham Head of Open Innovation, General Motors

Ted Graham is the Head of Open Innovation at General Motors where he helps identify partnerships that will help build new forms of mobility, including autonomous and connected vehicles. He is also the former Innovation leader at PWC and a McKinsey strategy consultant with a focus on understanding and leveraging people networks to influence the spread of ideas.

Jacob Black - Moderator Senior Editor, autoTRADER.ca

Jacob Black is a multiple award-winning journalist who has been the senior editor at autoTRADER.ca for almost five years, responsible for creating and overseeing every aspect of the Canadian auto industry. He is also the former online editor SPEED TV in Australia. He has co-authored four books on Australian motor racing.

The Electric Revolution

February 21 at 10:30AM-12:30PM in John Bassett Theatre, MTCC

Electrification is still one of the hot topics in the automotive industry - whether it's in the form of pure electrics, conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids or hydrogen fuel cells - the push for alternative powertrains is accelerating. This diverse panel of industry experts will debate what type of electric urban revolution might be in Canada's forecast. Many automakers have set an actual year, such as 2020 for its pure electric plan to take shape, while others preach about hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Media and guests will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of various points of view including: charging infrastructure, city planning, the current rebate model, as well as the pros and cons of the current electrified technology. Following the panel discussion AJAC will announce its Automotive Innovation Awards for Best Innovation, Best Safety Innovation, and Best Green Innovation. One-on-one interviews with all the panellists and award winners will follow.

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Guest Speakers

Mark Richardson - Moderator President, AJAC - Moderator

Mark Richardson is a veteran journalist with staff experience at the Ottawa Citizen, Worldwide Television News, and the Toronto Star. He was the editor of the Star’s Wheels section for 10 years until 2012, and is now a freelance automotive journalist who contributes to The Globe and Mail, Automotive News Canada, the CAA and Autofile.ca, among others. Mark is also the current president of the Automobile Journalists Associations of Canada (AJAC).

Morten Edvardsen Senior Political Adviser, the Norwegian EV Association (NEVA)

Morten Edvardsen oversees the EV Associations planning and strategies for government relations and policy development. Edvardsen has been working for The Norwegian EV Association since April 2016. As a Senior Political adviser, Edvardsen is responsible for developing the Norwegian EV association's policy documents, following up the parliament and governments budget and legislative work to promote zero emission transport. The Norwegian EV incentives are developed in the municipalities, counties and by national government bodies, and one of Edvardsen’s responsibilities is to hold them responsible for their own political goals and to push them forward in the right direction. With more than 50,000 members and over 20 years of experience, the Norwegian EV association possesses unique knowledge about the EV users and their experiences. Concrete knowledge on what EV users needs, where and how they charge and what they use their cars for, are some examples of the knowledge the association possesses. Edvardsen holds a master’s degree from the University in Oslo and has several years of experience as a politician.

Stephen Beatty Vice President, Corporate, Toyota Canada Inc.

Stephen Beatty is Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Toyota Canada Inc. He is responsible for Administration, Corporate Strategy and Product Planning, External Affairs, Human Resources, Information Services, and Legal. Beatty began with Toyota Canada in 1998 as National Manager, Government and Public Relations. Prior to joining Toyota Canada, Beatty worked for 10 years as Executive Director of the Canadian Apparel Manufacturers Institute and the Canadian Apparel Federation, the Ottawa-based national trade associations for the clothing industry in Canada. In those roles, Beatty led the industry’s efforts to transform into a modern, export-based business. He brought to that task extensive experience in strategic planning, policy development and media relations. He was a senior political advisor in Ottawa, including Chief of Staff to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Beatty holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in political studies (University of Guelph) and sociology (Carleton University), and a Master's degree in public administration (Carleton University).

Brett Smith Co-director, Center for Automotive Research at the University of Michigan

Brett Smith joined CAR in 2000 after 12 years at the University of Michigan’s Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT). During his career, Smith's research has spanned many critical aspects of the automotive industry. He has been deeply involved in research on vehicle and component manufacturing; materials forecasting; product development and analysis; supplier--manufacturer relations; technology development; facility location analysis; product launch strategy and human resource and talent issues. Smith’s research experience in the area of advanced powertrain technology includes numerous reports and technology forecasts on this subject. Since 2012, Smith has also served as Co-Director Strategy, CAR Management Briefing Seminars. In that role he has guided strategic planning for the CAR Management Briefing Seminars and other CAR conference activities. He is the currently the chair of the Advanced Powertrain Forum, The Fuel Economy and GHG policy panel; and the Car of the Future: Design and Technology Session at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars. He received a B.S. in Economics and an M.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University.

François Lefèvre Chief Marketing Manager, Nissan LEAF, and Manager of Executive Planning, Nissan Canada Inc.

François Lefèvre is the chief marketing manager for the Nissan LEAF. He also oversees executive planning at Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI), a position to which he was appointed in December 2015. In this role, Lefèvre reports to Joni Paiva, president, Nissan Canada Inc., and is responsible for sales and marketing strategy development for the Nissan LEAF in Canada as well as analyzing the profitability, model-option-trim level performance, pricing, competitive product activities, and managing the vehicle distribution and production forecast. As Executive Planner for the president, Lefèvre is responsible for managing NCI performance and major executive projects. Lefèvre holds a bachelor of commerce degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the Tefler School of Management at the University of Ottawa, and also worked in the automotive industry and studied abroad in France at the Audencia Business School.

David Paterson Vice President, Corporate and Environmental Affairs, General Motors of Canada Company

David Paterson leads Communications, Government and Environmental Relations at General Motors Canada and he works as part of GM’s global Public Policy and Communications teams. Prior to joining GM in 2014, he was Senior Vice President, Government Relations & Public Policy at BlackBerry (formerly Research In Motion) where he led the Company’s government relations and public policy development on a global basis. Paterson led a global team responsible for regulatory advocacy and engagement in 175 countries focused on a wide range of issues and policies including trade impediments, export controls, market access, taxation, privacy, cyber security, patents and intellectual property, spectrum, cross border data flows, consumer protection, environment and safety. Paterson serves on the board of the Canadian Journalism Foundation. He has served on the boards of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen’s University and a Master of Arts in Canadian History from McGill University.

Brookes Shean Regional General Manager, Central Canada for FLO/AddEnergie

Brookes Shean is Regional General Manager – Central Canada for FLO. He has more than 15 years of experience in product management in the fields of new technologies and digital environments. Brookes has always been on the lookout for cutting-edge innovation, having worked with cloud-based products and services as well as fiber optics. A confirmed team leader and business strategist, Brookes now oversees the development of the FLO charging network in Central Canada from the company’s regional office in Mississauga, Ontario. He is also a board member of Electric Mobility Canada.

Scott Hollinshead Product Planner, Volkswagen Canada

As a Product Planner, Scott Hollinshead led the original business case to bring the Volkswagen e-Golf to Canada in 2017. He is also planning the upcoming future electric VW models based on all-new, all-electric platform (MEB) and the all-new 2019 Volkswagen Arteon, scheduled to make its Canadian debut here at Toronto. Hollinshead also maintains Volkswagen Canada’s network of 30 charging stations, and can often be found peeking out the window hoping to see the latest EV charging at the public DC station. Hollinshead studied history at the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 2009. He started his career at Volkswagen of America in 2007, coming home to Volkswagen Canada in 2010, while working in roles in Sales Operations, Technical Service, and Product Planning along the way. This summer, he’s looking forward to owning a 2018 e-Golf in Jazz Blue Pearl, one of its 30 special colours.

Jack Simpson General Manager - Business Development & Innovation, Toronto Hydro

Jack Simpson has over 25 years’ experience in the energy field including planning, engineering, construction and operations. He has worked for Ontario Hydro, Ameresco, SNC Lavalin and held various management positions with Toronto Hydro, currently he is General Manager, Business Development & Innovation. Jack has degrees in Nuclear Physics from Waterloo, Mechanical Engineering from Ryerson and earned his Masters in Engineering from University of Toronto.

Women on Wheels

February 22 at 6:00PM-9:00PM in Room 801

Geared for professional women in Toronto, Women on Wheels is an intimate networking event featuring Laura Schwab, President of Aston Martin the Americas and other top female auto executives in Canada. The evening will focus on automotive issues such as NAFTA negotiations as well as personal stories and advice about achieving success in the male-dominated auto industry. Petrina Gentile will host a one-on-one interview with Laura Schwab, president of Aston Martin the Americas, which will focus on her rise in the auto industry, breaking down barriers, and achieving work-life balance. The interview will be followed by a panel featuring some of Canada`s top female auto executives including Maria Soklis, Pres., Cox Automotive (former COO, Kia Canada and the highest ranking female executive at Kia globally) and Susan Gubasta, Dealer Principal and incoming TADA president and CIAS president.

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Guest Speakers

Petrina Gentile Automotive Journalist - Moderator

Petrina Gentile is an award-winning automotive journalist -- one of the few women who cover cars in Canada. Petrina has been writing for The Globe and Mail’s Drive section since 2004. Besides auto reviews, she also interviews celebrities such as Theo Fleury, Mario Andretti, Patrick Dempsey, Clara Hughes, and Ron MacLean about their cars. She covers the automotive beat for CTV NewsChannel on her bi-weekly segment called "Up to Speed" and reports regularly on CP24 and BNN. She produced 18 seasons of the national TV show Car/Business with Jeremy Cato and Michael Vaughan, which was broadcast weekly on CTV and BNN.

Laura Schwab President for Aston Martin the Americas

Laura Schwab has been President for Aston Martin the Americas since 2015. Her role as Regional President embraces sales and service, public relations, brand marketing and communications to both Aston Martin’s customers and 45 dealers in the region spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. She joined Aston Martin from Jaguar Land Rover, where she worked most recently as Marketing Director, leading marketing communications, experiential events, sponsorships, product marketing, customer engagement and corporate social responsibility.

Maria Soklis President of Cox Automotive Canada

Maria Soklis was named President of Cox Automotive Canada in 2015. She is leading the development and execution of Cox Automotive’s Canadian business strategy and operations and has responsibility for the existing Manheim, Dealertrack and Next Gear Capital business. Since she joined Cox Automotive, Manheim’s footprint has been expanded coast to coast and the business has grown nearly 20%. Prior to her current role, Maria was the Vice President & COO of Kia Canada where she was the highest ranking female executive globally and the pioneer of Drive Change.

Susan Gubasta President & CEO of Mississauga Toyota

Susan Gubasta is President & CEO of Mississauga Toyota, a family run dealership in the GTA. Susan has worked in the business for 23 years, working in all departments of the dealership to understand the operation, eventually becoming a General Manager and then President. Susan was the first woman on the Ontario Toyota Dealers Advertising Association. She is currently serving on the Executive Board of the TADA (Trillium Automobile Dealers Association) and in 2018, she will become the first female President in its 110 year history.

Amy Martin Vice President Finance & Chief Financial Officer, GM Canada

Amy was appointed Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of General Motors of Canada Company on July 1, 2017 and has overall responsibility for the finance, treasury, tax and accounting activities. Amy started her career at Arthur Andersen in Detroit, Michigan, and joined the General Motors Tax Staff in 1997. She has held several leadership positions of increasing responsibility within the Global Customs organization, including Regional Director - South American customs based in São Paulo, Brazil and prior to joining General Motors of Canada, she was the General Director of the Global Customs organization. During her GM career, Amy has received a GM Chairman's honors award, GM Korea President's award, CIO award, and Public Policy Star award. She is on the leadership team of GM's Women in Finance organization, and received a GM WOMEN recognition award for commitment to integrity, leadership and the empowerment of women at GM. Amy was an inaugural member of GM's Finance Priorities Initiative Talent team, and is passionate about talent management and development, and employee engagement in the workplace. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Amy received her Bachelor of Science with a double major in Accounting and Finance from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and received her CPA designation from the State of Michigan in 1997.

The Changing Face of the Industry

February 23 at 1:00PM-2:00PM in Room 801 MTCC

When it comes to diversity, Canada has proven itself to be a country that is inclusive, in particular the automotive industry. Many people have come to Canada from other countries and have followed their dreams and goals to pursue a career in the car business, owning dealerships or working in automotive-related businesses. While the industry is still heavily dominated by men, there are many women who are becoming influential as dealership owners, managers and sales people, although the numbers are still low for those who want to be technicians or mechanics.

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Guest Speakers

Anita Sharma Anchor, Bell Media – Moderator

Anita Sharma is a television news journalist, multi-media specialist and professional public speaker. She is a freelance news anchor and reporter for Bell Media, regularly anchoring international and national news for Canada’s top broadcaster, CTV News Channel and CP24. Anita has also worked with Business News Network (BNN) covering the latest in the business world. She has conducted interviews with newsmakers such as former Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper and former Finance Ministers Jim Flaherty and Joe Oliver. She also manages a blog with a special focus on health and wellness and is a real estate investor.

Nav Bhatia Auto Dealer, Mississauga/Rexdale Hyundai

Nav Bhatia is the Owner of Mississauga Hyundai and Rexdale Hyundai and has been the company’s top-selling dealer nationwide several times. He came to Canada more than 30 years ago from his native India with a dream to work in the automotive industry and a degree in mechanical engineering from California State University, but encountered discrimination because he wore a turban. Through hard work and a never-ending drive worked his way up to become owner of two dealerships, and also developed a reputation as the Toronto Raptors’ Superfan.

Shahin Alizadeh President and Chief Executive Officer, Downtown Automotive Group Inc.

Shahin Alizadeh is the President/Chief Executive Officer of Downtown Automotive Group Inc., which he began in July, 1992 and is comprised of a network of automotive enterprises that collectively represent the largest retainer of automobiles in downtown Toronto. He founded his first dealership in 1979. In 2018, he will complete Riverside Square, which will incorporate six automotive sales and service facilities with nine hundred residential condominium units and additional commercial venues, blending an automotive retail environment within an urban setting.

Tahnee Pitter-Duncan Apprentice, Toronto Transit Commission

Tahnee Pitter-Duncan is a 20-year-old woman apprenticing with the Toronto Transit Commission to become a certified Autobody Repairer. She represents the low percentage of minorities who are looking to thrive within the automotive industry.

Janna Erichsen Chair of Part-Time Learning at Centennial College

Janna Erichsen is the Chair of Part-Time Learning at Centennial College’s School of Transportation. She is a dedicated diversity advocate with management, recruitment, program development and human resource experience.

Mohammad Shahzad Senior Group Manager – Client and Community Relations, The Brimell Group of Companies

Mohammad (Shah) Shahzad, Senior Group Manager, Client and Community Relations with The Brimell Group of Companies, including Brimell Toyota and CSN Paint & Collision Center. He has been embracing pride and passion in the automotive industry since 1965. The Pakistan native graduated in 1968 with honors as an Automotive Engineer and came to Canada in 1970. He is a member of the American Society of Automotive Engineers and also holds an Automotive Service Excellence Certification. He also has various Canadian Multi Automotive Service Certifications. Shah is an active member and passionate supporter of many non-profit organizations to serve ethnically-diverse communities as an Automotive Transport Consultant. He helps new immigrants to find safe, affordable and reliable vehicles, and to maintain according to Canadian road safety standards, traffic, weather and environmental conditions.