Governments at all levels have set their sights on making electric vehicles accessible and viable for Canadians. Companies are innovating and infrastructure is being built; but are we seizing the opportunities to lead the world in vehicle and battery production? Is it enough to help us transition to and embrace new innovation? Will cities and regions embrace electrified transit? Join Canadian Club Toronto on March 3 to hear from our panel of experts as they discuss challenges and opportunities with electric vehicles in Canada. This panel will be moderated by Leslie Woo, CEO of CivicAction and will feature:
Brian Kingston
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association
Brian Kingston is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA). The CVMA represents Canada’s leading manufacturers of light and heavy duty motor vehicles. Its membership includes FCA Canada, Inc., Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, and General Motors of Canada Company.
Prior to joining the CVMA, Brian was Vice President of Policy, Fiscal and International, at the Business Council of Canada where he led the Council’s economic policy priorities and global engagement. From 2009 to 2012 he served in the federal government with positions at the Department of Finance, Global Affairs Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Privy Council Office.
In addition to his accomplishments in business and government, Brian is active in the non-profit sector including as past president of the Ottawa Economics Association and as a current board member of the Banff Forum.
Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Carleton University, a master’s degree in international affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and an MBA from Ivey Business School.
Dr. Josipa Petrunic
President & CEO, Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium
Josipa Petrunic is the President & CEO of CUTRIC. She is leading the formulation of several national transportation technology trials related to zero-emissions transportation and “smart vehicles” innovation, including the Pan-Canadian Electric Bus Demonstration & Integration Trial, the Pan-Canadian Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration & Integration Trial, and the National Smart Vehicle Demonstration Project. Dr. Petrunic has built up CUTRIC’s consortium to include more than 100 private and public sector companies and organizations across Canada. Previously, she served as the lead researcher in electric vehicle policy studies at McMaster University, and as a senior research fellow in the history and philosophy of mathematics at University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom in Science and Technology Studies. Dr. Petrunic continues to lecture in Globalization Studies at McMaster University. She currently sits on the Board of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Foundation and Women’s Transportation Seminar – Toronto (WTS Toronto). In 2018, she was named as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 by Bloomberg News and Canada’s Top Clean 50. In 2019, she was named Aspioneer Top 10 Influential Women Leaders.
Charles Todd
Senior Director, Investments, Canada Infrastructure Bank
Charles brings significant commercial and legal experience to the CIB having delivered large construction and P3 projects across Canada. As Senior Director, Investments, Charles leads a team responsible for advising on, evaluating, developing and executing infrastructure investment opportunities. Most recently, Charles led the CIB’s historic $407.5 million investment in Alberta agriculture irrigation to financial close. One of his primary responsibilities is implementing the CIB’s pan-Canadian zero-emission buses initiative, which seeks to modernize bus fleets, improve transportation services and greatly reduce transit vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.
Before joining the CIB, Charles was Contracts Director for Crosslinx Transit Solutions, the consortium delivering the $5.3 billion Eglinton Crosstown LRT, where he led the team responsible for all contractual aspects of the project. Prior to his mandate at Crosslinx, Charles was a senior lawyer and Commercial Director at Aecon Group Inc., where he supported Aecon’s most complex pursuits and projects. Charles started his career practicing corporate and commercial law at a large international law firm.
Paul Soubry
President and Chief Executive Officer, NFI Group Inc.
Paul Soubry joined NFI as President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2009, holding a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba and completed the executive development program at Harvard Business School. Mr. Soubry is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a graduate of the Directors Education Program.
Prior to joining NFI, Mr. Soubry worked for StandardAero for 24 years where he held a variety of increasingly senior positions becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2007.
Mr. Soubry currently serves on the board of True North Sports and Entertainment Limited/Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club and The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company.
In 2003, Mr. Soubry was named one of the recipients of “Canada’s Top 40 under 40” award, was inducted in the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Hall of Fame in 2014, and recognized as Canada’s 2016 CEO of the Year by the Financial Post.
Leslie Woo
CEO, CivicAction
Leslie Woo CRE® is a respected leader with over 25 years of experience building sustainable communities and shaping urban development in Canada’s fastest-growing urban region, greater Toronto. Leslie assumed the role of CEO at CivicAction in September 2020. CivicAction is a premier civic engagement organization that convenes established and rising leaders from all sectors, backgrounds and experiences, CivicAction catalyzes actions and impactful solutions to address pressing challenges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and beyond.
Before joining CivicAction, Leslie was at Metrolinx for over a decade including her time as Metrolinx’s Chief Planning and Development Officer. Leslie is a tri-sector athlete with experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors as well as her experience as a planner, architect and community activator. An accomplished leader, Leslie was named Bisnow’s 2019 Toronto Power Women in Commercial Real Estate, one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2017 by WXN, Spacing Toronto’s Transit Changemaker in 2016 and Canada’s Women’s Infrastructure Network’s 2015 Outstanding Leader. Founder of shebuildscities.org, Leslie uses her voice and platform to amplify and celebrate other women city builders.
