Accelerate and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters bring you a conversation on advancing the development of the Canadian zero-emission vehicle supply chain, with a focus outside of big battery plant investments and minerals production. Our panelists will discuss supply chain gaps and how to overcome them, effective ways to transition existing components of the automotive supply chain, and the role of innovation, automation, and upskilling the workforce.

Panelists:
 

Dave Fortin is the chairman of Automate Canada and does battery cell manufacturing training across Ontario.

He is the president of DataRealm Inc.. Dave has spent 34 years in the automotive/manufacturing business.

He has a degree in Electrical Engineering , an MBA and is a PEng. 

He worked at various positions at Ford Motor Company before founding DataRealm.Dave also has interests in numerous other businesses in Windsor, Toronto and Germany. He is on the board of directors for WETECH (the Local RIC in Windsor) and regularly consults other business start-ups. 
He is an avid investor in the private equity sector.

Jarred Knecht is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in leading teams and businesses in the manufacturing technology sector. Currently serving as the President of ProEV, Promark Electronics, ASI, and KonnectAi – divisions of Electrical Components International (ECI) – a global interconnect leader with annual revenues exceeding $1.5 billion. Jarred’s responsibilities include overseeing the business unit supporting wire harness systems for global vehicle electrification, defense, aerospace, and medical markets.

His passion lies in supporting growth of manufacturing & technology businesses and establishing a robust North American supply chain for electric vehicles. Actively contributing to various industry associations, committees, and councils like Propulsion Quebec, IPC, Aéro Montréal, and Forbes Business Council, Jarred also shares insights and expertise as a speaker, writer, and mentor for entrepreneurs and professionals. Recently honored as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 for Quebec, Canada, he holds an MBA, a graduate diploma in chartered accountancy, a Bcomm degree from Concordia University, and is a CPA.

Warren Ali is Director of Industry Innovation at the Vector Institute – a globally-renowned AI Institute that empowers researchers, businesses, and governments to develop and adopt AI responsibly. He leads the Mobility and Industrial Innovation portfolio, affectionately known as « Planes, Trains, and Automobiles ». In collaboration with Vector’s research faculty, expert team of AI engineers, and its corporate partners, they are accelerating the understanding of and experimentation with emerging AI tools and techniques to foster more commercialization and innovation to grow Canada’s economy.

Vincent Caron (Moderator)is Director, Policy & Ontario Government Relations at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), a member-driven association that directly represents more than 2,500 leading companies, accounting for an estimated 82 per cent of manufacturing output and 90 per cent of Canada’s exports.

As Director, Policy & Ontario Government Relations, Vincent oversees advocacy on the development of an Advanced Manufacturing Strategy in Ontario. He also advises on national member engagement and policy development on matters related to Canada’s growing EV Supply Chain.