Ontario Women in Manufacturing Forum

8:30 a.m. - Registration & Networking Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - Welcome Remarks

Dennis joined CME in 2017 after nine years as CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association and a 24 year-long career in senior management at Procter & Gamble, including leadership roles in the US and Europe. He is an accredited corporate director, having received his ICD.D designation in 2011. Dennis has served on a number of industry and charity boards as both director and Chair.

9:05 a.m. - CME Women in Manufacturing National Updates

In 2018, Angela was appointed VP Manufacturing, at ArcelorMittal Dofasco the first female to ever hold the role in the company’s 106-year history. In July 2019, she was appointed Chief Transformation Officer. This current assignment has Angela at the helm of a program to work with all areas and levels of ArcelorMittal Dofasco to accelerate the company’s adoption of technology and challenge assumptions about the way employees work, creating a leaner, more efficient and more productive organization that provides its employees with a more rewarding work experience. An important area of focus for Angela is increasing the number of women in STEM careers as well as inspiring women within the metals industry.

9:15 a.m. - Championing Women in Manufacturing - Panel Discussion

Karen is the President and Founder of KPM Power Inc, a Toronto based company, focused on lithium-ion battery solutions, and specializing in Battery Management Systems. She is an ardent supporter of the advancement and implementation of clean technologies is committed to fueling these initiatives to get to market. Karen is a mechanical engineer with over 20 years experience in supply chain and program management. She is also passionate about encouraging and empowering more women and other underrepresented groups in STEM, and supporting initiatives and programs that remove the barriers to affordable food, shelter and education, so that every individual can have the right to focus on reaching their potential.

Marc Duplessis is responsible for Total Rewards, Human Resources at TMMC’s automotive manufacturing operations in Canada. This includes the assembly plants in Cambridge and Woodstock, Ontario which produce the gas and hybrid models of the Toyota RAV4, the Lexus RX, and the Lexus NX. TMMC has an annual capacity of more than 500,000 vehicles. 

In his current position, Marc is responsible for the design and administration of all compensation programs, including pay, benefits, and pension for both hourly and salaried team members. He is also responsible for all talent management for salaried team members, including annual performance appraisal, potential identification, and management promotion selection. 

Katia Sokolova is a Director, Senior Commercial Markets with over 20 years of personal and business banking experience. She holds a Master in Economics. Katia is a passionate, dedicated, and client focused sales professional who is driven, results oriented, and focuses on building strong relationships with clients.

Katia works as part of the Senior Commercial Markets – Supply Chain team at RBC, which was established to better serve the unique and more complex needs of larger commercial clients with an annual sales revenue of $25 to $100 million or credit needs of over $10 million.

10:15 a.m. - Networking Break

10:30 a.m. - Leadership Tools of the Trade: Skills and Strategies for Success

Kim has spent over twenty years as a strategist in advisory and C-suite roles. Her area of specialization is strategic transformation and change, with a focus on board effectiveness, CEO-board strategic engagement, and C-suite strategic planning. As Head of Odgers Berndtson’s Board + CEO Advisory Practice, she is responsible for helping clients implement high-impact organization transformation solutions, including Board advisory, culture and talent strategy, succession planning and strategy development.

Robert (Rob) specializes in recruiting senior executives and board directors in the Mining, Energy & Utilities, Manufacturing, and Infrastructure sectors. Rob has worked with a variety of clients, from small, high-growth organizations to large global organizations. He is passionate about helping clients increase their competitiveness through strategic additions to their teams. Prior to joining Odgers Berndtson, Robert led the manufacturing division of a leading consulting engineering firm focused on delivering world-class Industrial construction projects.

11:15 a.m. - Keynote Address: Supporting Women in Manufacturing

Karen is a leading global go-to expert for organizations who want to get equality work right. A proud Kenyan Canadian, Karen Craggs-Milne is a recognized global expert with over 20 years of international experience promoting equity, diversity, anti-racism, gender equality, and inclusion. Karen is an Obama White House recognized Gender Equality Changemaker (2016) and a Global Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals (2018), “LinkedinGlobalSuperHero (2020) and a Top 100 Canadian Professional (2020).

As Founder and CEO of Conscious Equality Incorporated, Karen works globally with NGOs, Corporations, and Governments to deliver on their equality mandates intentionally and with real impact. Karen’s passion is to educate and equip others on this work.

12:00 p.m. - Networking Lunch

1:00 p.m. - The Next Generation: Youth Perspectives on Manufacturing - Panel Discussion

Mya is a recent graduate of the Introduction to Millwrighting Program for Women, a joint venture between The Millwright Regional Council and the national non-profit, Build a Dream. It was first launched earlier this year at the Ontario Power Generation, with cohorts slated for October in Windsor, ON, and November in Chesley, ON with Bruce Power. She is passionate about the field of millwrighting. With her past experience in electrical systems and blueprint reading, she has adapted to the technical mechanical work with ease. Mya has developed a strong foundation in safety and technical skills that are essential for a successful career in this dynamic industry.

Angela joined HCM in 2019. Throughout her time at at the company, Angela has held various roles, including Paint Line Associate and Assembly Frame Line Associate, gaining valuable experience across different areas of production.

Passionate about empowering women in the workplace, Angela has served as both Community Chair and Culture Chair of the Women Powering Honda Business Resource Group. This group fosters a supportive environment for women to share insights, enhance leadership and communication skills, and deepen their knowledge of manufacturing through networking and collaboration with industry peers.

2:00 p.m. - HerStory Keynote

Debbie Slater is the Director of Manufacturing at Maple Leaf Foods and the Plant Manager of their Brampton Facility. With over 35 years of experience, Debbie started her career in manufacturing at Catamaran Sail/Power Boats before entering the food industry over 10 years ago. As Co- Chair of Maple Leaf Food’s Women in Manufacturing employee resource group, Debbie is deeply committed to mentoring and empower women. Her passion lies in fostering opportunities for women to have “a voice at the table” and driving change to see more women in manufacturing positions.

2:30 p.m. - Closing Remarks

*Please note – the agenda is subject to change.