11th Annual Transportation Symposium: Multi-modal momentum

8:30 – 9:30 am: Registration and Networking Breakfast

9:30 – 9:40 am: Welcome Remarks

• Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

9:40 – 9:50 am: Presentation: Building a Multi-Modal Region

As population growth, congestion, and economic pressures intensify, no single mode can meet the region’s needs on its own. We will explore how transit, roads, rail, air, marine, and active transportation must be planned and delivered as a cohesive network to support mobility, goods movement, and economic competitiveness. 

9:55 – 10:25 am: Fireside Chat

10:25 – 10:25 am: Panel Intro

• Olivier Marcil, Vice President Communications & Public Affairs Canada, Alstom

10:30 – 11:10 am: Panel 1: Transit as the Backbone: The Path to Reliable, Integrated Service

A strong transit network is the foundation of a functioning multi-modal system but delivery, reliability, and integration remain persistent challenges. This panel will discuss how better transit outcomes are essential not just for commuters, but for employers, downtown vitality, and the region’s broader economic performance.

• Josh Colle, Chief Strategy & Customer Experience Officer, TTC 
• Maureen Cosyn Heath, Director of Transit, City of Mississauga (MiWay) 
• Maya Kolaczynski, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, Metrolinx
• Souheil Abihanna, President of Alstom for Canada, Alstom 

Moderator:

• Isaac Callan, Digital Broadcast Journalist, Global News Toronto

11:10 – 11:25 am: Networking Break

11:25 – 11:40 am: Executive Snapshot: Toronto as a Global Gateway

Air Canada will present an overview of its operations, contributions to the economy in Toronto and across the country and integral role towards the trade diversification agenda.

• Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President & COO, Air Canada

11:40 – 12:00 pm: In conversation Ports, Trade, and Economic Resilience

Our ports serve as critical economic infrastructure, supporting trade diversification, supply chain continuity, and global connectivity amid geopolitical uncertainty. The discussion will explore how ports provide stability when Canada–U.S. dynamics fluctuate, how resilience can be strengthened in a dense urban environment with limited room to expand, and what the future holds for ports in Toronto and beyond. 

• Shangeeta Snape, Mobility Business Area Director, Arcadis
• RJ Steenstra, President & CEO, Toronto Port Authority 

12:00 –  1:05 pm: Lunch and Networking

1:05 –  1:15 pm: Panel Intro 

• Jennifer Freeman, Executive Director, Office of Research Services, Ontario Tech University

1:15 –  1:25 pm: Video Remarks

• Hon. Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Government of Canada

1:25 – 2:05 pm: Panel 2: Delivering High-Speed Rail at Scale

High-speed rail has the potential to reshape Canada’s economy by connecting regions, reducing congestion, and strengthening national competitiveness. Hear what it will take to deliver a high-speed rail project of this scale faster, more cost-effectively, and with lasting economic impact.

• Marc Boucher, Senior Vice-President, Market Lead, Transportation, AtkinsRéalis
• Mavara Turab, VP, Engineering, Alto
• Russell Jackson, Chief Executive Interim, Global Transportation, AECOM

2:05 –  2:45 pm: Panel 3: Multi-Modal Momentum In Practice 

• Mike Branch, VP, Data & Analytics, Geotab

2:45 – 3:00 pm: Networking Break

2:55 – 3:40 pm: Panel 4: Financing and Delivering Major Transportation Projects

The Toronto region is planning some of the most ambitious transportation investments in its history, yet major projects remain slow, complex, and increasingly expensive. Panelists will explore where projects most often break down, how risk can be better allocated, and how technology, governance, and financing tools can improve certainty and outcomes. 

• Arthur Nicolet, CEO, Transdev Canada
• Arnaud Besse, Chief Operating Officer, Hitachi Rail Canada
• Moderator: Raly Chakarova, Executive Director, TARBA

3:40 – 4:00 pm: Lightning Talks: Big, Bold Ideas to Meet the Moment 

This high-energy lightning talk session invites bold, unconventional ideas about how people and goods could move in the Toronto region in the years ahead. 

4:00 – 4:10 pm: Thank you

• Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

4:10 – 5:30 pm: Multi-modal Mixer 

Where momentum meets connection. Enjoy our enhanced networking reception, complete with an open bar and curated appetizers, designed to foster meaningful connections among executives, policymakers, infrastructure leaders, and innovators.