Navigating Geopolitical Shifts

Tara Craigen – Manufacturing Engineering Director, General Motors Canada

Tara began her career at General Motors twenty-five years ago, navigating various leadership positions in Quality Engineering and Manufacturing Operations across the Oshawa Car and Truck plants.  In 2016, Tara’s career took a significant turn as she stepped into the role of Operational Excellence Leader.  Her tenure in this position was distinguished by several successful cross-functional projects that not only enhanced processes but also led to multi-million dollar savings for GM.

In 2018, Tara transitioned to the Canadian Technical Center in Markham as an Engineering Manager.  Here, she put her passion for innovation and technology at the forefront, leading dynamic teams of software and controls engineers dedicated to the development of cutting-edge technologies in active safety, electric vehicles (EV), and autonomous systems.  Tara led the Lateral & Vehicle Path Controls team working on Super Cruise and other features, as well as the Advanced Vehicle Prognostics team focused on predicting potential failures before they occur.

In 2024, Tara returned to the Oshawa Assembly Plant as the Manufacturing Engineering Director, where she provides technical leadership and strategic direction to the plant’s engineering, facilities and maintenance teams.

Tara has a Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from McGill University and has two patented inventions.   Outside of her professional commitments, Tara enjoys a fulfilling personal life, celebrating over 20 years of marriage and raising three children.  In her free time, she enjoys gardening, small home improvement projects, furniture restoration and reading the latest book about dragons.

François Desmarais has joined the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) in 2024 as their Director for Trade and Industry Affairs and has been since promoted as Vice President. He has extensive private sector experience, having previously worked for large international consortiums in the defense and the transportation sectors. François honed his public policy skills having also worked a decade in various governmental organizations, from the Office of the Minister of Industry, the Senate of Canada, and the National Assembly of Québec, as well as abroad for the European Commission, Canadian missions to the OSCE and to the EU. He holds a Bachelor degree in Political Science and a Certificate in German Studies from the Université de Montréal, and a Master degree in Political Science from Université Laval. François is fluent in French, English, and German.

A seasoned business leader with 25 years experience as a senior communications executive and  spokesperson, Amy MacLeod was named Vice President of Corporate Communications at MDA Space in  2021, pivoting her career into the rapidly expanding space industry. An expert in shaping complex  business, financial, and technical developments into strategic communications programs, Amy believes  that good communication comes from connecting people with information that conveys passion and  purpose, and that truth simply told is the best path to leadership, influence and personal and corporate  credibility.

Prior to joining MDA Space, Amy held a series of executive communications positions in the technology  and defence sectors, most recently serving as Vice President, Corporate Affairs and External  Communications at Seaspan Shipyards where she helped to establish the company’s brand as a modern  industry leading shipbuilder. Prior to Seaspan, Amy served as Vice President, Corporate Communications at Mitel where she had global responsibility for all communications. In 2018 she was appointed as  Mitel’s first Corporate Diversity Officer with a mandate to drive strategic business and cultural change  for the company globally. Earlier in her career, Amy worked in progressively senior communications  roles at General Dynamics Canada, Alcatel-Lucent, and Newbridge Networks Corporation. She began her  career as a political staffer on Parliament Hill.

Amy obtained a Bachelor of Political Science from the University of Waterloo. She has also completed a  Certification in Diversity and Inclusion, at Cornell University; and the Executive Development Marketing  Program, at Queen’s University.

Amy has served as Chair of Board for the Kanata North Business Association, home to Canada’s largest  technology park, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for CADSI, the Canadian  Association of Defence and Security Industries, and for the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. A  frequent speaker and moderator, Amy has been invited to share her expertise at many speaking  engagements and conferences, including TEDx Kanata. She was a finalist for the 2019 Ottawa Business  Women of the Year award, which recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding leaders in the  National Capital Region.

A fiercely proud Canadian, Amy grew up in a mining town in Northern Ontario with five older brothers  and sisters. She lives in Ottawa with her unflappable husband Greg and inspiring daughter Arwen.

Ryan Greer is Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and National Policy at Canadian Manufacturers &  Exporters (CME), where he drives national policy development, communications and advocacy efforts  for Canada’s manufacturing sector.

With 20 years in senior public policy roles in Ottawa, Ryan has deep expertise in federal policy  frameworks and the political dynamics that shape them. He previously served a Senior Director at Hill &  Knowlton Strategies, advising public, private and non-profit organizations on corporate communications,  thought leadership, and public affairs. Earlier, as a Senior Director at the Canadian Chamber of  Commerce, he led national businesses advocacy across a range of issues including transportation,  infrastructure, supply chains, procurement, regulatory burden, and interprovincial trade.

Ryan began his career in the federal government, working in the Prime Minister’s Office and later as a  Senior Advisor to the Ministers of Public Works and Government Services, Human Resources and Skills  Development, and Small Business and Tourism.

Jay Judkowitz is the head of Product and Engineering for Rockwell Automation’s Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) group, coming in through the Clearpath Robotics acquisition. Jay’s team is responsible for Rockwell’s AMR roadmap, design, development, testing, and handoff to manufacturing of AMR hardware and software. Before Jay’s 6 years in the AMR space, he had a long tenure in information technology and cloud products including long stints with industry leaders including Intel, VMware, and Google Cloud. Jay worked 21 years in Silicon Valley before immigrating to Canada in early 2017.

Rhonda Barnet is Senior Advisor to AVIT Manufacturing, a family-owned automation and engineering company she helped grow into a global supplier for leading multinationals including GE, Toyota, Honda, and Siemens. Previously serving as President & COO, she led the company through expansion, international growth, and digital transformation.

Barnet also served as CEO of Palette Skills, where she launched Upskill Canada, a landmark national workforce development initiative backed by a $250M federal investment. She scaled Palette Skills from a small startup into a national organization delivering programs that have connected thousands of Canadians with high-demand jobs.

A recognized governance leader and advocate for Canadian manufacturing, Barnet was the first woman Chair of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, a member of the federal Industry Strategy Council, and has held board roles with Next Generation Manufacturing Canada and the Electrical Safety Authority. She is a sought-after voice on innovation, skills, diversity, and the future of work.