Event Details

Colin Singh Dhillon is the Chief Technical Officer at Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, and a globally recognized Thought Leader. He is leading connected and autonomous vehicle technology projects and providing support to both the Canadian automotive industry and multiple levels of Government on matters of cybersecurity, mobility, SMART infrastructure, and Industry 4.0 initiatives.

With over twenty years of experience in the automotive sector, and multiple patents in his name, Colin has been a visionary in establishing and implementing new ideas to support innovative design. His prior responsibilities for this global Tier 1 parts supplier have included being the lead in Advanced Manufacturing, Marketing & Communication, Design, Corporate Social Responsibility, and leading the global Advanced Product Development team.

His diverse background provides valuable insights when challenged with solving new problems. In addition to his position as CTO, he also continues to spread his passion for innovation and design-thinking through speaking engagements and lectures at academic institutions and global conferences. Colin is also a member of EyesOn Design judging panel at the annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Charles is the executive director of Cybersecure Catalyst, Ryerson University’s new centre of collaboration and excellence in cybersecurity training, commercial acceleration, support for applied R&D, and public education.
 

Charles brings extensive experience in public administration, law and finance to this role. Most recently, Charles served as chief of staff and director of policy for the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Growth. In these positions, he worked closely with private sector and government leaders to develop and implement the province’s strategy to make Ontario a global leader in technology innovation and commercialization.

Prior to joining government, Charles was senior legal counsel at BMO Capital Markets, practiced law at Torys LLP, worked as a technology researcher at Forrester Research and was a freelance business journalist for The Globe and Mail and Canadian Business Magazine.

Mr. Tony Hui is the Senior Associate Director of Innovation Solutions at Bell Canada.

Tony Hui has over twenty-five years of experience developing innovative applications and services for wireless networks. Tony has developed and launched Prepaid Wireless, Location Enablement Platform, Multi-Media Messaging, Mobile Internet of Thing (M-IoT) and other enhanced services for Bell Mobility. Tony has also developed smart cities, smart agriculture and connected vehicle Proof of Concepts (PoC) for LTE and 5G networks.

Tony is an active participant of CRTC Emergency Services and Network Working Groups and was a key member of the architecture and specifications team for Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) and Wireless Public Alerting Services (WPAS).

Tony recently demonstrated Tele-Operated Driving and 5G based HD Map Navigation and Vulnerable Road User (VRU) detection to 5G Automotive Association members and invited guests.
Tony is a Computer Engineering graduate of McMaster University and has been a member of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) since 1990.

Ysni Semsedini is CEO of Festival Hydro Inc. and its affiliate company Rhyzome Networks. The companies are wholly owned by the City of Stratford. Festival Hydro services more than 20,000 customers in the municipalities of Stratford, St. Marys, Seaforth, Hensall, Zurich, Dashwood and Brussels and Rhyzome Networks manages the fiber grid, co-location space and wireless ISP assets in Festival Hydro’s service territory.

Ysni received a B. ESc degree in Electrical Engineering and a M. ESc degree in Power Systems from Western University, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. Ysni is a registered P. Eng with the Professional Engineers of Ontario and has worked in the industry for almost 15 years.

Peter Watkins is Chief Operating Officer for QA Consultants, the largest specialized software systems testing firm in North America.

His responsibility is to lead the continued growth and success of QAC in Canada, the US and International markets. He has been in this role for 5 years. He leads QAC’s services for software testing of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and Canada’s participation in a three-year program with Canada, Germany, Sweden, Turkey and Portugal to develop advanced testing methodologies and tools for testing of highly complex multi variant configurable systems His prior positions include:
• ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS – Global Leader of Financial Services
• THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES – EVP and Chief Technology Officer.
• CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE – EVP and Chief Information Officer.
• ERNST AND YOUNG - Managing Partner for Financial Industry and Technology Practice.

Mr Watkins is a member of a number of associations and served on the Executive Client Advisory Council for AT&T, the Advisory Council for AT&T Wireless, the board of the World Confederation of Productivity Science ,the World Economic Forum Digital Divide Task Force and the Board of the International Association of Innovation Professionals (IAOIP). He was recently awarded a Fellowship in the World Academy of Productivity Science for his contributions to productivity science and elected as President of the World Network of Productivity Organizations.

Peter Watkins has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in computer science and an M.B.A. from Ivey University.