Founder & Principal of The Forbes Group, Stephanie Forbes is a nationally recognized value chain expert with nearly 25 years of experience helping organizations build resilient, high-performing supply chains through optimization, sustainability, and governance.

Julie Gascon has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority since February 2024. With a distinguished career in Canada’s public service and maritime sector, she brings extensive leadership experience in maritime operations, regulatory oversight, and strategic governance.

A graduate of the Canadian Coast Guard College, she has held senior roles within Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard, including Assistant Commissioner for the Central and Arctic Region and Director General of Maritime Safety and Security. She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Pilotage Authority and currently sits on the boards of the Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Montréal International.

Sarah Nisker is Vice President of Supply Chain Planning & Initiatives at Loblaw Companies Limited, where she focuses on growing the company’s warehouse network and building a world-class supply chain.

She also serves as co-chair of the Go Further Women pillar at Loblaw and is passionate about supporting the development of future women leaders across supply chain and the broader enterprise.

Since joining Loblaw in 2011, Sarah has held a range of senior leadership roles across brands, operations, and process improvement, including Vice President of Food Safety, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs and Vice President of Loblaw Pharmacy Operations. She holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of Guelph and a law degree from Dalhousie University, and previously practiced law at Stikeman Elliott LLP while also serving as an expert advisor to the President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Anne No is Regional Vice President of Commercial Banking at RBC, where she leads a team of 300 professionals supporting mid-market businesses across the Quebec West region.

She also oversees specialized provincial teams serving the real estate, healthcare, media and entertainment, and public sectors. With more than 20 years at RBC, Anne works closely with entrepreneurs and business leaders to support growth, productivity, and expansion strategies. Earlier in her career, she worked as an engineer in the agri-food industry, giving her practical insight into manufacturing and operational realities. She also launched RBCx, RBC’s innovation and tech banking platform for Eastern Canada, and is known for connecting traditional industries with emerging technology sectors.

Melissa Cotton is Head of Federal Government Affairs, Canada at CN, bringing over 25 years of experience in government relations and political strategy.

She has held senior roles on Parliament Hill, working with Senators and Members of Parliament, and served as Managing Director of the Government Caucus Research Bureau, advising the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and government MPs. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Lobbyists of 2026 by The Hill Times, Melissa is known for her ability to work across sectors and political lines with integrity and impact.

She is actively involved in supply chain initiatives, including as Co-Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Supply Chain Council, and contributes regularly to industry discussions on policy and leadership.

Claudine Couture-Trudel is Vice President, ESG Policy and Future Initiatives at QSL, where she contributes to corporate strategy, ESG policy, public affairs, and governance.

A seasoned executive, lawyer, and MBA, she also serves on several boards, including Green Marine International and CargoM, and is recognized for mobilizing stakeholders to advance sustainable outcomes.

Darren Reynolds leads business development initiatives at CN, driving strategic opportunities with ports, short lines, and project partners while supporting operating efficiency and passenger rail cohabitation initiatives. He holds a degree in civil engineering from McGill University.

Ferdinand Gnaegi brings over 15 years of experience across transportation, warehousing, and continuous improvement. His background spans retail and air transport, including roles with SAQ and Air Canada, where he has focused on driving operational efficiency and supply chain performance.

Louis-Philippe Allard is Executive Director of CargoM, Greater Montreal’s logistics and transportation cluster, where he brings together key supply chain stakeholders to strengthen competitiveness, foster sustainable growth, and enhance the international visibility of Montreal’s logistics ecosystem.

With over 20 years of experience in operations management, strategic partnerships, and large-scale international events, he has held leadership roles at the International Economic Forum of the Americas and Finance Montréal, contributing to the expansion of global networks and the development of Quebec’s innovation ecosystem.

Deeply engaged in the entrepreneurial community, Louis-Philippe serves on several boards and actively supports economic development and innovation across Québec.

Pascal Filiatrault is a Consultant at Arctic Security Consultants and a senior executive specializing in security, climate risk, and crisis management, with over 20 years of international experience leading high-stakes operations across Canada, Africa, and Asia. A former military officer with international deployment experience, he brings a strong combination of strategic insight and operational leadership in complex and high-risk environments.

He has served as a Security Advisor with UNHCR in Africa, led emergency preparedness and resilience programs for major Canadian critical infrastructure sectors, and held senior leadership roles in the banking and energy industries. His work supports governments, financial institutions, and international organizations in navigating climate-driven disruptions, geopolitical volatility, and complex supply chain risks, particularly in remote and climate-exposed regions such as the Canadian Arctic.

Mathieu St-Pierre is President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council (SODES), a role he has held since January 2020. He brings extensive experience from the Government of Québec, where he served in senior roles including Press Officer for the Minister of Public Security and Chief of Staff for both the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Tourism. In his current role, he is actively involved in advancing Québec’s maritime and logistics ecosystem, contributing to key initiatives through organizations such as the Québec Maritime Network, the Institut France-Québec (IFQM), and the Global Observatory of the St. Lawrence (OGSL). He also co-chairs the Table québécoise sur le corridor économique intelligent and remains actively engaged in his community

Kelly Singleton, SCMP, FSCMP, is an accomplished supply chain leader with over 20 years of experience across procurement, logistics, inventory management, and trade compliance. As Director of Supply Chain at Price Industries, she is recognized for building strong supplier partnerships, optimizing sourcing strategies, and developing high-performing teams. In 2025, Kelly was awarded the Fellowship (FSCMP) designation by Supply Chain Canada—the organization’s highest honour—recognizing her leadership, mentorship, and contributions to the profession.

She has also served as President of the Manitoba Institute and Chair of the National Board, and is a dedicated instructor in the SCMP designation program.

Leslie Canavera is Chief Executive Officer of PolArctic, a data science company developing innovative artificial intelligence tools to address Arctic maritime challenges, including seasonal sea ice forecasting, nearshore depth analysis, precision fishing analytics, and aquaculture habitat mapping.

She holds an MBA with a concentration in International Business and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where she served as a commissioned officer. She later worked at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, leading programs with complex geospatial and analytics components, before founding PolArctic to bridge the gap between science and business needs. Leslie is Yup’ik, Alaska Native, born and raised in Alaska, and has been recognized with the 2022 Women in AI North America Award for AI for Good: ESG and named to the 2021 Forbes Next 1000.