The WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation, National Research Council of Canada: Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), Automate Canada and Innovation Guelph invite SME’s and entrepreneurs to join us to take part in the first virtual Emerging Technologies in Automation Conference on March 22, 2021.

Participants will hear from renowned speakers and women entrepreneurs who will share their journeys to success and showcase the technologies, skills and solutions they have developed and implemented. Joining the event will be lifelong entrepreneur and former CBC “Dragon” Bruce Croxon and IBM’s VP, Technology Group Skills Vitality & Enablement, professional speaker and author Paul Zikopoulos who will be sharing their wisdom, advice and experience. The five inspiring women pioneers from across Canada include Karen Lai KPM Power Inc, CEO (Toronto), Andrea Descargar, Green City Plastics-Windsor, Business Development and Sales, Madison Guy GrantMe Education Consulting Inc., Founder and CEO (Vancouver), Pooja Viswanathan, Braze Mobility Inc., CEO (Toronto) and Nancy Campana, Nouveau Event Planning, Owner. They will share their journeys to success including all the ups and downs along the way.

This program is being offered as part of the region’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, funded by the Federal Government and in partnership with IRAP, Automate Canada and Innovation Guelph. This strategy, in collaboration with 5 partners (EPICentre, Workforce WindsorEssex, WEtech Alliance, WECAN Investors, Build a Dream) encourages and promotes women entrepreneurs to start and grow emerging technology businesses.

Please visit emergingtechnologies.ca for further event details and speaker information.

This event is day 1 of Emerging Tech Days - Tech Week YQG 2021 (March 22 - 28). Tech Week YQG 2021 is spearheaded by WEtech Alliance and powered by the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation.

Agenda

1:00 p.m.

Welcome and Introduction to Irek Kusmierczyk by Lee McGrath, Director of Business Retention and Expansion, WE EDC

Greetings from Irek Kusmierczyk Member of Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

Welcome by Shelley Fellows, Chair of Automate Canada

Introduction: Vladimir Franjo, Industrial Research Advisor, National Research Council Canada, Industrial Research Assistance Program

Speaker: Paul Zikopoulos, Vice President IBM Technology Group Skills Vitality & Enablement, IBM

1:40 p.m.

Introduction: Anne Toner Fung, CEO Innovation Guelph

Speaker: Karen Lai, CEO, KPM Power Inc

2:00 p.m.

Introduction: Wendy Stark, Manager of Business Retention and Expansion WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation

Speaker: Andrea Descargar, Business Development and Sales, Green City Plastics

2:20 pm

Introduction: Linda Horowitz, Program Manager Scale-Up/SME Programs, Innovation Guelph

Speaker: Madison Guy, Founder and CEO, GrantMe Education Consulting Inc.

2:40 p.m.

Introduction: Katherine Laycock, Program Manager Rhyze Ventures Program, Innovation Guelph

Speaker: Pooja Viswanathan, CEO, Braze Mobility Inc.

3:00 p.m.

Introduction: Lee McGrath, Director, BR&E, WE EDC

Speaker: Nancy Campana, Owner, Nouveau Event Planning

3:20 p.m.

Introduction: Vladimir Franjo, Industrial Research Advisor, NRCA-IRAP

Speaker: Bruce Croxon, Growth Stage Digital Investor, Round 13 Capital; Former Dragon, CBC’s Dragon’s Den