RECOVERY SUMMIT SERIES
Moving the Toronto Region’s Economy Forward
Moving the Toronto Region’s Economy Forward
The Toronto region is Canada’s economic engine, home to the talent and innovation driving the nation’s prosperity.
Now, against the backdrop of a global pandemic, it has never been more important for global, national and regional experts to come together and discuss how a strong, inclusive and rapid recovery for the region can be achieved.
In a three-part virtual Recovery Summit Series, the Toronto Region Board of Trade will convene leaders and city-builders to discuss how to foster strategic partnerships and come back stronger.
Sessions tailored to the needs and challenges of the Toronto region and Innovation Corridor.
1World-class speakers, and public and private sector leaders discussing recovery from a sectoral, regional and global perspective.
Discussions on cross-sector opportunities for businesses as they plan for recovery and long-term growth.
Canada’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China
Mr. Dominic Barton was appointed as Canada’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of the China by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 4, 2019.
Prior to his nomination, Ambassador Barton was a Global Managing Partner at McKinsey & Company where he served from 2009 to 2018. Ambassador Barton also served as Chairman of Teck Resources and as Non-Executive Director at the Singtel Group in Singapore and Investor AB in Sweden. He was also a board member of the Olayan Group, a private family-owned company.
In 2016, Ambassador Barton assumed the responsibility of Chair for the Canadian Minister of Finance’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth. He was also the Chair of the Seoul International Business Advisory Council for six years prior to his nomination. Ambassador Barton also served as a Senior Trustee of the Brookings Institution, as a member of the Singapore Economic Development Board’s International Advisory Council, and as a member of the boards of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. Mr. Barton is also one of the founders of Focusing Capital on the Long Term (FCLTGlobal).
In 2018, Ambassador Barton was named Chancellor of the University of Waterloo. He has also served as Co-Chair on the Max Bell School of Public Policy Advisory Board at McGill University and on the University of Toronto Psychiatry Campaign Cabinet where he engaged in volunteer support, community outreach and leadership development. In addition to these roles, Ambassador Barton served on the board of the Malala Fund, has been actively involved in the HeForShe initiative, and worked with the Mastercard Foundation to create employment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ambassador Barton has co-authored four books, including on topics related to financial management and leadership. He is an Adjunct Professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, and the recipient of eight honorary doctorates, including from the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia and the University of Edinburgh.
Ambassador Barton graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and has a Master of Philosophy in Economics from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.
Ambassador Barton was born in Kampala, Uganda, in September 1962. He is married and has three children.
Canada’s Ambassador to France and Monaco
Ms. Isabelle Hudon was appointed ambassador of Canada to France and Monaco by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, on September 29th, 2017. She presented her letters of credence to President Emmanuel Macron on December 18th, 2017 and to H.S.H. Prince Albert II on April 24th 2018. In June, 2019, Ambassador Hudon was appointed personal representative of the Prime Minister of Canada for La Francophonie.
Prior to her appointment as ambassador, Ms. Hudon successively assumed the responsibilities of President and Chief Executive Officer for Sun Life Financial, Quebec while leading one of the four business lines as Senior Vice President for Sun Life Financial Canada. Under her leadership, Sun Life Financial experienced impressive growth in all business lines in Quebec and returned to a place of prominence in the community.
Ms. Hudon is well known as a businesswoman with outstanding leadership skills. Her strong business experience, boundless energy and deep community involvement have made her the centre of many networks. From 2004 to 2008, Ms. Hudon was president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, where she contributed to expanding the organization’s influence and confirming its relevance. She then served as president of Marketel.
In 2018, Ms. Hudon was appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, co-chair of the Gender Equality Advisory Council for Canada’s G7 Presidency. At the Charlevoix Summit in June 2018, Ms. Hudon shared with the G7 leaders the recommendations of the Advisory Council. She was also a member of the federal government’s advisory council created to promote the participation of women on corporate boards. She is the co-founder of L’Effet A, a movement that aims to help women achieve their professional ambitions.
Canada’s Ambassador to the United States of America
Kirsten Hillman was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to the United States of America in Washington D.C. in March 2020.
She served as Canada’s Acting Ambassador to the United States of America in Washington, D.C. since August 2019. Before that, she served as Deputy Ambassador in Washington from August 2017 to August 2019.
Prior to joining the Embassy of Canada to the United States, Ms. Hillman held the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of the Trade Agreements and Negotiations Branch at Global Affairs Canada, overseeing all of Canada’s trade policy and trade negotiations. She was also Canada’s Chief Negotiator for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Ms. Hillman has held various positions at home and abroad, including Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of the Trade Policy Branch and Senior Legal Adviser at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
Before joining Global Affairs Canada, Ms. Hillman practised law in the private sector in Montréal and at the Department of Justice in Ottawa.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Common Law from McGill University.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen is the Member of Parliament for York South—Weston. A community advocate and lawyer, he has proudly represented the residents of York South-Weston since 2015.
Ahmed immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 as a refugee. After attending high school in Hamilton, Ontario, Ahmed worked at the Hamilton—Wentworth social services department before he settled in Toronto in 1997. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at York University and soon co-founded the Regent Park Community Council. As the president of this organization, Ahmed played a key role in fiercely advocating for Regent Park’s 15,000 residents, securing a $500 Million investment to revitalize Regent Park. He was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for his leadership efforts in the Regent Park Community.
Serving as National President for the Canadian Somali Congress, Ahmed worked with national and regional authorities to advocate on important issues to Canadians of Somali heritage, strengthening civic engagement and integration. His results-driven reputation led to an invitation from the Toronto City Summit Alliance to join the task force for modernizing income security for working adults. As a result of his advocacy work, the Toronto Star recognized Ahmed as one of ten individuals in Toronto to have made substantial contributions to the city. Ahmed has also worked as a Special Assistant for intergovernmental affairs to former Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
After earning a law degree from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Ahmed Hussen practised law in the areas of criminal defence, immigration and refugee law, and human rights.
Ahmed was elected as the Member of Parliament for York South—Weston in 2015 and sat on the Justice and Human Rights Committee. He was also the vice-chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association. In January 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Ahmed as Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship.
Ahmed was subsequently re-elected as the Member of Parliament for York South—Weston in October 2019. On November 20, 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Ahmed Hussen as Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
Our Transportation Summit has proven the Board’s ability to convene the most influential people for a day of candid conversations and cutting-edge thought leadership. This is who was in the room in 2019.
