Ontario Intercity Travel Summit
Improving the Windsor-Toronto-Ottawa Corridor
Toronto Metropolitan University - Ted Rogers School of Management
October 2, 2026 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Confirmed Speakers
(In alphabetical order)
Vince Accardi
Ontario Motor Coach Association & Motor Coach Canada
Vince’s career has been spent working with like-minded professionals who are passionate about building a competitive and vibrant tourism and transportation sector in Canada. He is an accomplished industry professional with comprehensive experience in association management, marketing, government relations and business development in national and provincial, not-for-profit associations. Vince leads the associations advocacy for the Motor Coach and Group Travel sector and advocates on both federal and provincial regulatory issues.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Where the Wheels Hit the Road, Rail and Tarmac
Regional Chief Abram Benedict
Chiefs of Ontario
Abram Benedict represents the Haudenosaunee tradition of leadership—rooted in respect, accountability, and service to the community. As the first Haudenosaunee person to hold the Ontario Regional Chief position in recent history, he brings unique perspectives and a deep commitment to Indigenous sovereignty and rights. His career demonstrates a proven track record of building relationships based on mutual respect, navigating complex negotiations, and delivering tangible results for First Nations communities.
Virginie Cousineau
Cadence
Virginie Cousineau is Senior Director, Public Affairs at Cadence, a group of Canadian and international companies with world-class expertise in the large-scale transportation infrastructure sector selected by the Government of Canada to develop Canada’s first high-speed rail network with Alto. An executive leader with more than 25 years of experience in public affairs, government relations, and stakeholder engagement, Virginie has led strategic outreach efforts for some of Canada’s largest infrastructure projects, including the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) and Québec City’s TramCité project. Known for building trusted relationships across governments and communities, she excels at navigating complex environments, fostering collaboration, and advancing projects that create long-term public value.
Maria Luisa Dominguez
Alto
With more than 25 years of extensive executive experience in the rail industry, Maria Luisa Dominguez joined Alto High-Speed Rail as Chief Project Management Officer. Prior to joining the organization, Maria Luisa oversaw the successful expansion of Spain’s HSR network. During her time at Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF), Maria Luisa held several senior management roles, including Head of High-Speed Projects, Managing Director for Strategy, Planning and Projects, and President-CEO. She also served as President of the European Railway Infrastructure Managers Association. Maria Luisa holds a Master’s Degree in civil engineering with a specialization in transport infrastructure and a Master’s Degree in International Strategic Management from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), and earned a Law Degree from the National University of Distance Education. Dedicated to continuous learning, she has completed several management development programs and regularly contributes to the training of young professionals by giving masterclasses at various universities – a commitment that led to her appointment as Ad Honorem Professor at UPM.
Erin Durant
Durant Barristers
Erin Durant founded Durant Barristers after practicing as a partner at one of Canada’s largest law firms. She is an investigator, researcher, mediator and arbitrator who specializes in situations at workplaces, universities, municipal governments, and in sport environments. Erin has litigated in all levels of Court in Ontario, administrative tribunals, Federal Court, and arbitrations. She is the recipient of various recognitions from legal associations including: OBA’s David W. Scott Pro Bono Award, the CCLA Regional Senior Justice Award, Advocates’ Society’s Writer’s Award and Canadian Defence Lawyer’s Outstanding Young Litigator Award. Erin is recognized in various industry publications including Best Lawyers, Lexpert and was named one of Canadian Lawyers’ “Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers”. Along with a B.A. (Hons. History) from the University of Ottawa and a J.D. (Hons.) from Queens University, she completed Harvard Law School’s “Leadership in Law Firms” Executive Education course. As a resident living and working in the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail corridor, Erin receives regular communication from other concerned residents through her law practice and writes about these issues on her Substack. She is interested in obtaining a Masters Degree and becoming more active in the development of public policy.
Tamara Gilbert
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Tamara Gilbert is an accomplished leader with experience across various public policy sectors, including transportation, energy, education, justice, and health. During her 20 years in government, Tamara has driven transformative change, and led the teams responsible for launching Ontario’s first Virtual Learning Strategy, modernizing victim services, and developing a significantly expanded electricity energy efficiency framework. Since January 2025, Tamara is serving as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Integrated Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Transportation where she leads a dynamic team focused on developing policies, plans and tools to meet the mobility and transportation needs of people and businesses in Ontario. Her division’s work spans priorities such as the 401 tunnel feasibility study, the Ontario Marine Strategy and the EV Charge-On program. Tamara holds Master of Public Policy and Public Administration, LL.B., and B.A. degrees. She is also an alumna of the Ivey Senior Public Sector Leader Program.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Where the Wheels Hit the Road, Rail and Tarmac
Adrian Lightstone
CPCS
Adrian Lightstone is Senior Vice President, Advanced Markets (Canada, UK, US) at CPCS. His expertise is unlocking major infrastructure projects for clients, and has led several complex multidisciplinary transportation projects relating to regional transportation, intercity rail, transit and freight. Having served clients in Canada, the US, the UK, Sweden and Australia, Adrian mixes his strategic advisory experience and deep knowledge of feasibility and due diligence studies, business case, financial and economic modelling, policy and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining CPCS, he worked with WSP and HDR. Adrian holds a Master of Science in Economics from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and a Bachelor of Science and Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Where the Wheels Hit the Road, Rail and Tarmac
Robert Martin
Mainstreet Research
Robert Martin is a Senior Data Analyst at Mainstreet Research. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s Degree in Biology (BioInformatics) from Brock University. He works at designing surveys, focusing on how the public perceives politics and the world around them, and how that impacts their vote intention in upcoming election. He also specializes in modeling those electoral outcomes, using demographic data to find insights into how the electoral map changes between elections.
Peter Miasek
Transport Action Canada
Peter is a vice president with Transport Action Canada, a long-standing non-government organization advocating for integrated rail and bus-based public transportation. He is also chair of Markham’s Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, director of the Unionville Residents Association, and sits on other committees working on land use planning and drinking water protection in the Greater Toronto Area. A chemist by training, Peter worked for over 30 years with a large Canadian oil company in the fields of research, chemicals and environmental protection.
SESSION: Assessing Corridor Alternatives and Opportunity Costs
Robert Miller
Davies Howe LLP
Robert (Bob) Miller is a partner at Davies Howe LLP who practices in the areas of land development, municipal law, and expropriation law. He was called to the Ontario Bar in June 1989. He represents both public and private sector clients, providing guidance on the resolution of infrastructure, land acquisition, land use and division matters, including official planning, zoning, variance, site planning, consent, subdivisions, and expropriation matters. Prior to joining Davies Howe, Bob was the Assistant Town Solicitor for a GTA local municipality and the senior planning lawyer for a GTA regional municipality. Bob regularly appears before the Ontario Land Tribunal, the Ontario Energy Board and other administrative tribunals, municipal councils and committees, and the courts to advocate for his clients.
Mayor Josh Morgan
City of London
Josh Morgan was elected as London’s 65th Mayor on October 24th, 2022. Prior to that, he had served two terms as the City Councillor for Ward 7 being elected in 2014 and again in 2018 with support from 75% of voters. Mayor Morgan is a current member of the London Police Services Board, Western University Board of Governors, as well as boards for London Economic Development Corporation, RBC Place, and Tourism London. In addition, he is a member of Civic Works Committee, Community and Protective Services Committee, Corporate Services Committee, Planning and Environment Committee, and Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee. Mayor Morgan has previously served as the City of London Budget Chair for both the 2016-2019 and 2020-2023 multi-year budgets. He stepped down from that role when he was appointed Deputy Mayor in December 2020, a position he occupied until he was elected Mayor in 2022. He holds undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science, as well as an MA in Political Science, from Western University.
SESSION: Assessing Corridor Alternatives and Opportunity Costs
Chris Prentice
Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation
Chris is the Founding Director of the Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation and has been its President since 2003. A native of Toronto and a graduate of York University, Chris has an extensive background in public transit management in Welland, Brampton and Halifax, beginning his career as an operating coach cleaner with the Toronto Transit Commission in 1967. He was a Senior Public Transit Consultant with Delcan, IBI Group and Arcadis for 33 years and is a past President of the Ontario Urban Transit Association. He is also a past member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Public Transit Association and the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA). He was chair of CUTA’s Awards Committee for 22 years and was the recipient of the William G. Ross Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
SESSION: Assessing Corridor Alternatives and Opportunity Costs
Pierre Santoni
VIA Rail Canada
Pierre Santoni is the Director, Business Development and Partnerships for VIA Rail Canada, where he has been employed for over 39 years. In addition to extensive work in tourism, marketing, and sales, he also has 10 years of experience in advertising and media. He is a graduate of both Algonquin College (broadcasting) and McGill University (Master’s degree, Management). He is a Board Member of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission and Developmental Services of Leeds and Grenville. His previous volunteer work includes Ontario Special Olympics, Blue Jays Foundation, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, Destination Canada’s Emerging Markets Committee, Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto Argonauts Foundation and four Grey Cup Committees.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Where the Wheels Hit the Road, Rail and Tarmac
Jake Schabas
Metrolinx
Bio coming soon!
PANEL DISCUSSION: Where the Wheels Hit the Road, Rail and Tarmac
Michael Schabas
Rail Expert
Born and raised in Toronto, Michael Schabas has been planning, building and operating all types of railways for almost 50 years — in Canada, Australia, China, Nigeria, Germany, Norway, the USA, and the UK. He conceived the routes and business cases for London’s Jubilee Line Extension, Toronto’s Ontario Line and GO Electrification, and helped shape London’s Overground, DLR, and HS1. Michael founded GB Railways which operated profitable intercity passenger services between London, Norwich, and Hull. He also founded GB Railfreight, now Britain’s largest freight operator, and Great Southern, which rescued Australia’s long-distance trains and made them profitable. Michael has been planning high-speed rail in the Windsor-Quebec City corridor since 2012, and founded Intercity Rail Developers, one of the unsuccessful bidders for the role of Alto co-developer. In early 2026 he published a Conceptual Design and Business Case for Alto, proposing and evaluating many ways to increase benefits and reduce costs. Michael holds a Masters in Transport Planning and Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School, and a B. Architecture degree from the University of Toronto.
SESSION: Assessing Corridor Alternatives and Opportunity Costs
Matti Siemiatycki
Infrastructure Institute at the School of Cities, University of Toronto
Matti Siemiatycki is the Director of the Infrastructure Institute at the School of Cities, University of Toronto, and Professor in the Department of Geography & Planning. Matti’s work focuses on delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, evidence based infrastructure investment decisions, and the effective integration of infrastructure into the fabric of cities. His recent studies explore transit policy decisions, the value for money of public-private partnerships, the development of innovative mixed-use buildings as a form of place based infrastructure policy, and the diversity gap in the infrastructure industry workforce. Matti consults widely on infrastructure policy and is a frequent media commentator on infrastructure and city planning. He holds a Ph.D in urban planning from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s in Geography from Oxford University.
SESSION: Assessing Corridor Alternatives and Opportunity Costs
Ranbir Singh
Air Canada
Ranbir Singh is Director, Regional Airlines and Markets at Air Canada. He has held progressively senior roles over the last 16 years in the Operations and Network Planning branches. In his current role, Ranbir oversees Air Canada’s capacity purchasing agreements with its regional airline (Jazz Aviation, PAL Airlines) and intermodal partners (The Landline Company) and engages with stakeholders in regional markets across Canada. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from York University.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Where the Wheels Hit the Road, Rail and Tarmac
Drew Spoelstra
Ontario Federation of Agiculture
Drew Spoelstra has been the President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) since 2023, and representing farmers from Halton, Hamilton/Wentworth and Niagara on the OFA board since 2013. He farms with his family, growing crops, raising horses and producing high-quality milk and beef. He also has a dealership for Pride Seeds. Drew is an active volunteer on behalf of agriculture, currently serving as Chair of the City of Hamilton Agriculture and Rural Affairs Advisory Committee, Chair of the Presidents’ Council and as a director with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. He’s a past president of both the Binbrook Agricultural Society and the Hamilton-Wentworth Soil and Crop Improvement Association. A graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, Drew is passionate about land use, environmental issues, agricultural sustainability, and organizational governance. In 2024, he was awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal by Donna Skelly, Ontario Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, in recognition of his leadership, contributions and valuable impact to Ontario’s agriculture industry.
Michael Sutherland
Hatch Ltd.
Michael brings together Hatch’s many capabilities across transit and infrastructure in the service of better cities and communities, leading and supporting project development focusing on Canada. He has taken leading roles on projects ranging from major new train stations like East Harbour in Toronto, major projects like GO Expansion and High Speed Rail, and has worked around the world, including the Middle East, Australia, UK, USA, South Africa, and Canada. Prior to joining Hatch ten years ago, Michael led the development of Metrolinx’s business case guidance and its role in planning light rail, subway, regional rail and other investments. For Metrolinx, working with La Caisse, he initiated what would become CIBC Square in downtown Toronto, the first example of a Metrolinx Transit Oriented Development. Prior to Metrolinx Michael advised decision makers at the Province of Ontario through work at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal. He holds degrees in Civil Engineering from Queen’s; Cities, London School of Economics; and Law, University of Toronto.
Daniel Tisch
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Daniel Tisch is the President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. A business, public policy, and community leader, he is known globally as an expert in corporate communications, public policy, community engagement, crisis and reputation management. From 2003 to 2023, Daniel was CEO, principal shareholder and the driving force in building Argyle Communications (now Changemakers) into Canada’s largest management-owned engagement, communication and reputation advisory firm. Previously, he held senior communications roles in the Canadian government, including serving as Senior Policy Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Daniel has spoken to business audiences on every continent, lectured at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business, and contributed to leading public relations and marketing textbooks. He appears regularly in print and broadcast media and was named one of the world’s “top 100” social media influencers on public relations in 2021. Daniel has served on numerous boards and was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025 for his contributions to his community, province, and country. He holds degrees in Political Studies and Business Administration from Queen’s University and an ICD.D designation in corporate governance from the University of Toronto.
Ana-Maria Tomlinson
CSA Group
Ana-Maria Tomlinson is the Director of Strategic and Cross Sector Programs within the Standards Division at CSA Group. In her role, Ana-Maria leads the implementation of new sector and cross-sector programs, focusing on establishing sustainable, impactful standards development initiatives that improve safety, health, the environment, and economic efficiency in Canada and beyond. She currently leads two standard development sectors: Transit and Passenger Rail, and Agriculture and Agrifood. Prior to her current role, Ana-Maria was a Manager of Strategic Initiatives at CSA Group, and successfully helped launch new standard development activities within climate change adaptation and resilience, natural and nature-based solutions, low carbon concrete, modular construction, building information modeling, and genomics. She coordinated impactful standards research activities, working with a broad range of academic institutions, government bodies and industry, nurtured relationships with key stakeholders, and established collaborations in key strategic areas. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh, and a Bachelor of Applied Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto.
SESSION: Assessing Corridor Alternatives and Opportunity Costs