TIME

TIP Toronto 2025

Speakers

8.00 AM

Breakfast reception and event registration

9.00 AM

Event commencement

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Pippa Higgins, Vice President, Group Lead-Transit & Urban Mobility/ Institute of Civil Engineers- Toronto

9.10 AM

Chairperson’s Address: The State of Infrastructure Performance in 2025- Bentley Systems

Infrastructure performance is now at the centre of national conversations, shaped by fiscal pressures, climate impacts, digital transformation, and the expectations of communities who rely on it every day.

As Canada meets the challenges of a rapidly changing world, the imperative is clear: infrastructure must deliver more value, more reliably, and more sustainably for our communities and economy.

In this opening address, Mark Coates, VP of Infrastructure Policy Advancement at Bentley Systems, will set the stage for the day by examining the current state of infrastructure performance in Canada and globally. He will highlight where progress is being made, where systemic challenges remain, and how leaders can work together to deliver better outcomes.

Mark Coates, VP, Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley Systems

9:20 AM

Opening Keynote Address: MP Jennifer McKelvie- From Roads to Results: Aligning Infrastructure for Shared Success

Canada’s infrastructure must deliver more than physical assets, it must drive economic competitiveness, climate resilience, and growth that leaves no one behind. Achieving this requires alignment across federal, provincial, municipal, and community priorities, ensuring that projects contribute to shared outcomes Canada-wide. In this keynote, MP Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, will explore how Canada can move from building roads and bridges to delivering measurable results for citizens, highlighting the importance of policy alignment, accountability, and collaboration.

Keynote: MP Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary, Infrastructure

9.35 AM

Twin Talk #1 Keynote: Matt Macdonald, Advisor to CEO, AECON

Keynote: Matt Macdonald, Advisor to CEO, AECON

9.45 AM

Twin Talk #1: Building for Growth: The Role of Infrastructure in Canada’s Nation-Building Agenda

Canada is at a critical economic crossroads. With the lowest productivity growth in the OECD and growing trade uncertainty with the United States, bold action is needed to secure the country’s long-term competitiveness. The federal government has responded with an ambitious nation-building agenda focused on removing internal trade barriers, accelerating major infrastructure projects, and unlocking new avenues for growth. At the heart of this agenda is infrastructure, a foundational driver of productivity, economic resilience, and national cohesion.

From ALTO high-speed rail, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, and Ontario’s GO Expansion to B.C.’s Site C Clean Energy Project, flagship investments are stitching the country together, boosting trade, mobility, energy security, and long-term competitiveness.

This panel will explore how Canada can build smarter, faster, and more inclusively, focusing on projects of national significance, workforce readiness, and the urgent need to streamline interprovincial trade. The discussion will also look at how modern infrastructure can better connect Canadian businesses to global markets and strengthen Canada’s position in an increasingly competitive world.

Moderator: Alim Somani, Managing Director Digital, Hatch

 Panellists:

·       Matt Macdonald, Advisor to CEO, AECON

·       Karla Avis Birch, Principal Major Rail Projects Leader, ARUP

·       Sabrina Fiorellino, Chief Executive Officer, Fero

10.15 AM

Twin Talk #2 Keynote: Laurent Boinot, Power and Utilities Lead, Microsoft

Twin Talk #2 Keynote: Laurent Boinot, Power and Utilities Lead, Microsoft

10:25 AM

Twin Talk 2 – Powering the Future: AI, Energy Infrastructure, and Canada’s Competitive Edge.

As Canada accelerates its energy transition and digital transformation, the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and energy infrastructure is reshaping the landscape. Panellists will discuss the growing energy demands of AI itself, assess the current and future capacity of Canada’s energy infrastructure, and consider strategic investments needed to support sustainable growth.

How can Canada balance AI-driven innovation with resilient, clean, and competitive energy systems? What infrastructure is required to keep pace with global trends and maintain leadership in a rapidly evolving energy economy.

Moderator: Antony Oliver

Panellists:

· Ben Davies, Chief Information Officer, Vector Institute

· Laurent Boinot, Power and Utilities Lead, Microsoft

10.55 AM

Networking Coffee Break

11.25 AM

TIPLive Toronto: The Infrastructure Podcast Interview with Divya Shah, Managing Director, Trade & Transportation, Canada Infrastructure Bank

Moderator: Antony Oliver

Guest: Divya Shah, Managing Director, Trade & Transportation, Canada Infrastructure Bank

11:55 AM

Twin Talk #3 Keynote: Daniel Farina, General Manager, CDPQ Infra

Keynote: Daniel Farina, General Manager, CDPQ Infra

12.05 PM

Twin Talk #3 – Financing Canada’s Infrastructure Transformation

Canada is at a pivotal moment in reshaping its infrastructure to meet the demands of a low carbon, digitally connected, and socially inclusive future. Behind this transformation is a sophisticated and evolving financing ecosystem, one that brings together public institutions, pension funds, private capital, and Indigenous and community-based investment models.

This panel explores how Canada’s leading institutional investors and infrastructure enablers are building that ecosystem to deliver resilient, sustainable infrastructure at scale.

Moderator: Lisa Mitchell, President and CEO, CCPPP

Panellists:

·       Daniel Farina, General Manager, CDPQ Infra

·       Alena Thouin, Chief Operations and Strategy Officer, Building Ontario Fund

·       Hillary Thatcher, Managing Director, Canada Infrastructure Bank

12.45 PM

Networking Lunch Break

1.45 PM

Keynote: Digital Project Delivery – Realizing Value

Randy McMeekin, Global Managing Director, Engineering, Hatch

2.00 PM

Twin Talk #4 Keynote: Amar Singh, Executive Vice President – Commercial Advisory & Strategy at Infrastructure Ontario

Keynote: Amar Singh, Executive Vice President – Commercial Advisory & Strategy at Infrastructure Ontario

2.10 PM

Twin Talk #4- Bridging the Digital Divide, Advancing Digital Twin Adoption for Canadian Infrastructure

As Canada accelerates the modernization of its infrastructure, digital twins are emerging as a critical tool for enhancing planning, delivery, and operations. However, adoption remains uneven across sectors and jurisdictions, constrained by technical, financial, and institutional barriers. This panel will mark the official launch of the Future of Infrastructure Group (FIG) digital twin paper, unpack its findings and lay out actionable recommendations for accelerating uptake across the public and private sectors.

Moderator: John Allen, Vice President & National Infrastructure Practice Lead, Global Public Affairs

Panellists:

·       Amar Singh, Executive Vice President – Commercial Advisory & Strategy at Infrastructure Ontario

·       Alim Somani, Managing Director of Digital Practice, Hatch

·       Farzad Jalaei, Research Officer, Digitalization of Construction Processes Lead National Research Council

·       Lindsay English, Associate Principal, Digital Services, ARUP

2.50 PM

TIPLive Toronto: The Infrastructure Podcast Episode (Fireside Chat) – Interview with Peter Weltman, Vice Chair of the Canada Infrastructure Council and Director at Technomics Canada

Building the Backbone: Housing-Enabling Infrastructure and the Future of Canada’s Communities. Antony Oliver sits down with the Vice Chair of the Canada Infrastructure Council to explore the critical role of infrastructure in enabling housing development across Canada. As the country faces mounting housing pressures, the conversation delves into how coordinated planning, smarter regulation, and nation-building programs can unlock the infrastructure needed to support sustainable, liveable communities.

Moderator: Antony Oliver

Guest: Peter Weltman, Vice Chair of the Canada Infrastructure Council/Director, Technomics

3.30 PM

Afternoon Coffee Break

3:55 PM

Program Management Insights Toronto Pearson LIFT: Creating the Airport of the Future
Designing a Next-Generation PMO for Next-Generation Infrastructure. 

Jeff Walter, Senior Digital Twin Architect and Innovation Leader, AECOM

4.25 PM

Closing Reflections

John Allen, Vice President and National Infrastructure Practice Lead, Global Public Affairs

Networking Cocktail Reception 4:30-6:00 PM