Dr. Chris Burns is the Chief Executive Officer of Dryve and a leader in battery technology, advanced materials, and energy innovation. He founded NOVONIX Battery Technology Solutions in 2013 around proprietary Ultra High Precision Coulometry (UHPC) battery testing technology, which he co-developed with Professor Jeff Dahn at Dalhousie University.

He expanded the business, which was acquired by in 2017 by Graphite Corp (later renamed NOVONIX), into pilot cell assembly, advanced battery testing, and battery R&D services. After the acquisition, Dr. Burns continued to lead NOVONIX Battery Technology Solutions, launched NOVONIX Anode Materials in Tennessee, and served as CEO of NOVONIX (ASX: NVX, Nasdaq: NVX) from 2020 to 2025. Under his leadership, NOVONIX raised over US$350 million, secured nearly US$1 billion in U.S. government support, and signed major supply agreements with Panasonic, Stellantis, and PowerCo.

Previously, Dr. Burns was Tesla’s first technical hire in Canada, leading battery materials and characterization projects for EV and energy storage systems. He holds multiple lithium-ion battery patents and earned his PhD. and M.Sc. in Physics from Dalhousie University and his B.Sc. in Physics from St. Francis Xavier University.

Mr. Da Re is an accomplished executive leader with over two decades of experience in the investment sector and a deep understanding of electric vehicle battery supply chains. He has successfully driven economic growth and attracted strategic investments to the region. Most recently during his tenure at Invest in Canada, Mr. Da Re led Ontario’s efforts to establish an EV supply chain, facilitating significant investments such as Canada’s first EV battery gigafactory in Windsor and other key facilities. Previously, he served as the Senior Director of Business Ventures at RBC Ventures, the corporate venture arm of the Royal Bank of Canada. Mr. Da Re holds a Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from MIT, a Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering from UCLA, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Saga Williams, LL.B. is the principal and owner of AS Williams Consulting. She is a band member and resident of Curve Lake First Nation. Through her maternal relations, she is also a member of the Namekosipiing Anishinabeg located in the Treaty #3 area. After graduating with an Indigenous Studies (Hons.) degree from Trent University and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, Saga was called to the Ontario Bar in 2000.

With over 20 years experience, Saga has been involved in the successful implementation of a number of high-profile initiatives, including energy, mining, economic and policy development projects and land claims settlements.

Saga was an elected Councillor for her community and served a three-year term, holding three portfolios and chaired a number of community-based committees. Over her years working with First Nations governments, and holding a leadership position, Saga has gained an expertise in governance structures, policies and processes. Saga also teaches as an Osgoode Hall Law School Adjunct Professor, introducing first year law students to issues of Indigenous rights and reconciliation, coaches students who are participating in the national Indigenous law moot, was the Chair of a national, non-profit youth services board and currently sits as a Director on a number of publicly traded mining boards.

Recently, Saga has joined the First Nations Major Project Coalition Team and is working towards membership support and outreach, as well as advising on First Nations involvement in the critical mineral and energy sectors.

Alexis Laprés-Paradis is CEO of Propulsion Québec. He joined the organization in 2023 and has held several management positions, including Vice President of Development and Operations, where he led partnerships, financing, and developed strategic projects to accelerate the electrification of transportation.

Prior to Propulsion, he held key executive and financial positions, notably at SmartHalo, as well as serving as a strategic advisor to clean technology companies. His career has led him to develop solid expertise in corporate financing strategy, government relations, workforce development, and energy transition.

With this diverse experience, Alexis Laprés-Paradis now brings his leadership and strategic vision to Quebec’s electric and smart transportation cluster.

Bruce Johnson is a senior executive at Martinrea International, a global automotive supplier specializing in lightweight structures and propulsion systems. He has held leadership roles in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, contributing to operational strategy and growth. His work focuses on advancing vehicle components aligned with evolving mobility and electrification trends. Johnson brings extensive industry experience in engineering, production, and corporate leadership. He is part of a team driving innovation in automotive supply chains.

As Chief Operating Officer of Electric Mobility Canada, Maureen Shuell has responsivity for operations and finances; the Board of Directors, committees, and governance issues; strategic planning and tracking; membership; business development; events; staffing issues; and the foundation of a new related organization, Accelerate: Canada’s ZEV Supply Chain Alliance. She also supports government relations efforts with all orders of government. She has experience working in political and not-for-profit environments leading communications strategies, government relations projects, large-scale conferences, and senior level collaborations as a consultant. In 2019 she founded Autonomous Transportation Canada with support from an extensive network of senior-level partners from business, government, academia, and not-for-profit associations advancing the future of cities, infrastructure, and interconnected mobility.  

Dr. Dan Wicklum has spent over 25 years performing and managing research, driving innovation, and fostering collaboration between industry, government, academia, and civil society. He is the CEO of the Transition Accelerator, a pan-Canadian charity that works with groups across the country to solve business and social challenges while building net zero-emission solutions. Dan was also the inaugural co-chair of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body (NZAB). This statutory independent body advises the federal government on setting interim emission reduction targets on the way to a net-zero emission Canada by 2050 and on the most likely pathways to net zero.

Prior to joining the Transition Accelerator, Dan was the CEO of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, Executive Director of the Canadian Forest Innovation Council, and a senior manager at Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada. He was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Montana and holds a PhD in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Montana. His initial career was in professional football, as a linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.