World Class Supply Chain Summit

Academia Keynote Speaker:
Rebekah (Bekki) Brau

Rebekah Brau is an assistant professor of Global Supply Chain Management at the Marriott School, Brigham Young University. She currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Supply Chain Management. Her research interests include human-machine collaborations and the value creation of AI and analytics through people and processes. Her research has received awards such as the Journal of Operations Management 2024 Jack Meredith Best Paper Award, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Doctoral Dissertation Award and Best Practical Application, as well as the University of Arkansas Distinguished Dissertation Award.

Industry Panellists:
Chris Brennan

Presiding over and adding value to large and complex logistical supply chain programs throughout North America for over 25 years, Chris’ experience includes delivering quantifiable continuous improvements on behalf of globally recognized customers and to Wheel King Transhaul, where he is employed as the company’s Executive Vice President.

Adopting a Plan, Prepare, and Execute philosophy, Chris has successfully led several internal initiatives that have increased Wheel King’s market share and simultaneously strengthened corporate EBITDA.

Instilling best-in-class operational protocols and launching an increased suite of diversified services to enhance the customer experience, Chris is proud that he alongside the skill, experience, and dedication of Wheel King’s team has created robust momentum that will ensure Wheel King’s future sustainably for years to come.

Omar Kayed

Omar Kayed is a seasoned business and technology executive with over 30 years of experience in technology leadership. Throughout his career, he has led major digital transformation initiatives across diverse industries, delivering measurable ROI. As the founder of FN IMMERSIVE INNOVATION, he leverages the Industrial Metaverse, powered by VR, AI, and Digital Twins, to drive innovation and optimize business outcomes.

Leading a dedicated team of engineers and designers, he helps industries such as manufacturing and supply chain envision the future of automation, mitigate risks, optimize operations, address skilled labor shortages, and enhance knowledge transfer across generations. With a B.Com. and M.Sc. in Operations Research, he is a recognized thought leader in EdTech, workforce development, and industrial innovation.

MC:
Bianca Caramento

Bianca Caramento serves as President & CEO of the Milton Chamber of Commerce.

A proud McMaster University alumni, Bianca also holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics in Environmental Policy and a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Bianca has worked at both the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce as Manager of Policy and Government Relations. She formerly managed both the Bay Area Climate Change Council and the Centre for Climate Change Management at Mohawk College.

Bianca has worked in government, both federally and provincially. Bianca currently sits on the boards of YWCA Hamilton and the Sons & Daughters of Italy Housing Corporation. Bianca is the self-proclaimed queen of doughnuts.

CO-CHAIRS:
Girish Nair and Michael Haughton

Girish Nair is Vice President for Multimodal operations at CN. He is responsible for designing and executing the operating plan of CN’s Intermodal business. Reporting to the COO Field Operations, Girish’s primary role is to enable a fluid operating environment that promotes safety, velocity & capacity creation while meeting CN’s Operational & Commercial KPI’s that is critical for customers to win in their markets. Another critical part of his function involves building the physical & digital infrastructure needed to leverage automation thereby leading the path to become one of the best transportation providers within North America for decades to come while attracting the future talent of next generation Railroaders. In the current role Girish is responsible for managing all operational relationships with Carter Community, Interline partners, Port Authorities & Terminal Operators on the three coasts that CN serves.

Dr. Michael Haughton is Professor of Operations and Decision Sciences and CN Research Fellow in Supply Chain Management (SCM) in Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business & Economics.  Dr. Haughton’s expertise within SCM is freight transportation. He has a prolific research record of scholarly awards, publications, and presentations to audiences in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.  His more recent awards include appointments as Visiting Fulbright Research Chair appointment at Arizona State University’s Center for Transborder Studies and Visiting Scholar at China’s Chongqing Technology and Business University.  Two major topics in Dr. Haughton’s current research are: (i) the benefits of high quality information for decisions by both 3PLs and their clients and (ii) logistical efficiency issues at critical links in transportation networks. 

STUDENT CO-CHAIRS:
Nicholas Newell and Ewen MacNeil

Nicholas Newell is a fifth-year Bachelor of Business Administration and Financial Math Double Degree student at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics. He serves as the co-president of the Laurier Supply Chain Association and co-student Chair of the 2024 World Class Supply Chain Summit.

Nick has recently finished an exchange semester at the University of Limerick in Ireland, where he had the opportunity to take a Supply Chain course and learn from a different perspective. He has been interested in Supply Chain since his first co-op placement and is concentrating on Supply Chain Management, looking to focus on purchasing and procurement upon his graduation in April 2025."

Ewan MacNeil is a third-year Bachelor of Business Administration student at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics. He serves as the Co-President of the Laurier Supply Chain Association and Co-Student Chair of the 2025 World Class Supply Chain Summit. Ewan had recently completed an internship as a Financial Analyst at Manulife, where he worked in Credit Risk Management to assess Manulife’s international business operations.

He has found a deep interest in Supply Chain ever since joining the Laurier Supply Chain Association. Ewan is concentrating on International Business, with a Minor in Economics, and is looking forward to a fulfilling and interesting career upon graduating in April 2026.

COMPANY PROFILES

Lazaridis School of Business & Economics

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business & Economics is one of Canada’s most selective and prestigious business programs. With more than 33,000 alumni, 160 full-time faculty and 6,000 students, the Lazaridis School has the largest business-degree co-op program in Canada.  

The mission of the Lazaridis School is to develop leaders with the skills in management and economics for a rapidly changing and complex global environment. We seek to advance knowledge and practices in these fields by supporting both theoretical and applied research. Furthermore, we strive to serve business and our community by fostering mutually beneficial alliances with leaders at local, national and international levels.  

Located within one of the most vibrant startup communities in Canada, the Lazaridis School which is accredited by AACSB offers undergraduate and graduate business and economics degrees along with a PhD in Management on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. Our Business Technology Management bachelor’s program is located on the university’s Brantford campus, and we offer a Master of Finance and MBA at our downtown Toronto location.

CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 19,500-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Milton's Voice of Business

The Milton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit, membership-based, volunteer driven, organization representing over 700 member businesses and individuals. The Milton Chamber’s primary role is Strengthening Business through our influence in advocating on behalf of our members, marketing and promotion for our members, and providing informational events to help members learn and interact.