Manufacturing Matters 2025

2025 Manufacturing Matters Conference

The London Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the London Region Manufacturing Council are pleased to present Manufacturing Matters 2025.

Date and time:

Thursday, October 2, 2025, RBC Place London, 300 York St, London, ON N6B 1P8

Agenda:

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Registration and Networking Breakfast

7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Exhibitor Fair - Main Room

8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Welcome and Introductions

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Keynote Presentation: Linda Hasenfratz

9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Networking Break and Exhibitor Fair

10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (2 SESSIONS)

Concurrent Breakout Sessions, featuring: BDC, MNP, Siskinds the Law Firm, The Data Integrators, Ahria Consulting, Ryan. More to be announced.

Event Concludes

_________________________________________________________________

Introducing Our Keynote Speaker:

LINDA HASENFRATZ - Executive Chair of the Board - LINAMAR CORPORATION

Linamar Corporation is a Canadian advanced manufacturing company, based in Southern ON, where the intersection of leading-edge technology and deep manufacturing expertise is creating solutions that power vehicles, motion, work and lives for the future. Linamar has 26,550 employees in 65 manufacturing locations, 14 R&D centres and 28 sales offices in 17 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia, which generated sales of over $6.5 billion.

Hasenfratz has sat on the Board of Advisors for Catalyst Canada since 2003. In February 2017 Hasenfratz was announced as the Canadian Chair of the Canada-United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders. Hasenfratz’ desire to see women progress in business to the top level of industry prompted her to participate in these two key initiatives.

Strengthening her position as a Canadian and Global Manufacturing leader, Ms. Hasenfratz was appointed to the CIBC Board of Directors in 2004 and retired from the board in April 2020. She was Canadian Chair of the North American Competitiveness Council in 2008, a trilateral group of executives from Canada, the US and Mexico convened by the countries’ Leaders to debate and advise on key recommendations regarding enhancement of the NAFTA region. Hasenfratz became a member of the Board of the Business Council of Canada (formerly the Canadian Council of Chief Executives) in 2010 and was Chair from 2016 to 2018. Her contribution to this important policy and advisory group has assisted her in developing relationships and advancing ideas to key business and government leaders. In December 2018, Ms. Hasenfratz was appointed to the board of the Association of Equipment Manufactures (AEM). The California Mobility Center appointed Ms. Hasenfratz to their board in November 2021.

Ms. Hasenfratz was named the Canadian Outstanding CEO in November 2018 and was also made a member of the Order of Canada in December of the same year.

Hasenfratz has been named one of the Automotive News 100 Leading Women in each year of its publication in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020.

Hasenfratz was recognized for her contributions to Canadian business through an Honourary Degree from Ryerson University in Toronto in 2003, an Honourary Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo in 2011 as well as the Outstanding Leader Award from the same institution in 2007. She also holds an Honourary Degree from Fanshawe College in 2016. In the spring of 2014, The Asper School of Business at the University of Winnipeg honoured Hasenfratz with the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) which is to honour a business leader who has achieved outstanding entrepreneurial success and has made an exemplary contribution to economic life. In the fall of 2014, Linda Hasenfratz was awarded the Ontario Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Manufacturing and the overall Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Hasenfratz was also extremely honoured to be awarded the National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Canada at a gala in late November and to represent Canada at the World Entrepreneur of the World Conference in Monaco in June 2015. In May of 2016 Linda Hasenfratz, along with her father Frank Hasenfratz, was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Hasenfratz was awarded the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the University of Victoria in September 2016. In October of 2016 Linda Hasenfratz was awarded the Fraser Institute Founders Award along with Linamar’s President & COO Jim Jarrell. In September 2016 Linda Hasenfratz was named to Fortunes 50 Most Powerful Women International list. The Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario honoured Hasenfratz in October 2017 with their Ivey Business Leader Award. In 2018 Hasenfratz was named Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year and was named to the Order of Canada. In October 2019 she was installed as University of Western Ontario’s 23rd Chancellor.

_________________________________________________________________

Exhibitors

10in6 Inc.
Advanced Corrugated Containers
Ahria
Arcadian Projects
Arctic Snowplows
Armo Tool/Abuma
Attica Manufacturing
BCH Beta Foam
BDC
Buon Vino MFG
BW Integrated Systems Canada (formerly Accraply)
Central Machine & Marine and Insitu Machine Inc
CME-SWOB
DAIFUKU Manufacturing Canada
Dimachem Inc.
DONE powered by PYXS
Easyway
ECL
EFS-plastics
EMC
Enbridge
ExiPlast
Fischer Canada
Givens Engineering Inc
Globe Stamping Company Limited
Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes
Government of Ontario
HH Wood
Hudson Entry & Automation Inc
IDS Controls
Innostrat
International Name Plate Supplies
itec group inc.
Konnexio
Ladder HR Solutions
LC Bakery
Literacy Link South Central
London Hydro (Energy Group)
London Mat Industries/Tapeswitch Canada
London Regional Employment Services
Mac-Weld Machining Ltd
MAGIL
michael + clark construction+ Hexcon
MitoGraphics Inc.
MLD Solutions Inc.
MNP
Neatco Engineering Services Inc.
Nothers
Oakbotics
Phil Mauer & Associates Inc.
PowerCO
Priority Tooling
Proax Technologies
Profile Products LLC (Quick Plug Canada & Sunterra Horticulture)
Purifics Water Inc.
RamFerno Robotics (Laurier SS)
S.E.M. Construction
Sheridan Electric Services Ltd.
Sinteris
Siskinds
SPM Benefits
Sterling Marking Products
Stratus Plastics
Techdoz
The Bowmanville Foundry
The Data Integrators
Think Green Solutions Inc.
Tiercel Technology
Toyota Tsusho
TPI-3
University Machine Services - Western University
Western University
Western University
WSIB Ontario

_________________________________________________________________

Interested in becoming a Sponsor?

Explore sponsorship opportunities here: Sponsorship Package

_________________________________________________________________

Refund Policy:

Contact the organizer to request a refund. Eventbrite's fees are non-refundable.

_________________________________________________________________

Please be advised that photographs and video may be taken at LEDC events for use on LEDC web, print and social properties. We won’t sell your photo, but we may share it with media and/or partner organizations. By attending this and any LEDC event, you consent to being photographed and/or filmed, and to your image or likeness being used at LEDC’s discretion.

Learn about all of the upcoming events. Sign up for the LEDC Newsletter by clicking

Info: London Hydro Recognition Presentation

Info: Enbridge Gas will review how we can support your businesses' growth and efficiency plans.

Info: Readiness & Resilience. Discover how manufacturers can protect their operations, data, and reputation from rising cyber threats. This session offers practical strategies, real-world examples, and industry-specific insights to help you move from risk to readiness.

Info: Allan Broudno, CFA, CFP®, CIM of MNP Family Office Services will walk through key financial and wealth planning considerations across the entrepreneurial lifecycle to highlight areas of focus and potential planning approaches at various stages, from accumulating wealth to transitioning into retirement, and ultimately to positioning the family balance sheet for an impactful legacy.

Info: As one of the largest insurance organizations in North America, this session will provide information on the valuable services available to your business though the WSIB and how your premiums are put to work for you.

Info: Cost, Security, Agility, and Future-Proofing. This session explores how buy and build decisions regarding data operations and AI can significantly impact a manufacturer’s cost, control, agility, and long-term resilience in an increasingly digital and competitive landscape.

Info: Join Siskinds’ lawyers, Jaime Holroyd and Jennifer Herpers, for the top tips for avoiding legal problems with employees, customers and suppliers when drafting your key contracts.

Topics will include:
When to have a formal supply/manufacturing agreement;
Key supply/manufacturing agreement terms;
Importance of a written employment agreement; and,
Key employment agreement terms.

Info: How to Adapt, Lead, and Succeed Amidst Uncertainty. In turbulent times, the ability to think strategically and navigate the unknown isn’t just an advantage; it’s essential.

Info: Stopping Email Payment Scams in Manufacturing. Join Siskinds lawyer, Savvas Daginis, for an informative session focused on Business Email Compromise (BEC) and how it costs manufacturers millions each year in misdirected payments and reputational damage.

This session will cover:
How BEC attacks happen (from supplier impersonation to compromised employee accounts)?
Who bears the loss when funds are misdirected?
Recent Canadian and U.S. legal cases that highlight where liability falls.
Contractual safeguards that manufacturers can use today to shift or limit risk.
Practical prevention strategies that combine legal, financial, and operational controls.

Info: Join this session to understand what funding is available to support investments that address growth targets and insulate operations from trade volatility and uncertainty.

Info: Our Future Requires a New Mindset Toward Manufacturing. In this session we’ll explore what manufacturing looks like in Canada, how we got where we are today, persistent challenges that have remained unaddressed despite technological advancements, and what we can do about it -both at the individual firm level and as an industry sector.

Info: Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YMSXMXV
Bosco & Roxy's (2345 Discovery Drive, London, ON),
Starlim North America Corporation (325 Tartan Dr, London, ON),
Abuma Manufacturing (531 Admiral Dr, London, ON)

Info: Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YMSXMXV
Bosco & Roxy's (2345 Discovery Drive, London, ON),
Starlim North America Corporation (325 Tartan Dr, London, ON),
Abuma Manufacturing (531 Admiral Dr, London, ON)

Host or Publisher London Economic Development Corporation