Erin Cooke, P. Eng., PMP Erin has over 20 years of experience designing and managing technology projects in the transit and specialty vehicle sectors. Erin currently leads Winnipeg Transit’s Transition to Zero Emission Bus program, where she has oversight of all capital and operational projects related to the integration of battery-electric and (hydrogen) fuel cell electric buses.  Erin is committed to working with others to address the challenges of scaling zero-emission fleets. She actively engages with transit agencies and industry professionals across North America through various task forces, committees, and working groups on topics including infrastructure, funding, service integration, energy management, codes and standards, training, and safety. Erin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo.

Mary Chen is the Leader, Fleet Strategy & Performance at Calgary Transit and is leading the strategic planning and organizational readiness efforts supporting the agency's transition to battery electric buses. Her work brings together operations, maintenance, infrastructure, and workforce planning to enable successful fleet electrification.

Adam Mildenberger is the Transit Program Lead for the Town of Cochrane, where he oversees transit planning, operations, and service development to support a rapidly growing community. He led Cochrane's transition from a fully on-demand transit system to a hybrid model, guiding the planning, public engagement, service design, and implementation process. Adam is passionate about delivering practical, customer-focused transit solutions and leveraging data, technology, and community feedback to create sustainable and scalable transit services that meet evolving community needs.

Cassidy Stillie is an Environmental Specialist with the Town of Okotoks, where she leads transit planning initiatives focused on improving mobility, accessibility, and community connectivity. She played a key role in the planning, public engagement, and implementation of Okotoks' transition from a fully on-demand transit system to a hybrid model. Cassidy is passionate about using data-driven decision-making and community engagement to develop innovative transportation solutions.

Thomas has over 15 years of experience in transit and transportation planning and operations in Canada and Australia. He is rider-focused, with a proven ability to optimize systems and improve mobility using strong data analysis skills and innovative approaches. He focuses on international best-practice and has thorough rider-facing experience from working with transit and transportation agencies in Canada and Australia. Thomas joined Dillon in 2018 and has worked on projects across Canada relating to transit strategy, service planning and the future of integrated urban mobility.

Billie-Jo Arnott is the Team Leader of Transit with the City of Airdrie, where she leads transit planning, service delivery, and mobility initiatives for one of Alberta's fastest-growing communities. With more than a decade of experience in transportation, municipal operations, and customer-focused service development, she is recognized for building strong partnerships, leading complex projects, and championing innovative transit solutions. Since joining the City of Airdrie in 2019, Billie-Jo has played a key role in several transformative initiatives, including launching Airdrie's first successful on-demand transit service, implementing the system's first onboard surveillance program, leading major service provider transitions, and supporting the development of Airdrie's long-term Transit Master Plan.

Cindy is a Transportation Engineer with 11 years of traffic engineering and transportation planning experience working with both private and public sector clients.  Her portfolio includes a variety of transportation-related projects, including transportation master plans, environmental assessments (EA), traffic impact studies, municipal parking studies, site plan and circulation reviews, secondary plans, and road needs studies. In 2025, she presented at the Canadian Parking Association Annual Conference on “Reimagining Grimsby’s Downtown: Integrating Parking and Placemaking”, highlighting her interests in advancing integrated approaches to parking, mobility and community-building.

Cedric is a transportation planner with 6 years of public and private-sector experiences working on a variety of urban projects. His work focuses on transportation impact assessments, multimodal access, parking strategies, and transportation demand management, with an emphasis on integrating transit-supportive design into mixed-use and infill developments. He brings a development-focused perspective on how transportation planning, transit integration, and city zoning policy intersect in real-world projects, while highlighting lessons learned in aligning private development objectives with public mobility, placemaking, and community-building goals.

Jodie Delore leads digital customer experience at TransLink, one of North America's largest public transit agencies. She oversees digital CX strategy, customer research, and the delivery of customer-facing digital initiatives that help millions of customers plan, navigate, and stay informed throughout their journeys. Her work focuses on enhancing the customer experience through digital products, scheduled and real-time information, and digital communications. Working collaboratively across TransLink and with industry partners, Jodie helps shape the future of digital transit experiences through innovative, data-informed solutions. Recent initiatives include TransLink's partnership with Transit app, trip planning improvements, and enhancements to transit alerts.

Allison Gray works on the Partnerships team at Transit, where she works with transit agencies across the Midwest and Western North America to help improve the rider experience through digital customer information and mobility solutions. Prior to joining Transit, Allison spent six years with Saskatoon Transit, where she led marketing and customer experience initiatives, including launching mobile ticketing, rolling out an on demand transit service, improving rider communication, and leading public engagement efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Allison serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA), is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

Directrice des communications et des affaires publiques du Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC), Brigitte Lemay est une professionnelle des communications passionnée par le domaine du transport urbain. Elle cumule huit ans d'expérience au RTC dans divers rôles stratégiques. Actuellement membre du comité exécutif de l'ACTU et présidente du comité Québec de cette même organisation, madame Lemay met son expertise à profit pour faire avancer le transport collectif au Québec et au pays. Son engagement est fortement motivé par sa conviction qu'un accès équitable aux transports collectifs est un puissant levier pour réduire les inégalités sociales et économiques. Détentrice d'un baccalauréat en communication et d'un microprogramme en droit de l'Université Laval, elle est également reconnue comme professionnelle en relations publiques (PRP) par la Société québécoise des professionnels en relations publiques.

Jihad is the president and principal consultant of Pivotal Research Inc. For over 20 years, he has served as a trusted resource for senior leaders in the public and private sectors on how research can support service delivery initiatives and help meet growth objectives. He is an expert at designing creative and effective research methodologies that leverage the latest technology tools. He also excels at translating data into actionable insights that enable policy change and positive business outcomes. Throughout his career, he has led high-impact strategic projects for clients in the healthcare, financial services, transportation, not-for-profit and private sectors. A sample of current clients includes BC Transit, TransLink, Edmonton Transit Service, TransEd and other leading agencies. Prior to rejoining Pivotal Research, he served as Vice President, at Morpace (now Escalent) in Washington, DC and Global Research Director at SunLife in Toronto, ON and Hong Kong.  Jihad holds a bachelor’s degree majoring in Statistics from the University of Alberta, and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. He has also completed advanced market research certificates from the University of Notre Dame (South bend, Indiana) and the University of Georgia’s Coca Cola Center for Marketing Studies (Athens, GA). Jihad also holds the Canadian Analytics and Insights Professional (CAIP) designation.

Tyler Seed leads Business Development for PowerON Energy Solutions, bringing over a decade of commercial development expertise in the electric and environmental sectors. Throughout his career, Tyler has worked with communities and businesses across Canada to plan and implement projects that reduce emissions while improving social and economic outcomes. As part of the original team that launched PowerON, Tyler has been instrumental in the company's growth, securing contracts with key accounts including the Toronto Transit Commission, Oakville Transit, Durham Region Transit, and Regina Transit. Prior to his current role, Tyler made significant contributions at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), where he played a crucial part in launching the Ivy Charging Network and PowerON Energy Solutions. His efforts resulted in securing over $100 million in contracts and $10 million in government funding. Before his time at OPG, Tyler worked with The Natural Step Canada, providing advisory services to several large clients such as Suncor and The Co-operators, helping them develop roadmaps towards more sustainable operations. Tyler's extensive experience in clean energy solutions and sustainable business practices as well as his ability to bridge the gap between environmental initiatives and business success positions him as a valuable voice in the transition to a low-carbon future.

Michael McDonald joined NFI in 2017, first as Sustainable Transportation Specialist for MCI and has since assumed the role of Manager of the NFI Vehicle Innovation Center (VIC) in 2021. Michael is an energy storage expert with a Ph.D. in chemistry specializing in electrochemistry and materials science from the University of Manitoba, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT. At NFI, Michael lends strategy and guidance to VIC programming, outreach, R&D, and electric bus demonstrations. He speaks regularly on EV technology, sustainability, and infrastructure at industry meetings across the U.S. and Canada.

Shirley Samujh-Dayal has over 27 years of experience working in the transportation industry and has spent 25 years within the TransLink enterprise. Since 2019 she has been serving as the Director of Operations at Coast Mountain Bus Company, an operating subsidiary of TransLink, also known as the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority. She oversees almost a million boardings per day over an 1,800 square kilometer service area across 200 routes. She is responsible for the Operations division with six operational depots, Transit Security, Transit Supervisors and Transit Communications across 4,000+ total employees and a multi-million-dollar operating budget. Shirley believes that having quality transportation, safety and security across Metro Vancouver is vital to the livability and economic prosperity of the region.      Shirley has served on various boards, including her appointment as Chair for the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association (2022-2024). She formerly served on the Surrey Board of Trade and the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and the Surrey Crime Prevention Society.  Shirley also serving as Vice Chair for the Workforce Development Committee and previously has served as the Vice Chair for the Communications and Public Affairs Committee at the Canadian Urban Transit Association CUTA and served on the American Public Transit Association APTA Marketing and Communications Committee. She also served on a National Board for COMTO focusing on diversity in transit.  Shirley has Certification from the International Association of Public Participation IAP2 and is a Certified Local Government Administrator. Shirley holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership focusing on Change Management. Shirley is also a chartered professional in Human Resources (CPHR).

Presenter name and bio to be confirmed by INIT

Sabah Lone is a Technical Solutions Consultant with Vontas with over 15 years of experience in the public transportation industry. Sabah graduated with a Master’s of Science in International Politics from the University of London, UK and a Bachelor of Arts from Trent University in Ontario, Canada.   Over her career, Sabah has worked with multiple technologies, agencies, and vendors across the United States & Canada specializing in Intelligent Transportation Systems, Vehicle Intelligence, and Yard Management. Her role innovates the way riders, operators, and employees interact with transit applications worldwide.

Sayani Mandal is an urban and transportation planner focused on advancing equitable, sustainable, and people-centred mobility systems. She currently works as a Planner in BRT Planning & Program Integration at TransLink, where she contributes to the program level planning and policies for BRT. With a background in community and regional planning from the University of British Columbia, Sayani brings a strong research and human-centered design approach to transit and urban policy. Her work is grounded in the intersections of mobility, equity, community engagement, and sustainability, with a commitment to designing systems that respond to lived experience as much as data. She aims to advance inclusive, accessible, and resilient urban futures through collaborative planning and thoughtful policy design.

Shervin Ataeian is a transportation engineer-in-training and graduate student at the University of Calgary who builds AI tools to help transit agencies run more reliable bus service. Her work turns everyday operations data into real-time data-driven control decisions. She has also worked on quantum optimization for electric bus scheduling and charging as a visiting researcher at the University of Melbourne and has developed the first EV Charging Infrastructure Strategic Implementation Plan for the University of Calgary's Parking & Transportation Services.

Mariana Otero Becerril is an MSc student in Transportation Engineering at the University of Calgary, supervised by Dr. Saeid Saidi. Her research uses system dynamics to help transit agencies understand and plan zero-emission bus transitions across different transit contexts. She holds a B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey, where she graduated as valedictorian. She placed second in the 3MT competition at CSCE 2026 and won the CUTRIC 2026 Student Poster Competition.

Michel Courval is a Partner and Senior Project Director at CSched, specializing in public transit scheduling and workforce-focused operational improvement. For 30+ years, he has advised transit agencies across Canada and the United States on running times, timetabling, vehicle blocking, runcutting, rostering and the translation of collective agreement provisions into practical scheduling solutions. Michel’s recent work has focused on improving operator working conditions without increasing operating costs, including projects with IndyGo, Pierce Transit, Burlington Transit and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais. He has contributed to APTA workforce initiatives and currently serves on the panel for TCRP J-11/Task 53, examining how transit agencies can better attract, support and retain frontline workers.

Darren Manley, PhD, brings 17 years of municipal transit experience to network design, including nine years specializing in HASTUS-driven transit scheduling. Transitioning from an early career as a research scientist and academic project manager, he combines hands-on operational knowledge with advanced data analytics to build efficient, stable schedules for Winnipeg's Primary Transit Network.

Jason Ramm is a Winnipeg Transit professional with over 28 years of experience spanning operations, administration, and payroll. Since 2017, he has worked in Service Development, specializing in transit scheduling, data analysis, and service planning. Jason leverages his background in financial administration to find practical, data-driven solutions that improve daily transit operations.

Conseillère corporative, Stratégie marketing et expérience client, Planification et livraison de service, STM Majorie Gosselin est conseillère corporative en stratégie marketing et expérience client à la STM, poste qu'elle occupe depuis 2019, et porteuse du projet Gestionnaires à bord. Forte de plus de vingt ans en expérience client, marketing et communications, elle a évolué dans le transport collectif (STM, exo, ARTM, AMT) de même qu'au Cirque du Soleil et chez GardaWorld. Cofondatrice d'une entreprise et primée « Jeune entrepreneur de l'année 2013 », elle se distingue par sa vision stratégique et sa capacité à mener des projets complexes de bout en bout. Curieuse et empathique, elle fait le pont entre les réalités opérationnelles et l'expérience vécue par la clientèle, convaincue que les meilleurs services se conçoivent au contact du terrain.

Enrico Chartrand est directeur, Livraison de service Trains, salle de contrôle métro et ingénierie d'exploitation à la STM, où il dirige la livraison du service et l'expérience client du réseau de métro. Il agit comme parrain du projet Gestionnaires à bord. Cumulant plus de quinze ans en transport collectif, il a gravi les échelons de l'exploitation du métro, de la planification opérationnelle à la direction, ce qui lui confère une connaissance fine du terrain et des équipes de première ligne. Reconnu pour son leadership mobilisateur et son orientation résultats, il a reçu en 2018 un prix de l'Association des transporteurs urbains du Québec (ATUQ) pour un projet porteur en expérience client.