APMA Speakers
Read our insights on changing regulations and other technical topics.
Flavio Volpe,
Colin S. Dhillon,
Warren Ali,
Lauren Tedesco,
Gian Paolo Vescio,
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Flavio Volpe
APMA President
Flavio Volpe is an internationally recognized champion of Canada's automotive industry. He proudly leads the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) - Canada's national association representing original equipment suppliers to the worldwide automotive industry Working closely with officials in Ottawa, Washington and Mexico City during the 2017-19 NAFTA renegotiations, he led the effort to secure an unexpected and unprecedented increase in Regional Value Content for Canadian automotive suppliers in the new USMCA.
When the global COVID19 pandemic created a dangerous medical equipment shortage in Canada in early 2020, he launched one of the biggest peace-time mobilizations of the country’s industrial capacity ever. Dubbed a ‘manufacturing hero’ by the Toronto Star for his leadership, this effort resulted in the largest build-orders of ventilators, face shields, surgical masks and gowns in Canada’s history.
A passionate technology leader, his response to the Prime Minister’s call to action for a net-zero emission economy by 2050 was to launch an all-Canadian, zero-emissions, lightweight, concept vehicle to debut in 2022. Described by the Globe and Mail as ‘an audacious play to build an allCanadian electric car’, APMA’s Project Arrow was revealed at CES2020 in Las Vegas to international coverage and will serve as a premier showcase of Canada’s automotive technology cluster.
Flavio speaks regularly on behalf of industry interests and is a sought-after voice by leading global publications including The Economist, New York Times, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, CNN, BBC, CNBC, Globe and Mail and Washington Post. He was recognized as a top Industry Leader in the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 editions of Automotive News Canada’s All-Stars.
Flavio holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Toronto.
Colin S. Dhillon
Chief Technical Officer
Colin Singh Dhillon is the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturer’s Association (APMA). He provides leadership to the Canadian automotive industry through national initiatives like Project Arrow, Canada’s first zero-emission concept vehicle. His ongoing work in the fields of Connected, Autonomous, Security and Electrification of mobility (CASE) provides Colin with a global platform as a thought leader in the digitisation of the automotive sector.
With over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Colin has provided leadership in automotive Design, Advanced Product Development (R&D), Advanced Materials and Technologies for ABC Technologies Inc.
Colin represents Canada as the only Canadian judge at the prestigious EyesOn Design judging panel at the annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). In addition to his automotive experience, Colin has lectured Design & Innovation for over a decade.
Warren Ali
Senior Vice President of Innovation
Warren Ali is the Senior Vice President of Innovation for the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’
Association (APMA).
As the automotive industry transitions and transforms from a manufacturing-based business model to one that is more technology based, Warren’s primary responsibility is to increase the APMA’s engagement with and connection to the broader technology and innovation ecosystems.
Warren has expanded the APMA’s reach and efforts beyond the automotive and auto tech sectors. Some key examples include him being a member of the Board of Advisors to ventureLAB’s Hardware Catalyst Initiative as well as a key member of Canada’s Advanced Air Mobility Consortium.
He is Chair of the APMA’s Digital Manufacturing Committee that is comprised of industry leaders from Global OEMs and Tier 1s along with SMEs and Global Leading Technology Startups. Warren’s venture capital and economic development experience in both the private sector and at the Federal and Provincial levels of government are key contributions to the APMA’s efforts to lead Canada’s auto sector towards the broader opportunities in Future
Mobility.
He has led Canadian trade missions and spoken at events around the world in leading mobility jurisdictions such as Germany, Japan, Singapore, the UK as well as across North America including Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Ann Arbor, Atlanta and Monterrey. Warren holds an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Statistics and Actuarial Science from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Schulich
School of Business at York University.
Lauren Tedesco
Senior Vice President
Lauren Tedesco is the Senior Vice President at the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association.
Lauren leads the Future of Work portfolio, building the first industry-wide digital learning program and establishing the Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Fund which invests in the careers of those historically excluded. The latter won her the CADIA Impact Award as the Champion for Diverse Talent. Lauren was recently profiled in the Globe and Mail as one of “Five Trailblazing Women in the Male Dominated Auto Industry”. In 2021, she was named “Canadians to Watch” by Automotive News Canada.
Prior to joining the APMA, Lauren was an advisor for the Law Society of Ontario while teaching communications at Sheridan College. Her experience at leading public relations agencies set the groundwork for senior roles in the public sector including Director of Communications to the President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Education. At each step, her insight and foresight guided the formulation and launch of major public policy initiatives, underscoring the need for strong strategic planning for disruptive agents of change.
Lauren completed a Honours B.A. at the University of Toronto, a Postgraduate Certificate in Communications at Sheridan College and recently completed her certificate in International Project Management from UofT.
Gian Paolo Vescio
Gian Paolo serves as General Counsel to the APMA.
Gian Paolo oversees all of the APMA’s legal matters ranging from complex contract management and negotiation to the administration of all technical and legal requirements under the APMA’s public-partnership programs. Gian Paolo also serves as the Secretary to APMA’s Board of Directors.
Prior to joining the APMA Gian Paolo was in private practice at a Toronto-based law firm where he practiced in the areas of civil litigation, corporate-commercial and real estate law. Gian Paolo has managed and facilitated complex transactions and has represented clients before the Ontario courts at different levels. Gian Paolo has also held roles in the public sector working for the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
Further to his role at the APMA Gian Paolo also sits on the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) for Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC) as the legal member. He advises the Committee on informed-consent matters, consent-form construction, privacy and conflict of interest issues.
Gian Paolo holds a B.A. (Hons) from York University in Political Science, a Law Degree with Honours from the University of Leicester and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2015.