Manufacturing Matters 2026

Dates

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We are officially at full capacity, making this year’s Manufacturing Matters one of Canada’s leading manufacturing gatherings, the largest in Southwestern Ontario.

London Economic Development Corporation in partnership with London Region Manufacturing Council are pleased to present Manufacturing Matters

2026 Manufacturing Matters Conference

The London Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the London Region Manufacturing Council are pleased to present Manufacturing Matters 2026.

Date and time:

Thursday, October 1, 2026, RBC Place London, 300 York St, London, ON N6B 1P8

Manufacturing Matters is a must attend, half day conference for manufacturers and service providers. Delegates will learn valuable information from industry leaders, keynote speakers and peer-to-peer networking. The conference will deliver essential advice applicable to all manufacturers in the London region.

This is a FREE event for manufacturers, but registration is required!

Non-manufacturers are invited to attend for a nominal fee of $113

Theme: Trade Diversification

Exhibitor site map

Agenda:

8:15 AM Welcome & Introductions

  • Jason Bates, Manager, EMC Southern Ont. & GM London Region Manufacturing Council

Greetings

  • Kapil Lakhotia, President & CEO, London Economic Development Corporation
  • Mayor Josh Morgan, City of London
  • The Honourable Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
  • Allan Van Damme, Vice President, Engineering and Construction, London Hydro

8:30 AM Keynote Presentation

Introducing our Keynote Speaker:

Heather Damaren
Heather Damaren, P. Eng. 
Director, Manufacturing-Canada Operations
GDLS-Canada

Heather Damaren, P.Eng. is Director of Manufacturing – Canada Operations at General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada (GDLS–Canada), where she oversees manufacturing operations supporting the delivery of Light Armoured Vehicles and other critical capability solutions to the Canadian Armed Forces and allied customers around the world.

Media Availabity

9:30 AM - Exhibitor Showcase – Manufacturers and service providers to manufacturers.

10:15 AM Concurrent Sessions (Sessions are 45 minutes followed by 10 minutes of Q&A)

SALON E

Cyber Trends in Canadian Manufacturing

Presented by MNP
Speaker: Eugene Ng, Partner

This session will review recent cyber security attacks affecting manufacturing organizations in Canada and examine the latest threat trends including the latest in social engineering tactics and techniques. The session will also discuss evolving cybersecurity expectations and requirements from regulators, customers, insurers, and supply chain partners. Drawing on current threat intelligence and observed attack patterns, the presentation will also help outline practical recommendations to reduce cyber risk.

SALON F
Building AI You Control

Presented by Evormore
Speaker: John Galbraith, Co-founder & R&D Lead

Most manufacturers now rent the AI their business depends on rather than own it. This session steps back from the hype to ask who controls that AI, and what changes when the answer is you. It covers the economics of owning versus renting, what recent events reveal about relying on foreign providers, and the practical steps for building AI capability in-house.

SALON G

Funding Training Programs

Presented by EMC Canada
Speaker: Tiffany Robbins, Marketing & Communications Manager

SALON H

How to Access the Mining Supply Chain

Presented by MineConnect
Speaker: Heather Johnston, Director of Operations

SALON J

Tariffs, Supply Agreement & Force Majeure

Presented by Siskinds LLP
Speaker: Stacey Bothwell, Partner - Business Law
 

11:15 AM

SALON F

Funding Your Tariff Response: Unlocking CapEx, OpEx & Tax Credit Opportunities

Presented by Ryan
Speaker: Eric Pini, Director Client Services

SALON G

Strengthen Your Workforce with WILL: Employer Success Stories

Presented by WILL Employment Solutions
Speaker: Celeste Gray, Team Lead Employer Engagement

For more than 40 years, WILL Employment Solutions (WILL) has assisted more than 42,000 job seekers in their search for meaningful employment.  WILL's specialized recruitment team provides subsidized services to hundreds of employer partners in Southwestern Ontario to discover, hire, and retain international talent. We help employers and workers to develop necessary tools and resources that result in successful long-term employment, ultimately bridging the gap between Canadian Labour Market Needs and newcomer talent.

SALON H

Shift Happens: Smarter Recruiting for Manufacturing

Presented by Ladder HR Solutions
Speaker: Wendy MacIntyre, President

SALON J

Roadmap to Becoming a Supplier to the Defence Sector

Presented by the Ontario Defence Association
Speakers:
Heather Pilot, Co-Founder, Ontario Defence Assoc & Founder Best Defence Conference
John Ball, President, Ballvale Strategy
Joe Noss, CEO, Publicus.ai

12:15 PM Event Concludes

Afternoon Plant Tours (Full) -- Tours will be starting at 1pm & 3pm (limited space)

  • URSA Manufacturing - 1477 Sise Rd, London
  • Amstead Automotive - 3745 Commerce Rd, London
  • Jones Healthcare Group - 3000 Page St, London

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Exhibitors:

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Thank you to our Sponsors

Gold:

Silver:

Bronze:

Interested in becoming a Sponsor?

Explore sponsorship opportunities here: Sponsorship Package

Accomodation: 

See preferred Hotel Rates for the event below:

Residence Inn by Marriott London Downtown for $169.00 CAD per night Book Now

Rates include free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and a kitchen in each suite. Onsite parking, if needed, is $28 per car, per night + tax.

Delta Hotels London Armouries for 209.00 CAD per night - Last Day to Book : Friday, September 04, 2026

Start Date: Thursday, October 01, 2026

End Date: Sunday, October 04, 2026

Book your group rate for Manufacturing Matters Room Block

Other nearby hotels: