AVIT Manufacturing president to represent industry in federal strategy group

Rhonda Barnet, president and chief operating officer of AVIT Manufacturing, has been named to the federal government’s new strategy group to advise on the challenges faced by industry in the wake of COVID-19.

The council provides a forum for the government to hear from and collaborate with industry leaders to assess the scope and depth of COVID-19’s impact on industries and to understand specific sectoral pressures.

Nine business leaders from across industries will join the group’s chair Monique Leroux, vice-chair of Fiera Holdings, and Dr. Mona Nemer, Canada’s chief science advisor, on the recently announced Industry Strategy Council.

Virtual meetings will be held every two weeks over the next 90 days.

The nine industry members are as follows:

• Rhonda Barnet, president and chief operating officer, AVIT Manufacturing – advanced manufacturing sector
• Murad Al-Katib, president and chief executive officer, AGT Food and Ingredients – agri-food sector
• John Baker, M.S.C., president and chief executive officer, D2L Corporation – digital industries sector
• Paviter Binning, president, Wittington Investments, Limited – retail sector
• Ben Cowan-Dewar, co-founder and chief executive officer, Cabot Links – tourism and hospitality sector
• Karimah Es Sabar, chief executive officer and partner, Quark Venture – health and biosciences sector
• Karen Hamberg, vice-president of external affairs and sustainability, Westport Fuel Systems Inc. – clean technology sector
• Mark Little, president and chief executive officer, Suncor Energy Inc. – resources of the future sector
• Sylvie Vachon, president and chief executive officer, Montreal Port Authority – transportation sector

The Industry Strategy Council draws its inspiration from the collaborative model that was established through the federal government’s Economic Strategy Tables, set up in October 2017.

The Economic Strategy Tables are part of the government’s Innovation and Skills Plan to create jobs and strengthen the middle class by investing in high-growth sectors where Canada has a globally competitive advantage.