ADM Toronto 2025 keynotes and conference tracks offer a roadmap for the future of Canadian design and manufacturing

Canada’s manufacturing sector continues to face increasing global competition, technological disruption and urgent demands around sustainability, presenting those operating within the industry with a range of challenges to address and overcome. To help support their efforts, the Advanced Design & Manufacturing (ADM) Toronto 2025 show is poised to deliver like it never has before.

Taking place at the Toronto Congress Centre from October 21 to 23, 2025, ADM Toronto is more than just an exhibition of innovation. Featuring an impressive slate of programming, the conference is set to serve as a strategic forum for dialogue, insight and leadership. With an impressive lineup of keynote panels, technical workshops and session tracks, the event is designed to address the core questions shaping the next decade of design and manufacturing in Canada.

Keynote sessions

At the heart of the conference agenda are four powerful keynote sessions, each led by a high-profile leader in Canadian manufacturing, trade or innovation. These keynotes will explore the macro-level forces influencing the industry, from international trade to electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and workforce development and will be open to all registered attendees.

Leading the program on the opening day is Dennis A. Darby, President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME). His keynote, “Trade Without Borders: Strengthening Canada’s Manufacturing Advantage in a Fragmented World,” will examine how Canada’s manufacturers can thrive in an era of rising protectionism and complex global supply chains, while also addressing the ongoing challenges of interprovincial trade barriers at home.

Day two kicks off with Mona Eghanian, Assistant Vice-President of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), taking the stage to deliver a session titled “Charging Forward: The Future of Ontario’s EV Supply Chain.” This presentation will offer a deep dive into the province’s rapidly expanding EV ecosystem, from critical minerals and battery production to vehicle assembly and charging infrastructure. Eghanian will also explore how partnerships across government, academia and private industry are enabling Ontario to become a North American hub for EV innovation and manufacturing.

On day three, the spotlight then shifts to the future of the workforce with Michelle Sangster, Managing Director at Eclipse Automation, set to deliver a keynote titled “Powering the People: Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Canadian Manufacturing.” This timely session will aim to address Canada’s manufacturing labour shortage and skills gap, offering solutions around mentorship, inclusion, automation-readiness and ways to attract and retain the next generation of talent.

Wrapping up the keynote series will be Daniel Tisch Echevarria, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, who will speak on “Navigating Trade Winds: Overcoming Tariff Challenges and Unlocking Global Opportunities for Ontario Manufacturers,” highlighting strategies meant to help navigate a shifting landscape of tariffs, geopolitics and international regulations.

Curated tracks

In addition to the marquee keynote events, ADM Toronto 2025 will also offer a curated set of conference tracks and workshops focused on industry-critical themes.

The Trade & Policy Conference Track, taking place on Tuesday, October 21, is geared toward professionals involved in logistics, procurement and regulatory affairs with topics that include global supply chain resilience, Canada’s role in reshoring and friendshoring, trade diversification and the modernization of interprovincial trade frameworks.

On Wednesday, October 22, the focus turns to one of the fastest-growing sectors in advanced manufacturing – energy storage. The Battery and EV Technology Workshop Series will provide detailed, hands-on sessions covering battery safety for portable, stationary and automotive applications; life-cycle assessment; trends in lithium-ion and solid-state technologies, and insights from international case studies.

Education theatres

Throughout all three days, additional open-floor education theatres will be active on the show floor. These free-to-attend sessions will cover a wide range of content, including artificial intelligence and machine learning in manufacturing, cybersecurity, circular packaging solutions, food and beverage production trends and funding and grant opportunities for Canadian innovators. These stages will also be accessible to attendees of the conference who may not be enrolled in the full program but still want to gain strategic and technical insight.

ADM Pathways – a forward-looking initiative aimed at supporting workforce development across the manufacturing ecosystem – will also be included at ADM Toronto 2025. Through a mix of panel discussions, resume workshops, career mentoring and networking meetups, Pathways serves to bridge the gap between emerging professionals and experienced industry leaders.

Another forward-looking inclusion at the conference is the Reusable and Sustainable Packaging Theatre – a dedicated education space focused on eco-conscious design and regulatory frameworks. Over the course of three days, this theatre will present live demos, material showcases and presentations on the future of circular supply chains. In a world increasingly defined by sustainability imperatives, these sessions offer both strategic guidance and technical depth for manufacturers looking to align with ESG goals and consumer demand.

More than an expo

Offering over 50 hours of educational programming, four industry-shaping keynote sessions and dozens of topic-specific workshops, ADM Toronto is more than an expo – it’s a structured, content-rich opportunity to engage with peers and experts while capturing a glimpse of the future of Canadian industry.

For more information about ADM Toronto 2025, including ways to register, visit www.admtoronto.com.