Economic Summit 2025

A Celebration of Collaboration, Innovation, and Growth

On behalf of Connecting GTA, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended and supported the Economic Summit 2025, held on September 17, 2025.

Your presence, engagement, and insights helped make this event a powerful platform for collaboration, innovation, and economic growth across our region. The energy in the room reflected a shared commitment to strengthening Ontario’s business ecosystem and building a more resilient future together.

Inspiring Voices and Visionary Leaders

We were honoured to welcome an incredible lineup of speakers, government leaders, and business professionals who shared their expertise, experiences, and strategies for navigating today’s complex economic landscape.

Our sincere thanks to:

• Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines
• Hon. Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors & Accessibility
• Hon. Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business
• Murray Simser, CEO of Citizn
• Jennifer Stewart, CEO of Humber River Hospital Foundation
• David Smith, MPP for Scarborough Centre
• Aris Babikian, MPP for Scarborough–Agincourt
• Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP for Mississauga–Lakeshore
• Rob Cerjanec, MPP for Ajax
• Patrice Barnes, Senior Advisor, Ontario
• The Hon. David Tsubouchi, Former Cabinet Minister
• Stephen Brickell, CEO of Fusion Universal Healthcare
• Sterling Lee, Deputy Mayor, Town of Ajax
• Marilyn Crawford, Regional Councillor, Town of Ajax
• Rob Tyler Morin, Councillor, Town of Ajax
• Maleeha Shahid, Regional Councillor, Town of Whitby
• Stephen Yamada, Regional Councillor, Town of Whitby
• Alex Nuttall, Mayor, Barrie
• Lucas Cleveland, Mayor, Cobourg
• Lisa Post, Mayor, Orangeville
• Maurice Brenner, Regional Councillor, City of Pickering
• Shaheen Butt, Councillor, City of Pickering
• Dolf DeJong (he/him), CEO, Toronto Zoo
• Tom Hayes, 1 Minute Morning News
• Anthony Furey, Consultant
• Prasad Jayasekera, Associate Director, Corporate Training & Global Business Development, Seneca Polytechnic
• Neil Sinclair, FCPA, FCA, LPA, BBA, Partner and Business Advisor, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
• Jordan Sherlock, Executive Director, Niagara Industrial Association
• Tyrese Jesus, President, Seneca Business Association
• Hart Massie, Senior Business Advisor, BDC
• Kris Poopalasingam, Senior Commercial Account Manager, BDC
• Saru Kanapathipillai, Co-Founder and CEO, PR Coach
• Siva Vimalachandran, Managing Partner, 6DC
• Taran Choudhry, CEO, Xcella
• Royston Rebello, MS, Director – Revenue, Business Development, Pre-con & Marketing, SkyRise Prefab Building Solutions
• Michael Sagerman, General Manager, Sauer Compressors
• Isaiah Majam, Project Manager, Mineski Global
• Kumaran Nadesan, Co-Founder & Deputy Chairman, 369 Global

 

Your insights and contributions inspired attendees to think big, act boldly, and collaborate strategically.

Why Events Like the Economic Summit Matter for Business Owners

In today’s fast-changing economy, staying informed and connected is key to success. Events like the Economic Summit create invaluable opportunities for business owners to:

Gain firsthand insights from government and industry leaders.

Build meaningful relationships with peers, mentors, and potential partners.

Discover innovative strategies to grow, adapt, and thrive in a competitive marketplace.

By coming together in these spaces, entrepreneurs strengthen not only their own businesses but also the communities and industries they serve.

A Heartfelt Thank You

A very special thank-you to our amazing volunteers who helped make the event seamless and successful:

• Shivanthi Peiris
• Kaveesha Kalesinghe
• Banuka Premathilake
• Irismar Lawrence

 

We also extend our deepest appreciation to our valued supporters, Grant Thornton LLP (Canada) and BDC, for their partnership and continued belief in our mission.

Looking Ahead

The success of the Economic Summit 2025 is a testament to what we can achieve when business, government, and community come together.

At Connecting GTA, we remain committed to fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and creating platforms where ideas turn into action. Together, we are shaping what’s next.