Learn from leading women in Canadian manufacturing
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About Us

A Message from our sponsor

We’re back with our annual Advance: Women in Manufacturing celebration. And this year you’ll leave with practical keys to success.

Registrations are ongoing for this virtual gathering that’ll spotlight some of the leaders and career-defining decisions shaping Canadian manufacturing today.

What to expect:
  • a live roundtable discussion featuring four accomplished women across Canadian manufacturing;
  • practical insights into the pivotal moments, decisions, and strategies that shaped their careers;
  • a fireside chat with one of our Advance: Women in Manufacturing Award recipients; and
  • the big reveal: discover the winners of the 2026 Advance: Women in Manufacturing Awards.

Speakers

Jillian van Duinkerken

CEO, Duinkerken Foods
The CEO of Duinkerken Foods, a family-owned company in Summerside, P.E.I., Jillian has helped the company grow from a local operation to a nationally recognized brand. With a focus on innovation, quality, and operational excellence, Jillian has strengthened the company’s reputation, and established Duinkerken Foods as a trusted leader in the Canadian food industry.

Sally Morse

CEO and Co-founder, Spectra Supply
The CEO and co-founder of Spectra Supply, Sally is known for her leadership and strategic insights. Passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion in male populated industries, Sally creates opportunities for young girls and women to pursue and excel in their chosen fields.

Kimberly Benedict

Vice President, Operations, Inter Pipeline’s Heartland Polymers
Kimberly Benedict brings nearly 25 years of petrochemical and refining experience to her role as Vice President, Operations, at Inter Pipeline’s Heartland Polymers business. Kimberly joined Inter Pipeline in 2019 following an 18-year career with Shell Canada, where she began as an operations engineer and advanced through a series of senior operational and leadership roles. A born and raised Albertan, Kimberly holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.

Elissa Ross

CEO, Metafold
Elissa Ross, PhD, is a mathematician and CEO of Toronto-based software startup Metafold. She earned her PhD in discrete geometry in 2011 and worked as an industrial geometry consultant before co-founding Metafold. With more than 20 years’ experience in research and consulting, she focuses on helping engineers, scientists, and designers overcome geometric challenges through Metafold’s Geometric Intelligence, a 3D shape analysis technology for manufacturing.