Canada has set bold economic ambitions: attracting $1 trillion in new investment over five years and doubling non-U.S. exports within the next decade. Achieving these goals will depend on how effectively we can move the goods the world wants—from our farms, forests, factories, and mines—to global customers.
Join Canadian Club Toronto on January 26, and hear directly from leaders at some of the country’s most influential companies and organizations on how Canada can strengthen its trade corridors and position itself for long-term growth. This panel will examine the state of our transportation networks, the bottlenecks holding back Canadian competitiveness, and the policy and investment decisions that will shape our economic future.
Moderated by Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, the discussion will feature insights from:
Together, these leaders will examine how government, industry, and labour can better align to strengthen supply chains, open new markets, and ensure Canada fully leverages its energy, resource, and agrifood strengths on the global stage.
*For virtual attendees, please note that the live stream will begin at approximately 12:40 pm ET & the link will be provided closer to the event date*
Max Koeune
President and CEO, McCain Foods Ltd.
As President and Chief Executive Officer of McCain Foods, Max leads a global workforce of 23,000 across 160 countries, delivering innovative, high-quality potato and snacking products. He also serves on the Board of Directors, contributing to the company’s long-term strategic direction.
Since joining McCain in 2012, Max has played a pivotal role in expanding its global footprint. He was appointed President and CEO in November 2017, following his tenure as Chief Financial Officer, where he oversaw Finance, Treasury, Tax, IT, Legal, and Procurement. He continues to champion McCain’s purpose: celebrating real connections through food that is both flavorful and planet-friendly.
With over 25 years of experience in the global consumer goods industry, Max has held a range of senior executive positions at Danone and McCain. His career has been marked by international leadership roles across France, Switzerland, Mexico, the United States, and Canada, reflecting his deep expertise in navigating diverse markets and cultures. He began his professional journey in investment banking at Barings Brothers, building a strong foundation in finance before transitioning into the consumer goods sector.
Max plays an active leadership role in the global consumer goods sector. In 2025, he was appointed Manufacturer Co-Chair of The Consumer Goods Forum, a global network of over 400 retailers, manufacturers, and service providers working collaboratively to address key industry challenges such as sustainability, health, food safety, and data transparency. He is also a board member of Pernod Ricard, a leading global spirits company listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
He holds a Master of Commerce degree from École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris. Originally from Luxembourg, Max has been living in Toronto since 2012 with his wife and three children
Tracy Robinson
President and CEO, CN
Tracy Robinson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of CN on February 28, 2022 and is responsible for CN’s strategic direction and leadership.
Prior to joining CN, Tracy was Executive Vice-President of TC Energy, President of Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines and President of Coastal GasLink.
Tracy’s deep experience in the railway industry stems from her 27 years at Canadian Pacific Railway. There, she served in executive roles in the commercial, finance and operating functions, including as General Manager of Transportation Services, Vice President and Treasurer, and Vice President of Marketing and Sales.
Tracy is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in the transportation industry. She is known for her ability to drive innovation and foster collaboration among diverse teams and stakeholders. Her passion for mentoring the next generation of leaders and her advocacy for inclusive leadership have further solidified her reputation as a forward-thinking leader.
She is Chair of the Board of the Business Council of Canada. She is also a member of the Campaign Committee and the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Edward’s School of Business of the University of Saskatchewan.
Tracy holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan. She received her Institute of Corporate Directors designation in 2015.
Sean Strickland
Executive Director, Canada’s Building Trades Unions
Sean Strickland serves as the Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry, Sean started his career in the field with LiUNA as a Bricklayers Labourer at age 15. He was raised in a construction union household where his father was a business manager for Bricklayers Local 12 in Kitchener.
Prior to his appointment as Executive Director at Canada’s Building Trades Union, Sean served as the CEO of the Ontario Construction Secretariat, the Business Manager for Waterloo Wellington Dufferin Grey Building Trades, and the Director of Business Development at Pomerleau, a major Canadian construction company. Sean has also served as an elected official for more than 25 years, first elected to public office in 1993 as a trustee with the local public school board, and won election six times as a regional councilor representing Waterloo.
A recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, Sean has been appointed to numerous boards and advisory committees including Helmets to Hardhats Canada, SkillPlan, the Canadian Development Corporation, and the Federal government’s Union-Led Advisory Table. He currently serves as the Chair of BuildForce Canada. Sean is a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s political science program, the Wilfrid Laurier Executive Management program and holds a Performance Management diploma from Harvard.
Goldy Hyder
President and CEO, Business Council of Canada
Goldy Hyder is a seasoned strategic leader with more than 25 years’ experience advising business leaders, boards of directors, government officials and a broad spectrum of community stakeholder groups.
As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada (BCC), he represents Canadian business leaders across the country and around the world. The BCC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose membership is comprised of more than 170 chief executives and entrepreneurs of Canada’s leading and largest companies. Mr. Hyder works directly with these leaders to develop and promote sensible public policy solutions in support of economic growth, including in the areas of the energy transition, innovation and industrial policy, cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, workforce development, and trade diversification. He led the BCC through the COVID-19 pandemic, helping coordinate the Canadian business community’s response to the crisis.
Mr. Hyder is a member of the Board of Directors of Open Text Corporation. In addition, he has a long track record of service on behalf of several charities and non-profit organizations, including the Coalition for a Better Future, the Business + Higher Education Roundtable, and Canada’s World Trade Organization Business Advisory Council. He sits on the advisory boards of two leading organizations promoting advancement of women leaders: Catalyst Canada and the 30% Club (Canada) and is a member of the selection board for A Seat At The Table, an initiative to encourage greater representation of people with disabilities on corporate boards.
Prior to the BCC, Mr. Hyder was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Canada. In a series of increasingly senior roles, he provided clients with strategic counsel on public policy reform and regulatory approvals for corporate transactions.
Mr. Hyder is a regular commentator in Canadian media on business, politics and leadership. He is also the host of the Speaking of Business podcast, which features interviews with Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Calgary.
