Keynote Speaker
Rob Wildeboer
Executive Chairman
Martinrea International Inc.
Rob Wildeboer is the Executive Chairman and co-founder of Martinrea International Inc., a diversified and global automotive supplier engaged in the design, development and manufacturing of highly engineered, value-added Lightweight Structures and Propulsion Systems. Martinrea currently employs approximately 16,000 talented and motivated people in 57 operating divisions in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Slovakia, Spain, China, South Africa and Japan. He brings a deep and intricate knowledge of the Company’s culture, key personnel, strategy, history and development, and relationships with key constituencies such as capital providers and governments, to the Company. He has also been intimately involved in negotiating the purchase and financing of every acquisition in the Company’s history, as the Company has been one of the fastest growing automotive parts companies in the industry. He has been involved in the automotive industry for many years in many roles, whether as a representative of the Company in negotiations or as an advisor to public policy makers and others. He is focused on the Company’s Culture, Vision, Mission and Principles, with a commitment to the Company’s most important asset, its people.
Previously, Mr. Wildeboer was a partner of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, a law firm that practices corporate, securities, lending, tax and real estate law that he co-founded in 1993. Mr. Wildeboer has been an entrepreneurial investor, director or officer of a number of private and public companies and currently sits as Chair of NanoXplore Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of high-volume graphene powder for use in industrial markets. The company provides standard and custom graphene-enhanced plastic and composite products to various customers in transportation, packaging, electronics, and other industrial sectors. Martinrea is the largest shareholder of NanoXplore, and Mr. Wildeboer is Martinrea’s representative on the board.
Mr. Wildeboer is co-chair of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Counsel (CAPC) and was co-chair of the CAPC Task Force on COVID-19; a present and past advisor to the Governments of Canada and Ontario on a variety of economic, trade, investment, industry, innovation, manufacturing and automotive mandates; past Chair of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and past Chair of Cardus, both leading Canadian think tanks; and a director or advisor of numerous charitable organizations.
Mr. Wildeboer holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph, a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, an MBA from York University, and an LLM from Harvard University. In 2012, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to Canada. In 2018, he received the Jay Hennick Award from Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business for career achievement.
