Empire Nights Presents Leaders in the Auto and Tech Mobility Sector
Empire Club of Canada hosts special event in honour of Black History Month
First all-Black panel discusses future challenges and opportunities in auto
MISSISSAUGA, ON, February 28, 2025 — In recognition and celebration of Black History Month, Accelerate Auto was pleased to be the lead sponsor of the highly anticipated February installment of Empire Nights last evening. Established in 1903, the Empire Club’s mission is to facilitate meaningful connections and productive dialogue on diverse topics that impact Canadians and the world. Accelerate Auto is a not-for-profit dedicated to increasing representation of Black talent across Canada’s automotive industry through collaboration, networking and mentorship.
Consisting of the first all-Black panel in the Empire Club of Canada’s 122-year history, the theme of last night’s in-person discussion was: Leaders in the Auto and Tech Mobility Sector — How a diverse workforce can increase innovation.
Images from the event can be found here.
Hosted at the historic Storys Building in Downtown Toronto, the panel consisted of established experts and thought leaders from a variety of specialties within the automotive industry. The panel was moderated by local TV journalist and She Auto Know Founder, Stephanie Henry.
The distinguished speakers included:
Yolanda Biswah – President, Canadian Black Book
Jerome Chinner – SVP, Dealer Development and Support, SCI Lease Corp.
Shrereena Robinson – Director of Human Resources, Porsche Cars of Canada
"We couldn’t be prouder to work with Accelerate Auto on such an insightful evening event at the Empire Club of Canada that truly highlights the power of diversity in driving innovation within the tech and auto sector,” says Kent Emerson, CEO, Empire Club of Canada. “This is not just an event — it is truly leading the change. The Empire Club is deeply proud to continue championing these crucial conversations and supporting initiatives that increase representation and open doors for Black talent in Canada’s automotive industry."
The shift to electrification, digitalization and connectivity within the automotive industry presents many challenges but will also provide opportunities. There is a growing need for skilled workers in tech, engineering, data privacy, R&D, AI, robotics, digital marketing, legal, and more. Acquisition, development and retention of top talent will be of even greater importance across all sectors.
The Empire Nights event delved into how diversity drives progress in Canada’s auto and tech industries, which are not only vital to our economy but also provide over 1 in 8 jobs across the country. The vibrant evening provided an inspiring atmosphere to educate and connect the next generation of diverse talent and leaders in Canada’s auto and tech mobility sectors. You can listen to the podcast from the event here.
"This momentous event closes an impactful Black History Month for us, and is just the beginning of the work we execute year-round," says Shannon Miller, Executive Director, Accelerate Auto. "The evening was filled with candid, productive discussions and networking opportunities. It represents the collaborative nature of the mission we are proud to contribute to amidst the auto and tech sector's transformation."
Speaker Panel Bios:
Yolanda Biswah – President, Canadian Black Book
In her role as President of Canadian Black Book, Yolanda leads one of Canada’s most trusted automotive brands. With a wide and diverse customer base, Canadian Black Book serves the automotive industry, including automotive manufacturers, captive finance companies, lenders and financial institutions, dealers, local and provincial governments, software providers, marketing companies, and more. Yolanda was named one of ten “Notable Champions of Diversity” by Automotive News Canada in 2022. As a volunteer of Accelerate Auto committees, she works to advance career opportunities for Black talent within the Canadian automotive industry.
Jerome Chinner – SVP, Dealer Development and Support, SCI Lease Corp.
Jerome’s career spans multiple industries and organizations, where he has had the privilege to lead, build and grow high-performing teams and cultures. He has worked in finance, business reporting, internal control, and technical consulting, as well as sales and account management. His true passion is leadership, working in a team environment, and building strong relationships with colleagues and customers. He is a founding member of Accelerate Auto and currently handles Corporate Partnerships.
Shreena Robinson – Director of Human Resources, Porsche Cars of Canada
Shereena is a forward-thinking and results-driven HR professional. With a deep knowledge of law and compliance, she leads a team that drives strategic direction in areas such as employee relations, recruitment, training, compensation, diversity, and inclusion. Throughout her 20 years of leadership experience in the automotive sector, Shereena has demonstrated a proven ability to manage HR functions across various levels of the organization while cultivating environments where employees thrive. She played a pivotal role in helping Porsche Cars Canada achieve Canada’s prestigious “Great Place to Work” Certification in 2022 and 2023.-30-
About Empire Club of Canada:
Established in 1903, as a response to Canadian political unrest, the Empire Club quickly became a leading speakers’ forum. The first speakers addressed topics related to Canada’s strategic relationships with the United Kingdom and the United States and the name of the Club reflected its founders’ desire for the country to maintain strong ties to the Commonwealth. Since its inception, the Empire Club has hosted 3,500 prominent Canadian and international leaders, including Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, the Dalai Lama, Indira Gandhi, Audrey Hepburn, Christopher Plummer, Roberta Bondar, Maureen Forrester, Adrienne Clarkson, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Gates, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. For more information, visit: https://empireclubofcanada.com/
About Accelerate Auto:
Accelerate Auto is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing Black representation in the Canadian automotive industry. We provide Black talent and youth with access to mentorship for skills building and peer networking to support professional growth and career development. We facilitate career pathing through the form of internships to attract more Black talent to automotive and build awareness of opportunities within the industry. We are dedicated to creating a stronger and more diverse automotive workforce. www.accelerateauto.ca
For more information about Accelerate Auto, please contact us at info@accelerateauto.ca.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Dustin A. Woods
Director, PR & Experiential
(416) 508-1670
dwoods@universusmediagroup.com