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CN Forum

CN Forum artwork with a star and maple leaf. Behind the artwork is a green photo of a freight ship in the Great Lakes.

  

CN Forum 2026

Accelerating Innovation through Critical Infrastructure

September 16, 2026 at the MSU Henry Center 

 

Join leaders in business, policy, and binational relations for the 2026 CN Forum, hosted by the MSU Canadian Studies Center.
 
The Michigan State University Canadian Studies Center's CN Forum, supported by an endowment from Canadian National Railway, brings together academic, business, policy, and government leaders to advance shared U.S.–Canada priorities and promote collaborative social and economic growth across the Great Lakes region and beyond.
 

Agenda

 

Coffee and Registration

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Opening Remarks

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

  • Rebecca Malouin, Director and Professor, Canadian Studies Center
  • Andrea Waldock Niethold, Head of U.S. Public and Government Affairs, CN
  • President Kevin Guskiewicz 

Morning Panel: Accelerating a Blue Economy through Critical Infrastructure 

10:45 AM - 11:45 PM

Gain a clear understanding of the current and future needs of Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway critical infrastructure, the binational maritime strategies shaping its future, and the collaborative U.S.-Canada efforts driving modernization and economic growth across the region’s waterways.
 
Speakers:
  • Andre Chabot, Director, Government and Stakeholder Relations, Chamber of Marine Commerce
  • Jason Miller, Eli Broad Endowed Professor of Supply Chain Management
  • Eric Peace, Vice President, Lake Carriers' Association
  • Elisha Wulff, Freight Policy Specialist, Michigan Department of Transportation
  • Judd Herzer, Director of Mobility Research and Innovation, MSU Mobility (Moderator)  

Lunch and Networking

11:45 PM - 12:45 PM

Keynote Address

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Speaker TBA. Speaker and speaking time subject to change.

Afternoon Panel: Next-Gen Fuels and the Future of Mobility

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Understand the evolving landscape of alternative energy infrastructure and next‑generation fuels, including their economic impact on Michigan and the Great Lakes region, and how these developments align with broader mobility strategies to shape a more efficient binational transportation future.
 
Speakers:
  • Annick Anctil, Red Cedar Distinguished Associate Professor of Engineering
  • Nick Clark, Vice President, Mechanical, CN
  • Steve Minton, Administrator, Office of Major Projects, Michigan Department of Transportation
  • Alyssa Ryan, Assistant Professor of Engineering (Moderator)

Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Registration information forthcoming.  

The Michigan State University Canadian Studies Center's CN Forum provides a venue for academic, business, policy, and governmental leaders to share information, discuss matters of common concern to those in the U.S. and Canada, and identify opportunities for mutual cooperation to enhance social and economic growth.  

Initiated through a generous endowment provided to the Canadian Studies Center by Canadian National Railway (CN), the CN Forum is hosted every other year. It attracts participants from key business and policy communities, including:  

  • Local, state, and federal legislators from Michigan and the Midwest 
  • Local, provincial, and federal legislators and diplomats from Canada 
  • U.S. and Canadian business leaders 
  • MSU faculty, staff, and students 

Past CN Forum themes include: 

  • U.S.-Canada relations 
  • Cross-border trade  
  • Economic development 
  • Border crossings and security 
  • Economic development 
  • Great Lakes trade, research, tourism, and protection 
  • Arctic research 

Past CN Forums: