Who we are
Who we are
Accelerating Tomorrow
Our Strategic Goal (2026-2028)
Purpose of this plan
In our first three years, Accelerate ZEV (Accelerate)’s activities were guided by a strategy developed when Canada was only just beginning to realize its opportunities in the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) supply chain. Now, as the global and North American ZEV markets evolve, so too has Canada’s opportunity to build a robust industry that represents an important and growing part of a sustainable national economy.
Accelerate, as Canada’s national Zero Emission Vehicle supply chain alliance, has now become a part of our country’s ZEV industrial ecosystem. This three-year strategic plan builds on our founding strategic objectives and the lessons we have learned to ensure we are positioned to assist Canada in capturing its opportunities in the rapidly changing landscape of zero emission mobility.
Accelerate‘s Vision
Accelerate's Mission
Organizational Values
Non-partisan
Non-profiting
Collaborative
Evidence-based
Strategic Objectives
2026-2028
BUILD
Create a Vision and Credible Pathways in Support of More Canadian Content in the ZEV
Supply Chain
Objective:
Develop quantitative and qualitative evidence that builds the business case for supportive industrial strategy and public and private investments, that position Canadian inputs — critical minerals, components, IP, labour, manufacturing, etc. — as essential to the future of the North American ZEV sector.
Why this matters:
The trajectory of the global vehicle industry is decidedly towards electrification. Developing comprehensive evidence that positions Canada as essential to this evolving sector in North America empowers us to act with credibility as we seek to align our domestic ZEV ecosystem and advance policies that lead to greater commercial success for ZEV firms in Canada.
Key Outcomes:
- Comprehensive analysis of Canada’s ZEV supply chain market opportunities with quantified economic impact projections (GDP contribution, investment potential, etc.)
- Comprehensive analysis of Canada’s current and potential comparative advantages in the ZEV supply chain
- Clear definition of “Canadian content” benchmarks across ZEV segments
- Integration of comparative advantage analysis with market opportunities and economic impact modelling
- A strong business case for where Canada can compete globally along ZEV supply chains and the policies and investments needed to help us get there
ALIGN
Create a Vision and Credible Pathways in Support of More Canadian Content in the ZEV
Supply Chain
Objective:
Develop quantitative and qualitative evidence that builds the business case for supportive industrial strategy and public and private investments, that position Canadian inputs — critical minerals, components, IP, labour, manufacturing, etc. — as essential to the future of the North American ZEV sector.
Why this matters:
The trajectory of the global vehicle industry is decidedly towards electrification. Developing comprehensive evidence that positions Canada as essential to this evolving sector in North America empowers us to act with credibility as we seek to align our domestic ZEV ecosystem and advance policies that lead to greater commercial success for ZEV firms in Canada.
Key Outcomes:
- Comprehensive analysis of Canada’s ZEV supply chain market opportunities with quantified economic impact projections (GDP contribution, investment potential, etc.)
- Comprehensive analysis of Canada’s current and potential comparative advantages in the ZEV supply chain
- Clear definition of “Canadian content” benchmarks across ZEV segments
- Integration of comparative advantage analysis with market opportunities and economic impact modelling
- A strong business case for where Canada can compete globally along ZEV supply chains and the policies and investments needed to help us get there
DEPLOY
Create a Vision and Credible Pathways in Support of More Canadian Content in the ZEV
Supply Chain
Objective:
Develop quantitative and qualitative evidence that builds the business case for supportive industrial strategy and public and private investments, that position Canadian inputs — critical minerals, components, IP, labour, manufacturing, etc. — as essential to the future of the North American ZEV sector.
Why this matters:
The trajectory of the global vehicle industry is decidedly towards electrification. Developing comprehensive evidence that positions Canada as essential to this evolving sector in North America empowers us to act with credibility as we seek to align our domestic ZEV ecosystem and advance policies that lead to greater commercial success for ZEV firms in Canada.
Key Outcomes:
- Comprehensive analysis of Canada’s ZEV supply chain market opportunities with quantified economic impact projections (GDP contribution, investment potential, etc.)
- Comprehensive analysis of Canada’s current and potential comparative advantages in the ZEV supply chain
- Clear definition of “Canadian content” benchmarks across ZEV segments
- Integration of comparative advantage analysis with market opportunities and economic impact modelling
- A strong business case for where Canada can compete globally along ZEV supply chains and the policies and investments needed to help us get there
Board Of Directors
Dr. Chris Burns
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Managing Team
Andrew McKinnon
Andrew McKinnon is the Interim CEO at Accelerate. Working alongside the President and CEO, Andrew will work to develop and advance the Alliance’s policy and thought leadership initiatives, develop new relationships with key stakeholders, and position Accelerate to advance Canada’s ZEV industry.
Andrew previously worked as the Director of Provincial Affairs with the Global Automakers of Canada, supporting the 15-member trade association with expertise in EV battery policy, end-of-life vehicle and product stewardship, and ZEV policy.
Andrew holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from Simon Fraser University and has previously worked for the Toronto Environmental Alliance and served in the Royal Canadian Navy.
Heather McInnes
Heather McInnes is the Operations Director at the Accelerate Alliance. Heather is responsible for the implementation and execution of administrative and operational activities that support Accelerate’s initiatives. Before joining accelerate in May of 2022, Heather worked in pension and benefits administration as well as pension investment monitoring. Outside of her role at accelerate Heather is an engaged healthcare advocate and sits on various provincial advisory committees in the areas of patient safety and autism services. Heather is located in Dartmouth NS.
William El Khoury
William has a deep understanding of building membership and connection within a not-for-profit environment, including as the former Head of Operations and Community Experience at Impact Hub Ottawa. William also has a degree in Chemical Engineering and is fluently trilingual.
As Membership Engagement Lead, William is responsible for developing and executing membership outreach tactics, leading membership communications and identifying and executing digital and in-person membership learning and networking opportunities.
Carrie Croft
Carrie Croft is a Senior Director at Temple Scott Associates (TSA) and a Strategic Communications Advisor for Accelerate.
Carrie provides strategic communications and government relations counsel. She specializes in developing and executing external communication strategies designed to raise visibility, influence target audiences and shape the public environment.
Funding Partners
Accelerate is not an industry group in the classic sense — we are a strategic catalyst for Canada’s zero-emission vehicle supply chain. Our initiatives are driven by what is necessary to achieve our mandate ensuring tangible growth and long-term change.
Our structure is designed to align our partners’ interests with matching initiatives within our scope of activities.
