Mobility Global Forum

Keynotes, panels, and fireside chats with selected industry experts.
Access to the Mobility Global Forum is free of charge.

The 2025 Detroit Auto Show invites you to the Mobility Global Forum on Jan. 15 – 16 at Huntington Place in Detroit. The two-day Mobility Global Forum event will include keynotes, panels and fireside chats with selected industry experts and will feature powerful programming with insights honing in on the symposium’s overarching theme, “Convergence of Industry, Technology and Talent.”  Presentations will be held on the Huntington Place Atrium and Grand Ballroom stages.

The Mobility Global Forum will be held in conjunction with Industry Days, two days of industry, mobility tech and talent collaboration complete with exclusive industry show access. Industry Days will see the return of AutoMobili-D, a technology showcase previewing the latest in mobility innovations. The two days will also feature an energized show focus on workforce development and retention, as well as cultivating student interest in careers within the industry.

Key Speakers and Presenters

Tarek Abdel-Baset

Chief Engineer, Hydrogen Storage Systems

FORVIA

Dr. Rose B. Bellanca

President & Chief Executive Officer, Washtenaw Community College

John Bozzella

President & Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Automotive Innovation

Elaine Borseth

President, Electric Vehicle Association

Jose Flores

Chief Executive Officer, Ancor Automotive

Justine Johnson

Chief Mobility Officer, State of Michigan

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Natalie King

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Dunamis Charge

Jeff Makarewicz

Group Vice President, Technical Resources Toyota North America Research and Development

Naresh Mehta

Global Chief Technology Officer, Manufacturing, Tata Consultancy Services

Dr. Venkatesh Prasad

Senior Vice President of Research and Chief Innovation Officer

Center for Automotive Research

Christine Roeder

Executive Vice President, Global Epicenter of Mobility

Christina Roki

Automotive Content & Culture Creator

Anupam Singhal

President, Manufacturing, Tata Consultancy Services

Scott Tobin

Chief Executive Officer, Envorso

Eric Warren

Executive Director, Global Motorsports Competition

General Motors Corporation

Atrium Stage Schedule, Panel Topics, and Speakers:

Atrium Stage – Wednesday, January 15

Meet our Future Leaders: Students and Recent Graduates on their Experiences in the Auto Industry presented by Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Panelists:
Ian Gibson – Student, Kettering University
Dauan Hendley -Recent Graduate
Palak Ukey – UM Dearborn

Co-Moderators:
Avazeh (Ava) Attari – Director, Higher Education Partnerships, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Christina Roki – Automotive Content & Culture Creator

9 am

Road Ahead Address

Speaker:
Governor Gretchen Whitmer

10 am

Impact of the New Administration on the Automotive Industry presented by Alliance for Automotive Innovation

Conversation with:
John Bozzella – President and Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Glenn Stevens – Executive Director, MichAuto

10:25 am

Driving Possibilities STEM Initiative presented by Toyota

Panelists:
Dr. Sibrina Collins – Director, STEM Ed Institute at Eastern Michigan University
Teliah Hinton – Student, Ypsilanti Community Middle School
Robert Jansen – Superintendent, Lincoln Consolidated Schools
Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross – Superintendent, Ypsilanti Community Schools

Moderator:
Jeff Makarewicz – Group Vice President, Technical Resources Toyota North America Research and Development

11 am

Accelerating Next Level Growth Through Motorsports presented by Have Blue Designs

Conversation with:
John Waraniak – Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Have Blue Designs; SAE International Fellow
Eric Warren – Executive Director, Global Motorsports Competition, General Motors Corporation

12 pm

Connected Vehicles: Driving Mobility presented by Automobility Advisors

Panelists:
Nicholas Cole – Principal Consultant, AutoMobility Advisors
Allen Levenson – Director, Data and Analytics, AutoMobility Advisors
Seema Nilakhe – Consumer Technology, Mobility and Automotive Consultant, AutoMobility Advisors

Moderator:
George Ayres – Managing Director, Automobility Advisors

1 pm

Bad Behaviors: Autonomous Driving, Distraction & Safety presented by Autoliv

Panelists:
Analia Jarvis – Manager, Government Affairs, Autoliv
Steve Kiefer – Chairman, The Kiefer Foundation
Bruce Mehler – Research Scientist, MIT
Ian Reagan – Senior Research Scientist, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Moderator:
Mike Rowe – Director, Business Development, Electronics and Mechatronics, Autoliv

2 pm

Maintaining EV Momentum presented by Electric Vehicle Association

Panelists:
Katherine Garcia – Director, Clean Transportation for All Campaign, Sierra Club
Michael Stanton – President and CEO, National Automobile Dealers Association
Gil Tal – Director, The Electric Vehicle Research Center, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis

Moderator:
Elaine Borseth – President, Electric Vehicle Association

3 pm

Future of Technology for Urban Mobility presented by Detroit Smart Parking Lab

Panelists:
Josh Bitterman – Co-Founder and Head of Business Development, IonDynamics Energy
Kevin Bopp – Chief Executive Officer, Park Rite, Detroit Smart Parking Lab
Daniel Chiaravalli – Managing Director, ALBA Robot
Donte Harris – Project Manager, itselectric

Moderator:
Lauren Mattar – Mobility Technical Program Manager, NextEnergy

4 pm

Atrium Stage – Thursday, January 16

Keeping SE Michigan as a Destination of Choice for Mobility Startups presented by Michigan Central

Panelists:
David Medina Alvarez – Principal Chief Executive Officer, LIVAQ
Michael Healander – President and Chief Executive Officer, Airspace Link
Emma Jabour – Senior Advisor, Development and Economic Transformation, City of Detroit
Justin Kosmides – Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Bloom

Moderator:
Mark de la Vergne – Director, Economic Innovation and Policy, Michigan Central

9 am

Accelerating Impact: Building Innovation Ecosystems through Strategic Partnerships presented by Office of Future Mobility and Electrification

Panelists:
Clare Braun – Director, Strategy and Integration, Michigan Central
Kevin Mull – Senior Director, Office of Urban Strategy and Innovation, Bedrock Detroit
Tim Slusser – Chief of Mobility Innovation, City of Detroit

Moderator:
Justine Johnson – Chief Mobility Officer, State of Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

10 am

TCS Forum: Future-Ready Mobility – Steering Towards a Greener Horizon presented by Tata Consultancy Services

Panelists:
Anupam Singhal – President, Manufacturing, Tata Consultancy Services
Earl Newsome – Global Chief Information Officer, Cummins
M.S. Krishnan – Professor and Faculty Director, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

Moderator:
Naresh Mehta – Global Chief Technology Officer, Manufacturing, Tata Consultancy Services

11 am

Harnessing AI to Deliver Product Creation & Manufacturing Excellence presented by Center for Automotive Research

Panelists:
Dr. Fatma Koçer-Poyraz – Vice President, Engineering Data Science, Altair
Stephen Bell – Chief Analyst-Connectivity, Informa Tech Automotive Group
Binoy Damodaran – Data and Technology Transformation, IBM Services
Ken Royce – Automotive and Sustainability Field Principal, Infor

Moderator: Dr. Venkatesh Prasad – Senior Vice President of Research and Chief Innovation Officer, Center for Automotive Research

12 pm

Electrifying Michigan: Navigating the EV Journey for Educators, Industry and Consumers presented by Washtenaw Community College

Panelists:
Dr. Rose B. Bellanca – President and Chief Executive Officer, Washtenaw Community College
Tom Butman – Vice President, Butman Ford Dealership
Neal Foley – Director of Marketing and Electrification
Glenn Stevens – Executive Director, MichAuto

Moderator:
Alisyn Malek – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Middle Third

1 pm

Intersection of IP and EV Technologies presented by US Patent & Trademark Office

Panelists:
Jennifer Dukarski – Emerging Technology, Automotive and Media Attorney Butzel Long Ann Arbor
Kristie A. Mahone – Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration (OPLA)
Conrad Wong – Intellectual Property Attache, US Patent & Trademark Office

Moderator:
Derris Banks – Regional Director, US Patent & Trademark Office

2 pm

Preparing the Workforce for the Future Industries of Tomorrow presented by Michigan’s University Research Corridor

Conversation with:
Britany Affolter–Caine – Executive Director, Michigan’s University Research Corridor
Jonathan Nipper – Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group

3 pm

You Drive the Future presented by MichAuto

Panelists:
Katelyn George – Civil Engineering Student, Wayne State University
Jeet Jhaveri – Computer Science Student, Michigan State University
Ahmad Mirou – Aerospace Engineering Student, University of Michigan

Co-Moderators:
Maddie Thomas – Talent Initiatives Specialist, MichAuto
Christina Roki – Automotive Content & Culture Creator

4 pm

Ballroom Stage Schedule, Fireside Chat Topics, and Speakers:

Ballroom Stage – Wednesday, January 15

AI-Infused Mobility: Driving the Future presented by Tata Consultancy Services

Speakers:
Rakesh Devpura – Head, Manufacturing North America, Tata Consultancy Services
Luke Harvey – Principal Solutions Architect, Worldwide Automotive, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Arun DeSouza – CXO Executive Advisor, Netskope

Moderator:
Subhash Sakorikar – Global Head, Industry Excellence Group, Manufacturing, Tata Consultancy Services

10 am

Avoiding Pitfalls and Seizing Opportunities of Software-Designed Vehicles presented by Envorso

Speaker:
Scott Tobin – Chief Executive Officer, Envorso

Moderator:
Brian Rhodes – Research & Analysis Manager, Connected Car & Vehicle Experience, S&P Global Mobility

11 am

Detroit’s Talent Transformation in the Automotive Sector: A Fire Side Chat Discussing the Recent Mobility and Employability Study presented by Lightcast

Conversation with:
Drew Coleman – Senior Director, MichAuto
Susan Koehn – Senior Consultant, Lightcast
Rachel Sedenberg – Director, Enterprise Research, Lightcast

12 pm

Why Hydrogen: Exploring Hydrogen’s Potential and Opportunities within the Mobility Space presented by FORVIA

Speaker:
Tarek Abdel-Baset – Chief Engineer, Hydrogen Storage Systems, FORVIA

Moderator:
Carl Anthony – Managing Editor, Automoblog

1 pm

The Road Ahead: Navigating the Winding Roads of the Auto Industry presented by S&P Global Mobility

Speaker:
Mike Wall – Executive Director, Automotive Analysis, S&P Global Mobility

Moderator:
Mark Phelan – Auto Critic and Columnist, Detroit Free Press

2 pm

Managing Through the Increasing Industry Stress and Uncertainty presented by AlixPartners

Speaker:
Mark Wakefield – Global Automotive Market Lead, AlixPartners

3 pm

Unlocking Aerial Mobility presented by Joby Aviation

Speaker:
Lydon Sleeper- US Strategic Policy Lead, Joby Aviation

4 pm

Ballroom Stage – Thursday, January 16

The Strategy and Talent Needed Now for Our Ever-Evolving Industry presented by McKinsey & Co

Speakers:
Umesh Goel – Partner, Automotive Sector, McKinsey and Company
Brooke Weddle – Senior Partner, People and Organizational Performance Practice, McKinsey & Company

Moderator:Ed Garsten – Senior Transportation Contributor at Forbes.com

10 am

How Inclusivity in the EV Industry Positively Impacts Economic and Environmental Community Growth presented by Dunamis Charge

Speaker:
Natalie King – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dunamis Charge

11 am

“SAFER by 2030” – A True Road to Zero Achieving a 30% Reduction in Highway Fatalities by 2030 presented by The Keifer Foundation

Speakers:
Katie Bower – Director, Office of Highway Safety Planning, Michigan State Police
Steve Kiefer – Chairman, The Kiefer Foundation

Moderator:
Terry Rhadigan – Strategic Advisor, Detroit Regional Chamber/MichAuto

12 pm

Welding Data, Not Just Steel: How Digital Transformation is Reshaping Automotive Talent

Speakers:
Jose Flores – Chief Executive Officer, Ancor Automotive
Ted Serbinski – Founder and Managing Partner, Stanson & Co

Moderator:
Bill Vlasic – Former Detroit Bureau Chief, The New York Times

1 pm

Italy: Design, Innovation and Passion on Wheels presented by the Italian Trade Agency and the Consul of the Italy, Detroit

Conversation with:
Allegra Baistrocchi – Consul of Italy, Detroit
Franco Bevione – Chief Executive Officer, Wedoo, LLC
Stefano DePonti – Chief Executive Officer, Dallara USA
Fabrizio Mina – Chief Executive Officer, Italdesign USA
Marco Verna – Trade Commission, Italian Trade Agency, Chicago

2 pm

Responsible Use of AI – How to Build AI Governance

Conversation with:Doug Fears – Chief Operating Officer, Artis-Magi
Hushedar Mehta – Vice President, Automotive & Technology, CGI Great Lakes Business Unit

3 pm

The Road Ahead: 7 Technologies Poised to Transform Michigan’s Mobility Industry presented by Detroit Regional Partnership and Global Epicenter of Mobility

Speakers:
Will Butler – Vice President, Business Development, Detroit Regional Partnership
Jason Puscas – Chief Administrative Officer, Bollinger Motors

Moderator:
Christine Roeder – Executive Vice President, Global Epicenter of Mobility

4 pm

Industry Days access to the Main Show Floor:
9 am – 1 pm

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Wednesday

Jan 15

All Day

AutoMobili-D

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Future Leaders Forum

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Mobility Global Forum

Thursday

16

All Day

AutoMobili-D

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Future Leaders Forum

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Mobility Global Forum

January 15
All Day

AutoMobili-D

January 16
All Day

AutoMobili-D

January 15
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Future Leaders Forum

January 15
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Mobility Global Forum

January 16
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Future Leaders Forum

January 16
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Mobility Global Forum

Industry Days Tickets
Access to the Mobility Global Forum is free of charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

2025 Mobility Global Forum FAQ

Where is the venue located?

How much time is allocated for the presentation?

Your session can be up to 45 minutes in length including a Q & A within that time frame. The format can be a keynote, fireside chat, or panel. All presentation organizers are responsible for booking their own panelists and moderators.

What days will the sessions be on?

January 15-16, 2025.

Where will the presentations be held?

Presentations will be held on the Huntington Place Atrium and Grand Ballroom stages, with access to both at no cost.

What is the expected attendance for these sessions?

100 – 300 at either stage. The Atrium stage will have at least 200 seats with room for 100+ standing. The Grand Ballroom stage, located within AutoMobili-D, has about 50 chairs with room for 75 – 100 standing. We expect maximum attendance based on the speakers and topics.

Can you share who will be speaking?

We are unable to release the names at this time. No applicants have been selected yet. Speakers must fill out an application to be considered online at https://naias.com/mobility-global-forum

Will my speaker and associates be able to get on the show floor?

Each presenter will receive four credentials providing access to the main show floor. No tickets are required to enter the Atrium and Ballroom stage areas. The Fulkerson Group will request these credentials for you, and you will pick them up at the credential office at Huntington Place. You will need to provide the names, titles, and company name for the four credentials. Additional tickets to the main show floor can be ordered via Lauren Arnold, lauren@fulkersongroup.com at a cost of $40 each per day.

Who will be our key contacts?

Mike Marchand at mike@fulkersongroup.comwill be your initial contact. If your speaker application is accepted you will be informed by Mike via email and introduced to Paul Kokesh paul.kokesh@premierav.net, at Premier AV Event Technology (248-506-5076). Premier AV will be responsible for your onsite logistics.

When will our session be scheduled?

It will depend upon the topic and purpose. The specific date/time will be determined based on the applications submitted. Individuals and companies selected will be contacted in October 2024.

Possible Topic Suggestions:

Industry

  • Investment in the transition from ICE to BEV
  • Consumer confidence in BEV technology – how to improve the end user experience
  • Is China a threat to our industry – how does the US remain competitive; regulations/tariffs
  • The future of ground-based mobility – more CUV’s, SUV’s and trucks with fewer sedans
  • Sustainability and the circular economy – how to solve end of life vehicle disposal and BEV battery recycling
  • BEV charging infrastructure deployment and operability
  • Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems – challenges and opportunities

Technology

  • What new technologies are OEM’s looking for in the startup space
  • Autonomous driving – when and where are the most likely application
  • How to keep the automotive consumer and end user experience as the focal point of new technology development
  • How will AI improve the automotive consumer experience
  • Evolution of drones as last mile delivery option for packaged goods
  • How to keep Southeast Michigan as a destination of choice for new mobility startups
  • Funding for tech startups – grants, venture capital, acquisitions

Talent

  • Workforce development – attracting, training and retaining our future workforce
  • Student awareness of automotive industry job opportunities and training grants
  • Trade schools and Community Colleges – the role they play in educating our future workforce
  • Public-private partnerships – the collaboration between industry and public education to attract and retain talent

Contact Information

Mike Marchand The Fulkerson Group