Room: International AB
Sponsor(s)
Session Description
This session will provide key insights into Change Management, and why its vital to the overall success for a full fleet transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) buses and diesel hybrid-electric buses (HEBs) to fully electric zero-emission buses (ZEBs). Whether your ZEB transition plan is aimed at battery electric buses (BEBs), hydrogen fuel cell electric (FCEBs), or a mixed green fleet it comes as no surprise that ZEBs face a completely different set of operational challenges compared to ICE and HEBs. With the energy transition becoming an inevitable reality, transit agencies, service suppliers, OEMs, and energy providers must adapt to these changes and navigate their distinct realities.
What is “Change Management” (CM) when it comes to ZEBs? Join us and find out. Unique perspectives on how CM can be applied will be shared by CIMA+, Toronto Transit Commission, Kingston Transit, and BetterFleet. Existing operational processes and procurement methods are potentially becoming obsolete with the introduction of ZEBs. This session provides an opportunity to rethink holistically how services, vehicles, and infrastructures are planned and delivered, essentially all aspects of the asset lifecycle management. The panel will examine how transit agencies and other fleet operators in the private sector are transforming by trying new policies and methods of organization, including breaking silos that traditionally guided scheduling and bus procurement, fleet management, and capital planning. Presentations will cover some initial steps that transportation agencies can adopt to manage new training, onboarding, keep up with technology updates, review existing operational and hierarchical procedures, and ensure the right stakeholders are involved in a comprehensive values- based decision-making process.
This discussion relies on both technical and strategic approaches as follows:
(A) technical – the need to understand the implications of the technology, including new rules around battery temperature monitoring, charging events, equipment reallocation, charger maintenance, etc., and,
(B) strategic – an organization will have much more success if it acts in unison with a common thread and a strong willingness to reduce emissions. Investing in and leveraging CM best practices extends far beyond training mechanics and operators for the new technology. This presents an opportunity to thoroughly rethink current operating models that have been in use for many decades.
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s)
Sasha Pejcic is Managing Partner at BetterFleet where he leads their Canadian and US companies. In this role, he is responsible for customer experience, operations, growth, strategy, and performance management. Additionally, Sasha acts as BetterFleet’s Global Bus Lead, lending technical knowledge and expertise to projects across the world. As a management consultant, Sasha supports fleet operators and other related industries (utilities, equipment suppliers, etc.) with the transition to zero emission vehicles, both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell. Sasha also works with transit agencies to rationalize their services to grow ridership, improve customer satisfaction, and maximize cost efficiencies. Sasha has successfully led a 100+ portfolio of diverse transit projects, including over four dozen in the zero-emission bus and vehicle space. A demonstrated leader in transit, Sasha is an ENO alumnus. He proudly serves on the Executive Committee of Board of Directors for the Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA) as Treasurer, serves on the Zero Emission Vehicle Task Force for the California Transit Association, and is involved with numerous industry committees of APTA, CUTA, and CTA. He recently authored a chapter on zero emission buses for best-selling book, The Future of Public Transportation. Sasha was named one of Mass Transit’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2018.
Eric Cantin is a Project Director and Partner at CIMA+ who leads complex multidisciplinary Transportation Decarbonization Projects for Transit and Municipalities. Eric is also responsible for interdisciplinary project management & coordination, constructability review, construction supervision and in-house training. On all projects, he leverages over 25 years of experience in power generation and distribution design, including various studies and design projects related to transportation, industrial facilities, site development, normal and emergency power distribution, renewable energy, energy storage and substations.
Jen Liang, is a seasoned leader in large-scale business transformation programs and change management. She has extensive experience delivering successful, high‐impact initiatives at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) across various industries, including telecommunications, banking, and retail. At the TTC, Jen played a key role in developing the TTC’s Innovation and Sustainability Strategy, and is currently leading the eBus Transformation Program, focusing on portfolio oversight and organizational change management. Jen holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) specializing in Global Leadership. Outside of work, you will find Jen travelling around the world. Join Jen at the OTE conference as she shares insights and best practices from the TTC’s eBus Transformation Program, offering valuable experiences for organizations embarking on similar journeys.
Lucia Fleith is a Prosci-certified Change Management professional with over a decade of experience leading transformations in banking, transportation, mining, and government sectors. She specializes in technology adoption, business process optimization, and fostering organizational resilience.
Currently, she supports the TTC eBus Transformation Program, applying a structured Change Management framework to manage workforce readiness. She also has extensive transit experience, having led Change Management initiatives for Metrolinx’s bus operations as part of its Integrate Metrolinx Program.
Lucia has played a pivotal role in high-impact programs such as TD Bank’s Human-Centered Design Practice launch, the Government of Canada’s Benefits Delivery Modernization, and Purolator’s SAP ERP migration. She excels in aligning people, processes, and technology to achieve sustainable change.
A strong advocate for knowledge-sharing, she has led Train-the-Trainer programs, Communities of Practice, and leadership coaching initiatives. Lucia holds a Master of Arts in Linguistics, a Corporate Communications Specialization, and certifications in ITIL4® and Lean Six Sigma.
Moderator(s)
Scott Gillner – Brampton Transit
Scott Gillner is the Manager, Sustainability & Innovation with Brampton Transit at the City of Brampton. In his 13th year with Brampton Transit he supports the Zero Emission Mobility, Business Improvements, and Contract Management teams. Scott continues to champion the transition to a zero-emission transit fleet for as early as 2041.
With over 33 years’ experience in municipal government transit and traffic sectors, Scott has supported OPTA through his participation in various task forces and committees, including the Maintenance Committee, Procurement Committee, and as serving for over 3 years as Vice Chair, Operations & Maintenance of the OPTA ZEB Committee. Scott currently serves as Chair of the CUTA ZEB Committee, and is a member of CUTRIC’s Zero Emissions Bus Technologies & Energy Solutions Committee (ZEBTEC), and APTA’s Zero Emission Fleet Committee. Scott is also a Technical Committee member of the Advanced Public Transit Systems (APTS) for ITS Canada.