All Speaker Bios
Dr. Michael Mladjenovic
P. Eng.; MBB, Lean Sensei, Digital Transformation Strategist, ASQ Fellow
Dr. Michael Mladjenovic is a Lean Sensei, Master Black Belt, and Digital Transformation Strategist with deep expertise in Digital Lean Six Sigma, Data Science, and Digital Kaizen. His career spans senior leadership roles in operations, quality assurance, and continuous improvement at renowned organizations such as LifeLabs, Maple Leaf Foods, Magna International, Intier Interiors, General Electric, PPG, and SKF (IKL).He has led enterprise-level initiatives in innovation strategy, business process systems, and quality systems implementation across the automotive, food, electronics, and healthcare industries.Dr. Mladjenovic has facilitated over 120 Kaizen workshops, focusing on topics like Value Stream Mapping, Hoshin Planning, Change Acceleration Process (CAP), Process Thinking Leadership, Business Process Management, and Digital Transformation.He holds multiple ASQ certifications, including:Certified Manager of Quality and Operational ExcellenceCertified Quality AuditorCertified Reliability EngineerCertified Quality EngineerCertified Software Quality EngineerDr. Mladjenovic is a Registered Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering and Business. He currently serves as Chair of the Data Science Interest Group (DSIG) within the ASQ Statistics Division, a leadership role he has held for the past three years.
Sunee Samuel
Inclusive Leadership & Emotional Intelligence Expert
Sunee Samuel is a Culture expert who specializes in
inclusive leadership development and emotional intelligence where she has coached and
mentored over 600 individuals across the public, private, and education sectors. With a decade
of experience designing and delivering impactful programs, Sunee is known for creating
learning experiences that elevate marginalized voices, promote belonging, and strengthen
inclusion at every level of leadership. Her work blends behavioral science, emotional
intelligence, and practical DEI frameworks to help leaders lead with empathy, build
psychologically safe teams, and navigate change with clarity and courage.
Speakers
Vijay Thamaraikanna
Senior Manager – Innovation & Automation, Metrolinx
Nikhil Pal
Principal Business Excellence Manager
Denis Devos, P.Eng
ASQ Fellow
