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Over 240 SIMSA members met with over 60-Nutrien persons – for an entire day – at SIMSA’s Roundtable event with Nutrien on September 12, 2024!

This was a record attendance by both Nutrien and SIMSA members!  SIMSA’s growth is largely attributable to the cooperation they receive in events such as this – which all began with PotashCorp – now Nutrien.

Josh Dodd shares with SIMSA members.

As with all SIMSA Roundtable events, attendees from the producer company (Nutrien) are assigned seating individually at a banquet table of 6-persons for the day.  Upon entry, SIMSA members can choose with whom they sit.

However, over half of the event time was spent in free-flow networking around the room, giving SIMSA members ample access to key Nutrien persons, and an opportunity to connect with fellow members.

Nutrien presented on capital and strategic plans, as well as their Indigenous supply chain strategy.  SIMSA presented their current work backlog and member sentiment and described what we need from Nutrien to succeed.

The event began with a high-level potash market overview from Trevor Berg, Snr VP Potash Operations.

Trevor Berg

Trevor was followed by Shannon Rhynold, VP Potash, ETC.

Shannon Rhynold

Following Shannon was Josh Dodd, Director Procurement, Potash. Josh also spoke later in Nutrien’s Indigenous Supply Chain Strategy.Josh Dodd

The event then flowed to SIMSA’s presentation. In preparation for the event, SIMSA surveyed its members to gather questions and build a snap-shot “state of the union” document.  Then, at the event, to provide some context to what they heard from their engineering, construction, and fabrication membership – SIMSA shared the results and had a SIMSA Board member (current and past) from each of those categories provide some context.

The Panel’s focus was strategies to complete Nutrien’s work, as well as the $65-billion in potential capital projects proposed for Saskatchewan over the next 20 years.

The panel consisted of:

• Scott Bahr – Bit Service
• Eric Lamontagne – GE Environmental
• Bryan MacFadden – Engcomp

Nutrien shared its presentation decks with attendees.

Josh Dodd, Director Procurement concluded the event.  But more importantly, in addition to recruiting Nutrien staff for the event, he also is SIMSA’s contact and driver for the event’s-design – which saw at least half of the time set aside for people talking directly to each other – not just presenting.  Josh has been SIMSA’s link for several years and has given generously of his time.

Event sponsors were Stantec and Sutton Benefits and Pensions.

SIMSA’s Executive Director – Eric Anderson – stated that, “The event saw SIMSA fulfill its role as a communications bridge, building understanding between the supply chain and Nutrien.  It also represents SIMSA’s simple focus – helping its member sell more stuff.”

The event agenda was:

• 9:00 am – registration and networking
• 10:00 am – opening comments and house-keeping items
• 10:15 am – Nutrien (market, procurement, operations, capital) (answer pre-submitted questions)
• 11:00 am – Networking
• Noon – lunch
• 1:00 pm – SIMSA Panel
• 1:40 pm – Nutrien to talk about their Indigenous supply chain strategy
• 2:20 pm – Networking
• 3:30 pm – Close

SIMSA is a non-profit organization representing 357 Saskatchewan-based supplier-members, who provide goods and services to the industrial, mining, and energy sectors. SIMSA is currently the only organization that represents suppliers that have a physical presence in Saskatchewan, with most also having their global headquarters in the province.  SIMSA’s membership represents 34,200 employees in Saskatchewan and over $17-billlion in annual sales.

Nutrien persons who attended for the entire day included: