2021 Star Woman in Convenience winner: Jennifer Stewart

The Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (CIPMA) is an Ottawa-based national not-for-profit trade association that represents the unique interests of the Canadian downstream petroleum industry. Today there are 24 full members and 35 associate members. At the helm is president and CEO Jennifer Stewart, who started with the organization four years ago.

“I haven’t looked back,” she says. “This is a dynamic job. Issues can change province by province, and we have an opportunity to redefine the image of the sector.”

Stewart notes that COVID-19 has required shifting priorities. “We advocated in every province to ensure retail gasoline was considered an essential service.”

To help keep the industry connected, she launched Pump Chats, a podcast where influencers and leaders of Canada’s gasoline and convenience sector come together to talk about the big issues shaping the industry.

Also high on her list of accomplishments is the establishment of the Canadian Transportation Alliance. Founded last year by a collective of Canadian vehicle and transportation market stakeholders, the alliance delivers objective, third-party research to help educate government, consumers, and business on a variety of important issues affecting the Canadian transportation market.