Rising Stars 2026: Timothy Chung 

Timothy Chung, 37 
Director, energy management 
CN  

Nominator’s quote: “Timothy represents the future of rail — not only through technical excellence and strategic thinking, but through a leadership style that reinforces a fundamental truth of our industry: Even as technology evolves, railroading will always be powered by people.” — Cathy Stojak, CN

Education: Bachelor of applied science in mechanical engineering, University of Toronto. 
 
Job responsibilities: I lead CN’s fuel and energy management strategy, with a focus on improving efficiency, lowering emissions and optimizing one of the company’s largest operating cost categories. My role centers on developing data-driven, cross-functional solutions that strengthen operational performance while supporting sustainability objectives. 
 
Describe your career path. 
While I was studying at the University of Toronto, I had an internship with GE Transportation at CN’s Toronto locomotive shop. After graduation, I spent five years with GE in field-based roles out of Edmonton, where I was fortunate enough to develop strong technical expertise and learned to lead through high-pressure operational challenges. 

I later joined CN as a frontline supervisor and went on to hold progressively broader roles in locomotive maintenance planning, locomotive capital planning and reliability. Today, as director of energy management, I am able to apply that breadth of experience to lead our fuel efficiency and emissions reduction strategies that support both operational excellence and environmental stewardship. 
 
What was your first job and what did you learn from it? 
My first job was working as a cook at the CNE (Toronto’s annual fair). It taught me the value of discipline, teamwork and staying calm under pressure in a fast-paced environment. It also helped me realize that I enjoy responsibility and thrive in situations where timing, coordination and consistency matter. Most important, it showed me that hard work earns trust and that how you show up each day matters just as much as the job itself. 
 
What sparked your interest in the rail industry? What told you it could be a place for you to thrive? 
I found my way into rail through a GE Transportation internship while at the University of Toronto. I was drawn to the pace, the complexity and, most of all, the teamwork. Rail showed me that meaningful results come from people working together under pressure, and that combination of technical challenge, shared accountability and real-world impact made it clear this was a place where I could thrive. 

What’s one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned in your career? 
That leadership is not about authority, it’s about trust. Over the course of my career, through various mentors, I’ve come to see that the best results happen when people feel respected, supported and clear on the goal. Whether I was working in the field or driving broader strategic initiatives, success has always depended on bringing people together, listening carefully and creating the conditions for people to perform. 
 
What are your passions outside of work? 
I find a lot of joy in cooking and learning new things. Cooking gives me a chance to slow down, be creative and bring people together, while continuous learning reflects a curiosity that has always been a big part of who I am. Whether I’m trying something new in the kitchen or exploring a new idea, I value experiences that help me keep growing, stay grounded and remain connected to the people around me. 
 
How do you plan to keep making an impact in your corner of the industry? 
By challenging assumptions, driving innovation, and helping the industry operate smarter and more sustainably. I want to continue using data, operational insight and cross-functional collaboration to solve complex problems and create practical change. To me, innovation is not just about new technology — it is about rethinking how we work, seeing new possibilities and helping others turn better ideas into lasting results. 
 
What’s the biggest challenge confronting the rail industry today? 
Making forward-looking investments in technology and systems that create more value for our customers. As the industry evolves, digital transformation, infrastructure modernization and smarter service models will be essential to delivering the reliability, visibility and responsiveness customers increasingly expect.