Official Conference of the Ontario Defence Association · Proud Supporter and Partner
Official Conference of the Ontario Defence Association · Proud Supporter and Partner
Two days of defence-sector insight, technology showcases, market intelligence, and business development at Best Defence Conference 2026.
Program subject to change. Additional speakers and session details may be updated as confirmed.
Best Defence Conference 2026 brings together defence, aerospace, public safety, government, military, procurement, technology, and supply chain leaders for two focused days of programming, exhibits, networking, and partnership development.
Canadian Armed Forces and defence-sector updates on emerging requirements, capability priorities, and market direction.
Sessions exploring Canada's defence industrial base, procurement, trade, and sector development.
Focused presentations from companies bringing emerging technologies and dual-use capabilities to the defence market.
Coffee breaks, lunch periods, exhibit-floor activity, B2B networking, and the evening reception.
Heather Pilot, Pilot Hill Ltd. · Peter Studer, CFN Consultants (MC)
Colonel Robert Tyler, Director Air Requirements — Combat, RCAF · Commander/Capt.(N) Christopher Tait, Director Naval Requirements, RCN · Colonel Christopher S. Sines, Director Land Requirements, Canadian Armed Forces · Colonel Blair McNaught, Director Force Development, Canadian Special Operations Command
A feature session bringing together Canadian Armed Forces requirements and force-development leaders across air, naval, land, and special operations.
Michael Hartley, Managing Director IK Mining & Energy, Interknowlogy · Asif Sharif, Founder & CEO and Ash Hawrani, Director — Requirements & Compliance, Ready4Defence.ca by Modern Requirements · Julio Villafuerte, Corporate Technology Strategist, Centreline (Windsor) Ltd.
Peter Saunders, Director General — Integrated Air and Missile Defence (DG IAMD)
Major General J.D.S. Masson, OMM, MSM, CD, Chief Army Force Development and Senior Serving Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery
Moderator: Gianni Parise, Vice-President Research, McMaster University · Wendy Hadwen, Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy), Defence Investment Agency · David Hutchison, Director-General Trade Strategy and Chief Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada · Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence Industrial Strategy
Additional panellists to be announced.
Rob Gorrie, CEO, Solar Electric Systems (2:35 PM) · Neil Beaton, Senior Director Business Development, DRT Cyber (2:40 PM) · Brandon Robinson, Co-Founder & CEO, Horizon Aircraft (2:50 PM) · Jean Filion, CEO, Canadian Special Warfare Lab (3:00 PM) · Jim Hebert, Director Business Development — Defence & Space, Serco Canada (3:10 PM)
Cameron King, CPPO, Regional Service Line Leader, Contracts Services, Defence Construction Canada
Ted Kirkpatrick, Chair, Ontario Defence Association (ODA) · Joe Noss, CEO, Publicus Inc. · Ashan Corea, Program Director, ODA
Day 01 program subject to change.
Heather Pilot, Pilot Hill Ltd. · Peter Studer, CFN Consultants (MC)
Moderator: Major-General (Ret’d) Colin Keiver, MSM, CD · Glen Lynch, CEO & Co-Founder, Volatus Aerospace · Mike Nelson, CEO & Founder, TACTIQL · Jonathan Betournay, OEM Lead Canada, Dell
Guillaume Décot, Political Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to Canada
Major-General (Ret’d) Peter Dawe, Senior Vice President, Defence Strategy at BDC
Canada’s defence ambitions cannot be achieved by large contractors alone. Building a stronger, more resilient defence industrial base requires more Canadian SMEs and startups to scale, innovate, and become trusted partners in domestic and allied supply chains. Peter Dawe, Senior Vice President, Defence Strategy at BDC, will discuss how the sector’s rapid evolution is creating new opportunities and how SMEs can position themselves as essential contributors to Canada’s defence future.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, PC KC, Executive Advisor, Deloitte LLP
Speaker to be announced.
Roman Shimonov, Founder & CEO, Roshel Inc.
How Canadian companies, domestic investment, and a strong Buy Canadian strategy can build critical infrastructure, strengthen national security, and support Canada’s allies.
Moderator: Skaidra Puodžiūnas, Senior Director Policy & Advocacy, Council of Canadian Innovators · Sam Witherspoon, Co-Founder & CEO, ANVIL · Matt Clancey, Vice President, Maritime Programs, Dominion Dynamics · Patrice Sabourin, VP Technology — Sovereign Initiatives, Ateko (a Bell Canada company)
Mina Johl, CEO, NAVETRA by Purple Wins · Carmelita Crisp, Senior Manager for Indigenous Partnerships & Engagement, NAIT Industry Solutions · Jonny Brimacombe, International Business Development Lead, Rowden Technologies, UK
Moderator: Dr. Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, Research & International, University of Waterloo · Dr. David Muir, Associate Vice-President Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Western University · James Yurichuk, Founder & CEO, Wuxly · Dr. John Walsh, Associate Professor & Director of Defence Industrial Strategy, University of Guelph
Day 02 program subject to change.
The Technology Showcase is a key feature of Best Defence Conference, giving companies a focused opportunity to present emerging technologies, innovation, and dual-use capabilities directly to the conference audience.
Meet companies, suppliers, partners, and stakeholders.
Connect with potential partners, clients, suppliers, and government stakeholders.
Continue conversations during the Day 01 reception on the exhibit floor.
Two focused days of programming, exhibits, networking, and business development at RBC Place London.