Ontario Defence Association Official Conference of the Ontario Defence Association · Proud Supporter and Partner
 October 20–21, 2026  ·  RBC Place London, Ontario
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2026 Speakers · 40+ leaders

2026 Speakers

Meet the military, government, industry, technology, procurement, and business leaders shaping the Best Defence Conference 2026 program.

Best Defence 2026 will feature 40+ speakers, panelists, presenters, and showcase participants across two days. Speaker lineup subject to change; additional participants added as confirmed.

Register for Best Defence 2026 →View the Program
Speakers

Best Defence 2026

DatesOctober 20–21, 2026
VenueRBC Place London
LocationLondon, Ontario
Speaker Overview

Leaders across defence, government, industry & technology

Best Defence brings together speakers and participants from across Canada's defence and security ecosystem — Canadian Armed Forces leaders, government officials, procurement and trade specialists, industry executives, technology innovators, prime contractors, SMEs, and strategic partners.

Military & Defence Leaders

Capability priorities, operational needs, and emerging requirements.

Government & Procurement

Public-sector, procurement, trade, and policy insight.

Industry Executives & Partners

Defence contractors, manufacturers, integrators, and supply chain stakeholders.

Technology Innovators

AI, cyber, C4ISR, aerospace, infrastructure, public safety, and dual-use capabilities.

Featured Speakers

2026 lineup

Pilot HillHPConference Host
Heather Pilot
Founder & President, Pilot Hill Ltd.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Speaker
CFN ConsultantsPSCFN Consultants
Peter Studer
CFN Consultants
Conference MC
Speaker
Major General J.D.S. MassonRoyal Regiment of Canadian Artillery badgeJDRoyal Canadian Artillery
Major General J.D.S. Masson, OMM, MSM, CD
Chief Army Force Development & Senior Serving Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery
Keynote Speaker
Speaker
Royal Canadian Air Force badgeRTRoyal Canadian Air Force
Colonel Robert Tyler
Director Air Requirements — Combat, RCAF
CAF Mini Outlooks
Speaker
Royal Canadian Navy badgeCCRoyal Canadian Navy
Commander/Capt.(N) Christopher Tait
Director Naval Requirements, Royal Canadian Navy
CAF Mini Outlooks
Speaker
Colonel Christopher S. SinesCanadian Army badgeCSCanadian Army
Colonel Christopher S. Sines
Director Land Requirements, Canadian Armed Forces
CAF Mini Outlooks
Speaker
CANSOFCOM badgeBMCanadian Special Operations Forces Command
Colonel Blair McNaught
Director Force Development, Canadian Special Operations Command
CAF Mini Outlooks
Speaker
Government of CanadaPSNational Defence
Peter Saunders
Director General — Integrated Air and Missile Defence
Continental Defence & NORAD Modernization
Speaker
ITPSDLInternational Test Pilot School
David Lohse
CEO, ITPS (International Test Pilot School)
Continental Defence & NORAD Modernization
Speaker
Wendy HadwenGovernment of CanadaWHDefence Investment Agency
Wendy Hadwen
Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy), Defence Investment Agency
Canada's Path Forward with Defence
Speaker
David HutchisonGovernment of CanadaDHGlobal Affairs Canada
David Hutchison
DG Trade Strategy & Chief Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada
Canada's Path Forward with Defence
Speaker
Gianni PariseMcMaster UniversityGPMcMaster University
Gianni Parise
Vice-President, Research, McMaster University
Canada's Path Forward with Defence
Speaker
Cameron KingGovernment of CanadaCKDefence Construction Canada
Cameron King, CPPO
Regional Service Line Leader, Contracts Services, Defence Construction Canada
CAF Infrastructure Investment
Speaker
Ontario Defence AssociationTKOntario Defence Association
Ted Kirkpatrick
Chair, Ontario Defence Association
Ontario Defence Association Update
Speaker
PublicusJNPublicus
Joe Noss
CEO, Publicus
Ontario Defence Association Update
Speaker
Ontario Defence AssociationACOntario Defence Association
Ashan Corea
Program Director, Ontario Defence Association
Ontario Defence Association Update
Speaker
Royal Canadian Air Force badgeMCRCAF · Retired
Major-General (Ret'd) Colin Keiver, MSM, CD
Panel Moderator
Unmanned Systems & Intelligent Attritable Mass
Speaker
Volatus AerospaceGLVolatus Aerospace
Glen Lynch
CEO & Co-Founder, Volatus Aerospace
Unmanned Systems & Intelligent Attritable Mass
Speaker
TACTIQLMNDefence Technology
Mike Nelson
CEO & Founder, TACTIQL
Unmanned Systems & Intelligent Attritable Mass
Speaker
DellJBDell Technologies
Jonathan Betournay
OEM Lead Canada, Dell
Unmanned Systems & Intelligent Attritable Mass
Speaker
Guillaume DécotEuropean UnionGDDelegation of the European Union
Guillaume Décot
Political Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to Canada
ReArm Europe / SAFE
Speaker
ARA RoboticsRBARA Robotics
Romain Briard
Director of Solutions and Market Development, ARA Robotics Inc.
ReArm Europe / SAFE
Speaker
Peter DaweBDCPDBDC
Major-General (Ret’d) Peter Dawe
Senior Vice President, Defence Strategy at BDC
Building Canada’s Defence Industrial Capacity
Speaker
The Honourable Peter MacKayDeloittePMDeloitte LLP
The Honourable Peter MacKay, PC KC
Executive Advisor, Deloitte LLP
The Gulf Between Rhetoric and Reality
Speaker
Western UniversityASWestern University
Alan Shepard
President, Western University
Keynote Address
Speaker
RoshelRSRoshel
Roman Shimonov
Founder & CEO, Roshel Inc.
Building Canada's Defence Sovereignty
Speaker
Skaidra PuodžiūnasCouncil of Canadian InnovatorsSPCouncil of Canadian Innovators
Skaidra Puodžiūnas
Senior Director, Policy & Advocacy, Council of Canadian Innovators
Canadian Sovereignty Panel
Speaker
Sam WitherspoonANVILSWDefence Business
Sam Witherspoon
Co-Founder & CEO, ANVIL
Canadian Sovereignty Panel
Speaker
Matt ClanceyDominion DynamicsMCDominion Dynamics
Matt Clancey
Vice President, Maritime Programs, Dominion Dynamics
Canadian Sovereignty Panel
Speaker
AtekoPSAteko · Bell Canada
Patrice Sabourin
VP Technology — Sovereign Initiatives, Ateko (a Bell Canada company)
Canadian Sovereignty Panel
Speaker
LernersJHLerners LLP
Joseph Hentz
Business Lawyer, Lerners
Canadian Sovereignty Panel
Speaker
University of WaterlooCDUniversity of Waterloo
Dr. Charmaine Dean
Vice-President, Research & International, University of Waterloo
SODIN Panel · Moderator
Speaker
Western UniversityDMWestern University
Dr. David Muir
Associate Vice-President Innovation & Strategic Partnerships, Western University
SODIN Panel
Speaker
WuxlyJYWuxly
James Yurichuk
Founder & CEO, Wuxly
SODIN Panel
Speaker
University of GuelphJWUniversity of Guelph
Dr. John Walsh
Associate Professor & Director of Defence Industrial Strategy, University of Guelph
SODIN Panel
Speaker
InterknowlogyMHInterknowlogy
Michael Hartley
Managing Director IK Mining & Energy, Interknowlogy
Technology Showcase
Speaker
Modern RequirementsASReady4Defence.ca
Asif Sharif
Founder & CEO, Ready4Defence.ca by Modern Requirements
Technology Showcase
Speaker
Modern RequirementsAHReady4Defence.ca
Ash Hawrani
Director — Requirements & Compliance, Ready4Defence.ca by Modern Requirements
Technology Showcase
Speaker
CentrelineJVDefence Business
Julio Villafuerte
Corporate Technology Strategist, Centreline (Windsor) Ltd.
Technology Showcase
Speaker
Invest BarrieSSInvest Barrie
Stephannie Schlichter
Director of Economic Development, Invest Barrie
Technology Showcase
Speaker
Solar Electric SystemsRGDefence Business
Rob Gorrie
CEO, Solar Electric Systems
Technology Showcase
Speaker
DRT CyberNBDRT Cyber
Neil Beaton
Senior Director, Business Development, DRT Cyber
Technology Showcase
Speaker
Horizon AircraftBRDefence Business
Brandon Robinson
Co-Founder & CEO, Horizon Aircraft
Technology Showcase
Speaker
SercoJHSerco Canada
Jim Hebert
Director Business Development — Defence & Space, Serco Canada
Technology Showcase
Speaker
NAVETRAMJDefence Technology
Mina Johl
CEO, NAVETRA by Purple Wins
Technology Showcase
Speaker
Canadian Special Warfare LabJFDefence Business
Jean Filion
CEO, Canadian Special Warfare Lab
Technology Showcase
Speaker
NAITCCNAIT Industry Solutions
Carmelita Crisp
Senior Manager for Indigenous Partnerships & Engagement, NAIT Industry Solutions
Technology Showcase
Speaker
Rowden TechnologiesJBRowden Technologies
Jonny Brimacombe
International Business Development Lead, Rowden Technologies, UK
Technology Showcase
Speaker

Until official headshots are supplied, each card carries its organization’s identity: Canadian Armed Forces command badges for serving and retired members, the Government of Canada signature for federal departments, and organization logos where we have them. A Best Defence wordmark stands in where a logo is still outstanding. All badges and logos remain the property of their respective organizations. Lineup subject to change. Lineup subject to change.

Technology Showcase Presenters

Companies on stage

Day 01 · 11:00 AM Technology Showcase
01
Interknowlogy
Michael Hartley, Managing Director IK Mining & Energy
02
Ready4Defence.ca by Modern Requirements
Asif Sharif, Founder & CEO · Ash Hawrani, Director — Requirements & Compliance
03
Centreline (Windsor) Ltd.
Julio Villafuerte, Corporate Technology Strategist
Day 01 · 2:30 PM Technology Showcase
04
Solar Electric Systems
Rob Gorrie, CEO
05
DRT Cyber
Neil Beaton, Senior Director, Business Development
06
Horizon Aircraft
Brandon Robinson, Co-Founder & CEO
07
Canadian Special Warfare Lab
Jean Filion, CEO
08
Serco Canada
Jim Hebert, Director Business Development — Defence & Space
Day 02 · 2:30 PM Technology Showcase
09
NAVETRA by Purple Wins
Mina Johl, CEO
10
NAIT Industry Solutions
Carmelita Crisp, Senior Manager for Indigenous Partnerships & Engagement
11
Rowden Technologies, UK
Jonny Brimacombe, International Business Development Lead
+
Additional showcase participants to be confirmed

Presenter names to be confirmed where not yet finalized.

Speaker Areas

Perspectives represented

Canadian Armed Forces
Government & Public Sector
Defence Industry
Technology & Innovation
International & Allied Cooperation
Infrastructure & Delivery
Program Connection

See where speakers appear in the program

View the full program →

Speaker lineup subject to change. Speaker names, titles, organizations, session assignments, and program details may be updated as confirmations are completed.

Speaker & Program Inquiries
For speaker, Technology Showcase, sponsorship, or program participation inquiries, contact Heather Pilot through the conference contact form.
Contact Best Defence →

Be in the room

Join defence, government, industry, and technology leaders at Best Defence Conference 2026.

Register for Best Defence 2026 →