Defence Forum 2026
Strategy to Execution: Building Canada's Defence Advantage in the Nation's Capital
Canada is entering a new era of defence investment, innovation, and industrial growth.
As geopolitical realities shift and governments increase investments in security, sovereignty, and resilience, Canadian businesses have a unique opportunity to help shape the future of our nation's defence capabilities and benefit from one of the largest economic opportunities of the coming decade.
Join more than 300 leaders from industry, government, academia, and the defence ecosystem at the Ottawa Board of Trade Defence Forum as we explore how Canada can move from strategy to execution and position Ottawa-Gatineau as a leading Defence Innovation Hub.
Featuring keynote perspectives from senior military leadership and a special fireside conversation with Canada's Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty, the forum will examine the critical issues shaping Canada's defence future, including procurement modernization, Arctic sovereignty, autonomous systems, emerging technologies, and industrial capacity.
Attendees will gain direct insight into Canada's evolving Defence Industrial Strategy, hear from leading innovators and policymakers, and connect with the organizations driving the next generation of defence and security solutions.
At a pivotal moment for both Canada's economic prosperity and national security, this forum is designed to spark partnerships, accelerate opportunity, and strengthen Ottawa-Gatineau's role as a national centre of defence excellence.
Whether you are a defence company, technology innovator, investor, researcher, government leader, or business executive looking to understand where Canada's defence economy is headed, this is the room where the conversation and the opportunity will be.
AGENDA (subject to change)
7:00 a.m. - Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - Opening Remarks
- Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade
- The Honourable Jenna Sudds, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and to the Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)
- His Worship Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa
- Robin Richardson, Sr. Vice-President, Marketing & Communications, Calian Group, Premier Sponsor
- The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
- Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade
- Lieutenant General Darcy Molstad, CD - Commander of the Canadian Joint Forces Command
- Sonya Shorey, President & CEO, Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards
- Aubrey Bajador, Program Manager, 49 North Defence
- Jordan Freed, President & Managing Director, Kongsberg Geospatial
- Josh Ogden, CEO & Co-Founder, AVSS
- Sam Witherspoon, CEO, ANVIL
- Rebecca Thompson, Market Director of Defence & Security, and Site Operations, Area X.O/Invest Ottawa (Moderator)
10:35 a.m. - KEYNOTE: Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, and Canada’s Fentanyl Czar Kevin Brosseau
10:58 a.m. - OBOT Charitable Feature - Veterans' House Canada
11:00 a.m. - PANEL 2: Arctic Sovereignty - Where Defence, Energy, and Infrastructure Converge
- Stephen Hampton, Head of Global Government Relations, Strategic Accounts, and Business Development, Telesat
- Dr. David Hik, Chief Scientist & Vice-President, Research at Polar Knowledge Canada and Professor, Simon Fraser University
- Kostya Khomutov, CEO, GBatteries
- Daniel Kerry, Director & Space Lead, Deloitte (Moderator)
- Bruno Couillard, CEO & Co-Founder, Crypto4A Technologies
- Marin Leci, Partner and Co-Leader, Defence & National Security Group, BLG
- Mike Nelson, CEO, TACTIQL
- Robin Richardson, Sr. Vice-President, Marketing & Communications, Calian Group
- Devinder Gill, Regional President, Ontario North & East, RBC (Moderator)
12:45 p.m. - Networking Lunch
Featured Speaker: The Hounourable David J. McGuinty
The Honourable David J. McGuinty is Canada’s former Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. He was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Ottawa South in 2004 and has been re-elected seven times, most recently in 2025.
Minister McGuinty has dedicated his life to public service. Over his two decades on the Hill, he has served in various roles, including Acting Whip, House Leader of the Official Opposition, and most recently Chair of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. He has also been a member of numerous parliamentary committees, associations, and groups, including Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, and of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.
Minister McGuinty is also a highly respected member of Canada’s legal community who has practised law and worked with governments, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations worldwide to help advance progress on a wide range of issues and impact communities for the greater good. His career outside of politics includes working on behalf of UNICEF across Africa to promote children’s rights and lecturing, conducting research, and designing courses at various post-secondary institutions across the globe. For nine years, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Prime Minister’s National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, where he established himself as a leading Canadian expert in green budgeting, brownfields, and the nexus between the economy, the environment, and social issues. He has also served as a mentor to emerging leaders at LEAD Canada and as an advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation.
Minister McGuinty is the recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for his outstanding and exemplary contributions to his community and to Canada.
Minister McGuinty holds a Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Guelph as well as a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Philosophy, both from the University of Ottawa. He also holds specialized diplomas and certificates from the Université de Sherbrooke and Harvard Law School as well as a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Keynote Speaker: Lieutenant General Darcy Molstad, CD
Lieutenant-General Darcy Molstad was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He joined the Canadian
Armed Forces (CAF) in 1996 after completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta. As a CF-18 pilot, he flew operational tours in Bagotville, Cold Lake, and South Carolina on exchange with the United States (US) Marine Corps. He commanded 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Bagotville, Deployed Air Task Forces in Iceland, Romania, and in Hawaii, and 3 Wing / Canadian Forces Base Bagotville. As a General Officer, he deployed as Director of the US Combined Air and Space Operations Center in Al Udeid, Qatar, and served a two-year tour as Deputy Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command, second in command of all deployed CAF personnel. His executive staff experience includes serving as an Attaché in the United Kingdom and Iceland, as the Special Advisor to the Minister of National Defence, as Director General of Strategies, Effects, and Readiness at the Strategic Joint Staff, and most recently as the Chief of Force Development designing the Joint Force of the future.
Keynote Speaker: Kevin C. Brosseau
Kevin C. Brosseau is currently serving in three key national leadership roles: Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence, and Canada’s Fentanyl Czar, responsible for leading Canada’s actions to address the illicit fentanyl trade.
Mr. Brosseau has held multiple high impact positions across the Government of Canada, overseeing complex national portfolios involving maritime operations, emergency management, transportation security, and national security. He is recognized for his collaborative leadership style and his ability to navigate complex, multi-jurisdictional environments across government. Prior to taking on his current roles, Mr. Brosseau served as Deputy National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, where he provided strategic leadership on some of Canada’s most sensitive security and intelligence issues.
His federal career also includes serving as Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Safety and Security at Transport Canada, and Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Emergency Preparedness) at the Privy Council Office. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 20 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, including serving as Deputy Commissioner and Commanding Officer in Manitoba.
Mr. Brosseau holds a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University and has also practiced law in both Canada and the United States. He is originally from Bonnyville, Alberta and of Metis descent.
Speakers:
A special thanks to Calian, our Premier Event Sponsor.
Date and Time
Tuesday Jun 9, 2026
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Location
National Arts Centre - Canada Room
1 Elgin St, Ottawa ON K1P 5W1
Fees/Admission
Single Ticket:
Ottawa Board of Trade Member - $125.00 + HST
Future Member - $195.00 + HST
Table of 8:
Ottawa Board of Trade Member - $900.00 + HST
Future Member - $1400.00 + HST
