Federal plans to increase defence spending to five percent of GDP by 2035 could translate into as much as $150 billion in annual investment. Delivering on this ambition will depend on funding, but also on speed, industrial capacity, global partnerships and procurement strategies that prioritize Canadian industry.
At this pivotal moment for Canada, The Globe and Mail will convene defence leaders, policymakers and industry experts to discuss the actions needed now to scale capabilities, accelerate delivery and support our nation’s safety and security.
In-person registration is limited. Request your spot or join us virtually.
From renewed competition among world powers to a more contested Arctic, the threats facing Canada are changing faster than at any point in a generation. This discussion will explore what modern conflict is teaching us, what defending Canada's North actually requires and how the Army is preparing for a more dangerous world.
Canada’s ambitious increase in defence spending is set to unlock significant opportunities for industrial growth across advanced manufacturing, aerospace, technology and services. This discussion will explore how we can make the most of the moment to strengthen domestic capabilities, and what the industry needs to scale.
BDO helps businesses do more. We offer an integrated offering of accounting, assurance, tax and consulting services grounded in deep industry knowledge. With an understanding of domestic and global business needs, we work alongside our clients to help them turn complex problems into compelling results.
For over 40 years, Calian has delivered mission-critical solutions when failure is not an option. Trusted worldwide, we empower organizations in critical industries to overcome obstacles, manage risks and drive progress. By combining the expertise of our people, proven industry insight, cutting-edge technology, bold innovation and global reach, we deliver tailored solutions that solve complex challenges. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with over 6,000 people around the world, Calian’s solutions protect lives, strengthen security, foster global connectivity and drive economic progress, making a lasting impact where and when it matters most.
Hatch is a global professional services firm providing engineering, project and construction management, as well as advisory services across the infrastructure, metals, and energy sectors. From urban transit networks to remote sites in the High Arctic, we take on complex projects in some of the world's most demanding environments. That expertise maps directly to national security, where success depends on technical excellence, rigorous execution, and strong partnerships with Indigenous communities. Founded in Canada and fully employee-owned, Hatch pairs global reach with deep domestic roots, strengthening infrastructure, supply chains, and sovereign capability. As entrepreneurs with a technical soul, Hatch brings practical innovation and deep expertise to complex challenges.
At CAE, we exist to make the world safer. We deliver cutting-edge training, simulation, and critical operations solutions to prepare aviation professionals and defence forces for the moments that matter. Every day, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security personnel to perform at their best and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we're everywhere customers need us to be with sites and training locations in over 40 countries. For nearly 80 years, CAE has been at the forefront of innovation, consistently seeking to set the standard by delivering excellence in high-fidelity flight simulators and training solutions, while embedding sustainability at the heart of everything we do. By harnessing technology and enhancing human performance, we strive to be the trusted partner in advancing safety and mission readiness - today and tomorrow.
Bird Construction Inc. (TSX: BDT) is one of Canada’s largest construction and maintenance companies, with more than a century of experience delivering complex industrial, buildings, and infrastructure projects from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Supported by over 6,000 employees, Bird combines technical expertise, self-perform capabilities, and labour access to enable the integrated delivery of complex projects through differentiated execution and a relentless focus on safety. A long-standing partner to Canada’s defence sector, Bird delivers critical infrastructure that strengthens national security, economic resilience, and strategic nation-building priorities.
As one of Canada’s top business law firms, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes) provides exceptional legal services to leading businesses in Canada and around the world. Our dedicated Defence group brings together Canada’s leading defence practice with a core team of professionals with backgrounds in areas critical to the sector, who have served in the Canadian military or previously been advisors to government decision makers. Whether an issue is local or multi-jurisdictional, practice-area specific or interdisciplinary, our integrated network of offices provides defence clients with access to the Firm’s full spectrum of capabilities in virtually every area of business law
Capstone Grey Inc. is a Halifax-based consultancy founded in 2013, providing export compliance, contract negotiation, intellectual property protection, and risk management to defense sector contractors and subcontractors across Canada, the US, and internationally. The firm has provided commercial guidance and expertise on major naval and defense programs, including the Canadian Surface Combatant, Joint Support Ship, and Polar Icebreaker programs, working across program, engineering, and business development teams. Capstone Grey helps defense organizations navigate Canadian and US export regulations, including the Controlled Goods Regulations and International Traffic in Arms Regulations, reducing risk and protecting technical assets throughout complex programs.
Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live, and play. The company provides customers with one of the industry's broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolios for the AI era.
More information is available at www.delltechnologies.ca.
J.P. Morgan has a committed and long-standing history serving clients in Canada through five diverse lines of business and more than 600 employees across Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. As a global leader in financial services, J.P. Morgan offers solutions to corporations, governments and institutions in more than 100 countries. With a legacy dating back to 1799, the firm is committed to supporting local communities through philanthropy, employee volunteer service activities, and investments in educational, economic and cultural development.
Pippa began reporting for The Globe and Mail in 2023 while finishing her degree at Carleton University. During her short stint as an academic intern, she managed to secure herself a spot as a finalist for the Canadian Association of Journalists’ award for student excellence for a piece she wrote about stray dogs in Ukraine. Since then, she has worked on major stories, such as a gold heist at Toronto Pearson Airport, a major strike at WestJet and historic flooding in Toronto.
After completing The Globe’s summer reporting program, she joined as staff in 2024. Pippa has written for a number of The Globe’s newsletters, including Globe Climate, Carrick on Money and Amplify. She has also been a regular contributor to a personal finance series about the great wealth transfer.
Prior to joining The Globe, Pippa was lead editor for The Tyee's What Works series on sustainable enterprises. She also reported breaking news for CityNews Vancouver, freelanced for Canada’s National Observer and worked as a research associate for the Climate Disaster project. She published her findings on the lack of climate change attribution in Ottawa media in J-Source.
Originally from the Ottawa Valley, Pippa has reported from The Globe's Vancouver and Toronto bureaus.Pippa is an avid trail runner, gravel cyclist and climber, and is awful at sitting still.
Kath Intson is a serial entrepreneur and executive focused on transforming composite airframe production in defence. She leads Sentinel Research & Development Inc., a Canadian defence tech company with breakthrough manufacturing processes that deliver high-performance composite parts. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, where she taught for several years before transitioning into defence.
Gavin John is an Indigenous journalist and photographer based in Calgary, Canada, specializing in national defence, Arctic and northern security, Indigenous affairs, and climate change. Since 2012, he has produced written and visual reporting for leading national and international publications, built on sustained, relationship-based fieldwork in remote, hostile, and politically sensitive environments, including four embeds with the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group in the High Arctic. His investigative work has broken some of Canada's most significant recent defence stories, from the country's role in the "Golden Dome" missile-defence framework to the formation of the Canadian Army's new 1st Division.
His work has won the Canadian Journalism Foundation's Edward Burtynsky Award for Climate Photojournalism and Climate Solutions Reporting Award, and first-place honours at the Digital Publishing Awards and the North American Indigenous Media Awards. Fellow of the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network, he speaks regularly on Arctic sovereignty and security. He holds a journalism diploma from SAIT, a BA in International Relations from the University of Calgary and is currently taking a master’s in strategic studies at the University of Calgary’s Centre for Military and Strategic Studies. He also mentors emerging journalists through several initiatives, with a focus on Indigenous and BIPOC photojournalists.
Chris is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of senior executive experience in defence and space innovation. He most recently served as President and CEO of Thales Canada, where he expanded naval support services, re-established land-forces capabilities, and guided key AI and digital transformation initiatives. Prior to Thales, he led MDA Government’s Defence Space portfolio and held leadership roles at General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada and CAE Professional Services. Throughout his career, Pogue has championed the development of innovation ecosystems by connecting Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses to national defence and space priorities. A retired Royal Canadian Air Force officer with more than 3,500 flight hours on the C-130 Hercules.
As a member of Hatch's Global Board of Directors and executive sponsor for the firm's Defence business, Robert brings four decades of international leadership experience, including 15 years based in Africa, Australia, and Latin America. His career has been shaped by the delivery of major projects across infrastructure, critical minerals, and energy, often complex and in remote locations. Given Hatch's deep expertise in the Arctic, Robert's attention is closely focused on delivering infrastructure with speed, reliability, and long-term operability in one of the country's most strategically important regions.
In 2013, Robert received the prestigious Medal for Management from Professional Engineers Ontario. This year, he was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
Mike Abbott is a Partner, Technology & Regulatory Advisory and a member of BDO's Senior Leadership Team. In a rapidly evolving business environment, Mike works with clients to navigate regulatory complexity and deepen their technology capabilities. Mike's role includes developing business advisory relationships with technology clients, building the firm's regulatory solutions practice focused on high-impact regulatory changes, and enhancing BDO's presence with the federal Government of Canada.
Previously, Mike was BDO's Managing Partner, Markets & Industry and the Ottawa Office Managing Partner. He has nearly 30 years of experience providing advisory services to private and public companies and public sector organizations. He has served a wide range of clients, from mid-market, owner-managed businesses to more complex, publicly listed entities, through to Crown Corporations and Government of Canada entities.
Matthew Bromberg is CAE’s President and Chief Executive Officer. He is a proven leader with deep experience in both aerospace and defence, involving large-scale international operations, and brings decades of leadership at major global public companies, with a strong track record in driving operational excellence, transformation, and growth.
Prior to joining CAE, Mr. Bromberg was Corporate Vice President of Global Operations at Northrop Grumman, where he spearheaded substantial enterprise cost efficiencies by driving program excellence, streamlining operations, and leading a major supply chain transformation. He led the corporate Operations Council and was a member of the company’s executive leadership team.
Previously, Mr. Bromberg served as President of Military Engines at Pratt & Whitney, a division of Raytheon Technologies. Over his 20-year career at Raytheon, he held senior leadership positions in general management, corporate strategy, and business development. Notably, he led Pratt & Whitney Commercial Aftermarket Operations and served as Vice President of United Technologies Corporate Strategy & Development.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Bromberg worked as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs and then led several key acquisitions and divestures at United Technologies, developing an extensive M&A background. A proud military veteran, he served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Bromberg holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He serves on the Board of Governors of the United Services Organization and on the Board of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Leaders for Global Operations program.
Lindsey Kettel has been a key member of Davie’s senior management team since 2015. Initially joining as vice-president, business processes, she played a pivotal role in aligning Davie’s operations to support the successful delivery of CSS Asterix to the Royal Canadian Navy. Over the past decade, her responsibilities have steadily expanded, culminating in her appointment as President of Chantier Davie Canada Inc. in 2025. Lindsey has been instrumental in shaping Davie’s strategic direction, notably through her leadership in securing Davie’s entry into Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy and driving the successful pursuit of the Polar Max contract.
As President, Lindsey oversees the operational execution of Davie’s corporate strategy and provides leadership across the company’s activities in Lévis, Montréal, and Ottawa. Her focus remains on advancing Davie’s role in Canada’s maritime sector and supporting the company’s continued growth and transformation. Lindsey holds a Bachelor of Engineering and Management and an Executive MBA. She has been dedicated to the maritime construction, conversion, and repair industry since 2012, with prior experience at Babcock Canada and Seaspan Shipyards.
Niru Somayajula is CEO of Sensor Technology Ltd., one of Canada's leading underwater acoustics companies. She has overseen the company's expansion from a niche marine technology provider into a growing defence and security supplier serving customers across North America, Europe, and allied nations. A strong advocate for Canadian innovation, Niru is focused on scaling advanced manufacturing, developing sovereign capabilities, and helping Canadian technology compete on the global stage.
Born and raised in Southern Ontario, Lieutenant-General Wright enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 and joined Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in 1994. He has served in all three Canadian Mechanized Brigade Groups and deployed on operations with all three Regular Force infantry regiments. He spent 11 years with 2 PPCLI in Winnipeg and Shilo, commanding at the platoon, company and battalion level. He also served three years with the Second Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment. He commanded 2 CMBG from 2017-2018. He was Commander CFINTCOM and Chief of Defence Intelligence from June 2021 to July 2024. On promotion to Lieutenant-General in July 2024, he was appointed as the Commander of the Canadian Army.
Operationally he has deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, and served on domestic operations in support of the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2011 Manitoba floods. He was awarded the Medal of Military Valour and the Meritorious Service Medal as a rifle company commander serving with the First Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group in Kandahar Province in 2006-07. From May 2020 to May 2021, he commanded Joint Task Force Impact and Task Force Central, the CAF missions in the Middle East.
Lieutenant-General Wright has served in staff positions as the Chief of Staff of CFINTCOM, J3 of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, Executive Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief of Staff and G3 of 1 CMBG, as well as positions at the Canadian Army Headquarters and the Canadian Forces Joint Headquarters.
