15 & 16 NOVEMBER, 2023, LONDON, ONTARIO CANADA

The Best Defence Conference is a premier Canadian aerospace, defence and public safety conference addressing the air, land, naval, C4ISR, IT/IM and public safety capability domains.

About The Event

The Best Defence Conference delivers exceptional networking opportunities that will enhance your ability to conduct business, as you:

  1. Learn about Canadian Defence Procurement Opportunities
  2. Engage with key industry, military, and government procurement decision makers
  3. Form Strategic Partnerships
  4. Develop Supply Chains, and
  5. Develop New Business – Survey results indicate 44% of attendees who responded in 2022 obtained new business opportunities from participating in The Best Defence Conference

The Technology Showcase is an integral part of the conference showcasing innovative and emerging technologies. Delivered in a “five minutes of fame” format, participating companies can exploit this opportunity to promote their technologies to industry leaders, as well as military and government decision makers.

Please contact Heather Pilot for more information at [email protected]

New to the Canadian Defence Market? Best Defence is an excellent entry point for companies new to the Canadian aerospace, defence and public safety marketplace. The intimate size of the event allows companies to easily engage with key government influencers and industry leaders to conduct market research; to evaluate market entry conditions; assess opportunities; and identify potential strategic partners.

Preliminary Program Topics

  • Canadian Armed Forces Mini Outlook
  • Cyber Security Certification
  • Pan Domain Command and Control
  • Growing Your Canadian & U.S. Public Sector Business
  • Supply Chain Resilience
  • The Race for Space
  • Quantum Computing – What does it mean for Defence and for your Business?

Who Should Attend

  • Aerospace, defence and public safety Companies (air, land, naval, CRISR, IT/IM and public safety capability domains)
  • Advanced Manufacturing companies
  • Innovative Technology companies (AI, Quantum, Cybersecurity, novel materials)
  • Prime contractors, Systems Integrators, Small-Medium-sized Enterprises (SME)
  • CAF and government stakeholders

Where

RBC Place London
300 York Street, London, ON N6B 1P8

When

15-16 NOVEMBER, 2023
Wednesday & Thursday

Event Schedule

Day 1

Nov 15, 2023

8:00 - 9:00 AM
REGISTRATION
09:00 - 10:30 AM

CAF Mini Outlooks

  • Colonel David. J. Pletz, MSM, CD, Director Air Requirements, Royal Canadian Air Force
  • Colonel A.D. (Dave) Maclntyre, Director Land Requirements, Canadian Army
  • Captain(N) Andrew Graham, Director Naval Requirements, Royal Canadian Navy
10:30 - 11:00 AM
BREAK & NETWORKING
11:00 AM - 11:45 PM

Supply Chain Resilience

  • Moderator:  Christa Hammond, Director Supply Chain Management, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada
  • Mark R. Michaels, RMS Strategic Sourcing Subcontract Program Manager, Lockheed Martin USA
  • Sebastian Fischmeister, CEO, Palitronica
  • Lyall King, Director Risk Mitigation Programs, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
11:45 – 12:00PM

Grow Your Canadian & US Public Sector Business
Brynn Bruder, Sr. Analyst, Deltek

Learn how Deltek’s GovWin IQ, the industry-leading platform providing the most comprehensive market intelligence for Canadian, U.S. federal and U.S. state and local governments, can provide you with early access to opportunities, teaming partners and buyers, intel to beat your competition, and access to our team of experts to support your pursuit of winning more government contracts.   

12:00 – 1:00 pm
LUNCH BREAK
1:00 – 1:40 PM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
1:45 – 2:00 PM

3 Tech Showcase companies (5 mins ea)

  • 1:45PM KWESST – Rick Bowes, Strategic Advisor – Digitization and Counter-Threat Products 
  • 1:50PM  Palitronica – Sebastian Fischmeister, CEO
  • 1:55PM Lynch Fluid Controls – Ken Mah, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Programs
2:00 – 2:30 PM

Networking Break

2:30 – 3:45 PM

Pan Domain Command and Control (panel)

  • Moderator:  John de Boer, Sr Director Government Affairs and Public Policy, Canada, BlackBerry 
  • LGen(R) Stuart Beare , Strategic Advisor & Executive Leader,  Accenture
  • Derek Dobson, Defence and Public Safety Leader, Microsoft
  • Colonel Guy Parisien, Director Air Domain Development, Royal Canadian Air Force
  • Keith Pringnitz,  Sr Director Business Capture, MDA Corporation
3:45pm – 4:30pm
B2B Meetings
4:30 pm – 6:00pm
Reception

Day 2

Nov 16, 2023

9:00 - 10:00 AM

Securing Canada’s Critical Infrastructure

  • Moderator: Ken Murphy, GM & VP Critical Event Management Platform, BlackBerry
  • Patrick Boucher, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, Public Safety Canada
  • Joanne Garrah, Acting Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Privy Council Office
  • Bill Ulicny, Head of Directorate, Safety & Security       Canadian Nuclear Labs
10:00 - 10:25 AM
Information soon to come
10:30 AM
Break
11:00 - 11:30 AM

Cyber Security Certification
Paula Folkes-Dallaire 
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister 
Defence and Marine Procurement 
Public Services and Procurement Canada

11:30 - 11:45 AM
Information soon to come
12:00 - 1:00 PM
LUNCH BREAK
1:15 – 1:45 PM
Information soon to come
1:45 -2:30 PM

The Race for Space

  • Moderator: Peter Studer, Partner, CFN Consultants
  • Brigadier-General Michael Adamson, CD  Commander 3 Canadian Space Division  Royal Canadian Air Force
  • Daniel Schulten, Director Business Development, Airbus Defence and Space
  • Ewan Reid, CEO, Mission Control Space Services
2:30 – 3:00 PM

The Potential of Quantum Sensing in Defence Applications
Nick Werstiuk, CEO  Quantum Valley Ideas Lab

3:00PM - 4:00PM

B2B Meetings

4:00 PM
CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

Conference Fees

TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE

• Includes promotion of your company in official program and trade publication.
• Contact [email protected] to see if you are eligible.

EXHIBITOR FEES (Includes one full conference pass)

Power $125 CDN per booth Power + Internet $250 CDN 

REFUND POLICY
  • 50% refund of conference fees if request is made in writing 30 days prior to September 5, 2023 
  • No refunds after September 8, 2023 
  • $100 fee for name transfers 
Note: All fees and costs in Canadian dollars. Mandatory HST of 13% added to fees.
Questions? Contact: Heather Pilot [email protected] 1-519-851-9848

Speakers

Colonel David J. Pletz, MSM, CD
Col Anthony MacIntyre

Director Land Requirements, Canadian Army

Bill Ulicny

Head of Directorate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

Ewan Reid, Founder & CEO

Mission Control Space Services

Brynn Bruder

Senior Research Analyst, DELTEK

Derek Dobson

Microsoft Defence and Federal Public Safety leader in Canada

Lgen(ret’d) Stuart Beare

CMM, MSC, MSM, CD, Strategic Advisor, Defense and Public Safety, Accenture

Sebastian Fischmeister

CEO and co-founder of Palitronica

John de Boer

Senior Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy
BlackBerry Ltd.

Daniel Schulten

Global Business Development Director, Space, Airbus Defence and Space Canada

Capt(N) Andrew Graham
Nick Werstiuk

Chief Executive Officer at Quantum Valley Ideas Lab

Christa Hammond

Director, Supply Chain Management, General Dynamics Land
Systems-Canada.

Joanne Garrah

Assistant Secretary to Cabinet, Emergency Preparedness

Patrick Boucher

Public Safety Canada 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL MIKE ADAMSON, CD

Commander 3 Canadian Space Division

Paula Folkes-Dallaire

Associate Assistant, Deputy Minister, Defence and Marine
Procurement

Venue

RBC Place London
300 York Street
London, Ontario
N6B 1P8

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With abundant networking opportunities, the Best Defence Conference places you in front of prime contractors, military and procurement specialists in the Canadian Defence sector. Our multiple B2B and B2G opportunities consistently provide value to attendees by enhancing your ability to conduct business.

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