Ottawa, ON – Defence and industry leaders gathered at Bayview Yards last week for the first session of ALLIES: A Leadership Lab for Impact and Executive Sponsorship, marking the launch of a pilot initiative focused on strengthening leadership pathways for veterans across Canada’s defence and security ecosystem.

Launched by ADGA Group, the ALLIES Veterans Pilot brings together senior decision-makers and high-potential veterans to explore how leadership experience from military service translates into advancement within civilian defence organizations.

The initiative is structured as a practical leadership lab, generating measurable outcomes and insights that can inform talent development across the broader ecosystem.

The opening session held last week convened a cohort of approximately 20 to 30 participants, including representatives from CAE, Thales Canada, Lockheed Martin Canada, SEA Canada, Leonardo Canada, Calian Group, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Through moderated discussions and breakout sessions, participants examined how leadership experience translates beyond military structures and where gaps remain in sponsorship, visibility, and advancement pathways.

Building on veteran support programs

Across Canada’s defence sector, organizations have made significant investments in supporting veterans as they transition into civilian careers. ALLIES builds on this foundation by focusing on how leadership capability is recognized and advanced over time within the industry and across sectors.

The pilot contributes to efforts to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and leadership capacity within Canada’s defence community. Insights generated through the cohort are expected to inform future leadership and sponsorship models, including potential applications across innovation-driven environments.

“Veterans bring exceptional leadership, operational experience, and mission focus that are critical to the strength of Canada’s defence and security sector,” said Sonya Shorey, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa. “Initiatives like ALLIES play an important role in advancing that leadership, ensuring it continues to evolve and translate effectively within industry, strengthening both individual pathways and sector-wide capability. This work will help us execute on the ambitious strategy we have established for Canada’s Capital Region as a global defence innovation hub. Together, as a unified ecosystem, we are bringing talent, technology, and industry together to serve Canada, our Forces, and allies with even greater impact.”

Additional sessions will take place through September 2026, with findings expected to contribute to a more coordinated and intentional approach to leadership development across Canada’s defence ecosystem.

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• Learn more about Invest Ottawa’s Defence Innovation Hub and how it is connecting partners across industry, government, academia, and the innovation ecosystem to strengthen Canada’s defence and security capabilities at dihub.ca.