Where INNOVATION
builds a NATION.

Canada's Defence Innovation Hub

Canada’s Capital Region Defence Innovation Task Force

Purpose of the Task Force: This Task Force exists to drive implementation, setting clear priorities, aligning and unleashing resources, and activating Ottawa–Gatineau’s unique assets to:

  • Drive new opportunity and impact for innovators, companies and our region in defence, aerospace, space, security, cybersecurity and related sectors
  • Help unlock up to $3B in new business, infrastructure, and investment for our innovators, companies, and regional economy.

Composition: 6 executive members; 27 core members

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Selection Criteria: Task Force membership was intentionally selected to reflect the full defence of the Ottawa-Gatineau defence innovation ecosystem.

This spans priority technologies and sectors, markets and stages of growth, capital and infrastructure, veteran and veteran-led leadership, policy and procurement influence, and the sovereign capability needs of the Forces

It brings together leaders from diverse backgrounds with the authority, networks, and resources to deliver impact.

Sub-Committees & Ecosystem Engagement: Sub-Committees (Homegrown companies; Multinational Firms, and Innovation-Based Organizations) provide open, inclusive forums for broad ecosystem dialogue and participation.

  • Each sub-committee co-chaired by an associated Ottawa and Gatineau leader who sits on the Core Task Force to ensure priorities, insights, and opportunities are directly integrated into decision-making and implementation
  • Ensures a continuous, real-time flow of relevant insight on emerging opportunities, priorities, and challenges from our ecosystem

Commitment & Delivery: Members commit to a minimum of three full Task Force meetings per year (3 hours each) and an average of up to five hours per month 

  • Support priority-setting, implementation, information sharing, and delivery of assigned actions and projects (separate from individual organizational defence objectives). 

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Resources & Integrity: Members are expected to make decisions, mobilize, and allocate resources from their organization  

  • This includes people, expertise, data, networks, and, where appropriate, financial or in-kind contributions support to advance shared priorities, opportunities and impact 
  • Members will disclose and manage any conflicts of interest in accordance with best-practice governance standards. 

Core Task Force

6 Executive Committee Members

Rick Hillier
Honorary Chair
Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa
Co-Chair, Ottawa
Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Mayor of Gatineau
Co-Chair, Gatineau
Sonya Shorey, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa
Executive Leader (Ottawa)
Sueling Ching, President and CEO
Executive Leader (Ottawa)
Isabelle Veilleux, Director, Economic Development, City of Gatineau
Executive Leader (Gatineau)

Task Force Members

Len Anderson
Founder and CEO, Renaissance Network Reinvent; Terra Nova Solutions Rewired; Dafocom Solutions
Hamid Arabzadeh
Co-Founder and CEO, RANOVUS
Michele Beck
Senior Vice President, Telesat; Co-Chair, Domestic Sovereign Defence Company Sub-Committee
Mitch Carkner
COO, Dominion Dynamics
Glenn Cowan
Founder and Managing Partners, ONE9; Co-Founder Canada’s Defence Investment Network (CANDIN); Veteran
Kelly Daize
Executive Director, Kanata North Business Association
Peter Dawe
Vice President, Defence Strategy, BDC; Veteran
Veronica Farmer
Chief Marketing Officer, Wesley Clover International
Etienne Fredette
Directeur, Chambre de Commerce de Gatineau
Jordan Freed
President and Managing Director, Kongsberg; Co-Chair Multinational and Allied Sub-Committee
David Hill
Ottawa City Councillor, Barrhaven; Veteran
Murielle Laberge
President and Vice Chancellor, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO)
Marie-France Lalonde
MP, Orléans; Chair, Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, Government of Canada
David Luxton
Founder, DEFSEC Corporation
Amy MacLeod
Vice President, MDA; Co-Chair, Domestic Sovereign Industry Sub-Committee
Susan Margles
President and CEO, Ottawa International Airport
Michael Martin
President, Motorola Solutions
Brendan McGuinty
Chair, Ottawa Board of Trade
Tiffany Lee Norris-Parent
Councillor, Ville de Gatineau
Scott Phalen
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier, Government of Ontario
Chris Pogue
President, Defence, Calian
Gord Scharfe
Defence and Security National Lead, Export Development Canada (EDC)
Jenna Sudds
MP, Kanata; Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and to the Secretary of State (Defence Procurement), Government of Canada
Marie-Eve Sylvestre
President and Vice Chancellor, University of Ottawa
Ibrahim Yimer
Vice President, Research, National Research Council Canada

Sub-Committees

· Domestic Defence Industry: Canadian-controlled private or public companies (CCPCs) designing, building, owning, manufacturing, and scaling defence, security, and dual-use technologies and capabilities from Canada for domestic and allied markets, with operations and headquarters in Canada.

· Global and Allied Defence Industry: Multinational and allied defence, security, and dual-use technology firms with significant Canadian operations, R&D, talent, partnerships, strategic interests, or supply-chain integration.

· Strategic Innovation Organization: Post-secondary institutions, government laboratories, hospitals, and mission-driven associations serving as anchor innovation institutions that generate, translate, and apply research, talent, and innovation in support of Canada’s defence, security, and strategic industrial ecosystem.

LEAD PARTNERS

Defence Innovation Hub Partners

Canada’s National Defence Innovation Hub is led by the City of Ottawa, Ville de Gatineau, and Invest Ottawa with partners across the ecosystem including the Ottawa Board of Trade and Kanata North Business Association.