National Security Strategies and the Future of Conflict is the theme for this year’s Conference of Defence Association (CDA) Institute event to be held in Ottawa on from February 18th to the 19th.

Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan and the Hon. Kent Hehr, minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence join a long list of experts and well-known personalities in the defence, military, government and academe from Canada and abroad who will be at the conference that is being held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa.

Registration for the event closes February 16. Those interested may contact Denise Lemay at denise.lemay@cdainstitute.ca or click on this link for more information.

Topics up for discussion include:

  • Strategic Outlook for Canada 2016
  • Canadian Security and Defence: Policy, Interest and Culture
  • Comprehensive Security: Towards Integrated National Security Strategies
  • New Challenges and Conventional Threats
  • Terrorism, Non-State Actors, and Faceless Conflict

Welcome remarks will be made by Tony Battista, executive director of CDA and CDA Institute; Daniel Gosselin, president of CDA Institute; and Richard Evraire, chair of CDA.

Among the featured speakers are:

  • Ferry de Kerckhove, executive vice-president, CDA Institute
  • John Wright, president and senior partner of John Wright & Associates
  • Gen. Stephen Wilson, deputy commander USSTRATCOM
  • The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
  • Jim Thomas, vice-president and director of studies, Centre for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, US
  • Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff
  • Tom Middendorp, Commander of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • Gratien Maire, “Major Général des Armées,” France
  • Gen. Mark Poffley, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Capabilities) UK
  • Lady Olga Maitland, founder, Defence and Security Forum, UK
  • Admiral Bill Gortney, Commander NORAD & US Northern Command