Presented By
Director General Maritime Equipment Programme Management
Department of National Defence
Executive Sales, Operations, Contracts, Quality,
J-Squared Technologies
President and CEO,
Gastops Ltd.
President and CEO,
Des Nedhe Group
Director of Commercial Operations, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Canada Ltd.
Former Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott Commanding Officer, Halifax
Account Executive for Maritime, Deep Trekker Inc.
Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard
Director Naval Platform Systems, Department of National Defence
Director, Maritime Equipment Program Management
(Major Surface Combatant),
Department of National Defence
Former Chief Executive Officer of Defence Research and Development Canada and Assistant Deputy Minister for Science and Technology
Business Development Manager, Cellula
Robotics Ltd.
CD, RCN (Ret’d)
Chief Executive Officer, Qii.AI
Director General Integrated Technical Services, Canadian Coast Guard
Director, Business Development & Government Relations, Ontario Shipyards
Executive Vice-President, Acosys Consulting Services Inc.
CEO, OVA.ai
Business Development Manager, LRDG
Operations Manager, Fibreglass Solutions Inc.
CEO of Creative Techinnov Software Solutions Inc.
Director Of Business Development, Datifex, Inc.
Vice President, Automatic Coating Limited
President, RJ McGregor &
Associates
Copyright ©2024 Vanguard Canada Media
Tony Karadimas
Executive Sales, Operations, Contracts, Quality, J-Squared Technologies
For more than two decades, Tony Karadimas has directed successful international sales and marketing initiatives by providing vision and strategies to grow a multitude of organizations within the Aerospace, Military, Medical, Oil and Gas and Industrial market segments in Canada and USA.
By leveraging his networks and business connections while negotiating and managing relationships with key clients, prospects and team members, Tony has been able to develop and close more than $300 million in sales. His sales expertise has been key in increasing organizational footprint, expanding market share, and generating sustainable revenue.
In addition, Tony is an Operations marvel having led diverse teams of professionals in a variety of fast paced, highly competitive and leading edge engineered-to-order manufacturing companies. Supporting transformative organizational developments, implementing TCCA, EASA, AS, 16949 manufacturing and support environments.
He fuses organizational mastery with an innate business sense to bring forth a remarkable track record of hands-on experience in strategic planning, ISS, MRO, quality, security, CCV support, grant submission, personnel building, Mergers and Acquisitions, HR, business development.
Cmdre Keith Coffen
Director General Maritime Equipment Programme Management
Department of National Defence
A native Newfoundlander, former Air Cadet and former soldier of the Communications reserve, Keith Coffen was commissioned as an officer of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1995. Trained as a Naval Combat Systems Engineer, he served at sea in Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships REGINA and HURON as well as in Her Majesty’s Canadian Submarines ONONDAGA and WINDSOR.
Over the course of his career, Commodore Coffen has been primarily focused on the development, delivery and sustainment of equipment solutions that protect the lives of Canadian Armed Forces personnel and enable them to succeed across the full spectrum of lawful military operations worldwide. He has served nationally and internationally in fleet support and project delivery roles including weapon, sensor and platform acquisition and modernization projects.
Commodore Coffen holds degrees in Engineering, Business, and Defence Studies and is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada and the US Naval Postgraduate School. He is also a graduate of the Canadian Forces College, having completed both the Joint Command and Staff Programme and the National Security Programme there. He is certified as a DND Level III project manager, for the management of the largest and most complex projects in the Defence portfolio.
Commodore Coffen was appointed as Director General Maritime Equipment Programme Management and Chief Engineer of the Royal Canadian Navy in July 2022.
Shaun Horning
President and CEO, Gastops Ltd.
Shaun Horning was named President and CEO of Gastops Ltd. in September 2018. Previously, as Gastops’ Executive VP, Shaun led the overall strategic planning and management of key business activities driving sustainable growth for Gastops.
From 2013 through 2018, Shaun was the manager of the Defence and Aftermarket business unit where he oversaw development and delivery of in-service support services and MRO for machinery control, monitoring and maintenance systems to military programs including the
Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant, CH-146 Griffon and CH-124 Sea King helicopter fleets and the Royal Canadian Navy Halifax Class Frigates.
Since joining Gastops in 1994, Shaun has held a number of different positions within the company with a focus on equipment condition monitoring and control system design and development. Shaun holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace) degree from Carleton University.
Gastops Ltd.
For over 35 years, Gastops’ (www.gastops.com) health monitoring solutions have been used in Aerospace, Defence, Energy, and Marine applications to optimize the availability, performance, and safety of mission-critical assets. We offer peace of mind to our customers by supporting the equipment that helps their aircraft fly, ships sail, trains roll, generators generate, and turbines turn.
Sean Willy
President and CEO, Des Nedhe Group
Sean Willy was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer of Des Nedhe Group in August 2017. During that time, Sean has taken Des Nedhe to a national stage, growing into new business sectors and reducing their reliance on just the resource sector, while at the same time maintaining high levels of Indigenous employment and managing some tough economic conditions.
Sean a member of the Deninu Kue FN. He brings an understanding of the expectations and needs of Indigenous people. Growing up in a mining household, he experienced life in communities across the Canadian Shield – from the Northwest Territories to Nunavut to Alberta to Saskatchewan.
In his career Sean has developed and implemented some of the most innovative Indigenous Inclusion and CSR strategies for companies such as Rio Tinto and Cameco Corporation. He has always strived to ensure Indigenous peoples are seen as a full partner in long-term relationships. This led to Sean building partnerships in Australia, the United States, and throughout Canada.
Sean is a board member for TELUS Corporation, Green First Forest Products and the Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan. He is a past Co-Chair of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, a past member of Indigenous Works and recently sat as a member the Canadian government’s Indigenous Innovation Housing Committee and the Indigenous Advisory Committee on Small Module Reactors.
Sean has two children and lives with his wife Melissa in Saskatoon.
David HillDirector of Commercial Operations, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Canada Ltd.
David Hill is the Director of Commercial Operations for Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Canada Limited. David has spent the last 12 years focusing efforts on driving productivity within the manufacturing sector with best-in-class sensors and software. Davids extensive knowledge applying technology and putting data to work has helped Canadian Manufacturers gain insights into their production and quality. David’s 29-year career began in high accuracy gauging solutions for the OEMs and Tier suppliers in automotive powertrain. Now working at Hexagon, the digital transformation of industry is our focus where we connect design, manufacturing, and quality as one cohesive ecosystem.
Serena Brown
Account Executive for Maritime, Deep Trekker Inc.
Serena Brown joined Deep Trekker having spent 3 years immersed in the innovative landscape of Halma Plc, a British-based FTSE 50 group specializing in life-saving technologies. Serena made the move from the Channel Islands UK to join the Deep Trekker team in Kitchener, Ontario in 2023. Her journey within Halma involved guiding various projects across the group, aligning regulatory best practices with the nuanced needs of end-users. Driven by this Serena now spearheads the Ports, Shipping, Offshore, and Commercial diving applications for the Deep Trekker family of ROV's and crawling vehicles.
Terri Pavelic
Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard
Capt(N) Dave Benoit (Ret'd)
Former Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott Commanding Officer, Halifax
Prior to his joining the Province, he served 30 years with the Canadian Armed Forces as an engineering officer in the Royal Canadian Navy retiring as a Captain (N). He served on the east and west coasts and in Ottawa. Some of his appointments included Flag Lieutenant to Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, Engineering Officer Career Manager, Senior Military Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Defence, Chief of Staff with the Director General Maritime Equipment and Program Management and Senior Naval Engineer on the Atlantic Coast. He held Command of the CF Naval Engineering School and the Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott.
A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada in Electrical Engineering, David also holds a Master of Business Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Management from Athabasca University, and a Master of Defence Studies, with a focus on the Arctic. He is a graduate from both the Joint Command and Staff Programme from the Canadian Forces College and the National Security and Strategic Planning Course at the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. He is a Professional Engineer in the Provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia and has completed courses with the Institute of Directors in the UK.
David has served in HMC Ships SASKATCHEWAN, GATINEAU, NIPIGON, TORONTO, CHARLOTTETOWN and was the Combat Systems Engineer in ST. JOHN’S.
David is a busy volunteer in his community, enjoys golf and plays the bagpipes!
Mark Sheppard
Director Naval Platform Systems, Department of National Defence
Mark Sheppard is the Director of Naval Platform Systems and Naval Materiel Regulatory Authority within the Department of National Defence. Before assuming his current position in April 2021, Mark served for 30 years as a Naval Engineering Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. His military postings included positions as the Chief of Staff for the Maritime Equipment Program Management Division, Director of Strategic Plans for the Materiel Group, Director Digital Navy, Branch Advisor for
the Naval Technical Branch, and Formation Technical Authority for Maritime Forces Atlantic. He also served as Head of the Marine Systems Engineering Department on board Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Calgary and as the Formation Nuclear Safety Risk Management Officer for Maritime Forces Pacific.
Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ottawa and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada. He is also a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Programme and the National Security Programme from the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.
Dr. John Leggat
former Chief Executive Officer of Defence Research and Development Canada and Assistant Deputy Minister for Science and Technology
Now retired, Dr. John Leggat has enjoyed a career in the public, private and academic sectors. During a 30-year career in defence science he held positions in the Department of National Defence of Chief Executive Officer of Defence Research and Development Canada and Assistant Deputy Minister for Science and Technology. Following his retirement from government, he consulted for many years assisting small and medium sized companies with their strategies and business development. He served for 33 years in the Canadian Army Reserve. He is presently the Honorary Naval Captain of the Canadian Forces Electronic Warfare Centre.
Jacqueline Nichols
Business Development Manager, Cellula Robotics Ltd.
Jacqueline brings nearly a decade of subsea technology expertise to her role as Business Development Manager at Cellula Robotics. Her journey at Cellula began in 2014 when she joined as an electrical engineer. Prior to her tenure at Cellula, she established a solid foundation with her background in control systems and electrical engineering, including optical sensor technology research.
Jacqueline received both a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) and a Master of Applied Science (MASc) degree in electrical engineering from the University of British Columbia. Her strong educational foundation is complemented by her registration as a Professional Engineer within BC. In addition to her professional achievements, Jacqueline currently serves as the Chair of the IEEE Vancouver Section and the Oceanic Engineering Society Chapter. These leadership positions reflect her commitment to staying at the forefront of industry collaboration and trends, facilitating a supportive community for professionals in oceanic engineering.
Focused on the Imotus-S vessel signature measurement system at Cellula Robotics, she continues to make significant contributions to advancing subsea technology. Jacqueline's blend of experience, education, and leadership underscores her pivotal role in the dynamic field of oceanic engineering.
Capt(N) Damien Chouinard-Prevost
Director, Maritime Equipment Program Management (Major Surface Combatant), Department of National Defence
Capt(N) Damien Chouinard-Prévost is the Director of Maritime Equipment Program Management (Major Surface Combatants) as well as the Class Program Manager and Design Authority for the Halifax-class ships. A Naval Engineer, he joined in 1998 and held a variety of leadership positions in strategic planning, engineering and program management, force development, and major capital project delivery.
Capt(N) Chouinard-Prévost holds a Bachelor of Engineering in computer engineering and Master of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, and a Master of Engineering in engineering management from the University of Ottawa. He is also a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Programme from the Canadian Forces College.
RAdm Casper Donovan
CD, RCN (Ret’d)
Originally from Montreal, Casper Donovan, served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 35 years. His tours of duty have seen him serve on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, ultimately serving as Commanding Officer of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Vancouver. He deployed around the world on Canadian, Coalition and NATO missions, including to Afghanistan. Promoted to Flag rank in 2016 following an assignment to the Privy Council Office in support of the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, he was charged with playing a lead role in determining what ships and capabilities the Navy needs in the future. He is a classically trained French chef and the Founder of Bowline Insight and Analysis, Inc.
Michael Cohen
Chief Executive Officer, Qii.AI
Michael H. Cohen is the CEO of Qii.AI, an AI-enabled asset visualization platform that leverages drone acquired data to enable remote digital inspections. Michael holds a master’s degree in aeronautical sciences from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is a former airline captain (Boeing 737 NG), Chair of Airline Safety (CJA) and a member of Air Canada’s Emergency Response Team.
Michael currently serves as Chair of the Board of Aerial Evolution Association of Canada, a national not-for-profit industry association. Aerial Evolution Association of Canada is committed to promoting public awareness, education and appreciation for the social, economic, and environmental benefits that RPAS systems can provide.
Michael is passionate about team building, deep tech, and future aerospace.
Neil O’Rourke
Director General Integrated Technical Services, Canadian Coast Guard
Neil O’Rourke joined the Canadian Coast Guard in August 2009 and has held a number of increasingly senior leadership roles since. Most notably, Neil was the first Assistant Commissioner, Arctic region, from 2018 to 2022, where he led implementation of the new Arctic region, enhancing program and service delivery in the North from Yellowknife, NT. In 2023, Neil became Director General, Integrated Technical Services. He is responsible for providing functional direction and oversight to ensure a consistent, national approach to managing Canadian Coast Guard assets. He is currently based in Ottawa, ON.
Ted Kirkpatrick
Director, Business Development & Government Relations,
Ontario Shipyards
Ted Kirkpatrick, a seasoned maritime professional with a diverse background, joined Heddle Shipyards in 2019. In 2020, he assumed the role of Director of Business Development and Government Relations. Ted’s journey began as a deckhand in 2012 with McKeil Marine, where he worked his way up to becoming a Captain and Navigation officer, obtaining his certificates while at sea.
Throughout his career, Ted has gained extensive experience on various vessels, from tugs to self-unloaders and pneumatic cement carriers. He has been actively involved in both vessel maintenance and operations, fostering deep connections within the Canadian commercial shipping industry.
In his current role, Ted is focused on enhancing Heddle’s market presence and nurturing relationships with clients and government entities.
David Acco
Executive Vice-President, Acosys Consulting Services Inc.
David is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. He holds an MBA (International Business Concentration), as well as graduate degrees in Marketing, eCommerce and Business Analysis. Since launching Acosys in 2006, David has established himself and Acosys as a premier Indigenous-led consulting firm specializing in facilitating constructive and respectful Indigenous engagement on behalf of governments, corporate clients, and non-governmental organizations.
In August 2023, David joined McGill university as an Assistant Professor / Academic Program Coordinator, Certificate in Indigenous Business Management at the Management and Entrepreneurship Domain, School of Continuing Studies. He is also a proud member of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves as an officer in the Air Cadet program promoting development of Canada’s youth and interest in the aviation and aerospace.