Founder, CEO and Creator of ConvergX®

Kimberley Van Vliet

The founder and creator of CONVERGX® Kimberley is also part of the Canadian Delegation to the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG), and works closely with other divisions of NATO such as Allied Command Transformation Unit (ACT), the Science & Technology Office (STO), and the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). Most recently, Kimberley’s efforts have taken her to NATO HQ, NORAD & NORTHCOM. She was awarded one of the Top 20 women in Defence in Canada by Esprit de Corps Magazine, and most recently was a delegate of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) for 2022.

Alberta Premier

The Honourable Danielle Smith

The Honourable Danielle Smith is a proud Albertan. As Leader of the governing United Conservative Party, she was sworn in as the nineteenth Premier of Alberta in October 2022 and represents the riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat in the Legislative Assembly.

Premier Smith has had a lifelong interest in Alberta public policy and finding the right balance between free enterprise and individual freedom, and the role of government. She was previously MLA for Highwood and leader of the Official Opposition.

Before re-entering politics, Premier Smith worked extensively in the media and in business, most recently as President of the Alberta Enterprise Group. Before that, she was a radio host with Corus Entertainment for 6 years.

Premier Smith holds degrees in both Economics and English from the University of Calgary.  She is married to David and a proud stepmom to his son. Premier Smith and her husband own and operate a restaurant. They live in High River with their two dogs.

CEO - Canadian Global Affairs Institute

David Perry CEO – Canadian Global Affairs Institute

Dr. David Perry is the President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. He is the host of the weekly Defence Deconstructed Podcast and author of multiple publications related to defence budgeting, transformation, and procurement. He is also a columnist for the Canadian Naval Review. He received his PhD in political science from Carleton University where his dissertation examined the link between defence budgeting and defence procurement. He is an adjunct professor at the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary and a research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Security and Development at Dalhousie University.  He was previously the Senior Security and Defence Analyst of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute and Deputy Director of Dalhousie University’s Centre for Foreign Policy Studies.  Embassy Magazine and The Hill Times have named him one of the “Top 100 Influencing Canadian Foreign Policy.”

CEO - IAN (Instant Access Networks)

Charles (Chuck) Manto

Charles (Chuck) Manto is a CxO-level critical infrastructure executive who creates new infrastructure information, communications, and energy technology, practice, and policy bringing products and services to market. He leads policy and market awareness of critical issues at the local, regional, national, and international levels.

Chuck is the CEO of IAN (Instant Access Networks) integrating services from participating companies offering electromagnetic pulse-protected on-demand communications and renewable energy microgrid systems through Resilient Adaptive Modular Microgrid Systems (TM), Business Continuity Networks (TM), and their Business Continuity Parks (™). He has led diligence programs for information, telecom, and energy sectors creating new cyber security and infrastructure technology and COOP policy. Initiated, founded, and chaired the FBI-sponsored InfraGard National Disaster Resilience Council (NDRC formerly EMP SIG), looking at any threat (including cyber threats, manmade or natural EMP, coordinated physical attacks, pandemics, etc.) that could cripple critical infrastructure nationwide for more than a month. e also developed a resilient hospital microgrid strategy for DHS and a resilient infrastructure strategy for DTRA resulting in sole-source contract vehicles. Chuck has secret clearance in adjudication for TS/SCI for DoD. Recruited and organized 40 organizations and evaluated 70 technical innovations for the SBIR (R&D) contract for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency covering fields of electromagnetic shielding, energy generation, energy storage, energy savings, energy controls, and communications. This now makes it possible for companies to use his expedited contracting vehicles for any federal agency requiring resilient (cyber, EMP, physical threats) microgrid-based infrastructure development and deployment.

Chuck has completed projects for the WY National Guard outlining solutions for EMP protection of critical infrastructure and funding for EMP-protected microgrids and developed several $100M ID/IQs to date. Chuck organized the GridForm consortium for resilient energy microgrids and their connections to the bulk power electric system. Chuck also led a contract to assess hospitals for EMP and cyber-protected microgrids for hospitals for the National Institute for Hometown Security funded by DHS published the Resilient Hospitals Handbook (Westphalia Press and Amazon) & was named advisor to the Emerge Alliance board.  Working with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Chuck established their new working group, Critical Infrastructure Protection & Recovery, and coordinated their business process orientation with leaders from the project management community, the Society of Disaster Medicine and Public Health and InfraGard to develop modeling for resilient hospitals and microgrids. Chuck has developed technologies to minimize the impact on communications and power and Initiated the nation’s first comprehensive private sector and public sector civilian and military contingency planning for extreme space weather impacts on power grids at the National Defense University and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. He has written governance documents, recruited more than 1000 members in all 50 states and 3 territories within the first year, produced annual national conferences and conference publications, and developed Advisory Panels of leading subject matter experts in related technology, policy, and infrastructure with the participation of individuals from DoD, Northcom, USCG, IRS, DHS, FBI, NOAA, Congress, National Governors Association, various state and local agencies, universities and representatives of all critical infrastructures.

Emcee Geoffrey Cann –Author, Speaker, Trainer, Digital Economy and Energy Expert

Geoffrey Cann

President and COO - ConvergX® Global

Lee Malleau

Lee is an award-winning professional who loves disruption, deep expertise in economic and business development, international trade and investment, technology ecosystems, regional networks, organizational development, and global affairs. Her education and background in journalism, communications, economics (Ec.D/F), business, and management have shaped multiple successes throughout her career of working with private and public sector corporations and clients, including First Nations. In various executive roles, she has facilitated hundreds of millions of new investment into projects across Western Canada, including as CEO of the Vancouver Economic Commission where she led the City’s Olympic Business Programs through the 2010 Winter Olympic Games – which is still today the global best practice for business development in levering major international events.

CEO - Arctic 360

Jessica Shadian

Jessica Shadian is the president and CEO of Arctic360, which works with Indigenous development corporations, Northern governments, the private sector, the federal government, Arctic leaders, and other stakeholders to help educate and attract Canadian and global investment to the North American Arctic. She is a distinguished senior fellow at the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History at the University of Toronto.

CEO - Questerre Energy

Michael Binnion

Michael Binnion (Board Chair) is the President and founding shareholder of Questerre Energy, a public oil and gas production company operating in Quebec. Questerre and its predecessor Terrenex have been pioneers in natural gas exploration in Quebec for the last twenty years. They are currently working on their social license to cMichaelommercialize the Utica shale gas discovery in the Lowlands. Mr. Binnion is a long-time believer in the deep natural gas potential of Quebec. He acquired the current land position held by Questerre in 1998 based on new geological ideas and has brought in the industry partners that participated in the giant Utica shale discovery on Questerre’s land in 2008. Mr. Binnion is a seasoned entrepreneur with a history of starting, financing and managing companies, primarily in the oil and gas sector. From 1996 to 2000 he was President of CanArgo Energy, one of the first Western companies to engage in oil and gas exploration in the Republic of Georgia. CanArgo played an active role in helping introduce legislation and a regulatory framework for the oil and gas industry in the country. Mr. Binnion was founder and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Flowing Energy Corp., a junior exploration and production company, from June 1996 to December 2001 and Chairman of the Board from 2002 to 2004. From 1992 to 1997 he was Executive Director of Crossfield House Inc., a private merchant banking firm. From 1988 to 1992 he was a minority shareholder and manager of a private investment company that held interests in commercial real estate and golf courses. Prior thereto he was Manager in the High Tech group at Clarkson Gordon, a division of Ernst & Young, specializing in tax-assistant financings. Mr. Binnion served as Chairman of the Board of Sylogist Ltd. from March 2000 to February 2002. He served as a Director of Sylogist Ltd. from March 1997 to November 2006. He was a founder and Director of Magnus Energy, Inc. from March 4, 2005 to November 2007. Mr. Binnion serves as Chairman of High Arctic Energy Services Inc. as well as the Canada Strong and Free Network. Mr. Binnion is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Alberta. Recognized internationally for his expertise in shale gas exploration and development, he presents at numerous conferences each year.

CEO - Emissions Reduction Alberta

Justin Riemer

CONVERGX® Global Advisor

Phil Klevorkick

Phil is originally from Newfoundland Canada and moved to Las Vegas in 1999. His work experience spans over 38 years in various roles within government including HazMat training and response coordinator, a police officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Federal Ranger with the Bureau of Land Management, Air Quality and Permit Specialist, and the Nuclear Waste Program Manager for Clark County since 2007. In 2015, he also became the Economic Development Liaison for the County working on providing connections with investors and government totaling more than $34 billion. He sits on 7 Non-Profit Boards in various capacities including STEM Board for Clark County School District, Warrior GMR Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Movement Gives Foundation, Energy Community Alliance Economic Development Chair,  Western Governors Association, and Western Interstate Energy Board. He owns three small businesses that focus on mining, energy, tech, and business development as well as rugby match officiating and events. In 2018 he founded and is the Chairman of The Rugby Foundation (501(c)(3) Charity U.S.A.) in an effort to Grow the Game Globally through community engagement programs while helping youth develop personal character values that support better individual growth and success thereby building better communities. Currently, The Rugby Foundation has programs in 15 countries with plans to expand to over 20 before the end of 2022. Phil is married with four children as well as his blind Labrador named Rolexx.

Senior Tech Director - AWS

John Sheehan

John is an accomplished leader with a proven record of success in delivering results with strengths in strategy, analytics, and execution. He is currently leading the strategy and business development for AWS new Aerospace and Satellite business unit. Prior to this, he led the creation of strategy and key growth initiatives for Lockheed Martin’s largest business unit (>$25B /y sales). He also created and ran new businesses inside Lockheed Martin’s “Skunkworks”. John is an experienced strategic executive with extensive experience in developing organizational vision and strategies, as well as tactical execution to position and grow the business.

Global Director - ESSNA

Gareth Gregory

Founder, CEO of AWG Contracting LLC,

Moses West

Moses West is the founder and owner of AWG Contracting LLC, manufacturing atmospheric water generators for the US military for over 11 years. He is also the founder of the Moses West Foundation. These companies are focused on producing advanced atmospheric water generators to extract water from the atmosphere. By utilizing renewable energy and contributing to the production of food, we focus on ensuring that all the seventeen tenets of sustainability are maintained in the process. Mr. West has over 11 years of experience creating and moving the newest method of advancing water production and the newest methods of substantiality. West’s extensive background in the US Armed Forces has helped him to successfully deploy large water extraction units to Puerto Rico, Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi. The Moses West Foundation has been involved in domestic projects to eliminate the “Food Deserts” within the United States. The Moses West Foundation has also provided water to schools, neighborhoods, and municipalities in emergency resources. The foundation has a heavy involvement in the development of sustainable urban agricultural zones in Chicago, Illinois. Through innovative design and research, Moses West has developed sustainable irrigation systems to help reduce the amount of water used in vertically grown food projects. The Moses West Foundation has been designated UN SDG Action 49191 as of 2023 by the United Nations to lead the way in SDG Goal 6

CONVERGX® Global Advisor

Victoria Bradbury

Fluently bilingual senior financial executive with the professional designations of FCA, BFP, CMC and CPA,CA. Member of Institute of Corporate Directors, Institute of Internal Auditors and Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. 35+ years of experience driving organizational success through innovative financial analysis, strategic risk evaluation, and board governance.

Co-Founder, President & CEO of NEO, now operating as Cboe Canada

Jon Schmitt

Jos Schmitt is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of NEO, now operating as Cboe Canada, a bold and disruptive capital markets fintech organization comprised of the NEO Exchange – a Tier 1 stock exchange fueling the innovation economy, and Cboe Connect (formerly NEO Connect) – a multi-asset distribution platform supporting mutual funds and private offerings. Jos formed the NEO Group with the support of a number of blue-chip Canadian financial institutions. NEO was acquired by Cboe Global Markets in 2022. Prior to Cboe Canada and NEO, and in the role of President & CEO, Jos formed the Alpha Group of companies, including the Alpha Stock Exchange. This followed his role as EVP Head of the Americas and Global Head of Capital Markets for a global professional services company focused on the financial services industry, where he acted as strategic advisor and Director of Operational and Technology Programs for some of the largest stock and derivatives exchanges, clearing houses, alternative markets, data vendors, and broker-dealers around the globe. Jos has a strong commitment to the community as a member of the board of The Prosperity Project, a NFP that aims to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian women; as a champion of the UN Global Compact and UN Women “Women’s Empowerment Principles”; and as a former board member of the Sunnybrook Foundation. Jos is also a board member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), and a member of advisory boards to the Ivey Business School at Western University and to the École des Sciences de la Gestion at Université du Quebec A Montréal.

CEO - Panache Ventures

Patrick Lor

Patrick Lor is Managing Partner at Panache Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital firm that has invested in over 100 ventures. He is also partner at 500 Startups Canada.Previously, he was co-founder of iStockphoto, which was sold to Getty Images in 2006. More recently, he was head of North American operations for Fotolia, which as acquired by Adobe in 2014.Patrick is also an active angel investor and LP in several venture capital funds including iNovia Capital, Version One Ventures and Garage Ventures. In addition, he is an advisor and mentor at several technology incubator programs, and is a charter member of thea100.org and thec100.org.

Chief Sustainability Officer at Kiwetinohk Energy Corp.

Janet Anesley

Janet Annesley is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Kiwetinohk Energy Corp., (TSX: KEC) an energy transition company focused on the development of low- and no-carbon energy. A former senior executive at one of Canada’s largest energy companies, and a former chief of staff to Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Ms. Annesley has led ESG, investor relations, policy and communications on some of the most complex energy business matters in the last decade. Ms. Annesley holds an MBA from Queen’s University. She was named to The Hill Times Top 100 in Power and Influence List in 2017 and is a Public Policy Forum Fellow. An award-winning, accredited business communicator, she sits on the advisory board for Clean Prosperity and on the boards of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, the Nature Conservancy of Canada – Alberta Chapter, and the City of Calgary Green Line LRT Project.

CEO/Founder - DEFEND3D

Barrett Veldsman

Chair - NATO/NIAG

Rudy Priem

A thought aerospace & defence (A&D) expert, offering 40 years of international experience as a military officer and corporate lobbyist in highly regulated organizations. Fluent in three languages and recognized for thought leadership, quantitative analytics, political risk management, and innovative solution development. Created an enduring and ethical interface with regulatory, policy, and military authorities in the EMEA region, in the U.S. and at NATO, representing his employers’ interests and growing their business. Strong former military and current industry professional with a Master’s Degree in Military and Aeronautical Sciences, a Master’s Degree in Military and Public Administration, and a Certificate “UTC Emerging Leaders Program” focused in Business Management from Darden School of Business (University of Virginia).

Exec Director - Canadian Coast Guard

Stephan King

Stephan King manages the Canadian Coast Guard’s international Capacity Building Division. Stephan transferred from the Royal Canadian Navy to the Canadian Coast Guard in August, 2018, where he leads the development, implementation and conduct of the Coast Guard’s international partnerships with nations seeking to increase their maritime security and safety capabilities. Stephan holds a Master’s Degree in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University, Victoria. He resides in Ottawa with his wife, Cheryl, and their two adult children.

Managing Director - GeoLogic

Bill Whitelaw

Bill Whitelaw is Managing Director of Strategy and Sustainability at geoLOGIC systems, a Calgary-based global energy intelligence firm. Whitelaw currently chairs the Canadian Society for Evolving Energy and is an advisor to the Energy Futures Lab. He also sits on the board of Agriculture for Life and is currently co-chairing the CarbonTech Expo that will occur during the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary in September 2023.

Director - KC Recycling

Terry Van Horn

President - Red Deer Polytechnic

Stuart Cullum

Stuart Cullum is an executive leader with experience in private industry and the finance, post-secondary and not-for-profit sectors. He joined Red Deer Polytechnic as President in August 2022. Over the past 20 years, Stuart and his team established programming and centres for research, teaching and learning, company development, and entrepreneurship – attracting partnerships and more than $150 million in external investment. Prior roles include President of Olds College, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Lethbridge College, and Executive Director of novaNAIT, NAIT’s applied research and company development division. Stuart has also served on numerous boards and committees, mainly within the agriculture, post-secondary, and technology sectors.

CONVERGX® Global Congress Speaker

Dr. Jonathan M. Morris

Dr. Jonathan M. Morris is a Consultant in the Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic. He received his M.D. at Howard University College of Medicine, completed an internship at Washington Hospital Center, a research fellowship at National Institutes of Health, and his radiology and neuroradiology fellowships at Mayo Clinic. He’s a Board Certified Radiologist, CAQ Neuroradiologist, Medical Director of the 3D Printing Anatomic Modeling Lab, and Medical Director of the Center for Biomedical and Scientific Visualization, Division of Experiential Learning at the Mayo Clinic. His expertise is in the use of point-of-care 3D printing/additive manufacturing for preoperative planning and custom surgical guides. Additionally, Dr. Morris is focused on the development and deployment of extended realities, VR/AR in medical education, intraoperative guidance, and medical capital equipment training. Clinically, he focuses on minimally invasive thermal ablation of tumors in the neuroaxis.

Tech Director - SAIT

Sabrina Sullivan

Sabrina has made it her life’s work to create positive change by investing time in both bold ideas and the people that make them a reality. This currently manifests itself with a focus on developing future-ready talent as the Director and Principal Catalyst at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and as a Foresight Fellow with Ford Motor Company. A recognized Corporate Futurist, leader of one of Deloitte’s flagship innovation programs, and former Strategy Consultant within Canada and the United States, she has become a sought after strategist, advisor, writer, manager and facilitator. In addition to her roles in complex organizations, she has committed time to building ventures including a startup sustainable finance firm and launching a SaaS offering focused on measuring and improving innovation practice in companies. This diverse experience leaves Sabrina poised to work with individuals, companies and ecosystems to generate innovative products, programs and strategies that help grow and shape the future of their organizations and our communities. This is only further complemented by her local and global network and experience with organizations such as TED, Singularity University, US State Department, and many global institutes, incubators and accelerators.

CONVERGX® Global Advisor

Koleya Karringten

A proud Albertan technology entrepreneur, advocate, and leader, Koleya Karringten has a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of product commercialization, ecosystem building, and fostering inclusion in the technology industry. As the co-founder and CEO of Absolute Combustion, she has spent over a decade successfully designing and developing ground-breaking cleantech solutions for multiple industry sectors, including aerospace and Oil & Gas. She is a driving force in Canada’s blockchain technology industry as the Executive Director of the Canadian Blockchain Consortium (CBC) and co-founder/board member of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women (CBAW). In her leadership role at the CBC, she has merged her passions for technology and social good to bring together blockchain companies, corporate leaders, and the government to build the country’s largest blockchain ecosystem organization. An influential public speaker, writer, and community volunteer, Koleya strongly believes that uniting diverse voices behind a common goal is the path to creating a fairer, more sustainable, and prosperous nation.

Executive Director - ICAIE

David Luna

David is the Founder and Executive Director of the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies. As a former diplomat and national security official, David is a globally-recognized strategic thought leader. He’s considered a leading voice internationally on transnational threats, international affairs, geopolitical risks, illicit trade, and global illicit economies (“dark side of globalization”) that fuel greater insecurity and instability around the world. In 2017, after 22 years of public service in the U.S. Government, David established Luna Global Networks & Convergence Strategies LLC. David held numerous senior positions with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It includes directorships for national security, transnational crime and illicit networks, anti‑corruption and good governance, and an advisor to the Secretary’s Coordinator for the Rule of Law. David also served as an Assistant Counsel to the President. He worked at the Office of the Counsel to the President in The White House. He also worked in other positions with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Senate. David is currently the Chair of the Business at OECD Anti‑Illicit Trade Expert Group (AITEG) and Chair of the Anti‑Illicit Trade Committee (AITC) of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB). He is a member of the Business Twenty (B20/G20) Integrity & Compliance Task Force and previously served as the President of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade. David is also a Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Illicit Trade and Organized Crime and Chair of the APEC Anti‑Corruption and Transparency (ACT) Working Group. He has worked in other leadership positions in the G7 and diplomatic fora and public‑private partnerships on anti‑crime and global security. David is also a Senior Fellow for National Security and co‑Director of the Anti‑Illicit Trade Institute at the Terrorism, Transnational Crime, and Corruption Center (TraCCC), Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University.

Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg

Major-General (MGen) Iain Huddleston

Major-General (MGen) Iain Huddleston enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989, graduating with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College in 1994. After completing wings training in 1995, he flew with both 415 Maritime Patrol and 404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron flying the CP-140 Aurora at 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia. In late 2002, he was posted on exchange with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Scotland, where he flew the Nimrod MR2 with 206 and then CXX Squadron. Promoted to Major in 2003, MGen Huddleston deployed to the Middle East twice with the RAF, operating from Muscat, Oman, and Basrah, Iraq in an Overland Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance role. Returning to Canada in August 2006, he was selected as aide-de-camp to the Chief of the Defence Staff, General (retired) Rick Hillier. Completing the Canadian Joint Command and Staff Program in 2009, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer 429 Transport Squadron, operating the CC-177 Globemaster III at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, and supporting global CAF operations. MGen Huddleston deployed to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan as the Joint Headquarters Plans Officer, serving thereafter at the RCAF Aerospace Warfare Centre in Trenton, the Strategic Joint Staff, and then the Defence Renewal Team in Ottawa. He was promoted to Colonel in June 2013 and appointed Commanding Officer 14 Wing Greenwood where he led the Long Range Patrol Force in operationalizing and deploying the modernized Block III CP-140 Aurora on Operation IMPACT. MGen Huddleston was selected in 2015 to attend the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, UK, and returned to Canada in 2016 to become Director of Fleet Readiness at 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In June 2018, he was promoted to Brigadier-General and served as the 1 Canadian Air Division Deputy Commander Force Generation and then as the Deputy Commander. Posted to the Air Staff in Ottawa in July 2020, he became the Director General Air and Space Readiness and upon his promotion to Major-General in May 2021 he was appointed as Chief of Staff for the Canadian Joint Operations Command Headquarters. In July 2022 MGen Huddleston assumed command of 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg. He has 5,600 total flying hours across several airframes and resides in Winnipeg with his wife and two children.

President of Kinitics Automation

Dean Pick

Dean Pick is the president of Kinitics Automation, a company based in Vancouver, BC that develops and manufactures motion control products based on SMA materials and the company’s proprietary Bundled Wire technology. Dean is a Professional Engineer with a Bachelor of Engineering Science degree from the University of Waterloo, and is the inventor of five granted patents in the fields of transmission control and shape memory alloys. He has worked extensively in the automotive, process control, and aerospace industries.

CEO - Hudson Resources

Jim Cambon

Jim has over 30 years of international business development and project management experience in the mineral exploration, consulting, and engineering industries with a focus on Arctic projects. He has held senior positions with engineering firms AMEC and Bateman. He was the Co-Founder of Mongolian exploration company QGX Ltd., which was acquired for $300 million in 2008. He served as the Honourary Consul for Mongolia for eight years. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (Geology) from the University of Western Ontario.

Advocate - Country Superstar & Food Security

George Canyon

George is so much more than an award-winning musical talent. Helping others has always been a huge priority for him, particularly for children with Diabetes and his work as a spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). In addition to his work with JDRF, George is an ardent supporter of our military, having performed many times for troops overseas and even releasing a moving tribute with the single “I Want You to Live”, which touches on the very heartbreaking fact that in fighting for our country, some of our troops won’t make it back home. The music video for the single features several real soldiers talking about their lives and career, putting faces to the group of people working to make our country safe. In light of his ongoing support for our military, George was appointed Honorary Colonel for 14 Wing Greenwood Air Force Base in Nova Scotia in 2008 and was also made the first-ever Colonel Commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets by The Honourable Peter MacKay, former Minister of National Defense in 2011. He was also a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in honour of his ongoing work with the Air Cadets and other charities. He was also recognized by the Canadian Country Music Association with the Humanitarian Award in recognition of his work with JDRF and the Canadian military.

CEO - Bird Construction

Teri McKibbon

Director - NATO

Eric Poliquin

Director - NORAD

Colonel Peltier

Director - OPG Nuclear Power

Eric McGoey

Director - Suncor Technology

Todd Pugsley

President - Canada West Foundation

Gary Mar

VP Supply Chains - Nutrien

Miriam Mitchell-Banks

Chair - NATO/NIAG

Rudy Priem

CTO, Global Cyber Expert - Teck Resource

Phil Fodchuck

SpaceTech Lead - AWS

Greg Peppis

CEO - CPI

Jeff Davison

CEO - DediKey

Kevin Wong

Chief Economist & Head of Research-Nutrien

Jason Newton

CTO, Global Cyber Expert - Teck Resource

Phil Fodchuck

ADM PSPC Defence & Marine Branch

Simon Page

President Americas/Asia at Network Innovations

Andrew Burdall