Our Team
Joseph Varner
Deputy Director – Conference of Defence Associations
Joe Varner is a past Adjunct Scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute and is author of “Canada’s Asia-Pacific Security Dilemma.”
He served as Senior Adviser and Director of Policy to the Minister of National Defence and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada the Hon. Peter MacKay from 2008 to 2014.
Varner also served as a faculty member with the American Military University from 2002 to 2009 and again from 2015 to 2019 specializing in teaching homeland security and intelligence studies. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Royal Asiatic Society of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.
Joe has been published by the MacDonald-Laurier Institute, Mackenzie Institute, the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, Institute for Security and Development Policy in Sweden, Prospect Foundation in Taiwan, Kajima Institute in Japan, Modern War Institute, and Heritage Foundation in the United States.
Varner’s operational experience is rooted in his service as a Reserve Infantry Officer, where he served as a Platoon Commander, Assistant Adjutant, Company Second-in-Command, and Intelligence Officer, West Nova Scotia Regiment.
Varner holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Acadia University.
Jennifer Giguere
Director of Operations
Jennifer Giguere brings over 20 years of expertise in business operations, stakeholder management and event productions, particularly within the non-profit and charitable sectors. She is a seasoned professional in executing events, having successfully overseen more than 125 events including large-scale exhibitions, conferences, galas, and professional development sessions. Beyond this, Jennifer has extensive experience in donor and member relations, marketing, web development, and managing high-level awards programs.
For the past 11 years, Jennifer has focused on the Canadian defence and security sectors. She has spearheaded initiatives that cultivate learning and discussions with industry leaders, academia, the Canadian Armed Forces, and both domestic and foreign government officials. Her leadership in these programs has facilitated relationship building and business development, contributing to a more capable and efficient Canadian Armed Forces.
Before joining the CDA Institute, Jennifer served as the Director of Domestic and International Events for the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries. She led her team in executing over 15 annual events and initiatives across Canada and internationally. Most notably, she directed CANSEC, Canada’s largest defence and security exhibition, recognized as one of the top five global defence events.
Valerie Aji, CPA, CMA
Financial Officer and Treasurer, CDA & CDA Institute
Valerie Aji is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 15 years’ experience in accounting, Canada and USA in diverse business industries, mainly non-for-profit sector.
Valerie has joined CDA in 2018 and as a dedicated and detail-oriented accounting professional she has been meeting the accounting needs for CDA, Able to identify and implement process improvements that improve accuracy, consistency, and efficiency. An energetic, motivating, and Effective communicator.
Valerie has a Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting Option – University of Damascus, Syria.
Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant – CPA, CMA Ontario – 2012
Pauline Baudu
Director – Climate Security Programme
Pauline Baudu manages the CDA Institute’s Climate Security Programme, including its annual Montreal Climate Security Summit. She has extensive research experience, as a consultant and academic, in advising policymaking and defense circles on the climate/security nexus, with a particular focus on the Arctic region and on NATO’s climate-security action. She is a member of the NATO Research Task Group on the Effects on Climate Change on Security, coordinates the Climate Security Association of Canada, and participated in the consultation process to inform the creation of NATO’s Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence. She is also currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at Université du Québec à Montréal.
Prior to joining the CDA Institute, she worked with leading policy, military and academic experts on climate and Arctic security in the U.S. and Canada, including with the Center for Climate and Security (Washington DC), the Wilson Center Polar Institute and Environmental Change and Security Program, Arctic Security Consultants (Ottawa), Arctic360, and as a research co-lead at the U.S. Naval War College with a group of international scholars and naval officers studying naval deterrence in the Arctic.
Her work is further informed by her nine-year experience in human rights and asylum law. In particular, she served as a public official at the French National Asylum Court, and previously with the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva and with diverse civil society organizations on migrants’ rights and non-discrimination. She is a graduate from the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs in Defense and Security (MA), and holds degrees in Crisis Analysis and Humanitarian Action (MA) and Applied Linguistics (BA). She is fluent in French, English and Spanish.
Louis-Benoît Lafontaine
Research Coordinator
Louis-Benoît Lafontaine holds a Master’s degree in International Studies (International Security) and a Master’s degree in International and Transnational Law. During the fall of 2021, he acted as an intern at the Network for Strategic Analysis. He previously worked as a research assistant in international law at Laval University and for the Quebec Government. His research interests include the space occupied by international law in the foreign policy of states, lawfare, and the economic impact of international security issues.
Hannah Fitzpatrick
Graphic and Digital Communications Coordinator
Hannah Fitzpatrick is a graphic designer and communications specialist with a passion for efficient communication. With her experience in professional outreach, content production, and marketing, Hannah brings her creative energy and a supportive approach to the CDA Institute team.
In previous roles, Hannah has overseen internal and external communications, produced bilingual content, led podcast production, created promotional media across a variety of physical and digital mediums, and managed professional relations with national media partners. Her strategic planning and engagement skills have significantly expanded social media presences, gaining substantial followings in short timeframes. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in English and French from Queen’s University.
Kawtar Kathi
Events and Administrative Coordinator
Kawtar Kathi holds a degree in International Development and Globalization from the University of Ottawa, complemented by a microprogram in Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Social Innovation. She brings her passion for fostering positive change to her role as the Events and Administration Coordinator.
With a strong background in international development, she has developed a deep understanding of global challenges and opportunities. Her academic and professional experiences have equipped her with knowledge of international policy frameworks, governance structures, and sustainable development goals. She is well-versed in international relations and has strong analytical skills essential for research and operations.
Greg Colbert
Volunteering and Campaigns Coordinator
Greg Colbert joins the CDA Institute as the Volunteering and Campaigns Coordinator, bringing a robust background in team management and community engagement. With extensive experience coordinating diverse teams and managing complex logistical challenges, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to build strong interpersonal connections and execute community initiatives.
A graduate of Seneca College’s Firefighter Pre-Service Education program and Criminology studies at the University of ottawa, Greg is committed to developing meaningful engagement strategies that support the CDA Institute’s mission. His experience includes coordinating volunteer teams and creating collaborative environments that maximize participant contributions. He is well-positioned to enhance the institute’s volunteer programs and campaign coordination efforts
Angelina Smolynec
Research Assistant
With her experience in academic research and fieldwork, Angelina brings a depth of geopolitical knowledge and analytical skills to the CDA Institute team. In previous roles, Angelina has overseen program management, event coordination, and curriculum development. In the summer of 2024, Angelina participated in the Cambridge Security Initiative’s International Security & Intelligence program, hosted at the University of Cambridge. Research papers have covered renewable energy development in Ukraine and maritime sabotage in the Baltic Sea.
Specific policy interests include Russia’s war in Ukraine, hybrid warfare, intelligence, and energy security. Angelina holds an MSc from the University of Edinburgh and a BA from McGill University, and speaks English, French, and Ukrainian.
Gabriella Pickton
Research Assistant
With valuable experience in the Black Sea region, Gabriella brings strong research experience on defence, democracy, and security across the former Soviet space to the CDA Institute team.
She is completing her last undergraduate year at the Institute of European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies as an academic exchange student in Tbilisi, Georgia. Her previous experience spans past research internships at the Conference of Defence Associations Institute and the Georgian Institute for Strategic and International Studies. She also worked as an intern at USAID Georgia’s Local Governance Program until the U.S.’s pause on foreign aid assistance was announced.
