Our Team
Dr Gaëlle Rivard Piché
Executive Director – CDA Institute & Conference of Defence Associations
Dr Gaëlle Rivard Piché is the Executive Director of the Conference of the Defence Associations (CDA) and the CDA Institute. With a doctoral degree in international affairs (Carleton University, 2017) and over a decade of professional experience in the Canadian defence and security sector, she combines operational expertise, strategic leadership, and extensive research experience.
Prior to CDAI, Gaëlle was a strategic analyst with Defence Research and Development Canada where she closely worked with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs. She is an affiliated expert with the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats and was a Fulbright research fellow in the International Security Program at the Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (2014-2015).
Strong of her expertise on Arctic security and defence, hybrid threats, deterrence theory and practice, and Latin American and Caribbean security issues, Gaëlle has published in the Texas National Security Review, the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal, International Journal, and Études internationales. She co-authored two books: SOF in the Defence of the Canadian and North American Arctic (with Nancy Teeple and Bradley Sylvestre, forthcoming) and the Newport Manual on Arctic Security (with Walter Berbrick and Michael Zimmerman, 2022).
Gaëlle also supports the education and professional development of military members and national security personnel as a lecturer at the Canadian Forces College and a training consultant with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Dedicated to fostering diversity in defence and national security, she was previously the co-chair of the Defense Women’s Advisory Organization’s U.S. chapter and Women in International Security – Canada.
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 and Strategic Relations
Jennifer Giguere is the Director of Operations and Strategic Relations at the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, where she brings over 20 years of leadership experience in business operations, stakeholder engagement, and strategic program development. In her role, she plays a central part in advancing Canada’s defence and security priorities through national-level initiatives and meaningful collaboration across sectors.
Jennifer leads efforts to connect government, industry, the Canadian Armed Forces, and academic institutions, building partnerships that support informed policy dialogue and capability development. She oversees high-impact programming, ensures alignment between the Institute’s activities and its mission, and plays a key role in long-term strategic planning. Her work bridges vision with execution—supporting the Institute’s growth, relevance, and ability to deliver results.
In addition to her external-facing responsibilities, Jennifer manages the Institute’s internal operations. She leads strategic planning processes, improves organizational systems, oversees financial management, and ensures efficient internal operations. Her approach combines big-picture thinking with a practical grasp of how to make things work day to day, strengthening both the Institute’s sustainability and its capacity for impact.
For the past decade, Jennifer has focused exclusively on Canada’s defence and security sectors. Before joining the CDA Institute, she was Director of Domestic and International Events at the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), where she led large-scale initiatives across Canada and abroad. Notably, she directed CANSEC—Canada’s largest defence and security trade show and one of the top five events of its kind globally—helping to shape it into a key platform for industry and government engagement.
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.
Josh Malm
Director – Research & Analysis
Josh Malm oversees the implementation of the Institute’s research agenda, and leads a range of key initiatives including production of the Institute’s Expert Series Podcast, academic publications including ON TRACK, Threat Assessment, and the annual Strategic Outlook, as well as the flagship Force Development roundtable series and the Fellowship Programme.
In addition to leading the research team, Josh directs the Institute’s digital content strategy and communications. He plays a key role in shaping the Institute’s public voice and expanding its reach across academic, policy, and defence communities. His work also supports stakeholder engagement and the development of collaborative research initiatives.
Josh studied Political Science at Queen’s University and also pursued studies in the United Kingdom. His background includes experience in journalism, program management, politics, and government.
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
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.
Carolanne Léonard
Junior Fellow – Climate Security Programme
Carolanne Léonard is a Master’s student in International Development and Globalization at the University of Ottawa. She is currently working on a Major Research Paper examining the war in Côte d’Ivoire, with a particular focus on post-independence institutional legacies. She is expected to graduate in August 2025. Her academic interests include international relations, ethnic tensions, and the experiences of marginalized and underserved communities, with a particular emphasis on West Africa and the Canadian North. She is also passionate about environmental issues, the intersection of population dynamics and climate change, and cross-cultural engagement.
Professionally, Carolanne has experience in the federal public service, most recently as a Public Administration Research Assistant with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC). She has also worked at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Beyond her government roles, she has volunteered with non-governmental organizations such as Oxfam, contributing to advocacy and outreach initiatives focused on global justice.
