With the 27th annual Graduate Student Conference having concluded, the CDA Institute is once again proud to support the next generation of defence and security leaders—and we look forward to seeing their ideas shape Canada’s strategic future.
This year’s conference brought together emerging scholars to explore some of the most urgent challenges facing Canadian and global security: from foreign interference and disinformation to Arctic sovereignty, maritime security, and national resilience.
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
- Sarah Afiane, University of Toronto – “Cyber Resilience as National Security: A Framework to Strengthen Canada’s Critical Infrastructure”
- Daria Bielik, University of Toronto – “The Achilles’ Heel of Canadian Defence: The Drone Gap”
- David Chobotov, University of Toronto – “Strengthening Canada’s Resilience Against Influence Operations: Global Lessons for Canada”
We extend our thanks for the support provided by KPMG, our bursary sponsors Metro Supply Chain and the Royal Canadian Military Institute, and to our distinguished panel of judges for their generous support in providing students a platform to present their ideas, grow their networks, and prepare to lead in the fields of defence and security.
Special thanks is owed to our moderator, our expert panelists, and to our panel of judges:
MODERATOR
Former Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)
PANELISTS
MGen J.R. SPEISER-BLANCHET, CMM, CD
Deputy Commander, The Royal Canadian Air Force
Political Advisor to Canada’s Minister of National Defence, Department of National Defence
JUDGES
Commander, Royal Canadian Navy
Director, Land Command Systems Program Management, Materiel Group, Department of National Defence
Air Staff Logistic Advisor
The Royal Canadian Air Force
RCAF Command Engineer, The Royal Canadian Air Force
Former Chief of Military Personnel and Former Commander, Canada Command
LGen (Ret’d) Hon. ANDREW LESLIE
Former Chief Government Whip, Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Global Affairs
Senior Fellow
CDA Institute
Director, Royal Canadian Military Institute and Security Studies Program
Assistant Professor, The Royal Military College of Canada
Partner, Technology Strategy and Digital Transformation
KPMG
Director General of Defence Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of National Defence
Manager of Communication, The Royal Canadian Legion
Political Advisor to Canada’s Minister of National Defence, Department of National Defence
Deputy Director of the Director of Strategic Coordination and Outreach in the Policy Group, Department of National Defence
Manager, Technology Strategy and Transformation
KPMG
Senior Advisor, Department of National Defence
Chief of Staff, Lockheed Martin Canada
Executive Faculty Member, Canada School of Public Service
