Guest Speaker: Goran Samuel Pesic, Chair of Policy Insights Forum
Land Acknowledgement
First, I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinabe (Ah-nish-in-ah-beh) Algonquin nation.
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and esteemed colleagues,
It is with great pleasure and honour that I stand before you, as Chair of the Policy Insights Forum, today to welcome you as we gather here at the AWS Ottawa Office to delve into a topic of paramount importance - NATO, the Future of Technology, R&D, and Innovation.
In today's rapidly evolving world, where the boundaries of technology expand with each passing moment, the role of NATO and NATO nations in shaping our collective future cannot be understated. NATO has consistently been at the forefront of ensuring peace, security, and stability among its member states. However, in this era of unprecedented technological advancements, it is imperative for NATO and its Member nations to adapt, innovate, and capitalize on the opportunities presented by these advancements.
Today, we are fortunate to have present Representatives from the Government of Canada, la France avec le Colonel Bruno Heluin, Attaché Défense and the United Kingdom with Debbie Goodleff, Sector Lead - Defence & Security.
Ten Government of Canada Departments and Agencies are present today, notably CCCS; CSE; CSIS; CSPS; DND, with Chief of Staff Christine Piché and Philippe Hébert, DG for R&D Innovation; GAC; ISED with Senior Assistant Deputy Minister Mark Schaan; Parliament with MP Kevin Vuong; PCO and the RCMP with Deputy Commissioner for Specialized Policing Services, Bryan Larkin.
We also welcome many of our PIF NPSE Alumni and past NATO-Private Sector Engagement participants, representatives from defence and security companies as well as non-traditional defence companies, to this special event.
Nous sommes particulièrement heureux et honorés d’accueillir à Ottawa, le Général Philippe Lavigne, un individu dont la carrière brillante démontre un sens de l’engagement et de service profond et d’une volonté de rapprochement entre // de développement / d’amélioration de la collaboration entre l'industrie et l’OTAN.
General Lavigne a leader and strategic thinker with unwavering dedication. General Lavigne's accomplishments and insights have propelled him to the forefront of military leadership within the French nation and on the international stage through missions in Yugoslavia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Throughout his career, General Lavigne has been instrumental in fostering collaborations among member nations, forging partnerships with industry leaders, and encouraging a culture of innovation and knowledge sharing. Under his leadership as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO is working to adapt to the challenges posed by technological advancements but has also harnessed them to strengthen its collective defence capabilities.
Today, General Lavigne will shed light on the future of NATO in the ever-evolving technological landscape. He will discuss the pivotal role of research and development, as well as the importance of fostering innovation within the Alliance. We are confident that his profound insights and strategic vision will provide us with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
On behalf of the Policy Insights Forum, I extend our deepest gratitude to General Lavigne for sharing his time with us out of his busy schedule in Ottawa. We are eager to hear how we, industry can forge stronger bonds and explore new horizons in the realm of NATO and member nation governments to “Win as a Team”.
Sans plus tarder, veuillez vous joindre à moi afin d’accueillir chaleureusement Général Lavigne.
Mon Général, la parole est à vous. Merci.
