Western Innovation Forum 2021

Overview

The Western Innovation Forum (WIF) promotes western Canadian capabilities in the aerospace, marine, and defence industries. The event focuses on connecting innovators, companies and researchers with business and innovation-driven investment opportunities.

Last year WIF 2020 was hosted in Vancouver. It was attended by over 300 participants, including 31 prime defence contractors, and featured nearly 300 B2B meetings.

WIF 2021 will take place March 2-4, and will be a virtual event.  This will make it easier for organizations from across western Canada and around the world to participate, providing for a great networking opportunity.

WIF 2021 will feature:

• An expanded B2B meeting program: WD’s popular B2B meeting program will include prime contractors, innovative western Canadian companies, post-secondary institutions, and relevant government representatives. Note that to participate in the B2B program, you will need to complete an organizational capability profile outlining what you have to offer to other participants, and the types of partners you seek.
• Presentations and panel discussions from industry and government leaders: these will cover opportunities in the defence sector, innovative technologies, western Canadian regional capabilities, and other relevant issues.

 

Biographies of presenters

Agenda

Complete agenda details will be available to participants after registration.

Day 1 – March 2, 2021
Presentations will run from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm (PST) B2B meetings will be schedulable from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm (PST)
Opening Remarks Master of Ceremonies: Alex Rueben – Executive Director, Association of British Columbia Marine Industries Dylan Jones – Deputy Minister, Western Economic Diversification Canada
The ITB Policy and How It Drives Innovation in Canada Demetrios Xenos – A/Director General, ITB Branch, Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Defence Procurement and Innovative Technologies Rear Admiral Christopher Earl – Chief of Staff, Materiel, Department of National Defence Overview of upcoming defence procurement projects with particular focus on CAF requirements for new and innovative technologies
Break – 20 minutes
Featured Speaker: MDA Daniel Schulten – MDA LaunchPad Director, MDA Overview of MDA’s current and upcoming ITB-related projects and related opportunities
Featured Speakers: Lockheed Martin Canada Glenn Copeland – Director, Business Development, Lockheed Martin Canada RMS Shireen Melvin – Director, NORAD Modernization Capture, Lockheed Martin RMS Overview of Lockheed Martin Canada’s current and upcoming ITB-related projects and related opportunities
Featured Speakers: Thales Canada Cara Salci – Vice President, Strategy and Government Relations, Thales Canada Ian Krepps – VP Land and Joint Programs, Thales Canada Defence and Security Overview of Thales Canada’s current and upcoming ITB-related projects and related opportunities
B2B Meetings B2B meetings will take place following the completion of conference presentations

Day 2 – March 3, 2021
Presentations will run from 8:00 am to 11:30 am (PST) B2B meetings will be schedulable from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm (PST)
Opening Remarks Master of Ceremonies: Alex Rueben – Executive Director, Association of British Columbia Marine Industries
Regional Spotlight – Manitoba Panel moderated by Wendell Wiebe – CEO, Manitoba Aerospace Inc. Panel members: Howard Loewen – President, MicroPilot Inc. Philip Ferguson – Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Manitoba Cielo Gerrie – Vice President of Business Development, CEMWorks Inc. Martin Petrak – CEO, Precision ADM Overview of innovative technologies and companies in Manitoba with capabilities ranging from additive manufacturing and electromagnetic simulation, to unmanned aerial vehicle autopilot systems
Regional Spotlight – Saskatchewan Panel moderated by Scott Summach – Deputy Director Manufacturing, Investment Attraction, Ministry of Trade and Export Development, Province of Saskatchewan Panel members: Richard Missens – CEO, PFN Group of Companies, PASQUA First Nation Sean Willy – President and CEO, Des Nedhe Group Jason Young – General Manager, Standard Machine Derek Dreger – Program Manager, Dumur Industries A panel of Saskatchewan stakeholders, including representatives from Indigenous businesses, will discuss the opportunities and challenges of working in the defense sector
Break – 20 minutes
Regional Spotlight – Alberta Panel moderated by Kim Van Vliet – CEO WaVv Panel members: David J. Knudsen – Professor and Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Denean Tomlin – ITB Manager, Peraton Canada Chris Robson – CEO, Wyvern Session will highlight Alberta’s numerous capabilities relative to aerospace and defence, with a focus on space science and satellite research and development
Regional Spotlight – British Columbia Panel moderated by Mike Mueller, Senior VP, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada Panel members: Julie Angus – CEO and Co-Founder, Open Ocean Robotics J. R. Hammond – Executive Director, Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Consortium (CAAM) Afzal Suleman – Canada Research Chair, Professor, and Director, Centre for Aerospace Research, University of Victoria Eric Jackson – Founder and President, Cellula Robotics Ltd. Panel will showcase the level of activity and innovation in B.C. related to unmanned systems and highlight linkages with Key industrial capabilities (Remotely-piloted Systems and Autonomous Technologies, cyber resilience, AI)
B2B Meetings B2B meetings will take place following the completion of conference presentations

Day 3 – March 4, 2021
B2B meetings will be schedulable from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (PST)
B2B Meetings B2B meetings will take place all day