Canadian Aerospace Summit 2026
October 27 - 28, 2026
Fairmont, Château Laurier (Ottawa)
2026 Summit Highlights
AIAC was pleased to bring together leaders from industry, government, academia and the Canadian Armed Forces in Ottawa for another successful Canadian Aerospace Summit.
Under this year’s theme, Global Gateways: The Future is Ours, the Summit featured two days of insightful conversations, a dedicated Spotlight UK program, innovative exhibits and valuable networking opportunities focused on defence industrial capability, procurement, supply chains and the partnerships that will carry Canada’s aerospace sector forward.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making this year’s Summit a success. Take a look back at some of the highlights from this year’s Summit.
October 27, 2026 (Day 1)
October 28, 2026 (Day 2)
Thank you to our generous 2026 Sponsors:
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Supporter Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Thank you to our 2026 Summit Sponsors
Thank you to our generous Sponsors for your support of the 2026 Canadian Aerospace Summit :
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Supporter Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the 2027 Canadian Aerospace Summit?
Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities for next year’s Summit are now open for discussion. Contact AIAC to learn more about how your organization can get involved:
Mike Baker
Senior Manager, Operations, AIAC
Email: mbaker@aiac.ca
Bill Yetman
Vice President, Strategic Planning, AIAC
Email: byetman@aiac.ca
Highlights of Exhibit Hall & B2B
Thank you to our exhibitors and participants!
The 2026 B2B & Trade Show brought together best-in-class aerospace capabilities and cross-sector emerging technologies from Canada and around the world. Delegates connected with leading Canadian and international companies showcasing their products and services, and met one-on-one with potential suppliers and customers through AIAC’s B2B matchmaking program.
Thank you to all of this year’s exhibitors and B2B participants for making the show a success.
Interested in exhibiting at the 2027 Canadian Aerospace Summit? Contact us to learn more about upcoming opportunities:
Mike Baker
Senior Manager, Operations, AIAC
Email: mbaker@aiac.ca
Bill Yetman
Vice President, Strategic Planning, AIAC
Email: byetman@aiac.ca
Spotlight UK at the Summit
AIAC was proud to feature Spotlight UK at this year’s Canadian Aerospace Summit, a dedicated portion of the program that connected Canadian and UK industry, government and innovators around shared opportunities in civil aerospace, defence, space and advanced manufacturing.
Canada and the United Kingdom share deep industrial, defence and people-to-people ties. Spotlight UK brought those relationships to the Summit through targeted discussions, high-level networking and practical conversations about supply chains, procurement, technology partnerships and growth on both sides of the Atlantic.
Thank you to H.E. Rob Tinline, British High Commissioner to Canada, and to all the UK government and industry leaders who travelled to Ottawa to take part.
Thank you to our 2026 Summit – Spotlight UK Speakers
Rob Tinline
British High Commissioner to Canada
UK Government
View Profile
Alex Milward
HM Trade Commissioner for North America
UK Government
View Profile
Rob Biggs
Business Development Executive – Defence Future Programmes
Rolls-Royce
View Profile
Simon Cooper
Senior Business Development Director – UK Defence Sector
Qinetiq
View Profile
Ian Duguid
Head of Tempest
MBDA UK
View Profile
Nour Eid
Head of Strategy
Aerospace Technology Institute
View Profile
Peter Girvan
Business Development Manager
Denroy Limited
View Profile
Nigel Green
Defence Campaign Manager
Airbus Defence and Space
View Profile
Julie Marionneau
Director of International Relations
ADS Group
View Profile
Matt Peterson
Head of FCAS Campaigns
Leonardo UK
View Profile
Fiona Walters
Chief Executive Officer, UK & Europe
Serco UK
View Profile
2026 Summit Speakers
The Honourable Mélanie Joly
Minister of Industry
Government of Canada
View Profile
The Honourable David J. McGuinty
Minister of National Defence
Government of Canada
View Profile
The Honourable Stephen Fuhr
Secretary of State – Defence Procurement
Government of Canada
View Profile
Major-General Richard Schmidt
Chief of Force Development
Canadian Armed Forces
View Profile
Major-General Jeff Smyth
Chief Air & Space Force Development
Royal Canadian Air Force
View Profile
Mark D. Wiseman
Ambassador of Canada to the United States
View Profile
Andrii Plakhotniuk
Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada
View Profile
Stephanie Bento
Manager, Public Affairs & Marketing
MHIRJ Aviation Group
View Profile
Sandra Buckler
Senior Director, External Affairs and Public Relations
Bombardier
View Profile
Brian Chase
Vice President, International Government Affairs & Industrial Participation
Bell
View Profile
Guillaume Chevasson
Chief Executive Officer
Airbus Canada
View Profile
David Coletto
Founder, Chair and CEO
Abacus Data
View Profile
Matthew Crawley
Vice President and General Manager — Canada
CAE
Michael Derman
Co-founder, Chairman and CEO
EVIO
View Profile
Stephen Isaacs
General Manager
Lockheed Martin Canada Rotary & Missions Systems (RMS)
View Profile
Micael Johansson
President and CEO
Saab
View Profile
Richard McKie
Air Executive Canada
BAE Systems Air
View Profile
Daniel Moczydlower
President & CEO
Embraer-X
View Profile
Steve Patrick
Vice President
Bombardier Defense – Growth & Strategy
View Profile
Nathaniel Pitt
President
Industrial Participation Association of Canada
View Profile
Jason Thompson
Chief of Staff – Sovereign AI Team
Cohere
View Profile
Rob Tinline
British High Commissioner to Canada
UK Government
View Profile
Alex Milward
HM Trade Commissioner for North America
UK Government
View Profile
Rob Biggs
Business Development Executive – Defence Future Programmes
Rolls-Royce
View Profile
Simon Cooper
Senior Business Development Director – UK Defence Sector
Qinetiq
View Profile
Ian Duguid
Head of Tempest
MBDA UK
View Profile
Nour Eid
Head of Strategy
Aerospace Technology Institute
View Profile
Peter Girvan
Business Development Manager
Denroy Limited
View Profile
Nigel Green
Defence Campaign Manager
Airbus Defence and Space
View Profile
Julie Marionneau
Director of International Relations
ADS Group
View Profile
Matt Peterson
Head of FCAS Campaigns
Leonardo UK
View Profile
Fiona Walters
Chief Executive Officer, UK & Europe
Serco UK
View Profile
2026 Summit Program
Featuring:
Tuesday, October 27
| 7:30 am | Registration |
|---|---|
sponsored by  |
|
| 7:45 am | Breakfast |
| Laurier Room | |
| 8:30 am – 5:00 pm | B2B Lounge & Platform |
| Drawing Room Foyer | sponsored by  |
| 8:30 am – 5:00 pm | Exhibit Hall |
| Drawing Room Foyer | |
| Conference Room | |
sponsored by  |
|
| 8:30 am | Joint Session with IPAC – Opening Remarks |
| Ballroom | Featuring: • Co-Master of Ceremonies Stephanie Bento, Manager, Public Affairs & Marketing, MHIRJ Aviation Group • Co-Master of Ceremonies Sandra Buckler, Senior Director, External Affairs and Public Relations, Bombardier • Mike Mueller, President and CEO, AIAC • Nathaniel Pitt, President, Industrial Participation Association of Canada |
| 8:55 am | Spotlight UK – Greetings |
 |
Featuring: • Rob Tinline, British High Commissioner to Canada, UK Government |
| 9:00 am | Joint Session with IPAC |
| Featuring: • The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, Government of Canada |
|
| 9:15 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Mark D. Wiseman, Ambassador of Canada to the United States • Mike Mueller, President and CEO, AIAC |
|
| 9:45 am | Refreshment Break |
| Laurier Room | sponsored by  |
| 10:30 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Brian Chase, Vice President, International Government Affairs & Industrial Participation, Bell |
|
| 11:00 am | Spotlight UK Panel – Pathways to Partnership: Building International Partnerships to Secure our Future Growth |
|
Moderator: • Alex Milward, HM Trade Commissioner for North America, UK Government Panelists: • Simon Cooper, Senior Business Development Director – UK Defence Sector, Qinetiq • Nour Eid, Head of Strategy, ATI • Peter Girvan, Business Development Manager, Denroy Limited • Nigel Green, Defence Campaign Manager, Airbus Defence and Space • Julie Marionneau, Director of International Relations, ADS Group • Fiona Walters, Chief Executive Officer, UK & Europe, Serco UK |
| 11:45 am | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Major-General Richard Schmidt, OMM, MSC, MSM, CD, Chief of Force Development, Canadian Armed Forces sponsored by  |
|
| 12:10 pm | Networking Lunch |
| Laurier Room & Ballroom | sponsored by  |
| 1:30 pm | Panel |
| Moderator: • Mike Mueller, President and CEO, AIAC Panelists: • Micael Johansson, President and CEO, Saab • Matthew Crawley, Vice President and General Manager — Canada, CAE • Jason Thompson, Chief of Staff – Sovereign AI Team, Cohere |
|
| 2:00 pm | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Guillaume Chevasson, Chief Executive Officer, Airbus Canada |
|
| 2:30 pm | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Stephen Isaacs, General Manager, Lockheed Martin Canada Rotary & Missions Systems (RMS) |
|
| 3:00 pm | Refreshment Break |
| Laurier Room | sponsored by  |
| 3:30 pm | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • David Coletto, Founder, Chair and CEO, Abacus Data |
|
| 4:00 pm | Speaker Session |
| Featuring: • Michael Derman, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO, EVIO |
|
| 4:15 pm | Spotlight UK Panel – UK & Canada: Next Generation Combat Air Collaboration Opportunities |
|
Moderator: • Mike Mueller, President and CEO, AIAC Panelists: • Rob Biggs, Business Development Executive – Defence Future Programmes, Rolls-Royce • Ian Duguid, Head of Tempest, MBDA UK • Richard McKie, Air Executive Canada, BAE Systems Air • Matt Peterson, Head of FCAS Campaigns, Leonardo UK |
| 5:00 pm | Day 1 Closing Remarks |
| Featuring: • Co-Master of Ceremonies Stephanie Bento, Manager, Public Affairs & Marketing, MHIRJ Aviation Group • Co-Master of Ceremonies Sandra Buckler, Senior Director, External Affairs and Public Relations, Bombardier |
|
| 5:00 pm | Annual Aerospace Reception (cocktail) |
| Laurier Room | sponsored by |
| 6:30 pm | Annual Aerospace Dinner |
| Ballroom | Featuring Special Guest Speakers: 🇨🇦 • The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry, Government of Canada 🇺🇦 • Andrii Plakhotniuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Dinner sponsored by  Annual Aerospace Reception sponsored by James C. Floyd Award sponsored by  Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by  Small Business Innovation Technology Award sponsored by Marc Garneau Award sponsored by Centerpieces sponsored by  |
Wednesday, October 28
2026 Defence Drone Initiative Consultation
Canada’s drone ecosystem is evolving, with new opportunities in defence and security. On October 28, 2026, the Defence Drone Initiative Industry Consultation brought together industry leaders, government officials and experts from National Defence for an invitation-only session on Canada’s drone policy, capabilities and future opportunities.
Thank you to the panelists and to everyone who took part in the discussion:
- Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Verreault, Head, Joint Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Office, DND
- Colonel Paolo Pavese, Director of Army Experimentation and Innovation, CAF
- Heather Murphy, Director of Air Procurement, Defence Investment Agency
- Mouhab Meshreki, Director General, Aerospace Research Centre, National Research Council Canada
- Glen Lynch, CEO, Volatus Aerospace
- Senan Houlihan, CEO, Objexis AI
- Josh Ogden, Founder and CEO, AVSS
Thank you to our Industry Consultation Speakers
Senan Houlihan
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
OBJEXIS AI
View Profile
Glen Lynch
President and Chief Executive Officer
Volatus Aerospace
View Profile
Mouhab Meshreki
Director General
Aerospace Research Centre
View Profile
Heather Murphy
Director of Air Procurement
Defence Investment Agency (DIA)
View Profile
Josh Ogden
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
AVSS
View Profile
Colonel Paolo Pavese
Director Army Innovation and Experimentation
Department of National Defence
View Profile
Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Verreault
Head
Joint Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Office
View Profile
Dave Caddey Memorial Scholarship
The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) is proud to have presented the 2026 Dave Caddey Memorial Scholarship to Eric Seabrook.
A student in the Aviation Technician program at Mohawk College, Eric is training in both avionics and aircraft maintenance as he works toward a career as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. AIAC Chair Dr. Uwe Zachau presented the scholarship during the Aerospace Leadership Luncheon at the 2026 Canadian Aerospace Summit, held October 27 and 28 in Ottawa.
AIAC wishes Eric every success as he takes his next steps in Canadian aerospace.
About Dave Caddey
David N. Caddey was a Canadian space industry leader and visionary. For nearly thirty years, he worked at MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), serving as President of MDA’s Space Missions division and as Executive Vice President. During this time, he oversaw several of their major programs and lent his management and leadership skills to some of Canada’s most advanced space programs, includ- ing the construction of the RADARSAT-2 spacecraft and its associated ground infrastructure as well as the construction of the International Space Station Mobile Servicing System.
Mr. Caddey began his career in the military, spending 19 years holding various technical and engineering positions in the Canadian Air Force before joining MDA in 1986.
A dedicated advocate for Canada’s space industry, he served as both Director and President of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, and on the Board of Directors of the US Space Foundation. He also had a long history of leadership at AIAC, including roles as Chair, a member of the board of Directors, and Chair of the AIAC Space Committee. He also played a leading role in developing the space industry’s contributions to the 2012 Emerson Review on Aerospace and Space.
Mr. Caddey held a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from Royal Military College in 1976 and 1971, respectively. In 2014, Mr. Dave Caddey was awarded the James C. Floyd Award by AIAC for his exceptional contribution to the development of Canada’s space industry. He passed away in September 2015.