1
🌊 A Tidal Wave of Opportunity is Coming 🌊
ABCDMI 2026 Business Opportunities Conference and Trade Show – Agenda
Dates: Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre West Building, 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC
Day 1 (Tuesday, October 20)
08:30: Welcome Desk and Trade Show Opens (along with light breakfast)
09:00 – 10:30: Fall 2026 PSPC Marine Procurement Outlook – PSPC Team & Federal Fleet Presenters
10:30 – 10:45: Health Break
10:45 – 10:50: Opening Remarks – Alex Rueben, CEO ABCDMI
10:50 – 11:05: Opening Address – Rear-Admiral David Patchell, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific & Joint Task Force Pacific
11:05 – 12:15: Panel # 1 – Defence Procurement Business Opportunities
Moderator: Alex Rueben, CEO, ABCDMI
- Thales Canada - Ian Krepps, President & CEO
- Babcock Canada - Tony March, CEO
- TKMS Canada - Rick Gerbrecht, President & CEO
- Lockheed Martin Canada - Elizabeth Liddy, Industrial Development Country Leader, Canada & Latin America
- Seaspan Shipyards - Dave Hargreaves, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development
12:15 – 13:30: Networking and Trade Show Time – also Lunch Break
13:30 – 14:30: Panel # 2 – SMBs and Defence Procurement – The Hurdles
Moderator: Naina Sloan, President, Pacific Economic Development Canada
- Carole Arneson - COO, Jastram Engineering
- Al Vigier - CEO & Founder, Caseway
- Golriz Fattahi - CEO, Alacrity Canada
- Tara Hartley - Director, Indigenous Procurement and Business Participation Policy, PSPC
14:30 – 15:30: Panel # 3 – Ensuring Canada’s Sovereignty in the Arctic – What is needed?
Moderator: Victoria Belbin, CEO, Atlantic Canada Aerospace & Defence Association
- Steven Waddell, Deputy National Director, Defence and Federal Government Relations, PCL Constuction
- Rob Waye, Head of Growth, Dominion Dynamics Ltd
- Mark Thibodeau, Director of Sonar Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems – Canada
- Neil O’Rourke, Director General, Fleet and Maritime Services, Canadian Coast Guard
15:30 – 16:00: Networking and Trade Show Time – also Coffee & Health Break
16:00 – 17:00: Panel # 4 – Challenges & Opportunities – RCN & CCG & DIA
Moderator: Alex Rueben, CEO, ABCDMI
- Cmdre Scott Robinson, Director General Naval Force Development, Royal Canadian Navy
- Cmdre Michel Thibault, Director General Maritime Equipment Program Management, ADM(Mat), DND
- Derek Moss, Assistant Commissioner, Western Region, Canadian Coast Guard
- Nicolas Nabaa, Director General Marine and Space Procurement, Defence Investment Agency
17:00 – 19:00: Networking Reception (in Trade Show area)
Day 2 (Wednesday, October 21)
07:30: Welcome Desk & Trade Show opens (along with Light Breakfast)
08:00 – 08:05: Opening Remarks – ABCDMI (CEO)
08:05 – 08:20: Featured Speaker – TBD
08:20 – 09:30: Panel # 5 – Defence Procurement Business Opportunities
Moderator: Alex Rueben, CEO, ABCDMI
- Chantier Davie Canada – Jason Reid, Vice President, Business Development
- L3Harris Technologies – Xavier Arbour, Director Business Development
- MDA Space/49North Defence – Steven Yankowich, Senior Program Director
- CAE Defence & Security – Jason Healey, Naval Business Development Lead
- Saab Canada – Cara Salci, President
09:30 – 10:15: Networking and Trade Show Time – also Coffee & Health Break
10:15 – 11:00: Panel # 6 – The revised Industrial Technical Benefits Policy – Getting SMBs involved
Moderator: Alex Rueben, CEO, ABCDMI
- Jenifer Lévesque – Deputy Director of Strategic Policy (ITB), Defence Investment Agency
- Jennifer Leng – Senior Industrial Participation and Benefits Manager, L3Harris Technologies
- Chad Hey – Director Industrial Participation & Strategic Initiatives, Seaspan Shipyards
11:00 – 12:00: Industry Showcase – Did you know? ( 5 companies)
- 5 Innovative Companies/Organizations
12:00 – 13:15: Networking and Trade Show Time – also Lunch Break
13:15 – 14:15: Panel # 7 – Autonomous Operations & Domain Awareness
Moderator: TBD
- Cdr Greg Atkinson, Director of Naval Requirements 2 – Remote and Autonmous Systems, Royal Canadian Navy
- Neil Manning, CEO, Cellula Robotics
- Sebastian Berg, Chief Engineer, Shift Coastal Technologies
- Alex Deslauriers, CEO, Fireswarm Solutions
14:15 – 15:25: Panel # 8 – Canada’s Defence and Security Ambition and Implementation
Moderator: VAdm (Ret’d) Bruce Donaldson, Associate, CFN Consultants
15:25: Concluding Remarks – ABCDMI (CEO & Board President)
We have room to showcase the products and services of 26 Exhibiting Companies. The Exhibitors will be set up in the area where the Networking Reception takes place as well as food and beverage service during the 2 days.
Included with the Exhibitor Space:
- 1 six foot skirted table
- 2 chairs
- 1 delegate registration
- area is wide enough for your 10' pop up trade show display
There is no pipe and drape. The venue is available for move in and set up on the afternoon of Monday, October 19. Electricity and monitors can be rented at additional charge directly from the venue's exhibitor services provider. You will receive a link to the exhibitor services provider in August.
Exhibitor spaces will be assigned first to Sponsors and then the remaining spots will be assigned based on the order they are purchased.
More details will be communicated closer to the event.
We have secured a preferred rate at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront. 1133 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3T3
The booking link is now active and available until September 21 but likely to fill up before then.
Booking Link: https://book.passkey.com/event/511
Babcock Canada Inc.
Barnacle Systems Inc
Bernard LLP
BMT Canada Ltd.
Boilermakers
Business Development Bank of Canada
Centura Vancouver
Dewis Ventures
DSS Protection BC Inc.
Eaglecraft Boats Inc.
Export Navigator
Fabstation by Electro Realities Inc.
Goltens
Jastram Technologies
Kongsberg Maritime
McRae Electric Ltd.
Meridian Marine Industries Inc.
Navis Marine Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Northern Platforms Ltd.
Oceans Advance
Open Ocean Robotics
Prospectus Associates
RBC Royal Bank
SAI Engineering LTD
Seaspan
Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd
W&O, A Vytl Company
When
Location
- Vancouver Convention Centre West Building, Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3G3, Canada
