Conferences
Canadian Foreign Policy Conference Series
Realities and Illusions of Canadian Foreign Policy
June 18, 2026
Read the full Conference transcript here. Read the Concluding Reflections here.
Audio recordings are linked throughout the Programme below.
PROGRAMME
12:00
Informal lunch (sandwiches included with registration)
13:00
Alexandra Gheciu, Director, Centre for International Policy Studies, uOttawa
Michael Small, President, Canadian Ambassadors Alumni Association
13:15
Realities and Illusions of Canadian Security
Moderator: Gordon Venner, former Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence
Panellists: Stefanie Beck, former Deputy Minister of National Defence
Thomas Juneau, Professor, Public and International Affairs, uOttawa
Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Senior Fellow, MacDonald Laurier Institute
14:30
Realities and Illusions of Canadian Prosperity
Moderator: George Haynal, former Canadian Consul General, New York
Panellists: Drew Fagan, Professor, Munk School, University of Toronto
Patrick Leblond, Associate Professor, Public and International Affairs, uOttawa
Nathalie Dubé, former Director General, Global Affairs Canada
15:45
Canadian Foreign Policy in an Era of Revolutionary Technologies
Moderator: Jennifer Irish, Principal, Pendulum Geopolitical Advisory
Panellists: Ann Fitz-Gerald, Director, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Rafal Rohozinski, CEO, SecDev
Vass Bednar, Managing Director, Canadian Shield Institute
16:45
Kerry Buck, former Canadian Ambassador to NATO
17:00
Reception and Cash Bar
Partners
Finding Canada’s Place in a Disordered World
May 12, 2025
Read the full Conference Report here.
PROGRAMME
12:00
Informal lunch (sandwiches included with registration)
13:00
Welcome and Scene Setting
Alexandra Gheciu, Director, Centre for International Policy Studies, uOttawa
Michael Small, President, Canadian Ambassadors Alumni Association
13:15
How Much Can We Rely on Our Traditional Alliances?
Moderator: Rob McRae, former Canadian Ambassador to NATO
Panellists: Martin Loken, former Canadian Deputy Head of Mission, Washington, D.C.
Richard Fadden, former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister
Jacqueline Best, Professor, School of Political Studies, uOttawa
14:30
How Should We Engage the Rest of the World?
Moderator: Patricia Fortier, former Canadian Ambassador to Peru and Bolivia
Panellists: Ian Burney, former Canadian Ambassador to Japan
Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada
Guillermo Rishchynski, former Canadian Ambassador to the U.N.
15:45
How Does This Change Our Diplomacy?
Moderator: Alexandra Bugailiskis, former Canadian Ambassador to Italy
Panellists: David McKinnon, former Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
Pascale Massot, Associate Professor, School of Political Studies, uOttawa
Henri-Paul Normandin, former Canadian Ambassador and Deputy PermRep
16:45
Senator Peter Boehm, Senate of Canada
17:00
Reception and Cash Bar
Partners
