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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261019T130000
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UID:36282-1792414800-1792420200@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Accelerating Innovation: Modernizing R&D Support and the BOREALIS Mechanism
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingCanada possesses a world-class research ecosystem across its post-secondary institutions and polytechnics\, yet translating raw R&D into scalable\, defence-grade commercial products remains a persistent challenge. This session focuses on the operationalization of Pillar 3 of the DIS\, specifically analyzing the mechanisms of federal research support and the deployment of the new BOREALIS defence innovation model. Bringing together leaders from BOREALIS/DRDC\, the U15 research universities\, and Polytechnics Canada\, this panel will critique current funding and technology-transfer pipelines. The conversation will focus on how to build highly coordinated sandboxes\, optimize rapid prototyping pathways\, and align government innovation programs to better match the commercial speed of industry. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Dr. Marlies RisePresident and Chief Executive Officer \nGenome Atlantic See Bio×Dr. Marlies Rise\nDr. Marlies Rise has more than 20 years of leadership experience in research administration\, innovation\, and industry partnerships. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Genome Atlantic\, she is focused on strengthening strategic partnerships\, deepening alignment with government and industry priorities\, and expanding opportunities for researchers\, academic institutions\, and companies commercializing genomics innovations across the region and beyond. This includes a recent partnership with Vimy Forge to develop dual-use applications that meet civilian and defence needs\, connecting Atlantic Canada’s research strengths with emerging national security and economic opportunities. Dr. Rise has supported university research portfolios of up to $270 million annually and holds a PhD in Forest Biology from the University of Victoria.  \nSarah Watts-RynardChief Executive Officer \nPolytechnics Canada See Bio×Sarah Watts-Rynard\nSarah Watts-Rynard assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at Polytechnics Canada in July 2018.  Prior to this role\, she served as Executive Director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum\, supporting Canada’s apprenticeship community with research\, promotion and by connecting stakeholders across trades\, across sectors and across Canada.  \nSarah has a degree in Journalism and English from Carleton University.  Since graduating\, she has built a career that includes time in government\, the private sector and at skills-focused non-profit organizations.  She has experience related to non-profit governance\, fundraising\, advocacy and marketing.  She leads a team of passionate and dedicated employees committed to high-quality skills and innovation policy\, reflecting the strengths of polytechnic education in Canada.  In 2018\, Sarah was awarded an honorary diploma in the Skilled Trades by Niagara College.  \nSarah is Chair of the CWB Welding Foundation and Vice-Chair of the Canadian Centre for Women in Science\, Engineering\, Trades and Technology (WinSETT Centre). \nJulie St-PierreVice-President\, Research and Innovation\nUniversity of Ottawa See Bio×Julie St-Pierre\nJulie St-Pierre is the Vice-President\, Research and Innovation of the University of Ottawa. \nShe was awarded BSc and MSc degrees from Laval University before earning her doctorate at the University of Cambridge\, England. As a post-doctoral fellow\, Julie St-Pierre conducted research in both Europe and the United States\, including at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. From 2008 to 2017\, she was an assistant professor and then full professor at McGill University\, where she co-established a core facility in metabolomics and co-led it for eight years. \nIn 2017\, the University of Ottawa recruited her and she established a similar core facility at the Faculty of Medicine. Today she is a full professor in the Faculty’s Department of Biochemistry\, Microbiology and Immunology. \nHer research deals with metabolomics\, a science based on powerful technology that serves to deepen our understanding of the metabolic states of physiological and pathological conditions. Julie St-Pierre is especially interested in how metabolic adaptations in breast cancer can fuel therapeutic resistance. \nBefore her appointment as Interim Vice-President\, Julie St-Pierre had been Associate Vice-President\, Research Support and Infrastructure within the Office of Vice-President\, Research and Innovation since 2023. \nShanti JohnsonVice-President\, Research and Innovation\nUniversity of WindsorSee Bio×Shanti Johnson\nDr. Johnson’s research focuses on aging and health\, specifically falls and injury prevention\, aging in place in rural commnunities\, and social isolation among immigrant and refugee seniors. \nEffective July 1\, 2023\, she was appointed to the position of vice-president\, research and innovation. The position reports to the Unversity’s president and vice-chancellor. In her vice-president role\, Dr. Johnson is responsible for advancing UWidnsor’s research culture by enhancing the development of interdisciplinary research teams\, expanding partnership opportunities\, capitalizing on strategic research funding\, and supporting student and community-engaged research. Before joining the University of Windsor\, Dr. Johnson served at the University of Alberta as professor and dean of the School of Public Health. \nMartin ChampouxActing Director\, Strategic Partnerships\nDRDC See Bio×Martin Champoux\nMartin is a seasoned public servant with over 30 years experience in the areas of defence\, national security\, and public safety. This experience includes various roles in the Department of National Defence and Defence Research and Development Canada\, emergency management policy and operational roles with Public Safety Canada and policy positions within the Privy Council Office’s Security and Intelligence Secretariat and Democratic Institutions Unit. In addition to his work with the federal government\, Martin served as a civilian senior officer with the Ottawa Police Service.
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/accelerating-innovation-modernizing-rd-support-and-the-borealis-mechanism/
CATEGORIES:Innovation Virtual Series,Innovation Virtual Series 2026,Virtual Sessions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261027T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261027T133000
DTSTAMP:20261005T163441Z
CREATED:20260930T144914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T163441Z
UID:36285-1793102400-1793107800@sciencepolicy.ca
SUMMARY:Foundation of the Base: Securing Supply Chains for Critical Minerals\, Steel\, and Aluminum
DESCRIPTION:Register HereWatch Video RecordingAdvanced defence manufacturing—from aerospace alloys and naval hulls to military-grade energy storage and munitions—is entirely dependent on secure access to raw materials and intermediate processing. Moving beyond extraction\, Pillar 4 of the DIS underscores the strategic necessity of domestic refining and supply chain resilience. This panel brings together executives from Canada’s critical minerals\, steel\, and aluminum sectors to address vulnerabilities stemming from foreign input dependencies and geopolitical supply shocks. The discussion will map out a roadmap to build domestic production capacity\, accelerate infrastructure investments for strategic processing\, and establish closer alignment between continental defence procurement and Canada’s broader critical industrial materials strategies. \nSpeaker information coming soon!Moderator: Isabella ChenSenior Assistant Deputy MinisterSee Bio×Isabella Chan\nIsabella Chan has over 20 years of experience working in the public sector at the federal and provincial levels. She joined Natural Resources Canada in April 2024 as the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of the Lands and Minerals Sector. Prior to this role\, she worked at the Privy Council Office as the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet\, Social Development Policy\, and as the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch at Health Canada. Isabella has also occupied a number of executive positions at Finance Canada and Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat\, including the role of Director General\, Intergovernmental Tax Policy\, Evaluation and Research Division in the Tax Policy Branch\, and Executive Director\, Social and Cultural Sector. \nHeather Exner-PirotSenior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources\, Energy\, and Environment\nMacdonald-Laurier Institute See Bio×Heather Exner-Pirot\nHeather Exner-Pirot is a Senior Fellow and Director of Natural Resources\, Energy\, and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. She  serves as a Special Advisor to the Business Council of Canada\, and Managing Editor of the Arctic Yearbook. She is an internationally recognized scholar and policy expert whose work focuses on natural resource development\, energy security\, critical minerals\, Arctic governance\, Indigenous economic participation\, and Canadian competitiveness. \nDr. Exner-Pirot has held board and fellowship appointments with Indigenous\, Canadian and international institutions and is a frequent contributor to public policy discussions on resource development\, trade\, energy\, and northern affairs. Her research emphasizes practical approaches to strengthening Canada’s economic prosperity\, resilience\, and strategic position through responsible development of its natural resources. \nJean SimardPresident and CEO\, Aluminium Association of Canada See Bio×Jean Simard\nAs President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) since 2009\, Jean Simard is the industry’s official representative and spokesperson with governments\, business associations and the media\, as well as with international organizations linked to the industry. \nMr. Simard holds a degree in Civil Law from the University of Ottawa and is a member of the Barreau du Québec. He possesses extensive professional experience in public policy and government relations\, mainly in sustainable development\, energy and environmental affairs. Prior to joining the AAC\, he was Vice-President Sustainable Development\, Public and Governmental Affairs\, at Gaz Métro\, a Quebec-based energy company. \nMr. Simard represents the AAC at the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) and at the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). He is a member of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of the Quebec Industrial Aluminium Cluster (Alu Québec)\, as well as a member of the Board (Treasurer) of the Conseil patronal de l’environnement du Québec (CPEQ). Co-founder and member of the Board and Steering committee of SWITCH\, the Alliance for a greener economy\, he is one of the Leaders of the Canadian Smart Prosperity initiative. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices.He recently founded and co-chairs the Canada US Trade Council (CUSTC) focused on U.S. tariffs\, and CUSMA renewal. He was recently appointed by the Government of Canada to the new Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations. \nHe received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in January 2025. This distinction was awarded in recognition of his contribution to promoting Canadian aluminium. \nAmanda Hall CEO and Founder of Summit Lithium TechnologiesSee Bio×Amanda Hall\nAmanda Hall is the CEO and Founder of Summit Lithium Technologies\, a Canadian technology company advancing direct lithium extraction (DLE) to meet rapidly growing demand from electric vehicles and large‑scale energy storage. With more than 20 years as a professional geophysicist\, she leads the development of high‑performance\, responsible extraction technology built for modern battery supply chains. Amanda holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology/Physics (University of Toronto) and Geophysics (University of Calgary. She was the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of The Year® Prairies Winner\, a Business Insider Climate Action 30 honouree\, and the top innovator in the MaRS Women in Cleantech Challenge. 
URL:https://sciencepolicy.ca/event/foundation-of-the-base-securing-supply-chains-for-critical-minerals-steel-and-aluminum/
CATEGORIES:Innovation Virtual Series,Innovation Virtual Series 2026,Virtual Sessions
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ORGANIZER;CN="Canadian Science Policy Centre":MAILTO:info@sciencepolicy.ca
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