Registration
The Future Security of Europe is about preparing today for what we don’t want to happen tomorrow
Registration
The Future Security of Europe is about preparing today for what we don’t want to happen tomorrow
"The Future Security of Europe is about preparing today for what we don’t want to happen tomorrow"
Program Overview
Jooste Korte
Special envoy for the EU-Canada Partnership
BIOGRAPHY
DAY ONE (12 MAY)
08:30 - 9:00 Registration & Breakfast
09:00 - 9:20 Welcoming Remarks:
Taking responsibility for our own security - is there an upside to the uncertainty we now we live in?
Nicholas Sarvari - President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary
09:20 - 09:40 Keynote
Canada’s Defense Industry Strategy: Building Capability, Resilience, and Global Partnerships
Bernie Derible - Ontario Military and Defence Representative, Canada
09:40 - 10:00 Keynote:
Trust Under Pressure: Safeguarding Integrity in Accelerated Defense Procurement under SAFE
Ferenc Pál Bíró - President, Integrity Authority of Hungary
10:00 - 11:00 Panel
Interoperability and operational integration under SAFE: Industry view
This panel explores practical steps for harmonising standards, accelerating data exchange, aligning platforms and training, enabling seamless joint operations and the role of technology in advancing interoperability.
Moderator
Mátyás Nagy - Principal, Boston Consulting Group
Panelists:
France Hebert - Vice-President, CAE Defence & Security
Francis Raveneau - Vice President, Base Camp Connect
Mathieu Voghel - Vice President Program Management, Rheinmetall Canada
Jakub Thomas - Member of the Board and Commercial Director, ERA
11:00 - 11:30 Coffee & Networking Break
11:30 - 12:30 Panel
Fortifying supply chain resilience through diversification
Focus on reducing strategic dependence, benefits of integrating nonEuropean suppliers into European networks, creating redundancies and ensuring component security across borders.
Moderator:
Mátyás Nagy - Principal, Boston Consulting Group
Panelists:
Colin Barker - Executive Director, Defence Exports Division Government of Canada
Pierre Pyun - Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs, Bombardier
Michael Nault - General Manager, Bell Textron Canada
12:30 - 13:30 Panel
Critical advanced technologies and European needs
Examination of technology gaps in surveillance, sensors, command systems, cyber defence, unmanned platforms, advanced materials, and the impact of Artificial Intelligence. Showcasing the complementary strengths of CEE and Canadian innovators.
Moderator
Gergely Németh dr. - CEO, Defence Innovation Research Institute of Hungary
Panelists:
József Hajdu - Country Manager, CAE Defence & Security Hungary
Joel Houde - Vice President and General Manager, General Dynamics Mission Systems - International
Mischa Niedinger - Territory Director BD Europe, L3Harris WESCAM
Afke Schaart - EVP International Affairs, Eutelsat
David Arnold - Senior Technical Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, BlackBerry Canada
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 - 15:30 Panel
Expanding manufacturing mass and building capacity: Can CEE be a safe hub?
An opportunity for participants to continue discussions and build connections in an informal setting.
Discussion of Europe’s manufacturing shortfall, opportunities for joint CEE–Canada production, increasing throughput, and creating scalable capacity for a long-duration conflict situation.
Moderator
Nóra Guba - Member of the Board, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary
Panelists:
Kristóf Réti - Head of Global Business Development, 4iG Space & Defence Technologies
Frederick Lüthcke - Head of Proposal Management, Diehl Defence
John Bason dr. - Advisor to the Management Board, WB Electronics
18:30 Evening Reception:
DAY TWO (13 MAY)
08:30 - 09:00 Registration & Breakfast
09:00 - 9:10 Welcoming Remarks
09:10 - 10:00 Fireside chat
EU–Canada Partnership for Security, Defence Procurement and Economic Resilience
Moderator:
10:00 - 11:00 Panel
National Needs, Joint Solutions – Uniting Capability Development and Procurement under SAFE
This panel highlights how SAFE enables Europe to align national defence needs with collective procurement, accelerating capability delivery through joint demand and cross‑border industrial cooperation. It is aimed at policymakers, procurement authorities, and industry leaders focused on strengthening Europe’s defence readiness
Moderator:
Joost Korte - Special envoy for the EU-Canada Partnership
Francois Lafreniere - Ambassador of Canada to Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina
John Hannaford - Personal Representative of the Prime Minister of Canada to the European Union
Nicholas Sarvari - President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary
Panelists:
Mátyás Nagy - Principal, Boston Consulting Group
Panelists:
Dr. Luisa Riccardi - Deputy National Armament Director, Italy
Lukáš Ševčík - Partner and Head of Defence & Security, Kinstellar
András Wein - Chief Innovation Officer, HM EI Zrt.
11:00 - 11:30 Coffee & Networking Break
11:30 - 12:30 Panel
Industry building bridges under SAFE
This panel brings together leading defence industry associations to discuss how they can act as bridge-builders between the SAFE framework, national authorities, and their member companies. Representatives will explore how associations help firms navigate SAFE-related procurement opportunities, align industrial capabilities with national and EU priorities, and build cross-border consortia for joint projects.
Moderator
Albert Bíró - Senior EU, NATO and Partnerships Advisor, Defence Industry Association of Hungary
Panelists:
Bernie Derible - Ontario Military and Defence Representative, Canada
Todor Ivandjikov – President, Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association
Mike Mueller - President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
Daniel Bilak - Managing Partner, Kinstellar Ukraine
Panelists:
Col. (ret) Péter Balogh - Subject Matter Expert, Óbuda University
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch
14:30 - 15:30 Panel
Financial enablers for rapid capability development
The right financing scheme is instrumental to enable rapid capacity development of OEMs to enable fulfilling contracts under SAFE. Discussion will focusing financing options enabling both OEMs and their supply chain.
Moderator:
Special Guest Speaker
Dr. József Vági - Baker & McKenzie
Panelists
Klaus Houben - Business Development Director, EDC - Europe
Alejandro Raboso - Security & Defence Advisor, EIB
Clint Cossette - Director of Defence and Security, Canadian Commercial Corporation
Adam Banai - Executive Director and Chief Economist, MNB
Dr. Ferenc Antal - Defence industry and economic affairs expert, former CEO of N7
15:30 - 17:00 B2B & B2G Matchmaking
Structured meetings between CEE firms, Canadian companies and government procurement representatives. Focus on immediate collaboration prospects.
17:00 - Closing
Dress code: Business formal for civilians and service dress uniform for military participants
Please note that the conference program is subject to change. The organizers reserve the right to make adjustments to the schedule, speakers, and session content without prior notice.
12:30 - 13:30 Fireside chat
Innovation, Iteration and Integration: Lessons of the War in Ukraine for a SAFE European Security Architecture
This panel will be held under the Chatham House Rule. Participants may use the information received, but may not reveal the identity or affiliation of any speaker or participant. Conference guests are asked to respect this condition.
Moderator: