From the onset of the pandemic in early 2020 to the present, national armed forces all over the globe have adapted their mandate to support civilians in combating the crisis of COVID-19. By adjusting their response domestically, the military has become embedded in vaccine rollouts, been deployed to long-term care facilities in Quebec and Ontario, assisted the Public Health Agency of Canada in managing and distributing personal protective equipment, among many other responsibilities. The Canadian Armed Forces have continued to help with critical tasks such as training, recruiting, and operations throughout these mandate changes. With these expanded measures, it is important to analyze the impact of the pandemic from the perspective of the Armed Forces.

We are honoured to be joined by 3 speakers, Lt. Gen. (retired) Christine Whitecross, Gina Connor, OCdt Valerie Cunningham-Reimann & OCdt Chelsea Stephen to discuss this important topic. To learn more about these speakers, please refer to their bios on the "Speakers" page of this website.

Entering into the field of Foreign Affairs may seem like a daunting task. The defence and security sector is an ever-evolving workspace where various fields intersect, including peace and security, journalism, cybersecurity, and so much more. With the world’s current events, new opportunities arise every day. In a traditionally male-dominated sector, this panel will discuss the experiences each panellist has faced throughout their path while considering the gendered aspects of their career. This panel will highlight what working in Foreign Affairs entails, as well as the intersection of everyday events in the defence and security sector, such as the role State conflicts and internal military investigations, have on each panellist's profession.

We are honoured to be joined by 3 speakers, Mavic Cabrera Balleza, Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo, & Siham Rayale to discuss this important topic. To learn more about these speakers, please refer to their bios on the "Speakers" page of this website.

We are honoured to be joined by WIIS-Canada Board Member, Mary Pierre-Wade, to end our conference with a fireside chat keynote presentation to close out the conference. The goal of this session is to foster an inclusive environment that encourages young people to continue to engage in the field of international security. The keynote will provide individuals with some advice on how to pursue a career in this field and what her overall experiences have been navigating it. This session will highlight the important of fostering a network, the benefits of mentorship, how intersectionality is adapted in this sector, and how young people can cultivate inclusive environments themselves.