As NATO’s turns its focus to strengthening its Northern Flank including preparedness for cold weather operations and the cold weather innovations to do so, could Canada's path to being strong on defence and the economy be innovating out of the Arctic?

We spoke with Glenn Cowan, CEO, One9; Kevin Reed, President and COO, Defence, Security & Resilience Bank; Dr. Jackie Dawson, University of Ottawa /Researcher in Residence, Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Government of Canada; and Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Partner, NATO Innovation Fund to find out.

On the heels of the NATO’s June Summit, Arctic360’s ‘Breaking the Ice’ summer podcast series launches with a discussion on NATO, Europe, and collaboration with Canada on Arctic Defence and Security.

Co-hosts Jessica Shadian, President & CEO of Arctic360, Sofie Poggendorf, and Alexandra Paul were fortunate and grateful to be joined by the EU Ambassador to Canada, Geneviève Tuts; German Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg; and UK High Commissioner to Canada, Robert Tinline.

Welcome back to Breaking the Ice!

As we do each summer, we’re bringing together the brightest minds from the North, working in the North, or on the North, from across the circumpolar world and beyond. Our theme for 2025, “The Summer of Arctic Security, Infrastructure & Innovation,” gives us the extraordinary opportunity to Discuss both the issues we know best and the big issues on the table when it comes to Canada’s North and the Arctic region at large.

🎙️This year’s co-hosts are:

Jaiden Stevens – Carleton University Journalism student from Norman Wells, specializing in Northern storytelling, media, and community voices

Asma Awan – Munk School MGA student and civil servant with expertise in policy innovation

Mishal Khan – Munk School MGA candidate with experience in global development and SDGs

Alexandra Paul – Master of International Security (Sciences Po Paris), specializing in global risk analysis and environment and sustainability

Sofie Poggendorf – Dual MGA candidate (Hertie & Munk), with a background in climate and Indigenous community research

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In this episode of Breaking the Ice, we were joined by two leading experts on Arctic governance and defence: Dr. Rebecca Pincus, Director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, and Dr. Andrea Charron, Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba. We discussed the complex dynamics shaping Canada-US Arctic relations, particularly around UNCLOS, maritime boundaries, and growing geopolitical competition in the region.

In an engaging discussion on Canada's pressing infrastructure needs, we welcomed two distinguished guests: David Thompson and Charles McNeely. David brings a wealth of experience from his role managing real property infrastructure investments for Canada’s Department of National Defence and Charles, who is the Chairperson for Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, offers valuable insights on its mandate and the crucial decision-making processes that impact Arctic communities. Together, their expertise lays a solid foundation for exploring the vital infrastructure challenges facing the North.

This past week we spoke with Mead Treadwell, former Lieutenant Governor of Alaska and former chairman of the US Arctic Research Commission from 2001 to 2006, and Jackie Dawson, Canada’s Research Chair in Environmental Change and Arctic Shipping at the University of Ottawa.

Both are prominent figures in Arctic research and policy. Despite their different backgrounds, Treadwell and Dawson share a common passion: advocating for an Arctic strategy that truly taps into the immense opportunities this region offers for Canada. With their extensive expertise and unique perspectives, they stand out as leading voices in the crucial conversations surrounding Arctic maritime defense and security.

This week for our first episode of this summer’s ‘Breaking the Ice’ Podcast Series, we were joined by Erin O’Toole and Sean Boyd to have a conversation on North American Arctic infrastructure and defence.

We looked at Canada’s need to develop an effective Arctic strategy, the increased need to focus on Canadian Arctic security and sovereignty, and the role of infrastructure, education, and innovation to address Canada’s Arctic needs and unlock its potential.

Sean and Erin both come to this discussion through long-term careers focused on Canada’s North. Erin O’Toole’s early military service first turned his attention to Canada’s North which later influenced his strong advocacy for Arctic infrastructure, investment, partnerships, and policies during his time as a Canadian political MP.

Through his tenure (including as former CEO) at Agnico, Sean Boyd spent ample time in the North and developed strong partnerships with Inuit communities and leaders through Agnico’s mining projects in the region. His experiences eventually fuelled his national advocacy on the need for a Canadian Arctic strategy to build multi-purpose and multi-sector social, economic, and defence infrastructure that includes enabling private-public partnerships.

This week on Breaking the ice, we are launching our new Podcast Series 'Around the Arctic'! Hosts, Nauja Bianco, Criag Fleener, Jessica Shadian, and Jaiden Stevens, are going to bring to you what they do best by taking their cross-border conversations from Alaska, Canada, and Greenland from the coffee shop and happy hour to the podcast space.

Each week, they will discuss, argue, contemplate, and share news, politics, and stories of the week from in and around the Arctic. So grab your coffee or spirits (its always apero time somewhere!), and join us where talking Arctic comes to life!