Deep Blue Forum 2026
Canada’s forum for the technologies, capabilities and partnerships shaping the future of the underwater domain.
Canada’s underwater domain is becoming more important, more complex, and more contested.
Canada is a maritime nation, bordered by three oceans, and the ability to operate, defend, and compete beneath the surface, including in the Arctic, is a vital strategic interest. Deep Blue Forum brings together government, military, and industry to explore emerging trends, discuss disruptive technologies, and build the relationships shaping Canada’s subsurface future.
One room. The right people.
Deep Blue brings together the people shaping Canada’s underwater enterprise: senior leadership from the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Armed Forces, procurement and policy officials from the Department of National Defence, and executives from the primes and suppliers building Canada’s subsurface capability, with past attendees travelling from across the globe.
Persistent Underwater Surveillance
Central question: What must Canada build, sustain and crew to close the gap between today’s underwater capability and tomorrow’s operational demands?
Deep Blue will acknowledge the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project but will not examine confidential bid or negotiation details. The broader program will address the operational, technological and industrial capabilities required for persistent underwater surveillance.
Additional speakers will be announced. Program subject to change.
Registration and light breakfast
Welcome Address
Sarah McMillan
Chief Operating Officer, Babcock Canada
Keynote Introduction
Tony March
Chief Executive Officer, Babcock Canada
Opening Keynote: The RCN’s Vision for Persistent Underwater Surveillance
The opening keynote will address the operational requirement for persistent underwater surveillance, the contribution of crewed and uncrewed capabilities, Canada’s three-ocean geography, Arctic conditions, readiness and the role of industry.
Rear-Admiral Jason Armstrong
Chief of Naval Capability, Royal Canadian Navy
CPSP Update: Where the Project Stands
An update from the Royal Canadian Navy on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project and its current stage.
Capt(N) Martin Byrne
Director Naval Major Crown Projects - Submarines, Royal Canadian Navy
Opening Session: From Requirement to Capability: RCN Priorities for Persistent Underwater Surveillance
Canada’s approach to persistent underwater surveillance will require a mix of uncrewed systems, persistent sensors, arrays, communications and supporting capabilities. This session will examine how the Navy sees this capability evolving, the operational needs driving its priorities and the capabilities required to support future operations. It will provide the context for the technology, operational employment and sustainment discussions that follow.
Speakers TBC
Networking Break
Panel 1: From Sensors to Systems: Building Canada’s Underwater Domain Awareness
Building on the RCN’s priorities, this panel examines the platforms, sensors, power systems, autonomy, communications and data-processing capabilities required to detect, track and understand activity beneath the surface, from persistent Arctic monitoring to long-duration deployed systems.
Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Darren Hawco
Executive Advisor and Defence Account Lead, Deloitte
Dr. Mae Seto
Professor of Mechanical, Electrical, & Computer Engineering and Director of the Intelligent Systems Laboratory at Dalhousie University
Melanie Devaux
Business Development Manager, Defence, Cellula Robotics Ltd.
Rear-Admiral (Ret’d) Simon Page
Technology Showcases
A chance to hear from defence companies and academics on exciting and emerging technology and trends in the industry.
Jon Mikkelsen
Professor of Teaching and Director of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of British Columbia
Paul Cheng
Founder, FuseRing
Lunch
Lunch sponsored by BAE Systems
Panel 2: Employing Uncrewed Systems at Sea
This panel examines how navies integrate autonomous systems into actual operations: tasking, deployment and recovery; command and control; limited underwater communications; human control and autonomous decision-making; integration with submarines, ships, aircraft and shore commands; and moving systems from experimentation into fleet service.
Rear-Admiral (Ret’d) Luc Cassivi
President, L.C. Bespoke Solutions
Cdr Matthew Arthur
Head, Advanced Naval Capabilities Unit, Royal Canadian Navy
Capt(N) Rob Watt
Director of Naval Strategy, Royal Canadian Navy
The Defence Investment Agency, Procurement and Industry Engagement
The session will explore the Defence Investment Agency’s mandate and evolving approach to major defence procurements, including its relationship with industry and what companies should understand as the new model develops.
Vincent Robitaille
Assistant Deputy Minister, Procurement, Defence Investment Agency
Networking Break
Panel 3: Ready When Needed: Building Canada’s Submarine Sustainment Enterprise
Delivering submarine availability through planned in-service maintenance periods has been a persistent challenge throughout Canada’s submarine history and remains one for many allied navies today. While attention often centres on acquiring new submarine capabilities, persistent underwater surveillance ultimately depends on a sustainment enterprise capable of delivering safe, reliable and operationally available submarines when required. The current enterprise will need significant growth and modernization to support the future fleet, ensuring the people, infrastructure, supply chains and industrial capabilities are in place to sustain it.
Commodore (Ret’d) Jamie Clarke
Gordon Szczepski
Technical Lead, Canadian Patrol Submarine Program, Babcock Canada
Mike Knippel
Process Integration Manager, Fleet Maintenance Facilities Cape Breton and Cape Scott
Joining virtually
Jon Mikkelsen
Professor of Teaching and Director of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of British Columbia
Fireside chat: Lessons from an Ally: Building Canada’s Submarine Enterprise
Canada has chosen its submarine. The next few years will shape everything that follows. Chris Shepherd knows those years well. A former Royal Navy submarine engineer and Rear-Admiral, he led the UK attack submarine portfolio and served as senior responsible owner for SSN-AUKUS. He also helped set up the Submarine Delivery Agency, the organisation built to deliver the UK’s boats. In this fireside chat, he speaks as an ally. What does he wish he had done differently in the years after the decision? What did he learn about building the organisation, the workforce and the industrial base before the first boat arrives? What should Canada get right now?
Chris Shepherd, CB
Consulting Director, Defence and Security, PA Consulting
Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Darren Hawco
Executive Advisor and Defence Account Lead, Deloitte
Closing remarks
Sarah McMillan
Chief Operating Officer, Babcock Canada
Reception
Our partners
Deep Blue Forum 2026 Sponsors
Deep Blue is made possible through the support of organizations committed to Canada’s underwater capability.
Platinum Partner
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
Bronze Partners
Supporting Sponsors
Put your organization in the room.
Deep Blue gives organizations working across Canada’s maritime and underwater enterprise a focused way to connect with senior government, military and industry audiences.
Join us at Deep Blue Forum 2026
October 27, 2026 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
