MIGS Unveils the 2026 Montreal International Security Summit Agenda
MIGS is pleased to unveil the programme for the 2026 Montreal International Security Summit, taking place on October 26 in Montreal.
Under the theme “Security and Defence in the Age of AI: Risks, Rivalries, and Resilience,” the Summit will bring together leading voices from government, defence, diplomacy, technology and industry.
MISS 2026 is organized with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Canada, alongside partners including Helsing, Volatus Aerospace, CPAC, Centre for Governance Innovation, Institute for Strategic Dialogue, and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
Agenda
Programme subject to final confirmation of speakers
Monday, 26 October 2026
8:30am – 6:30pm
Doors Open and Registration
Opening Remarks
- Kyle Matthews, Executive Director, MIGS
- Bernd Althusmann, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Canada
- Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal
Keynote and Panel: Delivering Deterrence Amid Disruptive Geopolitical and Technological Shift
- General Sir James Everard, KCB, CBE, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe
- Benjamin Tallis, Head of Policy & Analysis, Thought Leadership, Helsing
- Senior Canadian Military Official (TBD)
Moderator: Mercedes Stephenson, journalist, The Globe and Mail
Security in a Fragmenting World
- Raymond Chrétien, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States
- Lloyd Axworthy, former Canadian Foreign Minister
Moderator: Laura-Julie Perrault, La Presse
Building a Defence Industrial Base Fireside chat
- Glen Lynch, CEO, Volatus Aerospace
- Harjit Sajjan, former Minister of National Defence of Canada and Executive Chairman, Juno Industries
Moderator: Matthew Lombardi, co-founder of the Icebreaker and Director at ONE9
The New Transatlantic Security Alliance: Canada and Europe (Plenary panel)
- Thomas Röwekamp, Chairman of the Bundestag Defence Committee
- Stéphane Dion, former Canadian Foreign Minister and Ambassador to Germany
Moderator: Bernd Althusmann, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Canada
Canada and Australia: Strategic Cousins (Fireside chat)
- Kate Logan, Australian High Commissioner to Canada
Moderator: Vina Nadjibulla, CEO, Centre for Statecraft
AI, Middle Powers, and Geopolitical Uncertainty
Lightning talks
- Balkan Devlen, MIGS Senior Fellow
- Duncan Cass-Beggs, Executive Director, Global AI Risks Initiative, CIGI
- Kathrin Gardhouse, Senior Associate, AI Governance, The Future Society
- Ben Harrack, Researcher, AI International Governance Institute, Oxford University (virtual)
Moderator: Sandra Aubé, MIGS Fellow
AI Risks and Challenges (Armchair discussion)
- Adam Hadley, CEO, Tech Against Terrorism
- Francesca Bosco, Deputy Head of the Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
Moderator: Terence McNamee, Senior Fellow, MIGS
Digital Hybrid Threats and Cognitive Warfare (ISD plenary panel)
- Rafal Rohozinski, CEO, SecDev, and Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation
- David Salvo, Managing Director for Transatlantic Policy and Programming, ISD-US
- Nad’a Kovalčíková, Senior Fellow, MIGS, and Vice President, Women in International Security (WIIS) Brussels
Moderator: Chris Beall, MIGS Senior Fellow
Closing Keynote and Remarks
- Harjit Sajjan, former Minister of National Defence of Canada and Executive Chairman, Juno Industries – Closing Keynote
- Kyle Matthews, Executive Director, MIGS – Closing Remarks
VIP Networking Reception