Pour ce 37e épisode, Artur et Sarah-Myriam reçoivent Caroline Xavier, chef du Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications (CST).  Ils discutent de son parcours et des défis particuliers à son poste.  Madame Xavier explique en quoi la cybersécurité est une préoccupation croissante en matière de sécurité nationale et dans quelle mesure le CST dispose des  outils et des ressources  nécessaires pour faire face aux principales menaces. Madame Xavier aborde le rôle des agences de sécurité nationale pour relever ce défi.   Madame Xavier explique également le rôle de premier plan du CST dans la communauté canadienne de la sécurité nationale et du renseignement pour promouvoir l'équité, la diversité et l'inclusion.

Épsiode 37: Caroline Xavier, chef du Centre de la sécurité des télécommunications (CST)

In the fourth episode of Battle Rhythm, Season 3, Steve is joined by our new co-host and former CDSN postdoc, Dr. Thomas Hughes. Steve & Thomas discuss the motivations and implications behind a new allowance for Permanent Residents to join the Canadian Armed Forces, Hungary votes Sweden into being a NATO member & Canadian based company starts supplying drones to Ukraine. Today's feature interview is with Minna Ålander.
Minna Ålander’s research focuses on NATO, security in Northern Europe, Nordic defence cooperation, Arctic security, as well as German and Finnish security and defence policy. Previously, Ålander worked at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin. She holds a joint master’s degree in international relations from the Free University of Berlin, the Humboldt University of Berlin and the University of Potsdam. Since August 2023, Ålander is a Non-resident Fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).

Episode 3.4: A View From Finland & Germany on Defence Strategy

For the 10th episode of The Field Report, NATO Field School staff Sasha and Amy take you behind the scenes of the 2024 NATO Summit, held in Washington, D.C., where NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary.  Join Sasha and Amy as they share their live reactions and insights, recorded in real-time between summit discussions. This episode will immerse you in the event, making you feel like you were right there with them!

The NATO Field School is proud to be the Canadian institutional partner of the NATO Public Forum. Thank you to the NATO Public Diplomacy Division for their continued support.

Biographies: 
Amy Topshee is the NATO Field School Alumni Coordinator and an alumna of the 2022 NATO Field School. She has a BA (Hons) in Political Science with International Relations from the University of British Columbia and recently completed a 6-month internship in the BC Legislature. 

Sasha Kardos-Machado is the NATO Field School Communications and Outreach Coordinator and an alumna of the 2024 NATO Field School. She is in her final year at Bishop's University, pursuing an BA (Hons) in International Studies with a minor in Political Studies.

Field Report Ep 10 - Reporting from the 2024 NATO Summit: Part 1

We are ending the year on a positive note with this Battle Rhythm / Notes From the Field crossover episode, co-hosts Steve and Hannah meet up with a few of the incredible leaders that make up this year’s cohort of HFX Peace With Women Fellows when they reached Ottawa on their whirlwind global tour.

The Peace With Women Fellowship brings together senior, active-duty, military officers from NATO member and partner countries for a 3-week executive tour of the political, military and technological centers of the United States and Canada. The Peace With Women Fellowship is designed to challenge participants by engaging with senior government, military, corporate, and academic leaders to discuss and better understand the world’s leading security issues. The program endeavors to not only ensure that the Fellows can discuss the problems and ideas they face, but also propose innovative solutions and apply what they learn in their home countries. HFX is proud to lead the security community with this unprecedented Fellowship program advancing women’s leadership in security, while fostering a dynamic network of women military leaders across the world. 

In order of appearance: 

[03:45] 
Gp. Capt. Elizabeth Hutchison (Defence Attaché Chile Royal Air Force, Air Ops United Kingdom) 
Col. Nanda Kellij (Policy Director for Material, Environment, Real Estate and Sustainability 
Ministry of Defence, Policy Directorate. Netherlands) 
Col. Sonja Fischer, MD (Chief of Branch Protocol Executive Staff FMoD Germany) 

[24:06] 
Capt. Mette Stab-Johansen (Navy Command - Head of Operations and Planning. Royal Danish Navy) 
Col. Alison Gonzalez (Director of Staff, United States Space Force) 

[36:08] 
Col. Angela Thomas (Director Air Plans. Royal Canadian Air Force) 
Capt. Carolyn Moberley (National Strike Force Commander, United States Coast Guard) 
Maj. Anna Novak (Head of Logistics Department (S4) 58th Detached Motorized Brigade 
Land Forces, Armed Forces of Ukraine) 

Episode 3.24: Allied Military Leadership in Conversation

In episode 25 of Battle Rhythm season 3, with co-host Artur Wilczynski, retired DG of Foreign Intelligence Operations Canada and Senior Fellow GPSIA, University of Ottawa; Artur and Steve Saideman discuss PM Trudeau’s surprise announcement, the looming threat of US- Canada border security and tech billionaires influence on policymaking. For today's feature interview, co-host Wendy Wong interviews a trio of Canada's Quantum experts:

Kristen Csenkey, Ph.D., is a Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Digital Policy Hub fellow. She is the Principal Investigator of multiple Department of National Defence-funded projects. 
Benjamin T. Johnson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, with the Department of International Relations and International Organization (IRIO). He is also a visiting Fulbright scholar at the University of Washington in Seattle, having received a Fulbright-NATO Security Studies Award for fall 2024. 

Greg Dick is a Co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Open Quantum Design. Prior to founding OQD he was a longtime senior executive at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. He also founded RESILIENT, an agency dedicated to helping organizations purpose build for resilience against unexpected change.  

https://doi.org/10.1080/11926422.2024.2397970

Episode 3.25: Canada’s National Quantum Strategy

In episode 28 of Battle Rhythm's third season, Steve Saideman and co-host Thomas Hughes, Assistant Professor at Mt. Allison University discuss JD Vance’s speech and subsequent reactions at the Munich Security Conference, NATO on life support, Conservative Party’s plan for a military base in Iqaluit, and a brief intro to the works of author Alistair MacLean. 
Today's feature interview Steve talks with Dr. Adam Chapnick, Professor of Defence Studies at the Canadian Forces College and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). He is the award-winning author of Canada on the United Nations Security Council: A Small Power on a Large Stage, among other titles, and a former editor of International Journal. 

Episode 3.28: Canada First, Not Canada Alone

In the 30th episode of Battle Rhythm, Season 3, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval. Steve Saideman & Anessa discuss wrapping up the Department of National Defence/Ministère de la défense nationale MINDS Network funded research on setting up Canada’s NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE) , the upcoming 16th UNIDEF event CSI Centre sur la sécurité internationale; PM Carney defies convention by choosing Europe for his first international engagement, NATO SG Rutte’s visit to the White House possibly undermining NATO countries to appease Trump, pivoting away from the F35 deal towards diversifying air power, as well as a review of Trump’s reign of terror so far this year including the shutdown of USIP and ignoring court orders including massive deportations and what this means for Canada accepting US refugees. 

Lcol Philippe-Andre Genest is today's Feature Interview. Holding a Master’s Degree in Technology Management, Philippe-André Genest has more than 20 years of experience as a member, leader, mentor and recruiter, of organizational and specialized teams for national and international projects in civilian, institutional and military contexts.  He possesses excellent knowledge of project management, team management and organizational management having been team leader for a consulting-engineering firm and the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec as well as a commander and staff-officer in varied military operational context. He has proven leadership as a civilian manager and a military officer.  His fields of expertise include liaison and coordination, organizational management, the legal, regulatory and normative framework of the engineer profession, humanitarian aid and international development.  Docotral student in Military History at Unviersit. du Québec a Montréal. Member of the Groupe de Recherche en Histoire de la Guerre. Member of Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (#128960), he is fluent in French and English and as a basic knowledge of German.

Episode 3.30: Pan-Domain and CIMIC Responses

General (ret) K. Bartels, born in 1952, joined the Danish Army in 1972 as a private. He has attended the Royal Danish Military Academy, the Royal Danish Defence College, l´École Supérieure de Guerre in Paris and the US Army War College in Carlisle. He has commanded company, battalion, brigade and division and has served in higher staff positions nationally and in NATO Headquarters.

General (ret) K. Bartels was Chief of Defence Denmark in 2009-2011 and Chairman NATO Military Committee 2012-2015. He retired in 2015 and became Adjunct Professor in military history at the Royal Danish Defence College.

General (ret) K. Bartels is married to Mrs. Inge Vansteenkiste and they have their home in Belgium.

Resilience Plus Season 5 Episode 2: Gen (Retd) Knud Bartels, Royal Danish Defence College

Dans ce 51e épisode, Laurent Borzillo et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, docteur en science politique de l’Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne et expert senior à la Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.
À la croisée de la recherche, du terrain et de la stratégie, notre invité revient sur son parcours singulier et partage ses réflexions sur la production contemporaine du savoir en matière de sécurité. Il présente également le mandat et les actions de la Global Initiative, tout en proposant une lecture renouvelée de la violence criminelle — non pas comme une rupture de l’ordre, mais comme une forme de gouvernance.
L’échange aborde en profondeur la manière dont les rapports entre l’État, l’armée, la police et les groupes armés non étatiques se reconfigurent dans des contextes comme le Mexique ou Haïti. Il explore également le rôle des diasporas, des flux financiers et des dynamiques transnationales dans la consolidation de la violence, et questionne la portée — et les limites — d’une réponse multilatérale ou militaire dans un pays comme Haïti.
Plus largement, la discussion s’élargit à l’impact des trafics transnationaux (armes, drogues, personnes) sur les frontières classiques de la défense et de la sécurité. Enfin, l’épisode se conclut sur une réflexion essentielle : comment sortir du prisme exclusivement répressif face à la criminalité organisée, et quelles alternatives politiques ou sociales pourraient être envisagées?

Épisode 51: Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, docteur en science politique de l’Université Paris

Dans ce nouvel épisode du balado Conseil de sécurité, Laurent Borzillo et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent Daniela Irrera, professeure de science politique et de relations internationales, spécialiste reconnue des acteurs non étatiques, de la gouvernance mondiale, des conflits armés et des politiques de sécurité. Elle enseigne aujourd’hui au Centre des hautes études de défense de l’Université nationale de défense à Rome, ainsi qu’à l’Académie de l’OSCE à Bichkek, et contribue activement à la formation des futurs experts civils et militaires européens au sein du Collège européen de sécurité et de défense (CESD) à Bruxelles.

Au fil de cette entrevue, Daniela Irrera revient sur ses activités d’enseignement à l’Académie de l’OSCE à Bichkek, où elle forme de jeunes experts aux enjeux de sécurité et de diplomatie. Elle présente également son jeu de simulation Game of Peace, primé au niveau européen, qui permet d’explorer de manière concrète les mécanismes de négociation, de résolution de conflits et de médiation dans les relations internationales.

L’entretien revient sur plusieurs projets de recherche auxquels Daniela Irrera a contribué, portant sur des thématiques variées telles que la propagande russe hors de l’Occident, les formes contemporaines d’autoritarisme, ainsi que les liens entre commerce illicite, sécurité et durabilité. Elle évoque notamment les initiatives MORDOR, sur les dictatures actuelles, et GLITSS, sur les circuits illicites mondialisés, offrant un éclairage sur les mutations géopolitiques, technologiques et narratives qui façonnent aujourd’hui les relations internationales.

La discussion se poursuit autour de ses travaux sur les ONG dans les zones de gouvernance fragile, l’usage détourné des technologies numériques par les groupes criminels, et la nécessité d’élaborer des réponses européennes adaptées à la diversité des acteurs transnationaux. Daniela Irrera revient également sur le concept de triple nexus – articulant aide humanitaire, développement et consolidation de la paix – qu’elle mobilise dans ses recherches sur les réponses internationales aux crises systémiques. Elle souligne enfin le rôle que peut jouer le Canada dans la construction d’un modèle de coordination internationale plus cohérent et efficace.

Un échange riche et transversal qui permet de mieux comprendre la complexité contemporaine des menaces, la transformation des acteurs non étatiques, et les leviers encore disponibles pour faire face à un monde fragmenté, traversé par de multiples zones grises.

Épisode 53: Daniela Irrera, professeure au Centre des hautes études de défense (Rome)

Dans ce 54e épisode du Conseil de sécurité, Laurent Borzillo et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent Colin Gérard, docteur en géopolitique et spécialiste reconnu des stratégies d’influence informationnelle russes dans le cyberespace francophone. Lauréat du prix spécial de l’Association pour les Études sur la Guerre et la Stratégie en 2023, il a soutenu une thèse à l’Institut français de géopolitique (Université Paris 8) consacrée aux acteurs, aux pratiques et aux récits visant à orienter l’opinion publique française.

Aujourd’hui chef d’équipe à VIGINUM – le service de vigilance contre les ingérences numériques étrangères rattaché au Secrétariat général de la défense et de la sécurité nationale (SGDSN) – Colin Gérard poursuit également ses recherches en tant que chercheur associé au centre GEODE (Géopolitique de la Datasphère). Ses travaux croisent méthodes géopolitiques et techniques d’OSINT pour documenter les campagnes d’influence, reconstituer les chaînes de diffusion de contenus, et analyser les reconfigurations de l’écosystème informationnel russe depuis l’invasion de l’Ukraine.

Dans cet entretien, il revient sur les mutations profondes du dispositif d’influence russe – marquées par la fragmentation, la privatisation partielle des opérations et leur redéploiement vers des terrains comme l’Afrique francophone. L’analyse des opérations Lakhta et Doppelgänger illustre la montée en puissance de dispositifs clandestins, fondés sur l’usurpation d’identité et la sous-traitance. La discussion aborde également la montée des "murs informationnels", la circulation différenciée des récits dans les démocraties libérales, et les réponses possibles. Enfin, Colin Gérard revient sur les similitudes et différences observées entre la France et le Canada face à ces menaces.

Un épisode essentiel pour comprendre les formes contemporaines d’ingérence numérique, les enjeux de souveraineté informationnelle, et les défis communs posés aux démocraties.

Épisode 54: Colin Gérard, docteur en géopolitique et chef d’équipe à VIGINUM

New Podcast Release: Exploring Spirituality and Leadership with LGen (Ret’d) Roméo Dallaire
We are pleased to share that the podcast episodes featuring LGen (Ret’d) Roméo Dallaire are now live on our internal network and will be publicly released via the Canadian Defence and Security Network (CDSN).
These conversations delve into the profound intersection of spirituality, service, and leadership within military contexts, offering reflections that are both intellectually engaging and deeply human.

We are deeply grateful for the exceptional leadership, scientific rigour, and unwavering dedication of Dr. Meaghan Wilkin, as well as the remarkable engagement, professionalism, and insight of our Officer Cadet Ambassadors, members of the Resilience Plus Podcast Team.
The Resilience Plus Team also extends heartfelt thanks to the Royal Military Colleges Alumni Association Inc. for their ongoing financial support, which has made the podcast possible since 2021. 

Resilience Plus Season 5 Episode 3: LGen(ret) Romeo Dallaire

In the 36th episode of Battle Rhythm, Season 3, Steve Saideman and co-host Thomas Hughes, Assistant Professor at Mount Allison University discuss the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Act and it's effects on Canadian defence, along with the complications of continental missile defence systems and nuclear deterrence. They also breakdown some of the budgeting allocations for NORAD Modernization and NATO defence commitments, and how PM Carney will have to reconcile both Trump and the Canadian public’s different expectations of behavior. Steve and former co-host extraordinaire, Stéfanie von Hlatky continue this discussion in The Hague during the NATO Summit.
For analysis on the Summit from Stéfanie von Hlatky & Gaëlle Rivard Piché can be found here: https://cdainstitute.ca/nato-agreed-to-5-but-is-the-public-on-board/

Episode 3.36: Canada's Defence Opportunities and Challenges within NATO and NORAD

In the 37th episode of Battle Rhythm, Season 3, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval; Steve and Anessa discuss the challenges of teaching US Foreign Policy in the Trump 2.0 Era, Canada’s pledge on increased defence spending, recent CAF recruitment successes and persistent challenges in the midst of a culture change process to modernize the institution with a more inclusive military reflective of a liberal democracy (i.e. no more white supremacists and or extremists generally).

In today’s feature interview, Thomas Hughes interviews CDSN Co-Director Stephane Roussel about the long arc of researching Canada’s defence and security partnership with the US and if it can help us assess what is to come.

Episode 3.37: The Past, Present and Future of Canadian Defence

Dans cet épisode,  Aubin Gonzales Lapos et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent l’Amiral  Xavier Païtard. L'Amiral revient sur un parcours exceptionnel, du cockpit d’un chasseur à la planification stratégique de l’OTAN. Nous explorons avec lui l’évolution du rôle de la France dans l’architecture de sécurité euro-atlantique, les enseignements tirés de missions de combat en zones complexes, et les défis actuels liés aux capacités futures, à la cyberdéfense et à la dissuasion à l’ère des conflits hybrides. Une conversation riche sur l’innovation navale, le rôle de la marine dans un monde polarisé, et les responsabilités partagées entre la France et le Canada en matière de sécurité collective.

Épisode 56: l’Amiral  Xavier Païtard

In episode 39 of season 3, co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto (Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Steve Saideman discuss the lack of women CAF members on current Peacekeeping postings and the challenges of committing Canada’s army to additional operations. They also discuss the implications of a new story of 5 CAF members suspended for hateful behavior and the impacts this may have on recruitment targets in the future. In today's feature interview, Steve discusses oversight and procurement with former Deputy Minister of Defence, Jody Thomas.

Jody Thomas recently retired from the federal public service as National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister. Jody has broad and varied experience working at senior levels in the Public Service and in a series of increasingly demanding security operations roles. She joined the naval reserves at age 17 and was among the first women to serve on a Canadian military vessel. Jody began her public service career in 1988 when she was appointed Chief of Business Planning and Administration with Public Works and Government Services Canada’s Atlantic Region. From 1995-2010, she held increasingly senior roles at Passport Canada, culminating in Chief Operating Officer. In 2010, Ms. Thomas joined the Canadian Coast Guard where she held the positions of Deputy Commissioner of Operations and Commissioner of the Coast Guard. In March 2017, she joined the Department of National Defence where she served as Senior Associate Deputy Minister. She was appointed as Deputy Minister of National Defence in October 2017, a role in which she served until January 2022. Jody holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University.


Episode 3.39: Wicked Problems with Jody Thomas

Welcome back to class and to a new season of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval; Steve Saideman and Anessa discuss The United States president renaming the Department of Defence to the Department of War after destroying a boat in the Caribbean; the Canadian Department of National Defence is ready to spend as it commits to extend the CAF’s mission in Latvia along with deploying fighter pilots in a NATO exercise.
In today's feature interview, our Post-doctoral Fellow, Dr. Manaswini Ramkumar interviews Dr. Sarah Meharg and Major-General (Retired) Craig Aitchison, co-editors of the Canadian Military Journals Special Issues on Human Security: https://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/cmj-25.2-toc-en.html

Dr. Sarah Jane Meharg is Adjunct Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and the Senior Research Associate at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Ottawa Canada. She is Canada's leading post-conflict reconstruction expert and specializes in the research and implementation of advanced technologies for reconstruction initiatives. Dr Meharg focuses on economic acceleration in regions experiencing economic transitions, including post-conflict and post-disaster environments such as Afghanistan, Haiti and the Balkans.
Dr Meharg has received numerous commendations for developing her unique theory of conflict- identicide (1997) -which defines the precursor stages of genocide.
Major-General (Retired) Craig Aitchison is proud to have served Canada for over 38 years. A passionate and lifelong learner, he has earned a certificate in Culinary Arts from Saint Lawrence College, an undergraduate in Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick, and master’s degrees from Royal Military College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
He deployed overseas five times including Afghanistan and Iraq, and commanded the Infantry School, Combat Training Centre and the Canadian Defence Academy. He was also very fortunate to act as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations for U.S. Army Alaska, now 11th Airborne Division (Arctic Angels). In 2023 he was invested into the Order of Military Merit at the rank of Commander. He has also been twice (2019 and 2021) awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit at the rank of Officer.
His extensive experience in the military training and education system has created a very strong foundation and focused energy toward leader development, strategy development and design thinking.

Episode 4.0: Human Security in Conflict

Welcome to autumn and to a new season of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Artur Wilczynski, retired DG of Foreign Intelligence Operations Canada and Senior Fellow GPSIA, University of Ottawa; Artur and Steve discuss Russian incursions on NATO airspace, the legacy of Charlie Kirk and implications for the US, Canada and the world; along with Canada’s official recognition of the state of Palestine and the Netanyahu effect.

Today's Feature Interview is with co-author of the book (with Stephen Saideman and David P. Auerswald) "Overseen or Overlooked? Legislators, Armed Forces and  Democratic Accountability" 
Philippe Lagassé is associate professor and the Barton Chair at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. His research focuses on defence policy and military procurement, as well as civil-military relations and the role of institutions in international policymaking in the Westminster tradition. He teaches courses on defence policy and strategic studies. Between 2012-2014 he served as a member of the Independent Review Panel overseeing the evaluation of options to replace Canada’s CF-18 fighter aircraft, and he is currently a member of the Independent Review Panel for Defence Acquisition within the Department of National Defence.


Episode 4.1: Overseen or Overlooked? with Philippe Lagassé

In this episode, we’re diving into what may be one of the most debated topics in security circles today: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. For some, it’s only a lightning rod. For us, and especially for our guests, it’s foundational to how Canada thinks about Women, Peace and Security.
Joining our WIIS-C co-hosts, Dr Colleen Bell and Frieda Garcia Castellanos, are two guests who bring both operational credibility and deep policy expertise to this conversation:
Dr. Sara Greco, a political scientist with experience across the Defence Team—from advising senior leaders, to teaching at the Canadian Forces College, to shaping policy within Chief Military Personnel. She is also a WIIS-Canada board member and a research collaborator with the Canadian Defence and Security Network.
And, LCol Riel “Guns” Erickson, one of Canada’s first five female fighter pilots. Over nearly three decades in uniform, she has flown the CF-18 Hornet, trained the next generation of pilots, and made history intercepting Russian bombers in Canadian airspace. Today, she serves as the CAF Liaison Officer to Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security.
Together, we’ll explore what EDI and WPS look like when they move off the page and into practice what works, what resists change, and why Canada’s experience stands out at a time when some of our allies are moving in the opposite direction.

Bylines & Frontlines Episode 2: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Action: Canada’s Approach to Women, Peace & Security

Welcome to autumn and to a new season of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Thomas Hughes, Assistant Professor at Mount Allison University. Steve and Thomas discuss the US Department of War/Defence’s public GOFO lecture, National Guard deployments and Thomas reports on the reactions in Belgium as drones fly over NATO Airspace, finally what are we learning from all of this when it comes to theory? (A: the Huntingtonian model is out) 

Today’s feature interview is with Michelle Douglas, Michelle is a veteran, a former military officer, a survivor of Canada’s “LGBT Purge” and an activist in the movement to seek legal equality for the 2SLGBTQ+ community over the past 30 years. She is a bridge-builder.

Michelle served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1986 to 1989. Despite a distinguished service record, she was honorably discharged after being deemed “Not Advantageously Employable Due to Homosexuality.”
After being fired by the military, Michelle’s landmark legal challenge in 1992 ended Canada’s formalized discriminatory policy against LGBT members of the military.
This experience launched a decades-long commitment to volunteerism and activism for Michelle. She has been a part of many legal challenges to seek equality for the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
Professionally, Michelle had a 30-year career in public service. She retired from the federal Department of Justice in 2019 where she held the position of Director of International Relations. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the LGBT Purge Fund.
Michelle is a member of the board of directors of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and was presented with the Canada Pride Citation in 2023. She was recently named an Honorary Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces; she is assigned to the organization known as the Chief Professional Conduct and Culture. Michelle is a graduate of Carleton University.


Episode 4.2: The Purge with Honourary Colonel Michelle Douglas, 33rd Vimy Award Laureate

 In this powerful episode of Bylines and Frontlines, hosts Frieda Castellanos and Dr. Colleen Bell take on one of the most urgent global issues of our time—gender-based violence in contexts where states are unresponsive or complicit. Recorded on the eve of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the discussion bridges histories of harm and the ongoing struggle for justice.
Our guests bring deep expertise and lived commitment to this topic:

Murwarid Ziayee, Senior Director at Right to Learn Afghanistan, reflects on how women’s rights and safety have been systematically eroded under Taliban rule—and the quiet networks still keeping hope alive.

Sheila North, journalist, filmmaker, and former Grand Chief of MKO, shares hard-won insights from her work on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, including her acclaimed documentary 1200+ and memoir My Privilege, My Responsibility.

Soma Bidarpour, Kurdish scholar and PhD researcher at the University of Ottawa, unpacks how authoritarian regimes in Iran and Afghanistan weaponize control over women’s bodies as a form of state violence.

Together, they examine how impunity is sustained, how journalism and advocacy can shift narratives, and how communities across Afghanistan, Iran, and Canada are resisting and reshaping their futures.
Listeners will come away with both structural insights and concrete actions—from survivor-centered reporting to data sovereignty, legal reform, and transnational solidarity.

Bylines & Frontlines, Episode 3: From Tragedy to Accountability: Gender-Based Violence and State Responsibility

Welcome to spooky season and to a new season of Battle Rhythm, with co-hosts Dr. Wendy H. Wong (Professor of Political Science and Principal’s Research Chair at the University of British Columbia) and Steve Saideman. Steve shares insights from the German-Norweigan consortium to supply submarines to Canada and he and Wendy discuss the defence diplomacy involved along with protesting and what it means for democracy. In today’s feature interview, Wendy interviews Dr. Jessica F. Green, they discuss her book Existential Politics and her research focused on global governance, the politics of decarbonization, carbon pricing, and non-state actors.
Jessica Green is a professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto. She is also cross-appointed in the School of Environment. She has previously held positions at Case Western University (in Cleveland, OH) and New York University (in NYC).
Her newly released book, Existential Politics, explains why the Paris Agreement is Failing.  Governments have misdiagnosed the political problem of climate change, focusing relentlessly on measuring, reporting, and trading emissions. This technical approach of “managing tons” ignores the ways that climate change and climate policy will revalue assets, creating winners and losers. Policies such as net zero, carbon pricing, and offsets all cater to the losers—owners of fossil assets. But in reality, climate change is a political problem, not a technical one. Climate politics should be understood as existential—creating conflicts that arise when some actors face the prospect of the devaluation or elimination of their assets or competition from the creation of new ones. Fossil asset owners, such as oil and gas companies and electric utilities, stand to lose trillions in the energy transition. Thus, they are fighting to slow decarbonization and preserve the value of their assets. Green asset owners, who will be the basis of the decarbonized economy, are fewer in number and relatively weak politically.  Governments should use international tax, finance, and trade institutions to create new green asset owners and constrain fossil asset owners. https://www.greenprofgreen.com/about
Join us in Ottawa on November 13th at 6pm at the Lord Elgin Hotel, where Dr. Green will hold a public launch of her book and discussion about her research.

Episode 4.3: Radical Pragmatism with Dr. Jessica F. Green

Dans cet épisode de Conseils de sécurité, Aubin Gonzalez Lapos et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent le général Alexis Rougier, général de brigade aérienne en charge de la Très Haute Altitude (THA) à l’état-major de l’Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
Fort d’un parcours marqué par le commandement opérationnel et l’innovation stratégique, le général Rougier revient sur la transformation profonde des armées face à l’émergence du continuum air–espace, à l’évolution des menaces technologiques et à la redéfinition de la supériorité aérienne.
L’entretien explore les enjeux de souveraineté, de sécurité et de résilience dans un environnement où les domaines terrestre, maritime, aérien, cyber et spatial sont désormais étroitement interconnectés.
Le général partage également sa vision des coopérations internationales, notamment entre la France et le Canada, qui renforcent leurs liens dans les domaines de la défense aérienne, de la surveillance spatiale et de l’innovation duale.
Entre intelligence artificielle, hypervélocité, robotique et guerre électronique, cet épisode questionne la manière dont les armées peuvent préserver un avantage stratégique durable tout en maintenant un ancrage humain, éthique et décisionnel au cœur du commandement militaire.

Épisode 57: Alexis Rougier, général de brigade aérienne en charge de la Très Haute Altitude (THA) à l’état-major de l’Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace

This special anniversary episode of Bylines & Frontlines, the podcast of Women in International Security – Canada (WIIS-Canada), marks a quarter century since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) — a landmark moment that changed how the world understands conflict, peacebuilding, and women’s leadership.
Hosts Dr. Stéfanie von Hlatky and Dr. Vanessa Brown are joined by two remarkable guests:
Jaqueline O’Neill, Canada’s first and now former Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, and

Leona Ahn, Canadian Armed Forces officer, law student, and former Vice Chair of WIIS Canada.
Together, they reflect on what this milestone means — personally and politically — and what it takes to keep advancing an agenda that faces both momentum and mounting resistance.
From “ships passing in the night” in post-conflict Sudan to “feminist resilience” in moments of backlash, their stories bring the WPS agenda to life through lived experience, policy innovation, and leadership in action. The conversation explores:
What real change looks like when policies translate into safety and opportunity for women and marginalized groups;
How inclusion, leadership, and accountability intersect across defense, diplomacy, and law;
The importance of networks — local and global — in sustaining courage and community; and
Why the next phase of WPS must embrace intersectionality, dignity, and systemic change.
This episode captures both urgency and hope — a reminder that the WPS agenda was never just about representation, but about transforming the way power, peace, and security are understood and practiced.


Bylines & Frontlines Episode 4: Bylines & Frontlines: 25 Years of UNSCR 1325: Feminist Resilience and the Future of WPS

Welcome to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval; Steve Saideman and Anessa discuss defense spending eagerness in Ottawa and beyond along with Canada and ASEAN and two apologies, one from Prime Minister Mark Carney and another from the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces for Racial Discrimination and Racial Harassment of current and past current and former CAF members. In today’s Feature Interview, Steve discusses Navy procurement and recruitment strategies with Canada’s Naval Commander.

Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Angus Topshee is the 38th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). His diverse academic background includes military and civilian institutions on three continents. He has deployed in ships around the world and has accumulated countless sea stories involving pirates, sharks, terrorists, volcanoes, whales, fires, and all the other things which make life at sea a true adventure. The highlight of his time at sea was his far too brief command of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Algonquin in 2009-2010 and, a close second, his three years in command of Canada’s Pacific Fleet. His shore postings include two tours in the Navy’s Strategy directorate as penance for all of his sea time, three years in command of Canadian Forces Base Halifax, and two years as the Deputy Director, Strategy, Policy, and Plans at NORAD and United States Northern Command Headquarters in Colorado Springs. He also deployed to Afghanistan for all of 2011 as the director of Afghan National Police Training within the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. Over the course of his career, he has somehow been involved in Arctic issues at every one of his shore postings (except Afghanistan). Before taking command of the RCN in May 2022, VAdm Topshee had the honour and the pleasure of commanding Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, located in Esquimalt, B.C. VAdm Topshee’s career is enabled by his fantastically supportive wife, Audrey, and four tremendous daughters, Amy, Zoë, Charlotte, and Iris.


Episode 4.4: Defence Spending Strategies with Canada's Naval Commander Angus Topshee

Dans cet épisode, Sarah-Myriam Marti-Brûlé et Aubin Gonzalez Lapos reçoivent Paul Charon, directeur du domaine Influence et Renseignement de l’IRSEM.  L’entretien aborde la structuration du champ « renseignement, anticipation et stratégies d’influence » ,  le rôle croissant de la guerre cognitive, et les défis qu’elle pose aux démocraties.
Nous discutons de la tension entre secret et transparence dans les régimes démocratiques, de la centralité des récits dans les stratégies d’influence contemporaines, et des leçons tirées de la guerre en Ukraine face aux offensives narratives russes.
L’épisode analyse également l’émergence de nouveaux acteurs, entreprises, plateformes, influenceurs, et les dilemmes que cela pose aux États soucieux de protéger à la fois la sécurité nationale et les libertés fondamentales. Enfin, notre invité revient sur deux ouvrages majeurs : Les mondes du renseignement, qui propose une approche pluridisciplinaire du renseignement, et Baybridge: Anatomy of a Chinese Information Influence Ecosystem, une étude inédite sur l’inefficacité paradoxale de certaines opérations d’influence chinoises. L’entretien se conclut sur les perspectives de coopération entre la France, le Canada et la Francophonie stratégique pour renforcer la résilience informationnelle et défendre un récit démocratique commun.

Épisode 58: Paul Charon, directeur du domaine Influence et Renseignement de l’IRSEM

Welcome to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Artur Wilczynski, retired DG of Foreign Intelligence Operations Canada and Senior Fellow GPSIA, University of Ottawa; Artur and Steve Saideman discuss the Director of Canadian Security and Intelligence Service’s Dan Rogers public threat assessment including the intersection of polarization/radicalization and eroding social cohesion, will this improve the resilience of Canadians in the face of growing global competition and risk? Our co-hosts also discuss the Reserve Force of the Future which may or may not include service for Canada’s Public Service, along with the complicated politics of making defence and security decisions for Canada and Canadians.

Born in Montreal, Brigadier-General Éric Landry joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 and served with the Royal Canadian Hussars during his undergraduate studies in Business Administration.
In 1997, following his transfer to the Regular Force, he joined the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment in Valcartier. He served as a troop lead- er and participated in Op PALLADIUM in Bosnia and Herzegovina with D Squadron.
Promoted to Major, he deployed twice to Afghanistan from July 2007 to May 2008 as J35 (Chief of Plans) of Joint Task Force-Kandahar and as the last tank squadron commander from November 2010 to June 2011. For his leadership on this deployment, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
In 2015, he became the 25th Commander of the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment. He commanded the Regiment during three domestic operations: Op NANOOK and NUNALIVUT in the Canadian North and Op LENTUS during the floods in Quebec in 2017. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 2018 and appointed the Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force – IMPACT. Upon his return from the Middle East, he was appointed Chief of Staff for the 1st Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg. He became the 16th Commander of the 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group on the 21st of August 2020.
BGen Landry was promoted to his current rank in June 2023 and took command of 4th Canadian Division in August 2025.

Episode 4.5: The Army We Need with Brigadier-General (BGen) Éric Landry

Welcome to winter and a new episode of Battle Rhythm. Co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto (Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Steve Saideman discuss high school recruitment gains for the Canadian Armed Forces as they pitch a more diverse force and plans for a big boost to numbers in the Reserves while welcoming you to attend our annual Year Ahead event in Ottawa, this year focusing on 7 years of research from the CDSN on topics of security, operations, military personnel and civil-military relations. For Today’s feature interview, co-host Wendy Wong interviews our former Capstone Scholar Madison Schramm about her new book Why Democracies Fight Dictators (Oxford University Press).

Madison Schramm is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto. She specializes in international security, the domestic politics of foreign policy, and gender and foreign policy. She is particularly interested in leader psychology and conflict decision-making; and gender and leader selection and removal dynamics. She has published manuscripts exploring gender and conflict initiation (Security Studies), democratic constitutional systems and conflict (Political Science Quarterly; Journal of Global Security Studies), and diversity and inclusion in post-conflict states (book chapter, Untapped Power, Oxford University Press).

Episode 4.6: Why Democracies Fight Dictators with Dr. Madison Schramm

Pour ce nouvel épisode de Conseils de sécurité, Aubin Gonzalez Lapos et  Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent Mathieu Luinaud, consultant en stratégie et expert du secteur spatial. Membre de l’International Institute of Space Law et chercheur associé à la chaire SIRIUS de l’Université Toulouse-1 Capitole, il enseigne aussi l’économie publique et les politiques technologiques à Sciences Po, et est élu de la ville de Paris. Il est l’auteur de plusieurs ouvrages récents, dont L’Industrie spatiale (PUF, 2023), L’Espace et Nous (Dunod, 2025) et Que sais-je ? L’Espace (PUF, 2025).

Avec lui, nous explorons la place croissante du spatial dans notre quotidien et dans nos sécurités collectives :
*comment l’espace recompose les rapports de puissance et la souveraineté technologique ;
*quelles synergies émergent entre les politiques spatiales du Canada, de la France et de l’Australie ;
*comment concilier innovation privée et exigences de sécurité nationale ;
*et quels leviers permettraient à l’Europe et au Canada de rester compétitifs dans un secteur dominé par les écosystèmes américain et asiatique.

Nous abordons aussi le rôle du spatial dans la lutte contre les changements climatiques, la diplomatie environnementale, et les défis majeurs de gouvernance face au risque d’un « Far West » orbital. Enfin, nous discutons de l’avenir du spatial : un champ de rivalité stratégique ou un laboratoire d’interdépendance et d’innovation partagée ?
Un épisode qui explore pourquoi l’espace est devenu un enjeu central de sécurité internationale.


Épisode 59: Mathieu Luinaud, consultant en stratégie et expert du secteur spatial

📌 Content note: This episode discusses sexual violence and atrocities. Listener discretion is advised.

Recorded during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, this episode of Bylines & Frontlines confronts one of the most pervasive yet under-addressed crimes of modern conflict: conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

CRSV is not incidental. It is not inevitable. And it is not a by-product of chaos.
As our guests make clear, sexual violence is planned, enabled, and weaponized—used deliberately to terrorize populations, fracture communities, clear territory, discipline armed groups, and, in some cases, advance genocidal intent.

In this episode, we explore:
CRSV as a tactic and weapon
How sexual violence functions as a low-cost, high-impact weapon targeting the human and moral terrain of societies—from Tigray to Ukraine and beyond.

Early warning signs and patterns
Why mass sexual violence is rarely spontaneous, how it can be detected early, and why failure to act is often a matter of political and operational choice—not lack of information.

The military’s role and responsibility
From armed forces as first responders, to force protection, to the hard truth of preventing perpetration within one’s own ranks—this conversation examines command responsibility, accountability, and prevention.

Children born of war
A population rendered invisible by stigma, silence, and policy gaps. We discuss who these children are, why they remain excluded from reparations frameworks, and what governments and international institutions owe them.

Survivors, justice, and recognition
Including emerging efforts—such as survivor-informed reparations models—that challenge the historical failure to acknowledge sexual violence as a core international crime.

Featuring:
Emily Prey — Director of the Mass Atrocities & International Law Portfolio and the Gender Policy Portfolio at the New Lines Institute

Lieutenant Colonel Melanie Lake, MSM, CD — Canadian Armed Forces; former Commander, Operation UNIFIER; NATO gender leadership expert

Commander Tyson Nicholas, RAN — Strategic Military Advisor, UN Women

Hosted by: Riel Erickson

Bylines & Frontlines Episode 5: CRSV - Prevention and Protection

In this episode of Battle Rhythm, Steve tells of his adventures in Petawawa as part of a military exercise. Steve and Stef then comment on the Trudeau brownface/blackface scandal dominating Canadian headlines. They also discuss the United Nations General Assembly as well as the Ukraine scandal and impeachment proceedings rocking the Trump administration. In light of the recent Climate Marches across Canada, Steve and Stef highlight the defence and security implications of accelerating climate change. In the Emerging Scholar segment, Stef chats with Timothy Choi [17:30] who discusses his fascinating research on Maritime Strategy. The feature interview is with Philippe Lagassé [23:50] who talks about defence procurement in Canada and shares his peeves.
Detailed show notes: https://www.cdsn-rcds.com/battlerhythm

Battle Rhythm Episode 8: Navigating Boundaries

We now have 5 network podcasts: 
1. Battle Rhythm is hosted by Stephen Saideman, Anessa Kimball, Artur Wilczynski, Wendy Wong, Thomas Hughes and Linna Tam-Seto, and released every second Wednesday, features timely discussion on the defence and security issues of the day, as well as feature conversations with experts.
2. Conseils de sécurité hosted by Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé and Laurent Borzillo, comes out the corresponding Wednesdays that Battle Rhythm doesn't and is completely en français.
3. SecurityScape is a monthly podcast produced by graduate students from the Centre of Military, Security, and Strategic Studies. Each episode highlights scholars and students and the important research they are conducting relating to security.
4. The NATO Field Report will bring you field reports via a ‘special’ (occasional) podcast featuring the NATO Field School staff, students, and guest speakers. Each episode will be moderated by NFS staff and students and themed to a particular topic, discussing key takeaways and unique perspectives while discussing this topic with experts and decision-makers in the field. https://www.sfu.ca/politics/natofieldschool.html
5. Resilience Plus is a unique, evidence-based, bilingual program at RMC and RMC Saint-Jean hosted by Meaghan M. Wilkin & Lobna Cherif

CDSN-RCDS Podcast Network

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