CAL BRICKER
Chief Executive Officer, Brix Strategies
ANNE HEALEY
Country Director, board member, BAE Systems Canada
JEFF TOPPING
Director National Restaurants Development, McDonald’s Canada
STEVEN WADDELL
Deputy National Director, Defence and Federal Government Relations, PCL Construction
LOUISE MERCIER
Senior Defence Industry Executive
Lauren is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, where she earned a BA in Child Study from Tufts University in 1990. The spouse of a Canadian Naval Officer for more than 30 years, she and her family enjoyed postings to Halifax, Victoria, and Windsor. When her husband retired from the RCN in 2009, they chose to remain in Halifax where they raised their two daughters. Lauren worked for the Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) for 17 years, starting as their first Daycare Director in 1998 and their first Emergency Childcare Coordinator in 1999. After earning a Certificate in Not-for-Profit Sector Leadership from Dalhousie University’s Henson College in 2005, Lauren assumed the role of Services Team Manager. In 2015, she left the MFRC when she and her family moved to the Ottawa area, where they live today. Lauren remains active in her community and is currently volunteering with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board at the Adult High School, assisting new immigrants in learning and improving their English skills.
Commander (Ret’d) Heng Chhay Chao, CD, MBA, served in the Royal Canadian Navy between 2005 and 2022, in a number of staff and operational roles. His service included deployments and exercises in diverse locations such as Sudan, Ukraine, and the Middle East. He completed his Computer Systems Engineering Degree at Carleton University in 2004 and his MBA at the Rotman School of Management in 2021. Since retiring from the RCN, Chhay has held human resources (HR) positions at various organizations, including a large technology company and a non-profit, bringing a data-driven approach to his HR teams. Chhay was most recently the Director of Human Resources and Labour Relations at the Ottawa Police Service.
Linas Pilypaitis served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 20 years and is currently a wealth manager with BMO Nesbitt Burns.
Lieutenant Commander (Ret’d) Jill Carleton served in the Canadian Forces for almost 22 years as a Naval Logistics Officer, followed by positions as a public servant at the Department of National Defence. She advocates widely for benefits and fairness for veterans and their families. Jill is the past Chair of the RMC Alumni Association and is the Royal Canadian Legion’s Dominion Treasurer. Jill is also the parent of two military sons, Christopher and Shawn, and their families. In her personal time, Jill enjoys reading and swimming.
Dr. Chantal Beauvais has 20 years of experience in university leadership, notably as Rector at Saint-Paul University (Ottawa), where she was responsible for implementing the university’s strategic vision, including transformative change in its day-to-day operations. She has experience in university governance, including as past Chair of the Board of Governors, Royal Military College Saint-Jean. She was further involved in public-sector associations and committees focused on social integration and the accessibility of higher education for marginalized individuals. She currently chairs the board of the Gîte-Ami in Gatineau, which provides individuals experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter, transitional housing, community-based supportive housing, and support for social reintegration. She served as a member of the Canadian Military Colleges Review Board, mandated to analyze the costs, benefits, advantages, and disadvantages, both to the CAF and Canada, of continuing to educate Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP) naval/officer cadets at both the Royal Military College (RMC) Kingston and RMC Saint-Jean. She began her new mandate with École nationale d’administration publique in 2025.
Dr. Cal Bricker is an executive with over 30 years of experience in regulated industries, focused on infrastructure services, entertainment, and packaged goods. He is currently President and CEO of Spirits Canada. His prior employment includes President and CEO of the Ontario Cannabis Store, and Senior Vice President at Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, as well as senior positions at Waste Management Canada, Labatt Breweries, and Molson Breweries. Dr. Bricker is also a decorated military officer, currently serving as a reserve Captain (Navy) in the Royal Canadian Navy. During his time in the military, he completed three assignments in Afghanistan. Dr. Bricker holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alberta. He graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University and studied business at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He has served on many private, public, and non-profit boards, including as chair of the Ontario Waste Management Association. He currently serves on the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy board and is an honorary governor of the Canadian Journalism Foundation. He founded Brix Strategies, a multi-disciplined agency that focuses on crisis and issues management.
Anne Healey is the Country Director and a board member of BAE Systems Canada. A graduate of the Telfer School of Management, Anne has over thirty years of experience working with the defence sector, fostering industrial growth and development. Previously, Anne worked with several defence companies and associations in Canada.
She has been on several Boards, including the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI). She serves as Past-President of Women in Defence and Security and as a member of their advisory board. She was also a long-standing participant on the Defence Industrial Advisory Group (DIAG). Anne currently sits on Defence Industrial Leadership (DIL) for the Canada-UK Business Committee. Anne has been awarded the Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Army Research, Development, and Standardization Group, as well as a Merit Award for Exceptional and Distinguished Public Service..
Honorary Captain (N) Jeff Topping is the Director, National Restaurant Development for McDonald’s Canada. His 35-year career has spanned operations, field service, management training, construction, project management, and real estate.
The son of a naval officer, Jeff made a personal commitment to “serve those who serve.” He is active in multiple communities, serving at one time on the national and Toronto boards of the Naval Association of Canada. In recognition of his volunteer service and support to Canada’s naval community, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. He is an active member of the London Garrison Community Council and serves as a civilian instructor at RCSCC COURAGEOUS. He is President of the Board of Directors for HMCS Haida, the Flagship of the Royal Canadian Navy, with a mandate to Preserve, Protect, and Promote the legacy of Canada’s most famous warship. These experiences, and his participation in the Canadian Leaders at Sea program, led to his appointment as Honorary Captain..
Rear Admiral (retired) Steven Waddell served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 36 years in a variety of operational, staff, and executive appointments. He deployed extensively across most of the globe’s seas, leading at all levels and often among international allies. He was privileged to hold several command appointments, which included three years’ service as the Deputy Commander of the RCN. Steven has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Manitoba; a Master’s Degree from King’s College London, UK; a Master’s Degree from Salve Regina University, USA; and, is a graduate of two allied war colleges. As a Base Commander, he worked extensively with the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre and was also a Board Director with the United Way of Greater Victoria. Steven joined PCL Construction as their Deputy National Director, Defence and Federal Government Relations in October 2025. He continues to invest family time and resources into his cottage on Lake Temagami.