German-Canadian Conference 2025 – Agenda
SUNDAY, MAY 4
📍 Location:
🕘 2:00 – 5:30 pm
Cultural Activity
📍 Location:
🕘 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Opening Reception
MONDAY, MAY 5
📍Location: National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1 – O’Born Room
🕘 8:30 am – Registration
🕘 9:00 – 9:15 am
Welcome Remarks
Opening of the 38th German-Canadian Conference by
- Prof Dr. Michael Hüther, Director & Member of the Presidium, German Economic Institute; Vice-Chairman, Atlantik-Brücke
- Professor Nik Nanos, Founder & Chief Data Scientist, Nanos Research; Chairman, Atlantik-Brücke Canada
🕘 9:15 – 10:15 am
Session 1: Strategic Alliances in Flux: Navigating Geopolitical Shifts and Challenges in the Defense Partnership
This session will explore the impact of significant political shifts, including challenges to NATO’s financial commitments and defense spending. We will focus on how these changes affect the German-Canadian defense relationship within the broader NATO framework.
- Dr. Kim Eduard Lioe, CEO, JUNGHANS Microtec
- Henning Otte, MdB (CDU/CSU), Deputy Chairman of the Defence Committee, German Bundestag
- Professor Dr. Elinor Sloan, Department of Political Science, Carleton University
- Moderator:
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☕ Coffee Break (15 mins) ☕
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🕘 10:30 – 11:30 am
Session 2: Tariffs and Trade: Tactics for Navigating a New Zero-Sum Global Trade War
This session will explore the implications of the new Trump administration’s tariff policies on both bilateral and global trading relationships.
- Professor Meredith Lilly, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University
- Anahita Thoms, Partner, Head of Germany’s International Trade Practice, Baker McKenzie
- John Weekes, Senior Business Adviser, Bennett Jones LLP; Former Ambassador to the WTO
- Moderator:
🕘 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Session 3: AI and and the Future of the Media Landscape
Canadian and German publications are already collaborating with new tech to support the future of the media landscape. This session will explore those collaborations and how the media is being influenced by modern tech.
- Professor Dr. Anabel Ternès von Hattburg, CEO, SRH Institute for Innovation and Sustainability; President, Club of Budapest
- Moderator: Tom Jenkins, Chairman, OpenText
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☕ Lunch Break (60 mins) ☕
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🕘 1:30 – 2:30 pm
Session 4: Climate Neutrality and Regional Development: Canada and Germany Common Challenges
German and Canadian
- Professor Dr. Pierre-Gerlier Forest, Président-directeur général, Institut national de santé publique du Québec
- Professor Dr. Michael Hüther, Director & Member of the Presidium, German Economic Institute
- Moderator:
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☕ Coffee Break (15 mins) ☕
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🕘 2:45 – 3:45 pm
Session 5: Navigating Change: National Priorities from the 2025 Canadian and German Elections
German and Canadian electors both go the national polls in 2025, likely leading to significant changes in the national political leadership in both countries. This session will look at the outcomes of the 2025 elections in Germany and look at Canadas current political landscape, highlighting key trends, pivotal topics, and the prevailing political climate in each country.
- Professor Ian Brodie, Department of Political Science, University of Calgary; Former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
- Gerald Butts, Vice Chairman, Eurasia Group; Former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- Christiane Hoffmann, First Deputy Spokesperson, German Federal Government; Deputy Head, Press and Information Office of the Federal Government
- Moderator:
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☕ Coffee Break (15 mins) ☕
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🕘 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Session 6: Immigration and Migration in Canada and Germany
This discussion will delve into the dynamics of migration and immigration policies in Canada and Germany, comparing how both countries have adapted their strategies in response to global migration trends and domestic needs, focusing on challenges like demographic changes and labor shortages. Key topics will include the role of international cooperation and the impact of policy adjustments on societal acceptance and economic growth.
- Daniel Bernhard, CEO, Institute for Canadian Citizenship
- Mikolaj Ciechanowicz, CEO, Deutschlandstiftung Integration gGmbH
- Senator Ratna Omidvar, Former Senator of Canada for Ontario
- Moderator:
📍 Location:
🕘 6:30 – 9:00 pm
Evening Reception at the Official Residence of the German Ambassador to Canada
- Matthias Lüttenberg, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Canada
TUESDAY, MAY 6
📍Location: National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1
🕘 9:00 – 9:30 am
Fireside Chat:
Canada and Germany’s commitment to multilateralism have been foundational principals of their foreign and security
- The Honourable Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons
- Moderator:
🕘 10:15 – 11:30 am
Session 7: The Competitiveness Agenda and the Evolving Landscape of Global Trade
This session will delve into the evolving landscape of global trade amidst the rising trend of industrial strategies and competitiveness agendas, such as the Draghi Report. As nations increasingly adopt protective measures and focus on enhancing domestic capabilities, the implications for international trade relationships, particularly between Canada and Germany, are profound. The session will extend to strategic responses that both countries can employ to navigate this new era of trade barriers, including the US, emphasizing sector-specific resilience and the role of innovation in trade facilitation.
- Professor Dr. Philip Meissner, European Center for Digital Competitiveness, ESCP Business School Berlin
- Lisa Raitt, Chair of Global Banking, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
- Moderator: Kelly Jackson, Vice President, Destination Toronto
🕘 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Session 8: Reinforcing Multilateralism Amidst Geopolitical Shifts and Threats
Canada and Germany’s commitment to multilateralism have been foundational principals of their foreign and security policy. As this world order and its institutions are challenged by the recently elected Trump Administration in the US this session will discuss how both will advocate for multilateralism, international law, and sustainable development.
🕘 12:30 – 12:45 pm – Closing Remarks
- Professor Dr. Michael Hüther, Director & Member of the Presidium, German Economic Institute; Vice-Chairman, Atlantik-Brücke
- Professor Nik Nanos, Founder & Chief Data Scientist, Nanos Research; Chairman, Atlantik-Brücke Canada
📍 Location: Gowlings WLP, 160 Elgin St Suite 2600, Ottawa, ON K1P 1C3, Canada
🕘 12:30 – Lunch Reception
Contact: Jonas Ader, j.ader(at)atlantik-bruecke.org.