General Wayne Eyre (Ret’d)

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• Strategic Leadership in Times of Crisis

  What does it take to lead a large, complex organization through a series of crises? Drawing from his 40 years of military service, General Wayne Eyre (Ret’d) emphasizes the importance of character, resilience, and relationships in effectively leading teams through challenge and change.

  Eyre assumed command as Chief of the Defence Staff during an unprecedented period of turmoil both internally and externally for the Canadian Armed Forces — navigating misconduct crises, the pandemic, natural disasters, emerging security threats, foreign wars, and more. Through candid stories and practical insights, he’ll distill the fundamentals of effective leadership, offering a frank look at what it takes to stabilize an organization while driving necessary change and continuing to execute the core mission at the highest level when failure is not an option.

• Global Security and Implications for Canada

  We are living in a continued polycrisis, fueled by an unprecedented confluence of stressors in our globally integrated security environment with profound implications for Canada.

  In this keynote, Canada’s former Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre (Ret’d) breaks down the global security environment and how stressors such as geopolitics, climate change, technological disruption, shifting societal norms, and more are disrupting the world order. He’ll explore what these global dynamics mean for Canada and our role in an uncertain future, while offering insights into how our nation must adapt to defend its interests in what he calls this “turning point in history.”

• Canada’s Defence Industry: The Evolving Character of War

  Warfare is evolving faster now than at any point in human history. With Canada committing to a long-term increase in defence spending, General Wayne Eyre (Ret’d) distills emerging trends from contemporary battlefields and future scenarios to explore what investments and decisions are needed to defend our nation.

  While examining how technological advances and new tactics are fundamentally changing how wars are fought, Eyre will discuss the critical role of Canadian industry in building production capabilities that serve both civilian and defence needs. He’ll also share insight into what it will take to ensure Canada maintains the capabilities necessary to protect its sovereignty in an increasingly complex and contested global environment.

• Arctic Security in a Disordered World

  We are living in a globally integrated security environment, in which the Arctic no longer enjoys benign isolation. No longer a frozen frontier — it’s becoming a contested zone where threats emerge both in and through it.

  In this session, General Wayne Eyre (Ret’d) will discuss Arctic security in the context of the wider global disorder and its impacts on Canada’s vital national security interests. This will include the unprecedented confluence of stressors in the security environment — geopolitics, climate change, and technological advancements — and the urgent actions we must take as a country to safeguard our prosperity, sovereignty, and population.