CADSI Board of Directors appoints Christyn Cianfarani as new President

The Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Christyn Cianfarani as President of the Association, effective September 22, 2014.

Ms. Cianfarani joins CADSI following 17 years at CAE Inc. where most recently she was Director of Advanced Training Solutions and Government Relations. She has also held the position of Director of Government Programs, Research and Development, and Intellectual Property, in addition to managing over her substantial career a wide range of portfolios from product and project management to bids and proposals. Before joining CAE Inc., she served in the Royal Canadian Navy as a MARS Officer.

In 2012, Ms. Cianfarani contributed as an expert advisor in support of Special Advisor Mr. Tom Jenkins in the context of his “Canada First: Leveraging Defence Procurement Through Key Industrial Capabilities” report. This report, submitted to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, has subsequently informed the Government’s Defence Procurement Strategy. Ms. Cianfarani has also represented Canadian industry for Tom Jenkins’ Review of Research and Development in Canada, and as a contributor to Hon. David Emerson’s Aerospace Review.

In February 2014, she accepted a position on the Interim Board of Directors of the Defence Analytics Institute, working with Government stakeholders from Industry Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, and National Defence to establish the function in Canada.

Ms. Cianfarani earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto. She is proficient in both official languages of Canada.