Christyn Cianfarani is the President of the Canadian Association of
Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) where her role is to lead an
organization that represents the business interests of more than
1,000 member companies employing more than 109,000 Canadians
and generating $12.6 billion in revenues annually. She is responsible
for creating an environment that showcases members both in the
marketplace and with government stakeholders in support of
domestic and international growth. Before joining CADSI on
September 22, 2014, Ms. Cianfarani was Director, Advanced
Solutions and Government Relations at CAE Inc.
Ms. Cianfarani has substantial expertise spanning 17 years within
Canada's aerospace, defence and security industries. She has held
leadership positions in strategy and in the development of highvalue
advanced technology, intellectual property, and business solutions informed and developed in
partnership with CAE's defence and security customers.
Notably, Ms. Cianfarani has 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 has informed the Government’s Defence Procurement Strategy and its
reform of policies and practices. Following the report, she was engaged by the Government of
Canada for additional industry advisor work related to its implementation.
In February 2014, she accepted a position on the Interim Board of Directors of the Defence Analysis
Institute, working with Government stakeholders from Industry Canada, Public Works, and National
Defence to establish the function in Canada.
Ms Cianfarani has also represented Canadian industry for Mr. Tom Jenkins’ Review of Research and
Development in Canada and has participated in the multiple working groups that contributed to
Hon. David Emerson’s Aerospace Review.
Ms. Cianfarani holds a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor’s degree from
the Royal Military College of Canada, during which time she served as a MARS officer in the Royal
Canadian Navy. She is fluent in both official languages of Canada.