Speakers:

Jennifer Kay – First Secretary and Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada, London

Debbie Goodleff – Head of Trade - Defence, Security and Space, Department for Business and

Trade; British High Commission, Ottawa

Dianna Pieper – Founder & CEO, Innovus Techne

Joanna Davies – Managing Director, POLARIS ADVANTAGE Inc.

Noreen Burroughs Cesareo – President of OWIT International, OWIT UK

Nathalie Bradbury – OWIT Ottawa

Elsie Etienne – VP, OWIT UK

OWIT UK, OWIT Ottawa, and OWIT Toronto hosted a timely webinar on May 5 about Canada–UK trade diversification opportunities, focusing on cross-border collaboration, market access, and emerging opportunities in the IT and telecoms sectors. In an increasingly complex global environment, partnerships are more valuable than ever.

The UK and Canada have a longstanding, trusted relationship underscored by historical ties, membership in international organizations, and their innovation-driven economies. A pragmatic, service-driven economy, the UK offers scale, stability, and opportunities for growth and investment for businesses looking to operate across this corridor. As of 2025, the UK is Canada’s third largest trading partner, with the relationship valued at $85 billion CAD. Canada-UK trade is supported by the Trade Continuity Agreement and the UK’s participation in CPTPP, with 99% of bilateral trade in both goods and services now tariff-free. With one of the largest Trade Commissioner Service teams worldwide, the UK-based TCS plays a key role in connecting Canadian SMEs to vetted business contacts, resolving market challenges, and advancing science and technology priority sectors.

Similarly, the UK High Commission has both trade promotion and investment officers as well as trade policy team members across Canada. The two countries share strong foreign direct investment ties and active engagement across key Canadian sectors including critical minerals, energy, advanced manufacturing, and financial services. Despite ongoing global geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Canada continues to show resilience and growth, supported by investment attraction and efforts to strengthen the industrial base. On the ground, the High Commission facilitates business relationships, conferences and trade missions.

Securing trade increasingly depends on cybersecurity and “selling trust” as businesses operate across more digitally enabled and interconnected trade corridors. Certifications are becoming important market entry criteria while regulatory alignment across telecoms, satellite, and post-quantum is essential for ensuring trade continuity in the decades to come. There is strong potential for further UK and Canada collaboration in these areas.

Companies that seek to provide cybersecurity products for critical national infrastructure should be especially cognizant of the required standards and certifications. The UK Cyber Essentials Programme and the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification can help prepare businesses for cross-border market entry. UK and Canadian science and technology departments also identify shared research initiatives and co-fund projects that bring together expertise from both countries, posting opportunities on social media and LinkedIn accounts.

Supporting Women-Owned SMEs

The UK Department for Business and Trade offers cross-sectoral trade missions to help SMEs access export opportunities, including initiatives focused on female entrepreneurs and diverse business owners. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service also organizes delegations to trade shows, develops partnerships for STI-focused companies, and helps high-growth tech companies scale through the Canadian Technology Accelerators. The Canadian government has even introduced public procurement measures that encourage participation from women-and minority-owned businesses.

Sectors with growing participating from women include environmental sustainability, FinTech,

healthcare and eldercare. TCS is available to provide in-market support for these sectors and others, leveraging local contacts and strategic guidance.

As international trade evolves amid shifting dynamics, OWIT will continue to bring together professionals across business, government, finance, logistics, legal services and more, expanding networks for women and advancing their inclusion in the global marketplace.