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Apr 09 2026

TABE/CABE Webinar: Geopolitics Series – Global Power Shifts and What They Mean for Canada’s Economy

Geopolitics has re-entered the core of economic forecasting. Global tensions are no longer abstract diplomatic issues — they are shaping inflation, trade flows, capital investment, energy markets, industrial policy, and long-term competitiveness.

This webinar provides an introduction to today’s geopolitical landscape and its direct implications for Canada and will connect global power dynamics to practical macroeconomic and sector-level analysis. We will look at the structural shift from globalization toward strategic competition — particularly between the United States and China — and examine how technology restrictions, tariffs, and industrial policy are reshaping supply chains and investment patterns.

We will assess the economic aftershocks of the war in Ukraine, Venezuela and now Iran, including energy realignment and food security pressures, and discuss what a more fragmented global trading system means for Canada’s strategic and economic positioning.

This session is part of TABE’s “Middle Power, Major Stakes: Canada in the Era of Geopolitics and Global Rivalry” series.

This session (and series) is being organized and moderated by Alex Ciappara, a TABE Board member.

doliver David Oliver Geopolitical Strategy Expert, Minerva Strategy

David has over 25 years of advising across sectors as diverse as finance, energy, mining, pharmaceuticals and the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry.

David began his career in British Politics before moving into consulting and then business, where he led cross-functional international teams as a senior executive in some of the world’s largest, high-profile corporations (Cadbury, Kraft & Mondelez International).

His roles included being Head of Global Public Affairs for Cadbury plc, London (2008-10), Head of European External Affairs for Kraft Foods, Brussels & Zurich (2010-12), Head of Corporate Affairs Northern Europe for Mondelez International, London (2012-15), and Head of Global Public & Government Affairs, London & Chicago (2015-19).

David’s expertise includes understanding the major centres of global politics and regulation and the shifting political polarities as the global economic & political order becomes more fractured.

He has also dealt with many major political crises and the effects these had, including major macro events like the 2007-09 financial crisis and the following European debt crisis, Brexit, and the major political upheavals that have taken place in many major G7 & G20 countries.

David has hands-on experience dealing with country-level crises, including aggressive tax litigation in Russia, punitive regulatory issues in emerging markets, and corporate reputational crises.

He has extensive experience working with C-Suite and VP+ executives at Rio Tinto, The Royal Bank of Canada, British Telecom, the Canadian Federal Public Service, the Ontario Public Service, Mattamy Homes, Loblaws, Sobeys, CPPIB, Sleep Country Canada, The University of Toronto and Rotman Business School.

David studied at the University of Manchester (BA Hons, Politics & Modern History), and is also an accredited Executive Coach with a Postgraduate Award for Neuroscience & Psychology (Henley Business School, University of Reading). He is a published writer and broadcaster, making regular contributions to The National Post, The Globe & Mail and appearing on Bloomberg and other global news platforms.

He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).

David originally hails from the UK and is now also a proud Canadian citizen.

Event Details

Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
Apr 09, 2026 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm EST

Event Registration

Public Attendee List

  • Alan Arcand
  • Joy Demoskoff
  • Rolande Kpekou Tossou
  • Farhad Panahov
  • Aaron Sydor
  • Anneloes Pronk
  • Rosalynd Mitchell
  • Andrew Trachsell
  • Maria Solovieva
  • Daniel Sanchez
  • Judith McWhinney