Vanguard Magazine

48 APRIL/MAY 2026 www.vanguardcanada.com G A M E C H A N G E R See the full interview online Annu Vaidya spent her first years in this in- dustry on the technical front lines, build- ing mission systems for Canadian aero- space and defence programs. She learned something there that has stayed with her: capability isn't built in theory. It is built through precision, discipline, and people who take the work seriously. Over 33 years she has moved from engi- neering into program leadership, strategy, and business development, holding senior roles at Colt Canada, General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada, and CMC Elec- tronics before joining Arcfield Canada. The thread running through all of it is the same: she has always worked where the technical and the strategic meet. Q What was your most challenging moment? The hardest sell in defence is rarely across the table from the customer. It is inside your own organization. Many organi- zations are built around processes that worked yesterday, and convincing peo- ple to see a different future is genuinely hard. Internal inertia can be the biggest barrier to growth. What I've learned is that leadership means helping people see possibilities before they fully exist. It requires persistence and evidence and sometimes a thick skin. But when the first skeptic becomes a believer, momen- tum builds fast. Q What was your A-HA moment? I realized that if I wanted to move be- yond engineering and into shaping out- comes, I needed to step into unfamiliar territory and build a broader skillset. That led me to complete my EMBA while working full-time. Through that I came to understand that growth is rarely linear. It requires reflection and reca- libration and a willingness to align your work with a larger sense of purpose. I moved from focusing on execution to thinking more strategically about where I could have the greatest impact. That shift changed everything about how I approached my career. Q What has you most fired up today? Canada is entering a generational mo- ment in defence sustainment. Major fleet decisions, from fighter aircraft to submarines, will define how we main- tain operational readiness for decades. What excites me most is the opportunity to strengthen sovereign sustainment ca- pability inside Canada. When we build the right industrial partnerships, digital infrastructure, and supply chains do- mestically, we reduce dependency and increase resilience. Supporting Canada's operational readiness isn't just business. It is national capability. That's what mo- tivates me every day. Q How is Arcfield Canada changing the game in sustainment? We are redefining sustainment through a platform-agnostic, mission-focused ap- proach. Rather than being tied to a single platform, we integrate supply chain man- agement, logistics, and electronics MRO capabilities across air, land, and maritime fleets. Our experience supporting the CF-18 fleet has demonstrated the value of that model. The next step is extending that expertise to future fighter programs, naval platforms, and submarine programs, helping Canada build a stronger, more re- silient sustainment ecosystem. Q What is the biggest impediment to innovation in your sector? It is synchronization. We have no short- age of data or digital tools, but alignment across the ecosystem remains elusive. Each stakeholder optimizes for their own area: supply chain, depots, OEMs, operators. Yet no one is accountable for end-to-end readiness. That's why parts are available, dashboards show green, and aircraft still don't fly. This isn't a data problem. It is an ownership problem. And innovation stalls at contract boundaries. That's ex- actly where Arcfield operates, at the seams between operators, OEMs, depots, and supply chains, connecting those pieces to deliver true operational readiness. Q Parting advice? Don't underestimate your ability to make a difference, especially right now. This is the moment when new thinking and bold leadership can genuinely shape Canada's future. Build teams based on potential, not just past performance. Surround yourself with people who challenge you. And never shrink yourself to make others comfortable. ANNU VAIDYA DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH ARCFIELD CANADA

• Cover