EU-Canadian Perspectives on Global Trade in a Changing World

Name: EU-Canadian Perspectives on Global Trade in a Changing World
Start: 2026-05-07T17:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-07T19:30:00-04:00
Location: The Bridge Public House

Schedule

Thu May 07 2026 at 05:30 pm to 07:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

The Bridge Public House | Ottawa, ON

Join CIC Ottawa's Politics at the Pub event series for an event exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the global trading system.
About this Event

REGISTRATION

To register for this event, please do so through Eventbrite.

Tickets include a complimentary beverage.

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Global trade is entering a period of profound uncertainty, shaped by shifting geopolitics, economic fragmentation, and evolving alliances. How are Canada and the European Union responding—and what does it mean for the future?

Join us for a timely conversation featuring perspectives from both sides of the Atlantic, as our speakers explore the challenges and opportunities facing the global trading system. From supply chains to strategic partnerships, this discussion will unpack where we are headed—and what it means for the next generation of policymakers and professionals.

Part of our Politics at the Pub series, this event offers a welcoming, engaging, and informal space to connect, learn, and exchange ideas.

PANELISTS

Ruben Kubiak, Trade Counsellor at the EU Delegation to Canada

Ruben Kubiak is currently the Trade Counsellor at the EU Delegation to Canada in Ottawa, where he works at the heart of one of the EU‘s most interesting bilateral relationships. He took up the posting in September 2025, having spent the previous six and a half years in Brussels handling EU-US trade relations - a portfolio that kept him rather busy. Before that, he began his EU career working on energy relations with the US and China, giving him a front-row seat to some of the defining policy arenas of our time before pivoting fully into trade diplomacy.

What makes Ruben something of an unusual figure in the EU‘s trade world filled with lawyers and economists is the academic journey that preceded it all. He read physics and psychology on a dual degree across UT Austin and the University of Würzburg, went on to conduct research at the Santa Fe Institute on the spread of zoonotic diseases, and then completed a doctoral degree in biomathematics at Oxford University.

When he finally steps away from the trade talks and committee agendas, Ruben makes the most of his Canadian posting in decidedly civilised fashion, working his way through the country’s flourishing craft beer scene with commendable dedication and exploring it preferable by bicycle.

Jason Easton, Global Head of Government Relations at AtkinsRéalis; Former Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada and Former Chief of Staff to the Minister of International Trade

Jason Easton is currently the Global Head of Government Relations at AtkinsRéalis. Based in Ottawa, ON, Canada, Jason brings his extensive experience at the highest levels of government and industry. Most recently, he served as a Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, where he provided strategic advice across a wide range of priority initiatives such as international trade and economic affairs, including Canada-US relations, national security, and intergovernmental affairs.

Prior to this, Jason served as Chief of Staff to federal and provincial ministers, which included four years at International Trade. In these roles, he acted as principal advisor and played a key role in shaping ministerial mandates and advancing strategic priorities.

Before entering public service, Jason spent 13 years at General Motors of Canada, working across all areas of the business, including front line assembly plant engineering and supervision, government relations, communications, strategic business planning, sales, service and marketing. He was a member of the executive leadership team and led the company’s turnaround strategy in the Greater Toronto Area.

Recognized by the Hill Times as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Government and Politics (2023) and among the Top 50 Influencing Canada’s Foreign Policy (2021-2024), Jason holds a Master of Global Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta.

MODERATOR

Rosaleen Nguyen is currently the CIC-NCB Politics at the Pub Lead Coordinator and a Senior Analyst at the Canada Border Services Agency. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies from McGill University and a Master of Arts in Public and International Affairs from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at the University of Ottawa.