Meet the POLARIS Team
Behind every service we provide is a dedicated team of professionals, each bringing their unique expertise and insight to our clients. Collectively, our team has 180+ years of expert industry insight, and we continually leverage and grow our extensive government and industry networks across Canada.
Joanna Davies
Managing Director
Joanna Davies is a former Canadian Naval Warfare Officer with 30 years, and held senior roles in shipbuilding and business development.
Colin Cooke
Managing Director
Colin Cooke brings a wealth of experience into Canada’s marine sector, and is widely recognized as a national voice and advocate.
Iain Whyte
Director of Operations
Iain Whyte is versatile senior leader and strategist with extensive experience in defence, security, and advanced technology sectors.
Freya Snow
Research Analyst
Freya Snow has experience across Atlantic Canada and the Arctic in fisheries research, marine projects, and applied ocean technology.
Associates
Dr. Theodora Alexakis
Dr. Theodora Alexakis is a seasoned technology executive, engineer, and sustainability expert with over 30 years of experience in innovation, business development, and environmental solutions. She has led development and commercialization efforts for cutting-edge technologies in the marine and defence sectors, including as Vice President at Terragon Environmental Technologies.
Marc Batsford
Marc Batsford brings over four decades of naval, engineering, and shipbuilding expertise to Polaris Advantage Inc. A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, he served 36 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, including as Engineering Officer aboard HMCS FREDERICTON and as Canada’s Naval Attaché to the United States.
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Gary Beels
Gary Beels is a Royal Navy veteran with more than 40 years of experience in the marine sector. Over 27 years in uniform, he served in nuclear-powered submarines, surface combatants, and deployed to Afghanistan as Operations Officer for the UK Medical Regiment.
Kelly Bradshaw
Kelly Bradshaw is a veteran of the RCMP with three decades of experience the Security and Public Safety sectors. With over 26 of years of service in uniform, she has a diverse policing background in operational, administrative and leadership positions in the areas of technical investigations, covert electronic surveillance, cybercrime, financial crime, threat assessments and intelligence, executive human resourcing, and international policing.
Paige Cutland
Paige Cutland is a defence systems BD expert with over two decades of supporting tech companies in the Canadian and international defence markets. His commercial expertise builds on previous military service focused on airborne ISR, military acquisition, and training systems, giving him a practical understanding of defence capability development and procurement.
Marcel Montrose
Marcel Montrose is a leader in Canada’s marine and shipbuilding sector, recognized for translating complex technical challenges into practical, strategic solutions. As Founder and President of Lir Maritime Consulting Ltd. and General Manager of Glovertown Shipyard, he brings extensive experience across shipbuilding, vessel operations, engineering management, and ocean technology innovation.
Tony Potts
Captain Anthony (Tony) Potts brings over four decades of leadership in Canadian Coast Guard operations, fleet management, and Arctic programs. A Master Mariner, he has commanded Canada’s light, medium, and heavy icebreakers — including CCGS Terry Fox and Louis S. St-Laurent — delivering missions across the Arctic and North Atlantic, from SAR to ocean science and northern resupply.
Keith Whittingstall
Keith Whittingstall is business development expert with over two decades of composites technology experience helping companies scale high-performance materials solutions across Canada and the northern United States. With a deep understanding of advanced manufacturing and supply chains, Keith has managed major commercial accounts and built a reputation for integrity, responsiveness, and results.
Ian Wood
Ian Wood is a seasoned former Naval Officer with at-sea command experience and a strategic analyst with over 35 years of Canadian and international leadership experience. He has served in senior defence, diplomatic, and advisory roles — including as Naval Attaché to the United States and as a strategic analyst supporting NATO on future security and capability planning.