The Arctech Team
Arctech Accelerate fields a multidisciplinary team of senior defence advisors, management consultants, and technology strategists. Our people bring expertise in defence procurement, ITB transactions, engineering, computational science, organizational strategy, and government relations - giving clients a breadth of advisory capacity rarely found in a single firm.
Management
Tarig Abdellateif
Founder & Managing Director
Tarig is the Founder of Arctech Accelerate and a registered government relations professional with over a decade of experience in defense procurement and dual-use technology commercialization. He specializes in helping high-growth SMEs navigate complex supply chains and public sector funding by translating policy environments into practical execution strategies. His expertise spans aerospace, AI, and cyber domains, making him a trusted advisor for firms seeking to align their capabilities with national security frameworks.
Brian MacKay
Chief Growth Officer
As CGO at Arctech, Brian architects the high-stakes growth strategies required for both Arctech and its clientele. He excels at building the "nervous system" of an organization, leveraging agentic AI and data-driven strategies to bridge the gap between complex technology and market execution. His leadership is defined by a technology-first approach to growth and GTM strategy, ensuring that Arctech and its clients scale rapidly within sophisticated procurement ecosystems.
Lucas Russell
Chief Operating Officer
Lucas serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Arctech Accelerate and is the Founder and CEO of Goverly.ai. With over a decade of experience in tech ventures and strategic growth, he focuses on reducing the barriers that traditionally prevent innovative companies from engaging with defense programs. By leveraging AI-enabled opportunity matching and workflow automation, Lucas helps dual-use firms improve internal readiness and build repeatable growth systems aligned with public sector acquisition environments.
Defence Team
Abhinav Chakraborty (M.Eng, MBA)
Senior Defence Consultant
Abhinav Chakraborty is a Senior Defence Advisor with a multidisciplinary background spanning engineering, defence program management, and strategic business leadership. Holding both a Master of Engineering and an MBA, he brings a rare combination of technical depth and commercial acumen that enables him to bridge complex defence requirements with industry delivery capabilities. Abhinav’s experience includes working across defence procurement ecosystems, industrial participation initiatives, and large program environments where collaboration between government, primes, and innovative SMEs is critical. He is particularly skilled at translating technical capability into structured partnership opportunities that align with Industrial and Technological Benefits policy priorities, capability roadmaps, and supply chain modernization efforts. His advisory work focuses on supporting dual-use and emerging technology companies as they position for defence engagement, navigate capability alignment conversations with primes, and structure credible pathways into major programs. Abhinav is recognized for his practical understanding of how engineering innovation, program execution realities, and defence procurement dynamics intersect. Through his work with Arctech Accelerate, Abhinav plays a key role in helping Canadian innovators move from technical promise to defensible positioning within the national and allied defence ecosystem.
Major Justin Tegart
Senior Defence Advisor
Major Justin Tegard is a Senior Defence Advisor and Canadian Armed Forces officer with operational, policy, and international engagement experience across defence environments. His career includes roles within the Canadian Army and exposure to international program coordination, giving him insight into both operational requirements and multinational defence collaboration contexts. Major Tegard’s professional background includes work related to international defence cooperation and strategic analysis, complemented by advanced military education and research focused on global security dynamics and conflict environments. His perspective reflects a strong understanding of how military capability needs evolve in response to geopolitical pressures, operational lessons learned, and alliance priorities. At Arctech Accelerate, Major Tegard supports technology and dual-use firms by providing operational credibility, advising on realistic military application scenarios, and helping translate innovation into mission-relevant value propositions. His ability to articulate how solutions can integrate within real operational frameworks strengthens client positioning during discussions with defence stakeholders and prime contractors. Major Tegard’s combination of field experience, policy awareness, and strategic thinking makes him a valuable advisor to companies seeking to engage the defence sector with authenticity and operational relevance.
Marc Dupuis
Senior Defence Advisor
Marc Dupius is a Senior Defence Advisor whose career reflects extensive experience across defence-adjacent program environments, government engagement contexts, and capability development initiatives. His background includes working within structured institutional settings where stakeholder coordination, program delivery, and strategic alignment are essential. Marc brings strong expertise in navigating complex public sector ecosystems, supporting organizations as they interpret government priorities, engage institutional stakeholders, and structure initiatives aligned with national capability objectives. His advisory approach emphasizes practical execution, clarity of positioning, and sustained relationship development across the defence landscape. Within Arctech Accelerate, Marc contributes to client engagement strategy, capability narrative development, and institutional pathway mapping. He plays an important role in helping technology firms understand how to align innovation with defence priorities while maintaining commercial viability and scalability. Marc is valued for his ability to translate strategic intent into actionable engagement approaches that resonate with government and industry partners alike.
Dr. Colin Brown
Senior Advisor
Dr. Colin Brown is a Senior Advisor with expertise spanning policy, strategy, stakeholder engagement, and complex program environments. His academic and professional background provides a strong foundation in analyzing regulatory landscapes, shaping strategic initiatives, and supporting organizations operating within highly structured sectors. Dr. Brown’s experience includes contributing to research, policy development, and stakeholder engagement efforts across government-adjacent and regulated industries. This exposure has equipped him with a nuanced understanding of how innovation intersects with public policy, funding ecosystems, and institutional decision-making processes. At Arctech Accelerate, Dr. Brown supports clients through strategic positioning, narrative development, and ecosystem engagement planning. He helps emerging and growth-stage firms articulate the broader policy relevance of their technologies and align innovation strategies with defence, security, and industrial development priorities. His analytical depth and strategic perspective strengthen Arctech’s ability to support clients navigating complex public sector environments and advancing credible defence ecosystem participation.
Danielle Leclair
Senior Business Development Consultant
Danielle Leclair is a Senior Business Development Consultant at Arctech Accelerate, supporting organizations as they navigate public-sector decision-making and build credible government-facing growth strategies. She brings practical, inside-out understanding of how Parliament and the federal government operate, grounded in prior experience as a Parliamentary Assistant in the House of Commons. Danielle is also well-versed in the Parliamentary Press Gallery environment, including how media access and parliamentary coverage are structured and coordinated. Known for rigorous research and analysis, strong organization, and high-calibre communications, Danielle produces clear, detailed reports and briefing materials that support confident decisions and clean execution. She is comfortable coordinating multiple moving pieces at once, delegating priorities effectively, and operating with diplomacy, tact, and sound judgement in high-pressure environments. She also works comfortably in bilingual settings and relationship-driven business contexts.
Management Consultants
Dr. Abhishek Soni
Senior Management Consultant
Dr. Abhishek Soni is a Senior Management Consultant with a strong background in technology strategy, innovation commercialization, and applied research environments. He holds a PhD in Computational Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, providing him with deep expertise in advanced modelling, scientific computing, and research driven innovation. Dr. Soni’s academic training and professional experience position him at the intersection of advanced technology development and market deployment, enabling organizations to translate complex research outcomes into scalable solutions. He has supported initiatives involving emerging technologies, digital transformation, and cross sector innovation where collaboration between academia, industry, and public stakeholders is essential. At Arctech Accelerate, Dr. Soni contributes to research driven market assessments, innovation positioning, and strategic roadmap development for technology and dual use firms. His ability to connect rigorous scientific innovation with practical commercialization considerations supports clients as they pursue growth opportunities within defence, government, and industrial ecosystems.
Adnan Cheema, M.Eng, MBA
Senior Management Consultant
Adnan Cheema is a Senior Management Consultant with multidisciplinary expertise spanning engineering, business strategy, and program execution. Holding both a Master of Engineering and an MBA, he combines technical insight with commercial awareness to support organizations navigating complex innovation and growth environments. Adnan’s professional experience includes supporting technology driven initiatives, operational optimization efforts, and strategic planning engagements where organizations must balance technical development with market realities. His approach emphasizes structured analysis, stakeholder alignment, and execution focused planning that enables teams to move from concept to implementation. Within Arctech Accelerate, Adnan supports dual use and emerging technology clients through capability mapping, opportunity analysis, and engagement preparation activities. His ability to understand both engineering detail and business implications allows him to help clients position their solutions credibly for partnerships, funding programs, and defence adjacent opportunities.
Ubong Umoh
Senior Management Consultant
Ubong Umoh is a Senior Management Consultant specializing in organizational strategy, stakeholder engagement, and program coordination within innovation driven environments. His background includes supporting multidisciplinary teams and initiatives that require strong communication, planning, and cross functional alignment to achieve outcomes. Ubong brings experience working with growing organizations as they refine operational processes, develop strategic priorities, and coordinate initiatives involving multiple partners and stakeholders. His collaborative style and systems oriented perspective enable him to help teams maintain momentum while navigating complex program landscapes. At Arctech Accelerate, Ubong contributes to client delivery coordination, research activities, and strategic documentation development supporting technology and dual use firms. He plays an important role in ensuring that client engagement efforts remain structured, consistent, and aligned with broader positioning objectives across defence and innovation ecosystems.
Merrique Richards, EMBA
Senior Management Consultant
Merrique Richards is a Senior Management Consultant with an Executive MBA and professional experience spanning leadership development, organizational strategy, and business transformation initiatives. Her background reflects a strong focus on helping organizations strengthen internal capabilities while navigating growth and change. Merrique has supported initiatives involving leadership alignment, process improvement, and strategic planning where organizations must evolve structures and capabilities to support expansion into new markets and partnerships. She brings a people centered perspective to consulting engagements, recognizing that successful execution depends on both strategic clarity and organizational readiness. Within Arctech Accelerate, Merrique supports client engagements through strategic facilitation, documentation development, and organizational readiness activities that underpin successful defence and innovation ecosystem participation. Her ability to connect strategy, leadership, and execution strengthens client capacity to pursue complex opportunities with confidence.
Zakaria Brahimi
Junior Management Consultant
Zakaria Brahimi is a Junior Management Consultant supporting research, analysis, and client delivery activities across Arctech Accelerate engagements. His role focuses on building foundational insight that informs strategic positioning, opportunity identification, and documentation development for technology and dual use clients. Zakaria contributes to market research, ecosystem mapping, and background analysis that help senior advisors and consultants develop informed recommendations and engagement strategies. His attention to detail and analytical approach support the firm’s ability to maintain high quality outputs across multiple concurrent projects. As part of the Arctech team, Zakaria is developing expertise in defence innovation ecosystems, government funding landscapes, and industry partnership models. His work supports clients at early stages of engagement by ensuring that research and baseline analysis are robust, structured, and aligned with broader advisory objectives.
Advisors
Darryl Bandoro
Advisor
Darryl Bandoro is an Advisor with extensive experience spanning capital markets, investor relations, and venture ecosystem engagement. His background includes working closely with high growth companies, investment stakeholders, and innovation driven ventures seeking to secure capital and scale strategically within competitive markets. Darryl brings strong expertise in investment readiness, narrative development, and strategic positioning, helping organizations communicate value effectively to institutional partners, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders. His perspective supports companies as they balance growth ambitions with realistic market expectations and partnership dynamics. At Arctech Accelerate, Darryl contributes advisory insight related to capital strategy, commercialization pathways, and ecosystem engagement. His understanding of investor perspectives and growth stage dynamics strengthens the firm’s ability to support technology and dual use companies pursuing defence adjacent opportunities while maintaining broader market momentum. Dr. Soni’s academic training and professional experience position him at the intersection of advanced technology development and market deployment, enabling organizations to translate complex research outcomes into scalable solutions. He has supported initiatives involving emerging technologies, digital transformation, and cross sector innovation where collaboration between academia, industry, and public stakeholders is essential. At Arctech Accelerate, Dr. Soni contributes to research driven market assessments, innovation positioning, and strategic roadmap development for technology and dual use firms. His ability to connect rigorous scientific innovation with practical commercialization considerations supports clients as they pursue growth opportunities within defence, government, and industrial ecosystems.
Lalith Gunaratne
Advisor
Lalith Gunaratne is an Advisor with experience supporting technology driven initiatives, program environments, and organizational strategy efforts across innovation ecosystems. His background reflects a strong capability in stakeholder coordination, strategic planning, and operational alignment within multidisciplinary settings. Lalith has contributed to initiatives where collaboration between industry partners, research organizations, and institutional stakeholders is required to advance innovation outcomes. He brings a structured and analytical approach to advisory work, helping organizations clarify priorities, coordinate activities, and sustain progress across complex initiatives. Within Arctech Accelerate, Lalith supports strategic research, ecosystem mapping, and advisory discussions that inform client positioning and engagement strategies. His ability to synthesize information across domains supports technology and dual use firms as they navigate emerging opportunities within defence and public sector innovation landscapes.