I call the meeting to order.
Good afternoon, everyone. Sorry for the delay. I had some technical difficulties that we are just sorting out. We're going to continue on with our study of Canada's role in international defence cooperation and NATO's strategic concept.
Joining us by video conference today from the University of Oxford is Professor Jennifer Welsh, the co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict. I understand Professor Welsh is a prairie girl now living in the U.K. and teaching over there. It's great to have her join us.
She is a professor of international relations at the University of Oxford and a fellow of Somerville College. She is a former Jean Monnet fellow of the European University Institute in Florence and was a Cadieux research fellow in the policy and planning staff of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs. Jennifer has taught international relations at the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the Central European University in Prague. She is an author, co-author and editor of several books and articles on international relations. She has a B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan and a master's and doctorate from the University of Oxford, where she studied as a Rhodes scholar. Congratulations on that.
Also joining us by video conference is Mr. Paul Ingram, who is the executive director of the British American Security Information Council. He's from London. Paul is executive director, developing BASIC's long-term strategy to help reduce global nuclear dangers through disarmament and collaborative non-proliferation and coordinating operations in London and Washington. In particular, he leads on BASIC's work as host to the BASIC Trident Commission in London and BASIC's NATO program, looking to reduce the alliance's dependency on nuclear weapons. He is also involved in BASIC's work on the diplomacy around Iran's nuclear program and promoting a weapons of mass destruction-free zone in the Middle East. He is the author of a number of BASIC's reports and briefings, covering a variety of nuclear and non-nuclear issues since 2002.
I welcome both of you by video conference. We're looking forward to hearing your expertise on this issue. I ask that your opening comments be 10 minutes or less. Hopefully technology will be cooperating through this whole process. Then we will have rounds of questions from all of our members.
I remind members that bells will be going off at 5:15 Ottawa time for votes tonight, so we will have to adjourn by that time.
Professor Welsh, could you bring us your opening comments, please?