Community of Practice

Board of Directors

Simon Bernard

MGen (Ret.) Simon Bernard, OMM, CD, is a Board Director and recently retired General Officer (Major-General) with a 37-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces, bringing a systems-thinking mindset and deep experience in strategic innovation, adaptive leadership, and organizational design. Recognized for applying design thinking and foresight methodologies to tackle complexity, modernize institutions, and cultivate cultures of experimentation and learning. Known for leading large-scale transformation initiatives within complex, multi-stakeholder environments (NATO, UN, Whole-of-Government), with an emphasis on translating strategic intent into practical, human-centered implementation. Passionate about integrating design-led approaches, AI-informed decision frameworks, and emergent technologies to enhance sensemaking, creativity, and innovation in defense, security, and public/private-sector organizations. As a Board Member, offers governance expertise and a unique ability to bridge visionary thinking with disciplined execution—helping organizations like the Archipelago of Design advance their mission at the intersection of imagination, strategy, and complex problem-solving. After supporting AoD as the CAF Ambassador for more than a decade, MGen(Ret.) Bernard has now joined as a Board member.