Humanitarian Leaders Convene in Ottawa: A Strategic Dialogue on Canada’s Role in Crisis Response

On June 5, 2025, humanitarian leaders from across the country gathered in Ottawa for the annual Head of Agencies Meeting—a high-level convening organized by the Humanitarian Response Network (HRN) and Cooperation Canada. Held against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts, displacement, and climate-related emergencies, the meeting provided a crucial forum for strategic dialogue on Canada’s humanitarian engagement. Executive leaders from Canadian humanitarian organizations came together to align on shared priorities, identify challenges and explore collaborative approaches to strengthen the sector’s collective impact. 

This year’s meeting was particularly timely, as it followed the appointment of the Honourable Randeep Sarai as Canada’s new Secretary of State for International Development. Minister Sarai joined participants at a reception following the meeting—hosted by Cooperation Canada and HRN—where he engaged directly with sector leaders and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to principled humanitarian action. 

Discussions throughout the day reflected the urgency of addressing systemic challenges in the sector—from humanitarian financing and the protection of aid workers, to Canada’s role in global governance and the future of multilateral engagement. Minister Sarai welcomed continued collaboration and expressed interest in joint planning to ensure Canada’s humanitarian assistance remains responsive, coordinated and grounded in the realities faced by frontline organizations. 

As we share this reflection on World Refugee Day, it is a poignant reminder of the human toll of today’s crises—and of Canada’s responsibility to act with compassion and resolve. The Head of Agencies Meeting reaffirmed the sector’s readiness to work in close partnership with government to strengthen Canada’s leadership in humanitarian response. 

Cooperation Canada and its members look forward to working with Secretary of State Sarai to strengthen Canada’s role as a reliable and values-driven global partner in humanitarian response.