The Constructive Edge Team
Senior expertise across all key markets.
Partners
Tim Runge
Tim is Canada-based and leads major Canadian programs focused on Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) and Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) requirements. He has supported major procurements globally, helping clients develop industrial participation strategies, secure substantial credits and align their programs with wider political and socio-economic priorities.
He is also a co-founder of IntelEdge, an open-source intelligence platform used to support market, partner and competitive intelligence. Prior to his work with Constructive Edge, Tim held roles with Babcock & Wilcox and Newcourt Capital. His experience spans defence offsets, structured trade finance, industrial participation and the development of commercially viable programs designed to satisfy complex government requirements.
Malcolm Taylor
Malcolm is Australia-based and has worked in offsets, countertrade and industrial participation for decades. He founded C&I Projects Group in 1992 and has since advised defence and aerospace companies on Australian Industry Capability, industrial participation, intellectual property, bid strategy and contract negotiations.
From 2019 to 2025, Malclom was outplaced with a major defence prime, ultimately serving as CEO. In that role he was responsible for delivering a strategic acquisition for the Australian Department of Defence while managing relationships with senior government, defence and industry stakeholders. His work combines bid-stage strategy with the practical delivery of sovereign industrial capability and long-term local participation commitments.
Laurence Van Bockel
Laurence is Europe-based and leads Constructive Edge activities across the European Union and surrounding markets. She brings more than three decades of international business experience together with a legal background in Belgium, giving her a strong understanding of both the commercial and regulatory dimensions of industrial cooperation.
She works with clients to structure and deliver defence industrial-cooperation programs that respond to national participation requirements while strengthening local supply chains and creating lasting economic value. Her experience spans stakeholder engagement, program design, legal and commercial considerations, and cross-border delivery. Laurence also serves on the Board of the Global Industrial Cooperation Association (GICA) and acts as its Honorary Legal Counsel.
Tom Nolan
Tom Nolan brings more than 30 years of experience in international business, with deep expertise in offset and industrial participation programs, market entry strategy, business development, and cross-border trade and finance. He is a recognized specialist in the aerospace and defense sectors, with a track record of successfully negotiating, managing, and fulfilling industrial participation and offset obligations for some of the world's largest defense and aerospace companies.
In 2015, Tom co-founded Constructive Edge (CE), a global offset and industrial participation services firm with partners across Canada, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Tom has operated at the intersection of government procurement and private industry since 2003, helping defense and aerospace firms navigate their obligations with Ministries of Defence and government customers worldwide.
Prior to Constructive Edge, Tom led similar efforts through his firm Corvitex, building a distinguished record of guiding companies through the complexities of international offset compliance and cross-border transactions. He has also provided marketing, market entry, and business development services to small and medium-sized enterprises in the security, life sciences, energy, and natural resources sectors.
Tom's industry leadership extends to significant service on prominent advisory and governance bodies. He served for ten years on the board of the Global Industrial Cooperation Association (GICA), a leading international organization dedicated to offset and industrial participation policy. He also serves on the Defense and Aerospace Export Council Advisory Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, contributing to policy dialogue at the intersection of national security and international trade.
Tom holds an MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, one of the world's premier institutions for international business education.
Stephen Lewis
Stephen is London-based and has more than 25 years of experience delivering civil and defence offset programs across approximately 30 countries. His background combines investment finance, international business and geopolitics, giving him particular expertise in structuring programs that connect industrial participation obligations with viable investment and export opportunities.
He previously led offsets at Stemcor Trade Finance and has developed more than USD 1 billion in offset credits and associated projects. His work has included exports, technology transfer, training, healthcare and other forms of economic development. Today, Stephen also focuses on funding structures that can help SMEs scale, develop international markets and participate in larger industrial programs. He is a board member of the London Trade Roundtable.
Associates
Melanie De Young
Melanie De Young is a distinguished leader in the Canadian aerospace and defence industry, bringing two decades of expertise to the field. With seven years dedicated to managing Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) initiatives, Melanie is celebrated for her exceptional skill in contract management and the successful delivery of complex ITB programs.
A respected voice within the industry, Melanie contributes her insights and leadership as a member of the Board of Directors for the Industrial Participation Association of Canada (IPAC), currently chairing the Government Relations Committee. Her academic credentials include a Professional Logistics Designation from The Logistics Institute and a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) from Dalhousie University.
In the summer of 2022, Melanie was recognized by WINGS magazine as one of Canada’s Top 20 Under 40 for her leadership and impact in the Canadian aerospace and defence sector. At the time, she was serving as Director of ITB Programs at IMP Aerospace & Defence, where her work focused on leveraging industrial participation commitments into meaningful research, business development and industry partnerships.
Widely recognized across the Canadian defence sector, Melanie is an active presence at trade shows and industry events, driving business development and thought leadership as a panellist and presenter. Her comprehensive mastery of ITB policy encompasses both major corporations and small enterprises, and she is renowned for cultivating high-value strategic partnerships that deliver measurable business impact and maximize ITB credits.
Neil Rutter
Neil has worked in offsets and industrial participation as an employee or consultant for many large and smaller defence companies for over 40 years. As an employee of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, he was responsible for all industrial cooperation obligations outside Europe totaling over $7 billion. As an employee of Textron Systems, he was responsible for all its industrial cooperation obligations globally and was also responsible for Business Development in many countries, including Canada.
He was President of Blenheim Capital Services, responsible for managing Blenheim’s relationships with US defence companies. Neil’s last employment position was as General Manager for Textron Systems Canada, where he was responsible for the capture and management of the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) contracts. In addition, he developed other business opportunities for Textron Systems in Canada and managed the US$700M IRB (ITB) obligation.
While at Textron Systems Canada, Neil was Chair of two ad hoc committees established by the Canadian Association of Defence & Security Industries (CADSI), which provided suggested improvements to Canada’s offset policies to the responsible ministers.
He was a founding member and first Chair of the Industrial Participation Association of Canada (IPAC), and an active member of the Global Offset & Countertrade Association, now GICA, serving on its Board for many years and as past Chair and President.
Prior to working in countertrade and offset, Neil was a lawyer licensed in Canada and the USA. He holds a BA (Hon) from Queen’s University, an LL.B. from the University of Windsor and an LL.M. in International Law from New York University School of Law. He was also an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and attended university on a military scholarship.
Robin Carreras
Robin D Carreras has built a strong 38+ year career in the U.S. and international defense and high technology industries, focusing on international sales and special projects development and management. He began his diverse defense experience with Rockwell International Corporation in 1985 and continued with Rockwell Collins, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and, following its merger with United Technologies, Raytheon Technologies Corporation/RTX. Robin retired from RTX in August 2023.
Robin’s business experience covers commercial sales and management activities before concentrating in the defense industry, specifically Contracts Management, Export/Import activities, global Industrial Cooperation/Offsets Projects and International Business Development.
These skills were used in developing and managing projects for Space, Defense Electronics, Medical, Software, Science and R&D in support of defense product sales in the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkiye, the Middle East/North Africa and Asia Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand, with additional experience in South America.
He holds Bachelor’s degrees in History and Cultural Anthropology from California State University-Fullerton and a Master’s degree in Business Management. Robin currently resides in Southern California, USA.