AIAC supports renewal of federal Space Advisory Board

April 19, 2017 (Ottawa, ON) – Yesterday evening the Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), announced the renewal of the federal Space Advisory Board, including the appointment of new members and a new mandate. The board has been tasked with consulting Canadians on a new vision for Canada’s space sector and providing advice to the government on key elements of a new Canadian space strategy that will be launched in the summer.

The new members of the Space Advisory Board are:

• Marie Lucy Stojak, Director of the School on Management of Creativity and Innovation at HEC Montréal (Chair)
• James Drummond, Professor, Dalhousie University
• William MacDonald Evans, President, W. MacDonald Evans Consulting Inc.
• Stéphane Germain, President and CEO, GHGSat Inc.
• Douglas Hamilton, Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Calgary
• Michelle Mendes, Executive Director, Canadian Space Commerce Association
• Gordon Osinski, Associate Professor, Western University and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Chair in Planetary Geology
• Michael Pley, President, Pley Consulting Inc. and Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada’s Space Committee
• Afzal Suleman, Canada Research Chair in Computational and Experimental Mechanics and Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Centre for Aerospace Research, University of Victoria
• Christine Tovee, independent consultant

Jim Quick, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC), issued the following statement in response to the announcement:

On behalf of AIAC’s Board and members, I am pleased to congratulate the new members of the Space Advisory Board on their appointment. I also thank Minister Bains and his government colleagues on taking this important step in the continuation of Canadian achievements and innovation in space.

Canada has long been one of the world’s great space-faring nations, but a new vision for Canada’s space sector and the essential role it plays in driving Canadian innovation, communication and quality of life is urgently required. The depth of expertise provided by the members of the Space Advisory Board will lend invaluable insight and perspective to this project. We look forward to working with the Board and the government to develop a strong vision for Canada’s future in space.

Associated Links:

Government of Canada News Release
Space Advisory Board – Biographies

About AIAC: 

AIAC is the national association representing Canada’s aerospace manufacturing and services sector.  As the world’s fifth-largest aerospace industry, Canada’s aerospace sector contributes over $28B to the economy in GDP, exports 80% of its output, and dedicates over 20% of its activity to research and development (R&D). Aerospace is responsible for the employment of 211,000 Canadians.

For information:

Kristen VanderHoek
Director of Communications
Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
613 232-4297 x225
kvanderhoek@aiac.ca