Board and Staff

The BCAC Board is comprised of up to 15 Volunteer members drawn from a broad cross-section of the British Columbia aviation and aerospace community. Diversity, including geographical, is a priority focus. The full Board meets monthly to discuss Council business.

2024/25 BOARD

Heather Bell — Past Chair

Principal of Bell Advisory Services and past General Manager of the Vancouver Flight Information Region (NavCanada). Heather attended Simon Fraser University, is a graduate of the Directors College through McMaster University and has over 34 years of experience in the aviation industry. Heather is the current Board Chair for BCAC. Heather’s clients have included the Vancouver Airport Authority and MDA Corporation.

Heather is BCAC’s representative on NAV CANADA’s Advisory Committee.

Michael Benson — Vice-Chair

Director of Business Development for Conair Aerial Fire Fighting. Michael has thirty years in the wildfire sector having most recently led the wildfire operations research program at FPInnovations, a not-for-profit research and development organization based in Canada. Prior, Michael led the airtanker program for British Columbia Wildfire Service, responding to wildfires spread over nearly 1 million sq kilometers with both amphibious water bombers and retardant airtankers. Michael rounds his wildfire aviation experience having previously led the helicopter program for the BC Wildfire Service.

Michael is Vice-Chair of the BCAC Board of Directors.

Harvie Buitelaar

Vice President, Infrastructure, with global engineering/consulting firm Hatch Ltd. since 2003. Harvie has held senior roles across the infrastructure sector since 2000, where the business has supported Airports, Rail, Transit, Ports, Highways, and Water infrastructure. Harvie has a specialized focus on Airports and Aviation planning, project management, design, and construction. His experience spans Canada and the United States.

Harvie is Chair of the Silver Wings Industry and Scholarship Awards Celebration Committee.

Cheryl Cahill

Cheryl has an educational background in aviation, commerce and adult education (MAS).  She has been in the aviation industry since 1986 having held frontline operations and management positions.

Cheryl joined BCIT in 2000 as an instructor and has held the role of Department Head, Aviation Operations and Interim, Associate Dean, Aerospace and Bachelor of Technology Management.   In the role of Associate Dean, she was responsible for the management of the Aerospace programs, faculty, staff and industry relations.  As Department Head, she was responsible for the operations and administration of the Aviation Management and Operations diploma program and the Airline and Flight Operations Commercial pilot (fixed and rotary option) diploma program.

Cheryl has over 30 years’ experience managing, designing, delivering and evaluating education and training in the aviation industry.    Prior to joining BCIT, she owned and operated her own training consultancy firm: The Education Centre (TEC) Corporation with clients including the Justice Institute of BC, Weyerhauser Inc., Vancouver Coastal Health, Interior Health, Lottery Corporation, Emergency Communication (ECom) and the Yellow Pages Company.

She completed her Master’s in Aeronautical Sciences:  Aviation/Aerospace Educational Technology with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Campus in February 2015.

Cheryl retired from BCIT in September 2024 and continues as an active board member on the British Columbia Aviation Council.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning.  Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Albert Einstein

Cheryl is the Co-Chair of the Flight Training Unit Initiative (Flight Schools) and Board Liason to the Youth Leadership, Scholarship and Endowment Committees.

Carrie Colville 

Carrie has dual executive roles as General Manager of Northern Thunderbird Air and Director of Charter Services for Central Mountain Air. With over 15 years experience in Aviation, Carrie has worked to primary support remote locations of British Columbia and Western Canada with air transportation. Carrie is responsible for managing the charter operation from charter sales to client management, with a specialty in logistics management. With Carrie’s passion and commitment to the overall safe and efficient operation, she is dedicated to supporting the growth of Northern Thunderbird Air and Central Mountain Air.

James Hall

James Hall is the Senior Manager, Operations & Sustainability, Kelowna International Airport (YLW). In this position, James is responsible for Environmental, Airside Regulatory, Groundside Operations, as well as the Passenger Experience in the terminal operations. James is also very active in the Airports Council International Environment and Operations committees and was previously Chair of the CAC Operations and Technical Affairs Committee. James is passionate about aviation and in the advancement of carbon reduction strategies.

James is Chair of the Airports Committee.

Kelly Jamieson

Kelly is Chair of the Leadership Committee.

Jack Lazareff — Treasurer

Jack is a retired partner of Crowe Mackay LLP. He is a strategic business advisor and someone who is committed to helping the firm’s clients thrive. His approach to client service is to be involved every step of the way and be ready to respond to their financial questions whenever they arise. His primary goal is to provide his clients with insightful advice so they can make informed decisions. He finds it extremely rewarding to help clients find the right solutions to meet their complex business needs. He knows he has earned the title of trusted advisor when his clients ask him for his opinion before they make business decisions.

Jack’s practice was focused on management consulting, with an emphasis on corporate finance, business operations and planning. He is proactive about bringing potential issues to his clients’ attention so they don’t have to worry about the financial and business aspect of their lives. He works with both the business and the people behind the business to assist with planning, whether it is strategic, succession, or general operations. He knows that time is money, and he wants to save them both.

Jack is Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Heather McCarley – Secretary + Past Chair

Heather is the Director, Regulatory Operations for Vantage Group, with 38 years of experience in the aviation industry, providing direction and subject matter expertise to the international network of Vantage airports.  Heather started her aviation career in 1987 with her private pilot’s license at the Boundary Bay Airport.  She is an industry leader with diverse experience in airport operations, business administration, emergency management, community relations, airfield maintenance, winter operations, regulatory compliance, safety and risk management.  She has worked for airline and ground handling companies, large and regional airport operators, including 22 years with YVR, and as the Managing Director of the Kamloops Airport.

Heather has served on the BCAC Board of Directors since 2018.

Stephen Michoulas

Steve is the Founder and Principal of Avra Law. Steve was called to the BC Bar in 2003 and has deep industry experience in aviation and commercial real estate.  Prior to founding Avra Law and spending time as a partner at a major national law firm, Steve spent 8 ½ years at the Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) as Director, Legal Services, where he oversaw virtually all aspects of airport matters including major real estate developments and non-aeronautical revenue projects, terminal concessions, airside and terminal operations, procurement, jurisdictional matters, and competition – among many other things.  Steve has advised multiple airports regarding land development, flight plan protection, fuelling, competition, corporate governance, constitutional matters, as well as construction projects. Steve is also involved with the Alberta Aviation Council, the Worldwide Airport Lawyers Association, and he spent a number of years on the Legal Affairs Committee of Airports Council International (North America).

Steve is Chair of the Governance Committee.

Laura Mortensen

Laura is the President/CEO of Curiosity Analysis and Consulting Corp., an airport consulting company in Kelowna, BC. She has a B.Eng in Aerospace Engineering from Ryerson University and has worked in a variety of roles and with various aviation/aerospace sectors including safety management, quality assurance, project management, engineering, training, health and safety, business analysis, logistics and software implementation. Her number one love is data and using it to make effective decisions. In addition to data, Laura is passionate about diversity in the aviation and aerospace industry and an advocate for changes that increase accessibility and allow all people to thrive in this industry, particularly those who have not had adequate representation in the past.

Laura is Chair of the Membership Committee.

David Nowzek

Dave has spent some 45 years in the aviation industry as a pilot and also held management positions in both fixed and rotary wing IFR and VFR operations. After 24 years flying and managing throughout Alberta, NWT and British Columbia, he joined Transport Canada in 1988. During his 24 years with the department, he held several management positions until assuming the position of Regional Director, Civil Aviation for the Pacific Region. He retired from the department in 2012.

David is Chair of the Air Operators Committee and a key member of the Conference Committee.

Cathy Press – Chair

Cathy Press, CEO of Chinook Helicopters, is a trailblazer in the aviation industry. As the first female helicopter flight instructor in Canada, she has passionately led Chinook Helicopters to international recognition for its helicopter and aeroplane pilot training programs. Her contributions to aviation were recognized in 2025 when Chinook received the Transport Canada Safety Award. Cathy completed her first solo at 16 years of age and is currently the only person in Canada who holds a “Transport Canada Pilot Examiner” status in both aeroplanes and helicopters.

Cathy acts as Chair of the Flight Training Committee for the Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC) and currently sits as a board member on the Abbotsford Airport Authority. In 2019, Cathy was named one of “Women’s Executive Network: Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women.” In 2021, Cathy received an honorary doctorate from the University of the Fraser Valley, adding to her already impressive list of aviation accomplishments and awards.

Cathy has always taken a hands-on approach in supporting individuals who are starting both aviation and business careers. She continues to be passionate about helping others reach their goals as an educator and mentor.

Karen Sabourin

Karen has worked in aviation for over 34 years in a variety of roles; from administrative support and accounting, Stores, Shipping & Receiving, Purchasing, Logistics Coordination and Technical Records, before taking on a leadership role in Human Resources in 2002 (Director of Human Resources, Helijet International Inc.). This diverse background has helped tremendously in her understanding of recruitment, helping employees with advancement to reach their career goals, and working with managers to become better leaders. She is honoured to be the newest Board Member of BCAC and looks forward to seeing the aviation community from a different perspective.

Karen is a Chair of the Endowment Committee.

Dave Frank – Executive Director (Staff)

Dave joined the BCAC because of his love for the people in aviation and aerospace; there is a real “can do” attitude in the industry. Dave is also a strong proponent of the future of our industry thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of today’s aviation and aerospace students. Along these lines, Dave is an Adjunct Professor teaching the senior year “Air Transportation” course in the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.

Before joining the BCAC, Dave was the Director, Marketing and Public Relations, at St. John Ambulance (SJA), BC and Yukon division. Dave also chaired SJA’s National Marketing committee. Dave has been a Senior Executive with a regional freight and air ambulance operator, founded Canada’s first multi-modal foreign trade zone, and founded an international consulting firm focusing on transportation and social-economic development. Before that, Dave built the Industry Productivity Analysis Group within the (now) Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Dave has a B.Sc. (Physics) and MBA (Transport) from UBC, spouse Meg Comiskey, daughter Taryn, son Jaryd, and answers to a young black cat named Raven.

Adrienne Noyes – Marketing Communications Specialist (Staff/Contract)

Adrienne is a graduate from the Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Communication Design program (B.Des.). Since 2005, Adrienne has provided communication design and marketing communications support to a wide variety of clients, including (but not limited to) St. John Ambulance – BC + Yukon, Tourism Richmond, Heart/Stroke, Custom House Global Foreign Exchange, Redbird Communications, the City of Victoria, PageOne Publishing, Rennie & Associates Realty, and The Elder Law Group. Adrienne currently works with Dave Frank, the board, and our amazing volunteers to create memorable, multi-channel marcom collateral promoting and supporting the BCAC’s mandate.

Adrienne also has an undergraduate degree in Sociology (B.A.) and has a spoiled tuxedo cat named Petey.

Contact

To contact a BCAC board member or staff person, please email dave@bcaviationcouncil.org directly.

Committees

Learn more about the Committees that enable the BC Aviation Council to make meaningful contributions to aviation and aerospace throughout the province. This is where the real work gets done. If you are interested in volunteering with the Council, contact us at info@bcaviationcouncil.org.