Industry and Scholarship Awards Selection Committee 2025
The BCAC administers the oldest industry awards recognition program, and the country’s largest aviation and aerospace scholarship initiative in Canada. At our annual Silver Wings Industry and Scholarship Awards Celebration gala event, we recognize extraordinary aviation and aerospace organizations in British Columbia and disburse over $100K of scholarships and bursaries to hard-working aviation and aerospace students. In order to make this happen, we rely on the skills of our dedicated, diverse, and credentialed Industry and Scholarship Selection Committee members:
Maryam Bawa
Vice Chair | Chair, Grants & Scholarships,
Richmond Community Foundation
Maryam has over 15 years of experience in community development and non-profit engagement. Having completed her degree in Political Science and International Relations at UBC, she decided to get her Bachelor of Education (BEd) in Primary Education, followed by her Master Business Administration (MBA) in International Business and Strategic Development. She is currently a teacher with the Richmond School District. Volunteerism is very important to Maryam and, as such, she is very involved in the community. She was a member of the Richmond City Council Advisory Committee for Childcare Development, as well as Rotaractor and Rotarian. Maryam embraces innovation and collaboration and has a passion for education, youth development, and food security.
Cheryl Cahill
Interim Associate Dean, Aerospace Technology Campus,
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Cheryl has an educational background in aviation, commerce and adult education. She joined the aviation industry in 1986 and held frontline operations and management positions before transitioning to education and training. Joining British Columbia Institute of Technology in 2000, she has been both a faculty member and Department Head in the Aviation Operations programs at BCIT. She held the role of Department Head for 14 years and most recently is interim Associate Dean of the Aerospace campus and its programmes.
As part of the Educational Leadership Team of the Institute, she is accountable for providing administrative and educational leadership to designated full-time, part-time and Industry training programs and courses, in accordance with BCIT and industry standards and congruent with the overall Institute mission to become Canada’s Premier Polytechnic Institute. She is responsible for leading a broad range of initiatives impacting the daily and longer term strategic issues important to the Institute. She completed her Master’s in Aeronautical Sciences: Aviation/Aerospace Educational Technology (2015) with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Campus and holds degree in Business Administration (1986) and Diploma in Adult Learning (1997). Cheryl is an active board member on the BCAC and recently stepped down from BCIT’s Educational Council and Tributes Committee. “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Albert Einstein
Cheryl is the Chair of the Flight Training Unit Initiative (Flight Schools) and Board Liaison to the Youth Leadership, Scholarship and Endowment Committees.
Peter Chick
Owner, C&C Aviation
Regional Maintenance Quality Manager, Air Canada
Pilot, AME, Ministers Delegate for Maintenance, currently Regional Maintenance Quality Manager at Air Canada Express. Served as President, Pacific AME Association, currently Secretary/Treasurer. When not importing and Exporting aircraft for Transport Canada, Peter is performing audits and writing manuals for small operators throughout Western Canada. Peter has served on the BCAC Scholarship Selection Committee for four years. https://canadianaviationconsulting.com/
Michael Dery
Partner,
Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP
MICHAEL DERY is a Partner, Aviation Practice Group Leader and is also a past member of the firm’s Executive Team and served in that role for ten years, from 2011 to 2021 Mr. Dery represents aviation insurers, airlines, operators, flight schools, UAV operators, AMOs, and FBOs in complex litigation and regulatory matters. He has provided counsel and advice to clients on litigation arising out of aircraft accidents, aviation-related product liability litigation, airline claims handling, human rights matters and various other transportation-related issues.
Mr. Dery is called to the bar in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta. He has been recognized since 2015 by LEXPERT as a leading Canadian practitioner in the field of Aviation (Regulatory and Liability). He is recognized by “Best Lawyers in Canada” in the field of Aviation Law. He has been recognized in the 2023 edition of Who’s Who Legal Transport (Aviation Contentious Global Leader) and the 2022 edition of Who’s Who Legal Canada Transport (Aviation National Leader). He is the Chair of the British Columbia Aviation Council Scholarship and Awards Committee. He teaches Aviation/Airport law at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, School of Transportation. Mr. Dery is also the Chair of the Air and Space Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, and a Member-At-Large in the Air Law Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch).
Hannah Duffield
President of Pacific AME Association, Interim Vice-President of
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Canada (AMEC/TEAC)
I am Hannah Duffield and I am the president of the Pacific Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Association and now interim Vice President of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Canada. I am a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and I have been in the industry for almost seven years now. I have had a diverse career so far, gaining experience on a variety of aircraft from Boeing 737s to Cessna 172s. I have also worked in many diverse roles and have gained experience in a lot of aspects of aviation maintenance from heavy maintenance to airline operations. These days I find myself working in quality assurance for a small northern carrier. During my free time I enjoy advocating and educating people on all things aviation!
Mark Duncan
President and Owner,
AeroEdge Consulting Inc.
Reg Faubert
Program Portfolio Manager for West Canada and Territories (BC/NT/NU/YT),
Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT)
Reg Faubert retired from the British Columbia civil service in 2024 following a 33-year career where he worked primarily in aviation for the transportation ministry. Reg developed and administered many provincial funding programs including the BC Air Access Program supporting airport capital projects, Indigenous focused programs in the Highway 16 (‘highway of tears’) corridor, and multiple aviation support programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the BC Aviation Council awarded Reg a Lifetime Achievement Award for “long-term public contributions to British Columbia’s air services – always believing that there is a strong role for the Province in aviation”.
Reg now works with the Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology, or INSAT, as the Program Portfolio Manager for West Canada and Territories (BC/NT/NU/YT). INSAT provides investments into Canada’s aerospace sector to build sustainable aviation technologies that advance us toward a net-zero carbon emissions aviation future.
Outside of work, Reg volunteers with the Victoria Writers’ Society, promoting and supporting creative writers of all levels of experience. Watch soon for Reg’s debut novel under the pen name, R. Paul Faubert.
Dave Frank*
Executive Director,
British Columbia Aviation Council
(*Non-Voting) 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).
Theodor Alexandru Gheonea
Junior Engineer, KWA Site Development Consulting
(Awaiting submission.)
Pat Kennedy
Aviation and Business Consultant
Pat Kennedy is a former Chair of the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) and the Certified Management Accountants of BC as well as a former director of the BC Aviation Council. Pat was CFO of Pacific Flying Club for over 30 years and was appointed by the Federal Government to the CATSA board in 2015. Pat is a FCPA, FCMA and a past recipient of the Robert S. Day trophy for outstanding contribution to BC aviation.
Colette Morin
Owner, Chief Pilot, Operations Manager, Flight Instructor, Glacier Air
Colette comes from a family of aviation enthusiast but is the only one in her immediate family who works as a commercial pilot. She started flying as a hobby, but it quickly developed into a passion and a career. Colette has been flying for over 30 years, holds a Commercial Pilot (Aeroplane) Single Engine Land & Sea, Class 2 Flight Instructor and approximately five thousand flight hours, mostly single engine, VFR mountain flying throughout Western Canada but has also flown across the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, and Jamaica.
Colette started as a part-time seasonal pilot with Glacier Air in 1997, became Chief Pilot in 2021, then owner in 2022. She shares her passion for aviation and mountain flying with students and visitors from around the world. Annually, Colette, Glacier Air and the BC Coast 99s introduce hundreds of females to the aviation industry by hosting a Women of Aviation Worldwide, Fly it Forward® event in Squamish, offering free flights and highlighting women speakers from all aspects of the aviation industry. Colette enjoys mentoring, supporting, and encouraging new pilots of all ages to help them achieve their goals and dreams.
In addition to operating Glacier Air, Colette volunteers as a CASARA pilot, is the West Canada Section Vice-Governor of the Ninety-Nines Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots, a member of the BC Coast 99s chapter, COPA, BCAC Scholarship Committee, BCGA, ATAC and the Squamish Flying Club.
Interested in volunteering for the Industry and Scholarship Awards Selection Committee? Please contact us!
