Industry and Scholarship Awards Selection Committee 2023
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 and Practice Leader of Alexander Holburn’s Aviation law practice. He has acted as litigation counsel for all of the major carriers in Canada. Over the past 30 years, Michael and his team have become trusted advisors in all matters of airline-related litigation. Most recently, they have defended airlines in some of the most complex passenger rights, aviation accident, COVID-19-related, and consumer class action litigation in Canada’s history. Michael enjoys speaking about the impacts of these decisions or about the regulatory changes that drive so much of the aviation litigation we see today and is a regular contributor at industry events or to industry publications. Michael is Chair of the BCAC Industry and Scholarship Awards Selection Committee.
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.
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!
