BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.2//EN TZID:America/Toronto X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/TorontoBEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.2//EN TZID:America/Toronto X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Toronto BEGIN:VEVENT UID:23@ame-ont.com DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260923T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260923T190000 DTSTAMP:20260821T200311Z URL:https://ame-ont.com/events/workforce-agility-forum-networking-event-20 26/ SUMMARY:Workforce Agility Forum & Networking Event DESCRIPTION:\nSessions Include:\n\n High Level Workforce requirements in A viation &\; Aerospace Sectors (2026-2030)\n Understanding Inclusivity Barriers\n Adademic Collaboration &\; Common Resources/Supports\n Bes t Practices - Industry Panel - Examples of Inclusivity Successes\n\nFollow ed by a networking event with cash bar and hors d’oeuvres and entertainm ent by Mysterion the Mindreader.\nConfirmed Panelists Include:\n\n\n\n\nAl ex Tsoulis\nSenior Advisor - Business Development &\; Advanced Technolo gies\nMitsubishi Heavy Industries Canada Aerospace (MHICA)\nOver 40 years of experience with McDonnell Douglas\, Boeing and Mitsubishi Heavy Industr ies Canada Aerospace (MHICA).\nExtensive experience in the design and deve lopment of commercial aircraft (regional jet through wide body)\, military aircraft (transport\, helicopter\, fighter) and business jet (light to he avy) platforms.\nInvolved in initial concepts\, product implementation and product / fleet support. Covering life cycle technical\, quality\, schedu le\, and cost activities in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment.\ nLarge emphasis on advanced design\, advanced manufacturing technology\, g lobal collaboration\, and business development.\nConsiderable long-term in teraction with government\, university\, research\, and industry organizat ions.\nAlex Tsoulis graduated with a Diploma in Aerospace Engineering Tech nology in 1985\, and a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Mechanical Enginee ring in 1986\, from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan Universit y).\n\n\n\nDarryl Best\nDirector\nLine Maintenance YYZ\, Air Canada\n\n\n\ nDave Wackerlin\nAssociate Dean of Electrical\, Transportation\, and Innov ation at the Marshall School of Skilled Trades &\; Apprenticeship\nMoha wk College\nA post-secondary educator and academic leader with 25 years of experience in Ontario’s college system\, Dave has led Applied Science a nd Skilled Trades schools with a focus on academic excellence\, innovation \, and responsible stewardship. As Associate Dean of Mohawk College’s Av iation portfolio within the School of Electrical and Transportation Trades \, he cultivates industry and community partnerships to deliver hands-on l earning experiences that prepare graduates for careers as Aircraft Mainten ance Engineers.\n\n\n\nFadi El Masry\nExecutive Director\nCanadian Aviatio n Pride\n\n\n\nFlorent Lefevre-Schlick\nFaculty of Engineering\nMcMaster U niversity\nDr. Florent "Flo" Lefevre-Schlick draws on a career in Defence and Aerospace that began in the French Foreign Legion\, continued through several leadership roles in industrial operations\, defence-sector advisor y work\, and founding several ventures including his main practice: AADF V entures Inc. Since 2018 he has been bringing that same execution disciplin e to McMaster University's Faculty of Engineering\, as Manager of Industri al Training\, and has led multiple consortiums in collaboration with indus try\, which raised over $9.2 million in government funding and supported t he training of more than 3\,500 professionals across 175+ partner organiza tions. In a time of geopolitical challenges\, technological disruptions an d demographics changes\, he has always advocated for more collaboration to better align training with in-demand skills and support meaningful employ ment in Canada.\n\n\n\nMatt Bunn\nAssociate Dean - Aviation\nConfederate C ollege\nMatt Bunn is the Associate Dean of Aviation at Confederation Colle ge and a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) and Commercial Pilot with more than 20 years of aviation experience. A graduate of both of Con federation College's aviation programs\, his career has included roles as an aerial survey pilot\, floatplane pilot\, AME with Aircraft Certificatio n Authority\, Director of Maintenance\, and Flight Operations Manager. Sin ce joining Confederation College in 2020\, Matt has strengthened industry partnerships and supported growth in the Aviation Technician - Aircraft Ma intenance program while maintaining the small class sizes and hands-on tra ining that define the program. He is passionate about developing the next generation of aviation professionals and addressing workforce needs across the aviation and aerospace sectors.\n\n\n\nMajor Daniel Conway\nMajor\, R oyal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)\n\n\n\nNatasha Gagnon\nCEO\nOntario Aerospa ce Council\n\n\n\nNikki Morshedi\nExecutive Director\nWomen in Aerospace C anada (WIA Canada)\nNikou Morshedi is an executive leader\, entrepreneur\, and advocate for women in aerospace and technology. As Executive Director of Women in Aerospace Canada\, she leads national programs\, industry par tnerships\, and initiatives focused on advancing women into leadership and driving systemic change across the aerospace sector. With a background sp anning operations\, technology\, talent\, and business leadership\, Nikou brings both industry experience and a passion for building stronger\, more inclusive organizations. She holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Queen ’s University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).\ n\n\n\nPhil Arthurs\nExecutive Director\nDownsview Aerospace Innovation &a mp\; Research (DAIR)\nPhil Arthurs is the Executive Director of Downsview Aerospace Innovation &\; Research (DAIR)\, where he provides overall st rategic leadership and governance for the organization. He leads the DAIR team in delivering the organization's mission to strengthen Canada's aeros pace and defence innovation ecosystem through collaboration between indust ry\, academia\, and government. Phil is responsible for setting DAIR's lon g-term direction\, supporting the Board of Directors\, ensuring financial sustainability\, and securing strategic partnerships and funding.\nPrior t o being appointed Executive Director\, Phil served as DAIR's Director of O perations\, helping establish the organization\, secure funding\, expand i ts physical footprint\, and launch programs that support innovation and co mpetitiveness across Ontario's aerospace and defence sectors.\nBefore join ing DAIR\, Phil held positions within the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development supporting the aerospace\, defence\, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Earlier in his career\, he worked with Dassault Sy stèmes in support of Boeing's commercial aircraft programs in Everett\, W ashington\, and as a researcher with the Centre for European Policy Studie s in Brussels\, Belgium.\nPhil holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace) and a Master of Business Administration. He currently serves on multiple Program Advisory Committees supporting aerospace education across Ontario. \n\n\n\nPhil Sims\nSenior Director Finance &\; Program Development\nCan adian Council for Aviation &\; Aerospace (CCAA)\nPhilip Sims is the Sen ior Director of Finance and Program Development with the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace (CCAA). He has been involved with the CCAA for over ten years initially as an industry consultant and subsequently as a p ermanent member of staff. He holds an MBA with a specialty in aviation.\nH is aviation experience spans more than 40 years\, starting with British Ai rways\, then moving to The International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Montreal where he became their worldwide Head of Cargo. This was follow ed by a spell of consulting for other industry groups and several years wo rking in China as part of a domestic airline start-up operation. \nWorking with the CCAA has further extended his experience into the arena of indus try labour supply while building on his experience of managing Industry As sociation operations and Government Relations. Most recently\, he has been involved in the development and management of the CCAA online Basic Theor y Training for Maintenance and Structures technicians.\n\n\n\nTonya Yearwo od\nCEO\nBlack Aviation Professional Network (BAPN)\nTonya was born in Tor onto\, Ontario to natives of Trinidad &\; Tobago. She worked in both Ca nada and the United States in a variety of careers\; Finance\, Fitness\, P ostal Service\, and Automotive until she found herself in Aviation &\; Aerospace within the IT space. Working in the industry allowed Tonya to ha ve a new found appreciation for air transportation but quickly learned tha t diversity in Aviation &\; Aerospace was non-existent compared to her previous professional experiences. Without its challenges\, the Black Avia tion Professionals Network (BAPN) was formed\, a non-profit organization t o help her fellow colleagues and the next generation of leaders and aviato rs in the sector. BAPN will promote Aviation\, showcase it’s more than p ilots and flight attendants\, appeal to the Black community showing the va riety of careers available and supply the resources to thrive. There are A viation Professionals and professionals in Aviation. Together\, we are BAP N!\n\n\n\nTrent Sluiter\nGeneral Manager\nGreat Lakes Drones\n\n\n\nValeri e Vanderwyk\nExecutive Director\nIndigenous Skills\, Employment\, Apprenti ceship and Development (ISEAD)\nValerie is a proud Mi’kmaq woman whose f amily originated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.\nIn 2014\, Valerie wa s nominated for a Woman of Distinction Award with the YWCA in Hamilton\, O N for her work creating Ontario’s first pre-apprenticeship training prog ram in Welding and Plumbing for Women.\nWorking with the Aboriginal Appren ticeship Board\, Valerie was brought on to the team as a Community Engagem ent Coordinator to assist with the organization’s national expansion to the provinces of British Columbia\, Alberta\, Saskatchewan and New Brunswi ck in 2019.  Engaged in ensuring that Indigenous youth and their communit ies received equitable consideration for education and employment opportun ities in apprenticeship\, Valerie coordinates with stakeholders for the in clusion of Indigenous people with partners and was recently appointed as E xecutive Director.  Valerie is leading the transition of the Aboriginal A pprenticeship Board of Ontario to the Indigenous Skills\, Employment\, App renticeship and Development as a federally registered national not-for-pro fit\, expanding the organization’s reach and presence.\nWith a deep pass ion for Occupational Health and Safety\, Valerie partners with the provinc e of Ontario’s designated training centre – Workers Health and Safety Centre.  Making occupational health and safety a primary focus of their w ork at ISEAD\, their efforts are fundamental in ensuring safety for worker s through meaningful training and compliance with legislation and regulati ons across all sectors for Indigenous workers.  Valerie has been a certif ied occupational health and safety instructor across all sectors since 201 4.\nValerie is a Director with the Aboriginal Skilled Workers Association (ASWA)\, the Treasurer of the Grand Valley Education Society (GVES)\, a Di rector with Roots to Roofs\, and a Director with the Canadian Apprenticesh ip Forum (CAF).\nRecently\, Valerie received the Award of Merit from CSA f or her leadership role as Chair of the technical committee that developed the CSA Z301 Equity\, Diversity\, Inclusion and Accessibility in Apprentic eship Programs national standard.\n\n\n\nYasna Taieb\nNLAF Junior Board\nN orthern Lights Aero Foundation (NLAF)\nYasna Taieb is currently an Infligh t Operations Manager with Jazz Aviation. She co-leads Jazz's Diversity and Inclusion Council and supports both the Fatigue Safety Committee and the Occupational Health and Safety Committee. She first joined the aviation co mmunity through the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Program\, where she earned he r glider and private pilot licenses. Yasna went on to join the Cadet Instr uctor Cadre of the Canadian Forces Reserves and currently holds the rank o f Lieutenant. She has taught glider and private pilot ground schools to hu ndreds of youth in five different squadrons within South-Western Ontario. Yasna is actively involved with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation (NLAF) where she previously served on the Junior Board through co-leading the Me ntorship Committee and the Social Media Committee. She remains involved wi th NLAF as a Mentor in the NLAF Mentorship Program\, a volunteer for outre ach events and assisting with grant applications. Yasna also volunteers wi th the Dreams Take Flight Toronto Chapter and Women in Aviation Internatio nal. Yasna works with Afghan-Canadian youth in her community to reach thei r full potential through leading grant-funded community initiatives and em powers Afghans abroad with mentorship and educational opportunities. She h olds her Commercial Pilot License and will be working on her multi-IFR rat ings with the intention of continuing her studies in aviation safety\, edu cation and human factors. \n\n\n\n \; CATEGORIES:Course/Workshop LOCATION:Pearson Conference Centre\, 2638 Steeles Ave E\, Brampton\, Ontari o\, L6T 4L7\, Canada GEO:43.721901;-79.672312 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=2638 Steeles Ave E\, Brampt on\, Ontario\, L6T 4L7\, Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Pearson Confere nce Centre:geo:43.721901,-79.672312 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Toronto X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Toronto BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260308T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR