Courtland Penk is the President and Founder of Osprey Integrity Ltd., a leader in drone-based industrial inspection and non-destructive testing across North America. With a foundation in commercial aviation and technical certifications in industrial asset management, he bridges precision flight expertise with advanced robotics integration. Through his leadership at Osprey, Courtland has helped pioneer drone-enabled inspection workflows using cutting edge technologies, including non-destructive testing. His work continues to shape the evolution of safe, data-driven inspection solutions transforming the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Declan Sweeney is the Executive Director of the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada (AEAC), leading national efforts to strengthen Canada’s drone ecosystem through collaboration, innovation, and regulatory advancement. A 20-year veteran of the RPAS industry, he was a founding director and former CEO of Universal Wing Geophysics, one of the first companies in Canada to conduct BVLOS operations in the Arctic. Declan has contributed extensively to Transport Canada’s regulatory framework through the CARAC Working Group and was recognized in 2016 with the Pip Rudkin Individual Achievement Award. His work with government, utilities, and research institutions continues to shape Canada’s approach to integrating RPAS into critical infrastructure monitoring, emergency response, and industrial inspection. As moderator of the Critical Infrastructure Panel, Declan brings a balanced perspective bridging policy, industry and technology to help build Canada-first solutions for secure and resilient BVLOS operations.
Sarah Graham is the Manger, RPAS Traffic Management Ecosystem Development and Transformation at NAV CANADA. She is responsible for the evolution of drone traffic management in Canadian airspace and oversees the incorporation of RTM Service Providers (RSPs) into NAV CANADA’s RPAS Traffic Management System through close coordination with ATS units, Transport Canada and industry stakeholders. Sarah joins NAV CANADA after her tenure as an RPAS Instructor at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and over twenty years as a professional environmental consultant, including professional archaeological consulting in Alberta, British Columbia, Nunavut, Manitoba and Ontario, and as an Indigenous Knowledge Studies lead in Alberta and British Columbia. She is a best-selling author, Canada Council of the Arts grant recipient, two-time Energy Futures Lab Storyteller, and presented at the British Society of Criminology conference on using arts-based approaches to bridge the gap between the public and police.
Michael is a former airline captain (Boeing 737 NG) and holds a master’s degree in aeronautical sciences from Embry-Riddle aeronautical university. he has served as chairman of air safety (air line pilots association: CJA), and as a member of the Air Canada emergency response team. Michael is active board member of unmanned systems Canada. After leading Industrial Skyworks to nation-wide UAS flight approvals within Canada (2013-14), Michael authored the first nighttime commercial UAS approval (2016) issued by the federal aviation administration (USA). in 2016, Michael was named as an Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year finalist, and in 2017, named by commercial UAV news as one of the 25 most influential people in the drone industry. Michael was nominated for and assumed the role of chair of USC-STC in October 2019.
Geoff Fink received the B.Sc. degree in computer engineering from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, in 2007, the M.Sc. degree in computer and electrical engineering from the University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in control systems from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, in 2018 under the supervision of Dr Alan Lynch and Dr Martin Jagersand. From 2018-2021, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Dynamic Legged Systems lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia with Dr. Claudio Semini. Since 2021, he has been a faculty member at the Department of Engineering at Thompson Rivers University, and currently holds the rank of Associate Professor. His research interests include robotics, drones, visual servoing, sensing, perception, state estimation, and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). He is particularly interested in applying robotics and artificial intelligence to key challenges in the field of wildfire science.
Anne-Sophie Riopel-Bouvier is Chief RPAS Pilot and Head of Flight Safety at Unither Bioelectronics, and Flight Safety Officer for the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada. With over ten years of RPAS operational experience, she also serves as a senior glider instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Flight Safety Officer Course. She holds a master’s in urban intelligence from Université Laval and received the Ellevatus Award in 2022 for her contributions to the RPAS industry.
As the President of AERIUM Analytics, Jordan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge around the safe integration of drones into the airport environment. Responsible for over 7000 flights on airport property at such airports as Edmonton International Airport, Chicago O’Hare and Calgary International airport, Jordan brings an unconventional perspective to how unmanned and manned aviation can work together for the airports of the future. Jordan and AERIUM, as part of Project SkySensus, are also driving forward the use and safety cases for BVLOS operations in airport and urban environments. The development of these practices, procedures and real-world applications will continue to drive forward BVLOS operations in Canada and the world. Prior to co-founding AERIUM, Jordan completed a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge and gained over 10 years of experience in land management, environmental services and regulatory compliance. Jordan has managed teams in energy, mining, and remote accommodation sectors. Jordan has been part of the USC-STC board...Read More >
Erika Carrasco is a pioneering lawyer at the intersection of commercial aviation law, emerging technology, and commercial litigation. With deep knowledge of remotely piloted systems (RPAS) , advanced air mobility (AAM), and emerging aviation technologies. Erika has played a foundational role in shaping the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the next generation of flight. A sought-after speaker at international and national conferences and industry contributor. Erika has a long standing board member of Aerial Evolution Association of Canada and has served as the AEAC Conference Chair for the past two years. At MLT Aikins, Erika continues to lead at the forefront of drones and advanced air mobility innovation, helping clients bring safe, legal, and future-focused aviation technologies to market.
Brian graduated Magna Cum Laude from BCIT with a Diploma of Telecommunications Technology and then spent 34 years as a civilian member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as a communication specialist. Brian’s duties included radio communication system design and operational field support to Emergency Response Teams and special investigations. In 2014 Brian was asked to build a UAV program to support the RCMP’s Critical Incident Program in British Columbia. In less than 3 years Brian grew the RCMP UAS program in BC from 4 aircraft to 53, implemented in-house training for all platforms, taught ground school, and launched a UAV countermeasures program. Brian has worked with numerous agencies such as Defense Research Development Canada, Canadian Special Forces, and the Prime Minister’s Protective Detail. Brian is currently the CEO/CTO of BlueForce UAV/C-UAS Consulting and provides services to law enforcement, federal/provincial government agencies, and corporate clients. His experiences are relatable and help new clients to learn how to handle all...Read More >
JR Hammond is the Founder and Executive Director of the Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM), Canada’s Federal Industry Association dedicated to operationalizing the country’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem. Co-founded in 2018 with the National Research Council of Canada, CAAM serves as the driving force and unified voice for the AAM industry nationwide.
