Events

Labour Force Solutions in Aerospace and Defence: People, Technology, Training and Coordination

The Marshall Skills Academy Labour Force Solutions in Aerospace and Defence Presented by ACADA

ACADA is pleased to present an informative panel focusing on the current challenges facing industry relating to the attraction and retention of skilled labour. Panelists will bring a wide range of perspectives and will include representation from both a large, mature ACADA member company and a dynamic and growing SME. The panel will also welcome leaders from the academic stream who will add commentary related to the training and skills development side of workforce development.

The panel will be moderated by Mr. David Chaundy, Chief Executive Officer of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council. Mr. Chaundy will provide an overview of the current labour market realities facing industry across the region which will serve as a backdrop for the insights of the panel participants, who will identify both challenges and tools and best practice to support sustainable growth.

Register for DEFSEC Atlantic 2022 to attend this panel discussion!

Thank you to our Panel Sponsor, Marshall Skills Academy.

Contact info@ac-ada.ca to learn about available sponsorship opportunities.

Moderator bio:

David Chaundy, President & CEO, Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC)

David Chaundy is President and CEO of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC), a role he was appointed to in November 2018. Mr. Chaundy joined APEC as an economist in 1999, taking on increasingly senior roles, including responsibilities for APEC’s research projects, its member-only publications on Atlantic Canada’s economy, and APEC’s annual business Outlook conference. 

Mr. Chaundy has over twenty years experience researching Atlantic Canada’s economy, sharing his insights and ideas in numerous publications and presentations to business, government and other stakeholders. As someone who lives and works in the region, he is keen to ensure a healthy, inclusive and sustainable Atlantic Canadian economy. And he is passionate about APEC’s vital role as the source for independent research, insights and ideas to advance these outcomes. 

Mr. Chaundy is a member of the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council and the National Stakeholder Advisory Panel for the Labour Market Information Council. He is Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Business Economics, a Director and Past-President of the Atlantic Association of Applied Economists and a Director of the Atlantic Canada Economics Association. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Cambridge and a M.Sc. in economics from the University of York, England. 

Panelist bios:

Jean-Claude Siew,  Executive Vice President, Technology and Simulation – Bluedrop Training and Simulation

Jean-Claude Siew has accumulated over 30 years’ experience in the aerospace and defense industry. He is currently the Executive Vice President for Technology and Simulation at Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc..

Mr. Siew has profound domain knowledge in training and simulation, and technology leadership. At Bluedrop, his main focus is on business development, innovation and leading-edge training products for Aerospace and Defense.

Mr. Siew was previously President and CEO of a TSX venture public company that provides advanced technological security solutions for governments and corporations by using biometric identification, access control and intelligent video surveillance.

Prior to that, Mr. Siew has successfully held various key roles at CAE including Director of Business Development, Vice President for Visual Systems and Vice President Systems Engineering and Proposals.

Mr. Siew earned his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautics from l’École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1986.

Shawna Garrett, President and CEO – EduNova Co-operative Ltd.

Originally from the Maritimes, Shawna Garrett has held registrarial and enrolment management positions at Acadia University, NSCAD University, College of the North Atlantic – Qatar, and Mount Allison University. She has also worked as a superintendent, principal, and dean at international schools in Japan and China. Shawna holds degrees from the University of Prince Edward Island and Acadia University and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in educational studies through Nova Scotia’s inter-university doctoral program.

Philip Burchinshaw, Director, Sales and Marketing – Aerotec Engines

Philip is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Aerotec Engines, one of North America’s leading aircraft piston engine overhaul shops. As a seasoned executive with experience in business development, Philip has been able to increase Aerotec’s production and revenue, as well as create a strong cohesive work environment. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Portsmouth provides him with a solid foundation in the industry. With over 15 years of experience in aviation, software, and telecommunications, he has been able to hone his marketing, sales, and leadership skills. In doing so, Philip has become a game changer in the world of business development. His approachable nature and desire to create and provide unbeatable products embodies Aerotec’s values.

With a passion for aeronautics and an ability to create strong business relationships, Philip is an asset to Aerotec. His ability to communicate clearly and effectively with Aerotec’s client base is why more customers are trusting Aerotec to carry out their services.

Gerard D’Entremont, Community Innovation Lead – Nova Scotia Community College

Gerard d’Entremont is the Community Innovation Lead in the Annapolis Valley region at the Nova Scotia Community College. With over twenty-four years of experience in workforce and economic development, Gerard has led several critical projects that have supported the advancement of business and industry in the province through applied research, apprenticeship, and customized training opportunities.

As past two-time Chairman of the Board for the Valley Regional Enterprise Network (REN), whose strategic efforts represent 124,000 residents of the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Gerard is acutely aware of education’s role in economic development. During his past term, Gerard led the development of the REN’s three-year strategic plan, renewed board policies, established a regional workforce development strategy and sector profiles, and leveraged funding to analyze the local supply chain and tourism sector.

Gerard holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, a Bachelor of Education from Mount Allison University, and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of New Brunswick. As an advocate of continuous learning, he is completing his Ph.D. at Old Dominion University in Community College Leadership. His research focuses on micro-credential program development, which examines and analyzes external and internal groups’ engagement in developing skill-specific competency-based programming at community colleges in Colorado, Tennessee, and Maryland.