2024 Summit Program of Events

Cross-Sector Leadership in Sustainable Aeronautics

This session brings together leaders from key sectors to provide a high-level perspective on sustainability initiatives shaping the future of aviation. The discussion will explore collaborative efforts across academia, government, airports, OEMs, aerospace councils, and airlines to achieve net-zero goals. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the sustainability strategies and challenges within each sector, fostering cross-industry innovation and cooperation.

CAP Student Three-Minute Thesis Presentations

Watch and cheer on our talented graduate students who will be presenting their Three-Minute Theses (3MT). In only three minutes with a single static slide, they will pitch their exciting topics and how their research will impact the future of aeronautics

Workforce Sustainability: Innovation and Emerging Technologies for Pilot Training

How do we apply new and emerging technologies to support the workforce of the future? Explore research and industry insights into pilot training, assessment and monitoring, and applications of new technologies to address today’s challenges.

Sustainability Accounting in the Aeronautics Sector: Beyond ESG

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting aligns financial outcomes with social and environmental goals. If organizations create a unified approach to measuring their sustainability, it could exponentially increase their impact on the world. How can aeronautics set its own standards of ESG reporting, and how can we use it to ensure the industry’s long-term success?

Session Co-Chairs:
Suzanne Kearns, Ibrahim Yimer

Panelists:

• Natasha Gagnon, CEO, Ontario Aerospace Council
• Cyrille Leclere, Airbus Canada
• Jacquelyn Platis, Senior Specialist, ESG, Porter
• Alex Welch, Principal, Welch Consulting

Session Co-Chairs:
Shi Cao, Marty Smith

Judges: 

• Richard Alexander, CAE Inc.
• Reem K. Al-Halimi, Navblue
• Jean-Pierre Hickey, University of Waterloo
• David Johnson, MAG Aerospace Canada
• Armaghan Salehian, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo

Session Co-Chairs:
Ewa Niechwiej-Swedo,
David Ostler

Panelists:

• Gulnaz Bulbul, Assistant Professor, Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo
• Fernando Muniz Simas, CEO, EXO Insights
• Evan Risko, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
• Jian Zhao, Assistant Professor, Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo
• Sunjoo Advani, President, International Development of Technology 

Session Co-Chairs: 
Amr ElAlfy, Charles Cho

Panelists:

• Kathryn Bakos, Managing Director, Finance and Resilliance, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
• Oke Isaac-Onwah, Arc Consulting
• Shaz Merwat, RBC
• Shaad Shaikh, Fuel Manager, Flair

Environmental Sustainability: Net-Zero Energy Transitions

How do we reduce harm to our environment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050? This session will cover interdisciplinary efforts underway across fields such as hydrogen, sustainable fuels, operational mitigations and hybrid-electric technologies, as well as policy and funding considerations. 

Economic Sustainability: Simulations and Numerical Methods

Simulations and the numerical methods powering them are essential in modern engineering and science. Nowhere is this more true than in aerospace. In this breakout session, the objective is to discuss the capabilities of state-of-the art simulation software, numerical methods capabilities that would be beneficial to the aerospace industry, and emerging trends in numerical methods that are being closely followed by aerospace industry. 

Economic Sustainability: Advanced Manufacturing

Rapid advances in manufacturing technologies have emerged as viable solutions to economic sustainability in aviation and aerospace manufacturing. This breakout session will explore new ways of adapting part production to generate innovative parts with advanced capabilities and competitive advantages in performance.  

Electric Aviation: Innovations, Retrofits, Training, eVTOLs

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) — including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, drones, and other aerial vehicles — presents a promising vision of efficient and sustainable urban transportation. What are the vital components of robust AAM ecosystems? What physical and digital infrastructure needs to be put in place, as well as workforce development? 

Session Co-Chairs:
XiaoYu Wu, Wendy Bailey 

Panelists:

• Ahmed Abdulla, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Carlton University
• Samaneh Shahgaldi, Associate Professor, Hydrogen Research Institute, University of Quebec a Trois Rivieres
• Landon Tresise, Director, Government and Stakeholder Relations, Canadian Fuels Association

Session Co-Chairs: 
David Del Rey Fernandez,
Jonathan (Jon) Zalger

Panelists:

• David Brown, Lead R&D Engineer, Ansys
• Jean-Pierre Hickey, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo
• Ramy Rashad, Pratt & Whitney Canada
• Scott Seager, Enterprise Architect, Navblue
• Jenmy Zhang, Principal Computational Physics Research Scientist, Autodesk

Session Co-Chairs:
Mihaela Vlasea,
Diana Facchini

Panelists:

• Mahdi Habibnejad, GE
• Mark Kirby, Additive Manufacturing Program Manager, Tronosjet
• Francois Richard, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Pratt & Whitney Canada

Session Co-Chairs:
Mehrdad Pirnia, JR Hammond

Panelists:

• Richard Alexander, Electric Aircraft Integrator, CAE Inc.
• Skye Carapetyan, Beta Technologies
• Bob Connors, General Manager, Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre
• Madison Furgala, Sales Representative, Apex Aircraft
• Blago Hristovski, Harbour Air
• Paul Parker, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
• Zach Taylor, University of Waterloo

Student Career Fair

Build connections, network and learn more about career pathways and opportunities in aviation and aerospace.

Commercialization & Entrepreneurship Panel

Moderator: Danielle Joworski, Program Manager, Accelerator Centre

Panelists:

• Francois Gand, Founder, NURO
• Alex D'Alton, Founder, Daltonomous
• Jeremy C.H. Wang, Founder, Ribbit

Hear from the Founders of Ribbit, NURO, and Daltonomous on their journeys from idea to Commercialization and Entrepreneurship. 

Intro to Metal Additive Manufacturing and Case Studies in Aviation

Co-Chairs: 
Mihaela Vlasea,
Mark Kirby, Additive Manufacturing Program Manager, Tronosjet

Panelists:

• Mark Kirby, Additive Manufacturing Program Manager, Tronosjet
• Zachariah Mears, Graduate Student, Senior Member and Past Co-Lead, Waterloo Rocketry

Learn how metal additive manufacturing can contribute to building a more sustainable air transport sector, through aviation-related case studies.