Meet the Team
Jeremy Diamond, CEO
A public historian with more than 20 years of experience in fundraising, program development and communications, Jeremy has held leadership roles as CEO of Museum of Toronto, Executive Director of the Vimy Foundation and COO of Historica Canada. He is a frequent media contributor in the areas of Canadian history, citizenship and civic engagement and the grandson of a Second World War RCAF officer.
Board of Directors
John Wright
John Wright CAIP, FRCGS is Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion and has carried out surveys in over 40 countries over the last 30 years. He currently serves as the Honorary Colonel for the Chief of the Defence Staff Office and is a member of the RCAF Commanders Advisory Council. He has previously served as HCol for RCAF W/C William G. Barker VC Aerospace College, HCol for RCAF 400 Tactical Helicopter SQN, and as HLCol for the Ontario Regiment (RCAC). John has been awarded four Commanders Commendations, the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for Military History and Education, the Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Community Volunteerism, an Arbor Award from the University of Toronto, and a Fellowship with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. He has also served as a Director for numerous charitable organizations including Canada Company, Wounded Warriors Canada, and the Canadian Forces College (CFC) Foundation.
Patrick Shea
E. Patrick Shea, MStJ, LSM is a partner with Gowling WLG. Mr. Shea serves as an external consultant/advisor to various Governments in the Caribbean Region with respect to the reform of their insolvency legislation and the adoption of financial institution resolution regimes. He is a Director of St John Ambulance’s Toronto Branch and serves on the Resources Committee for St John Ambulance in Ontario. Mr. Shea is a Member of the Order of St John, and a recipient of the Law Society Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, two Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendations and an Ontario Volunteer Service Award.
Laura Briscoe
Laura Briscoe is a Senior Director with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada, bringing 20 years of experience in education and industry partnerships. She is a co-founder and Vice President of the Women in Aviation International Great Lakes Aviators Canada Chapter in Southwestern Ontario.
Laura has played a key role in advancing aviation-focused education initiatives, including co-founding Airshow London Education Day, Girls in Aviation Day, and the growth of Thames Valley District School Board’s Aviation School at London International Airport.
She also serves as an active member and advisor with 427 Wing in London, Ontario. Laura is passionate about innovation in education and is committed to empowering students and educators to pursue purposeful, community-driven success.
John Hall
John Hall, MMM, CD has accumulated over 39 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces. He started his Regular Force career as a Radio Technician and completed his time serving as the highest ranking Non-Commissioned Member within the Royal Canadian Air Force.
He retired from the Regular Force in 2024 and continues to serve in the RCAF Reserve as a Special Advisor and Talent Manager. John has served at home and abroad on exercises and deployments and was invested into the Order of Military Merit in February 2015.
John demonstrated his early passion for service as an Air Cadet in Port Elgin ON, and has continued with a long history of involvement with many charitable organizations and groups either as a volunteer, executive or Board Member.
Michael Jenkins
A former Air Cadet, Michael has experience working in business and finance, with a focus on technology in Canada. He was previously working in the Financial Analysis department at Deloitte Canada. Before that, Michael worked as an associate at RBC Dominion Securities. He has been involved with helping startups grow at Communitech in Waterloo, and at the Forge in Hamilton.
Kristin Long
Kristin is actively involved on various boards and committees in the community, and was appointed Honorary Colonel to the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training at 17 Wing in 2020.
Christopher (Scott) McElvaine
Christopher (Scott) McElvaine serves as Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada, a role he assumed in July 2025. In this position, Scott leads the company’s marketing and sales, dedicated to growing our product portfolio and increasing sales across all segments.
Scott joined the company in 1996 as a Senior Engineer after serving eight years with the Department of National Defence. Over the course of his career, he has held roles of increasing responsibility across multiple disciplines, including marketing, customer training, customer programs, and commercial services. Notably, as Senior Director, PW800 Marketing & Customer Service, he successfully spearheaded the launch of the PW800 engine, which set a new standard in the large, long-range business jet segment.
In 2017, Scott was appointed Vice President, PW800 Programs, where he delivered transformational leadership, focusing on innovation and operational excellence. He went on to serve as Vice President, Customer Programs in 2021, overseeing customer service engineering for all product lines and managing frontline support, including the Customer First Centre and Field Operations. In January 2022, Scott became Vice President, Business Development & Commercial Services, further expanding his leadership in customer- focused initiatives. In July 2025, Scott took over the role of Vice President, Sales & Marketing, in addition to his role as Vice President, Business Development & Commercial Services, a role he held until January 2026.
Scott’s academic credentials include a diploma in aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering from the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering, and a bachelor’s degree in engineering management from the Royal Military College of Canada. He is a graduate of the Executive Program and Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and is a member of Professional Engineers Ontario.
Anita Yengue
Major Anita Yengue is an Aerospace Engineering (AERE) Officer serving with the Canadian Armed Forces. A passionate traveller, she has always been drawn to aviation, making her work with aircraft a natural fit. Anita is a licensed Professional Engineer with an undergraduate degree in Electromechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Moncton. Proud to serve Canadians, she views the country’s diversity as a powerful asset—one that reflects our values, objectives, and aspirations on the global stage.
Before joining the military in 2012, Anita worked in the manufacturing sector as an Electronic Project Lead Engineer and Project Manager. Since then, she has held multiple aerospace engineering roles, including aircraft maintenance officer and various project management positions. Her commitment to education led her to teach at several technical colleges in the National Capital Region, where she also dedicated her time to tutoring and mentoring underprivileged youth and refugees.
Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is a complementary network of individuals from across the country within influential businesses and/or organizations that align with the Foundation’s strategic pillars of Support, Industry, Community, Youth, and Heritage.
This trusted group of representative stakeholders will assist the CEO to review ideas and plans for the RCAF Foundation. The Advisory Council members will also provide the RCAF Foundation counsel on best ways to promote, celebrate and strengthen the RCAF, create unique education programs and commemorative activities and inspire Canadians, particularly youth, to learn about and support this important national institution.
Dean Black
Dean Black is the past Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Association of Canada.
Prior to the RCAF Association of Canada, Mr. Black served in the Canadian Armed Forces as a tactical helicopter pilot and senior defence analyst.
Mr. Black’s most recent flying responsibilities were as Commanding Officer of 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron in Oromocto, New Brunswick. After 30 years of dedicated service, in 2007 Mr. Black retired from service.
Mr. Black holds a B.Sc. and M.A. from the Royal Military College and Canada, as well as an M.A from York St. John University, and graduated from the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Studies, and the Advanced Air Ground Operations School.
Bruce Bowser
Bruce Bowser is the Chairman and forcer CEO of AMJ Campbell Van Lines and has previously held management positions with the Bank of Nova Scotia, as well as served on several charitable and private corporations boards.
As an avid pilot, Mr. Bowser lends his time supporting the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Armed Forces as the Honorary Colonel of 437 Transport Squadron, 8 Wing Trenton.
Mr. Bowser holds a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s University and a postgraduate degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Stewart Burton
Stewart Burton is the Vice Chairman of RBC Capital Markets and member of the Global Operating Committee, having joined the Corporate Finance Department of RBC Capital Markets in 1986.
Previously, Mr. Burton spent three years with Ernst and Young and earned his Chartered Accountants designation.
Mr. Burton also serves as the Honorary Colonel of the newly re-formed 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, in Petawawa, ON., and additionally is a Director of the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto.
Mr. Burton earned his MBA from Harvard University Business School.
David Bruce Cochrane
Brigadier-General (Retired) David Cochrane, MSM, CD is a Royal Canadian Air Force officer.
Throughout his career, BGen. Cochrane flew with the 426 and 436 squadrons in Trenton in the tactical and strategic airlift roles on the CC-130 Hercules. He served in the Gulf War, missions in Northern Iraq, and Operation Airbridge in Sarajevo and Operations in Afghanistan.
BGen. Cochrane has served as the Commander of the national Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group, the Commander of the 2 Canadian Air Division at CFB Winnipeg, and as the Wing Commander of No. 8 Wing at CFB Trenton.
BGen. Cochrane earned a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering and M.A. in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College.
Rob ‘Scratch’ Mitchell is a producer, director of film/TV, actor, public speaker, and aviator.
Rob bites into life, and it shows in all that he does. Affectionately known as “Scratch” to his fighter pilot mates, he hails from Victoria, British Columbia and now lives in Vancouver, BC where he is living out his goals balancing being a producer, director of film / TV, an actor and aviator. Previously, Mr. Mitchell served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a fighter pilot flying CF-18s and with the world renowned Snowbirds, including serving as Team Lead for two years.
After studying acting and film production for numerous years, Mr. Mitchell left the RCAF to become a full time producer, actor and air show pilot. For seven seasons, Mr. Mitchell was with the world famous Patriots Jet Team out of California. Mr. Mitchell was a character, director and a producer of the successful Discovery series AIRSHOW and he worked on the recent Blockbuster Midway. He directs aerial sequences and coordinates aerial stunts.
As a third generation military pilot, Mr. Mitchell recalls the harrowing tales of his grandfather flying Spitfires in Europe in WWII and proudly watching his dad fly jets in the 70s and 80s.
Mr. Mitchell holds a degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Strategy and Management.
Drew Hamblin
Drew Hamblin is the Founding President of Supermarine Holdings Limited.
In this role, Mr. Hamblin actively manages private equity investments in aviation, M2M and BlockChain technology, capital markets and real estate.
Mr. Hamblin is a Director at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and is a member of the advisory committee of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics.
Mr. Hamblin has been involved in the aviation sector for over 35 years and is committed to preserving Canada’s military history.
Mr. Hamblin is a Senator for the 11th Field Regiment for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Penny Hicks
Penny Hicks is a sales and marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in the Canadian publishing industry.
Ms. Hicks is currently the Managing Director of Client Partnerships with The Globe and Mail, leading the advertising sales team across the country to bring best-in-class advertising and marketing solutions across all platforms including digital, print, events and podcasts.
Prior to joining The Globe and Mail she served as Publisher to some of Canada’s most iconic media brands including Maclean’s and Chatelaine.
Ms. Hicks holds a Bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a postgraduate certificate in Dispute Resolution from the University of Toronto. She is passionate about the Canadian military having served in the Canadian Army Reserve with The Governor General’s Foot Guards.
Kendra Kincade
Kendra Kincade is the Founder, President, and CEO of Elevate Aviation, a non-profit organization dedicated to uniting and empowering women in aviation.
In addition to founding Elevate Aviation, Ms. Kincade is an Air Traffic Controller, and this role is where she found her passion for supporting women in aviation.
Additionally, Ms. Kincade is a Board Member for the Alberta Aviation Council and Vice Chair of the Strategic Aviation Advisory Council.
Ms. Kincade is the Honorary Colonel of 417 Combat Support Squadron, 4 Wing Cold Lake, AB
Stephen Quick
Stephen Quick is an experienced cultural industries executive, and an independent museum consultant.
Previously, Mr. Quick has worked in multiple senior positions at several Canadian museums including the Director General and VP of Conservation and Collection Management at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, the Director General at the Canadian War Museum, and the VP of Business Development/Commercial Operations and Executive Director of Ingenium.
Additionally, Mr. Quick is a painter and illustrator with work in both the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canadian War Museum. Mr. Quick has served on several non-profit and charitable boards both nationally and internationally.
Mr. Quick has an Honours AOCA in Fine Arts and Design from OCAD University.
Terry Slobodian
Terry Slobodian is President and CEO of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC). The RAMWC was established over 40 years ago to preserve Canada’s distinct aviation heritage. The museum remains one of Canada’s largest and most complete aviation heritage collections. Mr. Slobodian also acts as Curator for the Museum.
Prior to RAMWC, Mr. Slobodian was Vice President of Fund Development, Marketing and Communications for Christian Children’s Fund of Canada and has served as President & CEO of Bridgepoint Hospital Foundation, Vice President of University of Ontario and was a Foreign Diplomat for the United Nations in Moscow and Geneva.
Mr. Slobodian holds an MBA from the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, an HBA Business and Economics from Western University as well as a Certificate in Slovak Language Proficiency (Slovak) from Comenius University, Slovakia. Mr. Slobodian is also an Air Cadet Alumni
Renee van Kessel
Renee van Kessel is a corporate commercial lawyer and principal of van Kessel Law based in Toronto, where she provides strategic and legal advice to national and international private and public entities in a multitude of industries. She has over 26 years experience as both in-house counsel and in private practice.
Ms. van Kessel is the RCAF Honorary Colonel to 16 Wing, Borden and sits on the boards of various not-for-profit organizations, including the Canadian Forces College Foundation, Canada Company and the Canadian International Council.
Ms. van Kessel holds a Master of Public Administration, National Security and Defence Policy from the Canadian Forces College, a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, and a B.A.(Honours) in Politics from Queen’s University, Kingston.
Tonya Yearwood
Tonya Yearwood is a Senior IT Project Manager with Air Canada.
Additionally, Ms. Yearwood is the Founder and President of the Black Aviation Professionals Network (BAPN) which aims to help her fellow colleagues and the next generation of leaders and aviators in the sector and promote diversity in Aviation and Aerospace.
Prior to her career in the aviation sector, Ms. Yearwood worked in various sectors including finance, fitness, and aviation, but found her passion was in air transportation.
George Nutter
George Nutter, CD is currently a Squadron Officer with 166 Bulldog Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets and the former Commanding Officer, attaining in that role the rank of Major in the Canadian Armed Forces. He has been involved in the cadet program – and 166 Bulldog – for over 15 years, beginning as a civilian instructor.
He is also Senior Manager, Issues Management and Media Relations with the Ontario Ministry of Energy and has held senior positions with the Ontario Public Service for over 34 years, in the areas of international trade, economic development, technology and energy.
George is a graduate of the OPS Leadership Development Program, Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, and holds a Masters Certificate in Public Management from the Schulich School of Business, York University, and a BA in Public Administration from the University of Toronto.
George comes from an RCAF family his late father having served as a WAG (Wireless Air Gunner) in WWII, and for over 30 years subsequently, until retirement as Station Warrant Officer at CFS Sioux Lookout on the Pinetree Line.
Graham MacLachlan
Graham MacLachlan is the Managing Partner and Principal of Global Trade Credit Inc, providing Credit Insurance to Canadian companies trading internationally.
Previously, Graham worked for the Government of Manitoba as the Trade Development Officer for the Aerospace and Aviation Sectors and was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the Manitoba Aerospace Association.
Graham is an author, having researched, commissioned and co-wrote J.P. Bickell: The Life, the Leafs and the Legacy. The book outlines his relative’s work with the RAF Aircraft Ministry, Victory Aircraft and A.V. Roe Canada Limited. Proceeds from the book went to Camp Bickell, a family legacy since 1940, of which Graham serves on the Board of Directors serving the youth of Northern Ontario.
Cathie Puckering
Cathie Puckering is Vice President and Head, Canadian Network, a role she assumed in 2021, following 23 years with TradePort International Corporation (TradePort), operator of the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (Hamilton International) and wholly owned by Vantage Airport Group.
An experienced airport executive, Cathie joined TradePort in 1999, holding progressively senior roles before being named President and CEO of Hamilton International in 2018. Prior to joining TradePort and Hamilton International, she was Controller and Chief Information Officer at CARSTAR Automotive Canada. Cathie is a CPA, CGA and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University.
Cathie was appointed as Honorary Colonel of 436 Transport Squadron at 8 Wing Trenton, ON, in September 2019. She is a proud supporter of Canada’s military as the sister of a Major with the Canadian Air Force currently based in Bagotville, Quebec and a supporter of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton. Cathie is also an active volunteer and supporter of community and non-profit organizations throughout Hamilton, including Liberty for Youth, CityzKidz and United Way, among others. Cathie was born, raised and continues to reside in Hamilton, ON with her family.
Brook G. Bangsboll, OMM, MSM, CD, MA
Brook G. Bangsboll, OMM, MSM, CD, MA is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force with over 35 years of service in logistics, transportation, and air movements.
Brook began his career in the U.S. Army before returning to Canada to join the Canadian Armed Forces. Over his career, he held senior leadership roles across Canada and internationally, including postings with NORAD and the United States Department of Defense at the Pentagon.
An experienced operational loadmaster with over 2,000 flying hours on the CC-130 Hercules and Airbus CC-150 Polaris, Brook participated in major international missions, including the Gulf War, NATO operations in the Balkans, and humanitarian airlift missions in Africa. He also served as Commanding Officer of the Canadian Support Base in Kuwait as part of Operation IMPACT.
Brook holds a Master’s degree in Military History from the Royal Military College of Canada and is the author of two books exploring his father’s remarkable military career. Since retiring in 2020, he has held senior roles with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires and now serves as Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association.