Executive Director
RCAF Association of Canada

Dean Black is the Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Association of Canada. Prior to the RCAF Association of Canada, he 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.

Dean 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.

2022 Scholarship Recipient

Maya Cantin is a 2022 recipient of the RCAF Foundation Student Scholarship. Cantin, of St-Hubert, QC is an Aerospace Engineering student at Polytechnique Montréal. Prior to that, she completed the aerospace engineering technology program at École nationale d’aérotechnique.

Watch an interview with Maya Cantin here: https://youtu.be/D0HHpFeoEPA

Pilot
WestJet Airlines

Kristin Long is a 737 pilot at WestJet Airlines. She founded Northern Spirit, a Chapter of Women in Aviation International in 2002 and is the Chair of Girls in Aviation Day – Winnipeg.

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. She is Board Director of the RCAF Foundation.

Managing Partner
BDO Canada

Mina Farinacci was appointed Office Managing Partner (“OMP”) for Quebec in January 2017. After gaining experience in the real estate industry, she joined BDO’s Montréal assurance and accounting team in 1996 and was appointed partner in 2008.

Her clientele operates in a variety of industries, namely financial services, manufacturing, agribusiness, real estate, construction and technology. She also works closely with First Nations communities and organizations for which she performs audit mandates.

As OMP, she focuses on BDO’s growth across the Province, and sees that the firm continues to retain a strong client satisfaction level, while sparking new ideas and innovative client solutions. Her goal is to provide a five-star service to all of her clients.

An accomplished professional and recognized as such by her peers, Mina Farinacci is a compassionate and articulate woman who touches others with her sense of perspective, integrity and dynamism. With her proactive leadership and innovative vision, she is not afraid to challenge established models and take risks.

Mina Farinacci is highly involved in the community and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada and on the Board of ACG Québec.

Community Engagement and Mentorship
Elevate Aviation

Sophia Wells oversees Community Engagement and Mentorship at Elevate Aviation and is the chief flight instructor at the Edmonton Flying Club. She holds an airline transport pilot’s license and serves as a Transport Canada pilot examiner. She also flies the Citation 560 and Navajo for Morgan Construction, adding to her experience within the charter aircraft business. She gets to share her life-long passion for aviation through Elevate Aviation by inspiring and mentoring women new to the industry. Sophia was recognized in 2018 as a Top 20 under 40 recipient for Wings Magazine and in 2019 with the Outstanding Alumni Award from Mount Royal University.

Executive Vice President
Maru Public Opinion

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 is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the RCAF Foundation.

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.