Speakers
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Geoff Steeves Professor, University of Victoria Co-Chair, Space Humanities Dept., International Space University |
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Dr. Geoff Steeves is a physics professor at the University of Victoria in Canada and a faculty member at the International Space University. He is the co-founder of the StarAcers.com science education program, a TEDx speaker and was a top 16 finalist in Canada's most recent astronaut recruitment campaign. Geoff completed his Ph.D. in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Alberta studying ultrafast microscopy. He continued his studies through an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California Santa Barbara at the Center for Spintronics and Quantum Computing.
He is now a professor at the University of Victoria where he conducts research on Mars analogue environments and tele-robotic exploration. At the International Space University he has chaired the Space Studies Program Space Science Department from 2012-2014 and now co-chairs the Space Humanities Department 2015-present. Geoff is an experienced SCUBA diver and pilot with a commercial pilots license and multi-engine instrument rating. |
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Peter Visscher Chief Technology Officer and VP of Engineering, Argo Vehicle, Space, and Robotics |
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Mr. Visscher is a P.Eng with an extensive background in vehicle design, testing, operation, diagnostics, and repair. Peter has been the lead designer for several extreme-terrain vehicles and in 2008 began working exclusively on planetary rover prototype design. Since then, Mr. Visscher has assumed the role of lead designer for the Juno Rover, Artemis Jr., and Artemis Sr. Rover prototypes, acquiring several patents (and pending) in the fields of vehicle suspension, driveline transmission, and lunar rover wheel design.
Along with his team, Mr. Visscher has participated in numerous analogue deployments with planetary rover prototypes with both CSA and NASA, primarily with the RESOLVE and MMAMA programs, for which he was responsible for integrating payloads to the Artemis Jr. and Juno Rover platforms. In 2013, ODG began work on two new lunar rover designs for the Canadian Space Agency as well as a commercial version for military and industrial partners. |
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Leif Bloomquist Senior Software Systems Engineer, MDA (Macdonald Dettwiler & Associates) |
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Leif Bloomquist, P.Eng., is a Senior Software Systems Engineer in the Space Missions group at Macdonald, Dettwiler, and Associates (MDA) in Brampton, Ontario. He holds a B.A.Sc. in Systems Design Engineering from the University Waterloo, with a focus in Intelligent Systems. Since joining MDA he has been involved in the development of the meteorological instruments aboard the Phoenix Mars Lander, the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (SPDM) on the International Space Station, the Next Generation Canadarm R&D project, and the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) instrument aboard the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission, launching in September 2016. |
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James Slifierz SkyWatch Space Applications |
| James Slifierz is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SkyWatch Space Applications. The mission of SkyWatch is to accelerate access to satellite and remote sensing data. The company has two products: One allows astrophysicists and astronomers to subscribe to real-time notifications from NASA spacecraft observatories. The other, RemoteX, is a marketplace that allows both enterprise and consumers to quickly discover, buy, and sell remote sensing data. James' primary responsibilities include business & product development, strategic planning, setting the vision, talent acquisition, fundraising, and user experience. James is a product and business development specialist with a wide variety of skills across both disciplines. On the technical side, he has over 3 years of experience in web application development and product management. On the business development side, he has over 5 years of experience working with startups. James is a 2014 International NASA Space Apps winner, member of the Canadian Space Commerce Association, and member of the International Astronomical Union's Working Group on Time-Domain Astronomy. He runs (one of) the best newsletters covering the space industry, astronomy, and astrophysics. |
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Marianne Mader Managing Director, Centres for Earth & Space/Fossils & Evolution, Royal Ontario Museum Visiting Lecturer, International Space University |
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Dr. Marianne Mader strives to enable space exploration and to engage the public in this endeavor. With over 13 years of field experience, Marianne has studied some of the oldest rocks on Earth in Greenland, explored impact craters across the globe, and collected meteorites in Antarctica. She has collaborated with UWO’s Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, CSA, NASA, and MDA to plan and execute simulated lunar and planetary exploration missions, as well as developing insights into planetary impact cratering processes.
Along with Andy Forest, Marianne is the co-founder STEAMLabs, an all-ages community makerspace in downtown Toronto. She has led numerous national events highlighting Canadian space expertise and public engagement including: Chairing the 2008 Canadian Space Summit, Co-Organizing Canada’s first SpaceUp (unconference) in 2012, Co-Organizing and Co-Creating the Toronto NASA Youth Space Challenge, 2013, and organizing and curating the International Space Education Board 2014 Public Outreach Event, 65th International Astronautical Conference. |
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Tyler Reyno Founder & CEO, Open Space Orbital Inc. |
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Tyler Reyno is the founder and CEO of Open Space Orbital Inc., whose educational background includes mechanical engineering (BEng) at Dalhousie University and an ongoing MASc in Aeronautical Engineering at the Royal Military College with research focused on computational modeling of composite structures.
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Tanya Harrison Ph.D. Candidate in Geology, University of Western Ontario |
| Tanya Harrison is a Ph.D. Candidate in Geology with a specialization in Planetary Science and Exploration at the University of Western Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Physics (double major) from the University of Washington and Master of Arts in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Wesleyan University. For 4 years between finishing her M.A. and starting her Ph.D., she worked in mission operations as an Assistant Staff Scientist at Malin Space Science Systems on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Context Camera (CTX) and Mars Color Imager (MARCI), as well as the Mast Cameras (Mastcam), Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), and Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) aboard the Curiosity rover. | |
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Adam Trumpour DIY Rocketry Enthusiast |
| Adam Trumpour is a young, driven aerospace engineering professional with a longstanding fascination with rocket and gas turbine propulsion systems, and the science and engineering that underlies them. He graduated from Engineering Science (aerospace option) at University of Toronto, and completed his M.A.Sc. at Ryerson University in aerospace engineering, specializing in rocket propulsion. He is a concept designer working on gas turbine engines at Pratt & Whitney Canada by day, and indulges his rocket obsession by designing, fabricating and testing liquid rocket engines and components in his spare time. His interests in aerospace propulsion and the industry and policy surrounding it have also led to involvement with the Canadian Space Commerce Association and the occasional foray into space policy analysis. | |
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Justin Trottier Host and Executive Producer, The Star Spot Radio Show and Podcast |
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Justin is a passionate proponent of science education, especially in the fields of astronomy and space exploration. He founded the University of Toronto Astronomy & Space Exploration Society and was its first President for 3 years. He then joined the Board of Directors of the Canadian Space Society where he has served as External Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Space Gazette.
Justin received an Engineering degree from the University of Toronto. He then went on to found a national educational charity called the Centre for Inquiry, which advances critical thinking and scientific literacy. Justin speaks regularly in the media in defense of fundamental freedoms like free speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of inquiry and participates in debates and dialogue which bring together groups from vastly differing backgrounds and perspectives, exploring issues in ethics, religion, and politics. Utilizing new media to engage youth, Justin hosts Think Again! TV, an independent media outlet that uses investigative journalism to explore human rights issues, and to serve as a watchdog for unfounded and dangerous claims. |
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Lawrence (Larry) Reeves *
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Larry has a BSc (UVic) and MSc (Queen's) in Computer Science, and a Master of Space Studies from the International Space University. Since ISU, Larry has worked in Canadian space industry in Vancouver for more years than he cares to mention, on programmes like RADARSAT-2, RapidEye, and NEOSSat. He is now a Senior Non-Engineer in an Engineering Role at UrtheCast. |
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Josh Newman Systems Engineer, |
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Josh Newman is a systems engineer at Canadensys Aerospace Corporation. His academic and industry experience has spanned all stages of spacecraft design, development, and operation, with emphases on propulsion systems, orbital mechanics, and rover mechanical systems.
Josh received a B.Eng in aerospace engineering from Carleton University, and a M.A.Sc. from the University of Toronto’s Space Flight Laboratory, where he worked on the highly acclaimed CanX-4/5 formation flight mission. |
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Marc Boucher Co-Founder & Executive Director, Canadian Space Commerce Association |
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Marc Boucher builds bridges by bringing people together to listen and exchange ideas. Mr. Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, publisher, technologist and a political economist. Mr. Boucher is the co-founder of SpaceRef, a new media company, and the Executive Director and co-founder of the Canadian Space Commerce Association. |
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Aaron Persad
Chief Science Officer, Astronauts for Hire
Ph.D. Fellow, Thermodynamics and Kinetics Laboratory, University of Toronto |
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Dr. Aaron Persad is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Thermodynamics and Kinetics Laboratory in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at the University of Toronto. His research applies quantum mechanics to investigate fundamental processes involved in phase change kinetics. He is a member of the European Space Agency’s Microgravity Applications Program mission team and has designed and built payloads flown to the International Space Station.
Dr. Persad serves as the Chief Science Officer for Astronauts for Hire, as the Manager of Microgravity Operations for Integrated Spaceflight Services, and as the CEO for TMS Robotics and Academics. In the past, he served as the parabolic flight campaign coordinator for the Canadian Space Agency and managed the logistics of integrating microgravity experiments aboard the National Research Council of Canada’s Falcon-20 aircraft. Dr. Persad is also a Lecturer at the University of Toronto and has won numerous awards for excellence in teaching. He enjoys SCUBA diving, snowboarding and training as a commercial astronaut. |
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Brodie Houlette Founder, Project Aurora |
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Brodie Houlette has spent most of the last eight years in Europe and was previously a co-founder of two start-ups in London, UK. He was Managing Director of Rocketeer Communications, a boutique PR/PA firm specialized in active citizenship, youth and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Business Development Manager of Deskninjas, converting non-traditional underused spaces into hot-desking spaces. Brodie gained experience in London as a freelance professional in the Health, Space and Technology sectors, working with brands such as Airbus Defence & Space and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (UK).
He is currently setting up a accelerator programme for space start-ups under the working name "Project Aurora" and is member of the UKs Labour Finance & Industry Groups national executive. In Brussels, Belgium, he worked for the All-Party Group for Young Members of the European Parliament as well as a Vice-President of the Assembly. Brodie has a BA in Political Science and an MA in European Studies, studying in Ottawa, Berlin and Leuven (Belgium). |
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Paul Graham CEO, Kepler Shipyards CEO, Project Director, OpenLuna Foundation |
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Paul is an engineer and programmer with natural aptitude, broad training, and vast experience. He is founder and CEO of Kepler Shipyards, a Texas-based aerospace design and manufacturing firm that specializes in extra-terrestrial space exploration hardware, as well as designing terrestrial applications for self-contained habitats and pressurized "space" suits.
He is also project director at OpenLuna, a nonprofit organization whose aim is to return humankind to the moon through open source and private enterprise. He was an engineer for the Mars Society's Mission Support from 2000 to 2007, where he was its engineering team coordinator. He has worked on numerous other space-related projects, including many Lunar, Martian, and even Jovian designs, and continues to be one of the top engineers and most sought-after speakers in the field of private space exploration. |
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Kayle Hansen, Outreach Coordinator, The Planetary Society - London, ON |
| Kayle Hansen is an Undergraduate student at the University of Western Ontario, majoring in Geology and Geography with an avid interest in space exploration and related science. He has been a student research assistant for the past four years with the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX). This has provided opportunities to participate in Mars Rover Analogue missions with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and be involved with mission operations and science of the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) cameras. For the past two years, Kayle has also been, alongside his brother Jake, an Outreach Coordinator for The Planetary Society in London, Ontario, advocating for space science public outreach and education while also collaborating and volunteering with local groups, such as CPSX, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC), and Space Society of London (SSoL), for various local events. |
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Chantelle Dubois * Former Intern, Space Generation Advisory Council Director of Business and Outreach, University of Manitoba Space Applications and Technology Society |
| Chantelle is an undergraduate student at the University of Manitoba in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering who is passionate about the space industry. In 2013 she joined the U of M Space Applications and Technology Society where she has held the position as Outreach Coordinator and Business Lead. The team participates in the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge, a nationwide competition, which engages universities to develop and build triple-cube nanosatellites. In 2014 the team was awarded the UrtheCast Outreach Award. In 2014, Chantelle was introduced to the Space Generation Advisory Council in Toronto where the organization's flagship annual event, the Space Generation Congress, was being held. Inspired by her participation at the congress, she sought out ways to remain involved with the SGAC, becoming involved with the web team, and most recently completed a 12-week internship at the head office in Vienna, Austria. |
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Marlene Conway Diels, |
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Marlene Conway Diels is an enterprising, accomplished leader and executive, with solid experience in diverse industries, academia and non-profit sectors. She is an inventor with several patents held, and has founded and developed several companies, most notably in the environmental sector.
Ms. Conway is educated in Marketing and Business Administration and has Associate degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Ms. Conway established Envision Technologies in 2002. Envision Technologies provides critical strategic, technical, supply chain and collaborative development and implementation services to global aerospace, advanced manufacturing and environmental industries, governments and organizations. |
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Ross Lockwood * PhD, Condensed Matter Physics |
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Ross Lockwood is a graduate from the University of Alberta with a Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics. His doctoral research focused on silicon quantum dots: nanoscale light emitters with potential applications in quantum computing and high-performance chemical sensing. He is now working on human performance analytics and 3D printing technologies with space exploration as his central motivation.
For the last two years, Ross has been exploring the path to becoming an astronaut. In 2014 he participated as a research subject in the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS), a 120-day Mars simulation where he played the role of the systems and communications engineer. In 2015, he trained as an Astronaut-Candidate with the Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere (PoSSUM) research group. In 2016, he participated in a medical study at the National Aerospace Research and Training Center (NASTAR) testing the effects of rocket launch G-forces on civilians. He continues to volunteer and train for a future astronaut application with the Canadian Space Agency. |
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* These speakers will not be present at the conference and will give their talks virtually.