The Future of Flight: Reimagining Sustainable Air Travel Post-COVIDAirlines and airports have struggled immensely during the COVID-19 pandemic as passengers stayed home and air travel slowed. Essential air service airports and small regional airlines across the rural U.S. and Canada have cut staff, flights, and are facing enormous economic shortfalls. With major infrastructure funding soon to be available in Canada and the U.S., how can electrification of regional airports and small air fleets for passengers and cargo boost the industry and save this vital industry? Between low-cost, green energy fuels and cutting edge electric technology, a skilled and talented aerospace workforce, the Pacific Northwest has the opportunity to lead the world in electric and autonomous aviation operations. Hear from policy experts, airline CEO’s, and electric plane manufacturers on the role that decarbonization can play in saving and reviving small airports across the region, maintaining vital links between communities.
Moderators
Speakers
Speakers and Links
Bruce Agnew, Director, Cascadia Center and ACES Northwest Network Since 1993, Bruce Agnew has been leading the Northwest Cascadia initiative serving as director of the Cascadia Center in Seattle. The Center is a private, non-profit, public policy center engaged in regional and international transportation and technology. Bruce also co-chairs of the Transportation Group for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) – a public private partnership of ten Northwest states and Western Canadian provinces/territories. Since 2017, he has served as director of the ACES NW Network dedicated to the acceleration of ACES (Autonomous-Connected-Electric-Shared) technology in transportation. The Network is a 40 member technology driven alliance co-chaired by Tom Alberg, Co-founder and managing partner of Madrona Venture Group in Seattle and Bryan Mistele, CEO/Co-founder of INRIX global technology in Kirkland. In 2009, Seattle Magazine named him “Road Warrior” in their “Power List” of community leaders for his transportation initiatives from advocacy of a Deep Bore Tunnel for the Alaska Way Viaduct Replacement to innovative infrastructure financing, passenger rail and ferries. He was also awarded the “Smashed Brick” by the Canadian Consul General in 2008 for reducing barriers to cross-border trade and tourism. On the North American front, Mr. Agnew chaired an advisory committee to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) chartered by NAFTA publishing a report,“Destination Sustainability” exploring carbon taxes on trade corridors and serves on the Can Am Border Trade Alliance. From 1987-93, Mr. Agnew was Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative John Miller from Washington state’s First District. Before his congressional service, Bruce Agnew was elected to two terms on the Snohomish County Council and served as President of the Puget Sound Regional Council in 1985. Mr. Agnew is a 1974 graduate of Stanford University and a 1977 graduate of U.C. Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall) and resides with his family in Beaux Arts Village, WA.
Representative Vandana Slatter, Washington State House of Representatives
State Representative Vandana Slatter (D, 48th District, Position 1) is a former Bellevue City Councilmember, community leader, public school parent, and biotech and healthcare professional. A Doctor of Pharmacy (UW), Vandana has worked for the past twenty-plus years at leading biotechnology companies, including Amgen and Genentech, bringing multiple parties together, making sense of complex information, and achieving safe and efficient solutions to best serve patients. She is a licensed pharmacist in the State of Washington. While obtaining her Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Washington, Vandana served as an intern to U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. She was appointed to a 4-year term on Washington State Board of Pharmacy by Governor Christine Gregoire in 2007. She also served on the Foundation Board of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. In 2017, she was appointed as the State House Representative for the 48th Legislative District. As a representative she has sponsored and passed legislation to help homeless youth access government services, improve collection of educational data, and create a tax exemption for low income housing. She has also sponsored legislation to reduce Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions to those consistent with the Paris Climate Accord and to develop regional air travel through electric or hybrid-electric aircraft.She is co-chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology (ScItech) Caucus and a member of the Members of Color Caucus (MOCC). Vandana is also a graduate of the University of British Columbia (B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Sciences). At UBC, she earned a varsity athletic letter in the sport of fencing, was captain of the UBC women’s varsity fencing team and a gold medalist at the BC Junior Women’s foil championships. Vandana, her husband, Greg, a research scientist, and son have lived in Northeast Bellevue since 2003. 
Yolanka Wulff, Co-Executive Director, Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI)Yolanka is Co-Executive Director of the Community Air Mobility Initiative, an educational nonprofit working globally to support the responsible integration of advanced air mobility into local and regional transportation systems. Prior to joining CAMI, she was a sustainable aviation consultant, working with industry, government, academia and nonprofits on policy, standards and regulations, industry development, market challenges, and communications. Yolanka is a business attorney and consultant with over two decades of experience in the successful development, implementation and management of mission-driven programs. Yolanka is a member of the Transportation Research Board New Users of Shared Airspace Committee, the GAMA Electric Propulsion Innovation Committee, and also serves as Executive Director of CAFE Foundation where she organizes the annual Electric Aircraft Symposium.
Speakers
Roei Ganzarski, CEO, magniX
Roei is CEO of magniX, an electric aviation propulsion company. With a vision of connecting communities with low-cost, clean air transportation, magniX is disrupting aviation as we know it. Roei is also chairman of Eviation, the electric aircraft OEM. Prior to magniX, Roei was CEO of BoldIQ - a provider of dynamic real-time scheduling optimization software. Under Roei’s leadership, BoldIQ grew from seed software startup to multi- million-dollar profitable SaaS company. Before BoldIQ, Roei was with the Boeing family of companies in continuously increasing roles of responsibility. His last role was Chief Customer Officer for Boeing’s Flight Services division where he led worldwide customer and market facing organizations and was responsible for revenue growth and customer service. Other experiences prior to Boeing include investment banking, corporate finance, advertising, and the military. He is a graduate of Wharton’s Advanced Management Program, earned an MBA from the University of Washington, and a BA in Economics from The University of Haifa. Roei sits on the board of the Washington Technology Industry Association and lives with his family in Redmond, Washington, USA. 
Greg McDougall, Founder & CEO, Harbour Air GroupBorn in California to Canadian parents, Greg spent every summer in British Columbia, Canada. Early exposure to the coast gave Greg the taste of aviation. Greg earned his Private Pilot Licence in 1977 and started his own airline; Harbour Air Ltd. in 1982. Harbour Air quickly grew from a 2 plane, charter only operation to what it is today; North America’s largest all-seaplane airline that services over 500,000 passengers per year on tours, scheduled service routes and tours using a showcase fleet of over 40 seaplanes. The world’s first carbon neutral airline, Harbour Air has reshaped the transportation landscape in British Columbia, been recognized as one of the top places to work in Canada, one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies as well as recognized for it’s outstanding contribution to safety. Today, still as CEO of Harbour Air, with over 12,000 hours logged, countless National and International awards and, in 2019, an induction into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, Greg McDougall has partnered with magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution. On December 10th, 2019, Greg flew the world’s first commercial electric flight. Next, Greg plans to work with regulators to convert the entire Harbour Air fleet. To Greg, that early taste of aviation is still strong and drives him to continue to evolve and innovate Harbour Air. “If we sit here looking out the window, one day there is going to be something out there that’s going to rock your world. I want to be the one flying it, not the one watching it.” Greg still lives in British Columbia and when he’s not revolutionizing the future of clean aviation, he can be found biking the backcountry or working with his family on their farm bringing sustainable farming practices to his community.
Joe Sparling, President & CEO, Air North
In 1977, Air North started as a small fixed wing charter carrier and now provides regional scheduled passenger and cargo services between Whitehorse and Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Yellowknife (seasonal), Ottawa (seasonal), Dawson City, Old Crow, and Inuvik, as well as charter services throughout Canada.The airline operates five Boeing 737 jet aircraft and three ATR-42 turboprop aircraft, and is one of only a handful of Canadian air carriers providing year-round scheduled domestic jet air service. With one in 15 Yukoners holding an equity stake, including the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Air North really is Yukon’s Airline. It’s also one of the largest private sector employers in the Yukon with more than 250 full and part-time employees. Scheduled flying is Air North’s core business, but other business units include charter flying, fuel sales, trucking and ground handling. Joe received his Bachelor of Science – Mathematics at Carleton University in 1972 and a Masters in Business Administration – Finance & Transportation Studies at University of British Columbia, in 1974. Mr. Sparling is also an Airline Transport Rated Pilot with 25,000+ hours, type rated on B737, HS748, DC-4, and DC-3 aircraft. He is Past President and a current Director of the Northern Air Transport Association and a Director of the Air Transport Association of Canada. Joe is married to Debra and they have two adult children, Ben and Gina. 
JR Hammond, Executive Director, Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Consortium
JR Hammond is the Executive Director of CAAM, the Not for Profit Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Consortium. The consortium specializes in creating the national strategy for Advanced Air Mobility in Canada with regional implementation hubs. The diverse group of stakeholders are centralized on the Triple Bottom Line (Environmental, Social & Economic) integration of Advanced Air Mobility in Canada. CAAM is spearheading the efforts in organizing, strategizing and facilitating both Urban Air Mobility & Regional Air Mobility to bring the next frontier of aviation to Canada. JR is also the Founder of Canadian Air Mobility based in Vancouver, Canada which is mandated on Activist Based Investments in Environmental & Social Equity opportunities within the Advanced Air Mobility industry. 
Adrienne Lindgren, State and Local Partnerships Lead, Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group
Adrienne Lindgren is an urban planner and economic development professional, with a focus on integrating advanced transportation technology into the built environment to enhance urban and regional mobility outcomes. As Hyundai Urban Air Mobility’s (UAM) Lead for State and Local Partnerships, Adrienne partners with entities across the globe to better understand how UAM technology can deliver universal, affordable, and human-centered cities, while driving and supporting initiatives that increase capacity for UAM solutions in a multi-modal mobility environment. Her work is guided by principles of equity, accessibility, and ecological and fiscal sustainability. Prior to joining Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), Adrienne worked for WSP USA, an engineering services firm, where she assisted transportation owners and operators in delivering innovative aerial technology programs, while leading a new practice in aviation innovation. She has worked with international transportation and aviation authorities, airports, State DOTs, and local agencies across the US and in the pacific northwest, most recently as the project manager for WSDOT’s Aviation’s statewide electric aviation study, prior to her transition to HMG. Before moving into the private sector, Adrienne spent time in local government under the Garcetti administration in the City of Los Angeles; she continues to serve local government as a private citizen through city commissions. She has her Bachelor’s in Politics and International Relations from Scripps College, her Master’s in Planning from University of Southern California, and completed executive education in Project Finance at London Business School. Leadership
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