Elevate Aviation Learning Centre

Elevate Aviation

Workplace Culture Consulting

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Our Team

Senior Leadership Team

Kendra Kincade – Chief Executive Officer

Kendra’s journey began with a challenging early life, which ultimately drove her towards a commitment to helping others in their pursuit of self-discovery and success. In 2015 she founded Elevate Aviation after recognizing a glaring gender disparity within the aviation industry. Kendra is an Air Traffic Controller with NAV CANADA, Honorary Colonel of RCAF 417 Helicopter Squadron, Board Chair for the Alberta Aviation Council, Vice Chair for the Strategic Aviation Advisory Council of Alberta, and a Director, Writer, and Executive Producer for “Only Up” a feature length documentary following women in various aviation careers. An inspiring and sought-after speaker, Kendra shares her knowledge and experience with audiences around the world. Her dedication to positive change has earned her numerous awards and recognition including the Inspirational Role Model from IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards, a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, the Trailblazer Award from Northern Lights Aero Foundation, 2019 SHEInnovator from Global Innovation Coalition for Change, Woman of Inspiration from The Universal Women’s Network, and Global’s Woman of Vision award. In her personal life, Kendra finds joy in spending time with her partner Corey, her children, and grandchildren.

Laura Sinclair – Chief Operating Officer / Chief Financial Officer

Originally from New Brunswick, Laura made the move to Edmonton after a 13-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. Leveraging her educational background in marketing, accounting, and e-business, she co-founded Elevate Aviation in 2015. Her military experience provided her with a deep understanding of the challenges women face in male-dominated industries and the importance of introducing women to careers they may not have previously considered. At Elevate Aviation, Laura oversees daily operations, funding opportunities, and all operational departments, including marketing, human resources, risk management, and finance. In addition to her leadership role at Elevate Aviation, she works full-time as an IFR Air Traffic Controller with NAV CANADA. Her outstanding contributions to the aviation industry were most recently acknowledged in 2024 as the recipient of the Business Award from Northern Lights Aero Foundation. In 2023, she was honoured with a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and featured in Edify Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40. Wings Magazine also recognized her as a recipient of the Top 20 Under 40 award in 2019. On her time off, Laura enjoys spending time with her kids, working out, and travelling with her husband, Mitchell. 

Nova Andrews – Chief Strategy Officer

Nova brings extensive experience in aviation and operations management, previously holding key leadership roles at Canada 3000 Airlines, Edmonton Airports, and Edmonton Economic Development. Passionate about empowering women, Nova moved on to Women Building Futures, where she honed her skills in supporting women entering non-traditional careers. Next, at the Bredin Centre for Learning, she managed employment programs that provided crucial resources and training to job seekers. These experiences deepened her understanding of workforce development and reinforced her commitment to creating inclusive opportunities. Nova initially joined Elevate Aviation as the Program Manager of the Aviation Career Exploration program, but quickly leveraged her expertise in workforce development and became instrumental in developing the comprehensive kindergarten-to-career programming now offered at the Elevate Aviation Learning Centre. Recognizing industry needs, Nova was also key in the development of Elevate Aviation’s Workplace Culture Change consulting program to improve safety and retention in the aviation industry. 

Christine Merrick – Director, Elevate Aviation Learning Centre

Having grown up in the world of aviation and adoring the exciting and ever changing nature of this industry, building a career in it just seemed like a natural fit for Christine. Starting her journey as a Passenger Service Agent with Canada 3000 Airlines, Christine has had the opportunity to build up her experience in various positions through a number of different airlines, eventually establishing herself as the first Station Manager of Swissport at the Edmonton International Airport. As someone who is always eager to learn and expand on her vast array of skills, she has most recently honed her analytical and leadership capabilities with Statistics Canada as a Data Collection Manager. Ultimately, with aviation always calling to her, Christine has now come full circle in her career with Elevate Aviation!  Fulfilling her passion, she is beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce others to the airline industry and watch them flourish. In her spare time – she can be found spending quality time with her family and three rescue dogs from Mexico- Rudy, Juliet and Ray.

Sophia Wells – Director, Mentorship & Volunteers

Sophia is a pilot and was the chief flight instructor at the Edmonton Flying Club from 2012-2023. She holds an airline transport pilot’s license and serves as a Transport Canada pilot examiner. She continues to instruct multi IFR and Instructor candidates as well as flies the Citation 560 and Navajo for Morgan Construction. She gets to share her life-long passion for aviation through Elevate Aviation by inspiring and mentoring women new to the industry. Sophia sits on the board of directors for the Alberta Aviation Council and previously on the Alberta Aviation Museum. Her contributions to aviation were recognized in 2018 as a Top 20 under 40 recipient for Wings Magazine, in 2019 with the Outstanding Alumni Award from Mount Royal University, and in 2022 with the COPA Appreciation Award. When she is not in the sky she enjoys spending her time with her family. 

Emily Reiman – Director, Industry Culture Development

Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Sociology, a Master’s Degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Equity Studies. With over a decade of experience in the aviation sector, both in the public and military spheres, she is a skilled, relatable, and industry-informed facilitator who uses data-driven solutions to drive impact. Emily has a strong background in DEI and a passion for effecting positive change within the workplace. She is Change Management certified and leverages the power of DEI by viewing it as a strategic advantage rather than a regulatory necessity, fostering a culture of inclusion that drives innovation and makes organizations attractive to top talent. Additionally, she brings expertise in talent management, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. In her free time, she enjoys strength training, astronomy, and golf.

Dina Jammaz – Director, Community Engagement

Dina has been an Air Traffic Controller for over 25 years and loves every minute of it. She is a passionate advocate for aviation education and outreach, devoting much of her time to engaging in the aviation community. Dina also serves as President of Alberta Air Tours, a non-profit organization that aims to inform and educate communities across the province and to inspire a new generation of aviation enthusiasts. Though born in Edmonton, her family moved to Kikino Métis settlement where she spent her youth. Through her role at Elevate Aviation, Dina continues to work with communities to introduce careers in aviation. From airshows to educational workshops, to mentoring others entering a career in aviation, she ensures the continued growth of a thriving aviation community. 

Program Management and Coordinators

Alberto Jiménez Ponce – Senior Manager, People and Culture

Alberto brings a wealth of experience in HR management and a deep commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Most recently, Alberto worked at WestJet as a Talent Acquisition Partner where he honed his expertise in recruitment and DEI initiatives within the aviation industry. With a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Strategy and several years of experience in leadership, HR, and DEI roles, Alberto has a proven track record of developing and implementing innovative strategies that foster inclusive work environments and support underrepresented groups. With a collaborative work style and a strong commitment to driving positive change, Alberto is eager to contribute to Elevate Aviation’s goals and help shape the future of aviation by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Outside of work, you can find Alberto spending time with friends, being active outdoors, traveling, enjoying the sun, swimming, and trying all kinds of foods!

Ilianna Thasitis – Mentorship Program Manager & Administrative Assistant

When Ilianna first developed an interest in aviation, she dreamt of becoming a pilot. However, at that point in her life, she felt that dream was out of reach. After achieving accomplishments in other areas, such as graduating from MacEwan University, Ilianna developed the confidence to pursue her goal. Today, Ilianna is a licensed Private Pilot and is actively working toward her Commercial Pilot’s License at the Edmonton Flying Club. Learning to fly has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of her life. Once she completes her CPL, Ilianna plans to pursue her Multi-IFR and Instructor Ratings to teach others how to fly and serve as a mentor while building her flying experience. Ilianna finds immense fulfillment in her involvement with Elevate Aviation’s initiatives and loves working on impactful projects that make a difference in the lives of others. Outside of aviation, Ilianna enjoys cooking, staying active, and spending time with friends and family. Her journey reflects her determination and passion for inspiring others to achieve their dreams in aviation.

Kristine Morris – Elevate U Program Coordinator

Kristine is all about making change happen. As a personal transformation coach and a professional facilitator, she brings a ton of experience to the table. She earned her Social Work degree from the University of Calgary, but not before traveling and working around the world for 14 years. Her background in racial diversity and equity is rock-solid, with experience in Correctional Services, Children’s Services, and Career Coaching. Kristine loves to inspire and motivate people to live fully, realize their potential, and contribute to a better world as they thrive both personally and professionally. Her passion for empowering others brought her to Elevate Aviation, where she began as a facilitator for  our WEST Program, helping women explore aviation careers and build fulfilling lives, before taking on her current role at Elevate U. She loves hosting international women’s retreats, supporting women in discovering their hidden talents. Kristine is a French Albertan (yes, that’s a thing!) and is celebrating 30 years with her life partner (yes, that really does happen!). Together they raised two incredible children, and are now enjoying their grand-babies! Kristine always has a home full of animals – some her own, many picked up along the way, in need of a soft place to land until they find their forever homes. Kristine believes in the power of kindness and tries to spread it wherever she goes.

Quan Luu – Brand Engagement Manager

Quan is an accomplished marketing professional with over eight years experience in digital marketing, social media, project management and event planning – with a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion, corporate social responsibility and wellness programs. He possesses the leadership skills to oversee projects from inception to successful completion. Quan is also an articulate communicator with natural expertise in cultivating professional alliances and fortifying partnerships.

Maegan Extross – Wing Program Coordinator

Maegan earned her Glider Pilot’s License and Private Pilot’s Licenses through the Air Cadet program, before graduating as a Warrant Officer Second Class in 2015. She attended the Aviation Safety Advanced Diploma Program at Seneca College, where she became the President of the Seneca Aviation Association in her first year and established a very successful annual networking event that brings together members of the industry and students. Maegan was chosen to be the Valedictorian of her class and graduated with Honours. She completed a co-op term with NAV CANADA, where she was hired full-time after her graduation in 2018. She works as a Research Analyst, providing traffic and safety analysis to support informed decision-making. Maegan was a recipient of the Northern Lights Aero Foundation’s Elsie McGill Rising Star Award in 2021. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering for other organizations close to her heart, planning trips, and trying new restaurants.

Sushant Kumar – Volunteer Program Coordinator

Sushant is an accomplished legal and human resources professional with extensive experience in law, volunteer coordination, and human resources. With a robust background in advocacy and a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Sushant has dedicated his career to driving social change and promoting equal opportunities. Throughout his legal career in India, Sushant collaborated with various women’s empowerment organizations to spread awareness and champion gender equity. He has demonstrated his leadership capabilities by managing 3,000 volunteers as a Coordinator for the 2023 World Police and Fire Games held in Winnipeg. His exceptional organizational skills and ability to cultivate professional alliances have been instrumental in the successful execution of large-scale events and projects.

Hannah McKay – Community Engagement Coordinator

Hannah’s aviation journey began in 2018 as a flight attendant, but her passion quickly led her to the flight deck. She achieved her private pilot license in 2021 and has since added a commercial license, multi-engine rating, and flight instructor rating to her accomplishments. In addition to her role as an instructor at the Edmonton Flying Club, Hannah contributes to Elevate Aviation’s mission by using her commitment to promoting women in aviation and cultivating a supportive environment through community engagement. Beyond the skies, Hannah finds joy in baking bread, mountain biking, snowboarding, and enjoying time outdoors with her family.

Nikki Joubert – Data & Intake Administrator

Originally from Saskatchewan, Nikki launched her administrative career at the Federal Department of Justice Canada, in Records Management and later advancing through various administrative and management roles in Saskatoon. In 2006, she embraced a lifestyle change by moving to a serene Alberta acreage, where her passion for creativity, craftsmanship, and painting inspired the establishment of a successful custom steel fabrication company with her husband. Recently, Nikki pursued her lifelong interest in aviation, completing Elevate Aviation Learning Centre’s WEST program (Cohort Hotel) and achieving a milestone in her education with the Fundamentals of Aviation course at The University of Waterloo. During her time at the learning center, Nikki cherished the camaraderie among the staff and strongly resonated with Elevate Aviation’s mission to provide a pathway for women and underrepresented groups to thrive in aviation careers. This alignment was so profound that Nikki eagerly pursued an opportunity to join the team.

Quan Luu – Brand Engagement Manager

Quan is an accomplished marketing professional with over eight years experience in digital marketing, social media, project management and event planning – with a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion, corporate social responsibility and wellness programs. He possesses the leadership skills to oversee projects from inception to successful completion. Quan is also an articulate communicator with natural expertise in cultivating professional alliances and fortifying partnerships.

Meet the Elevate Aviation Learning Centre Team

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Land Acknowledgement

Elevate Aviation is grateful to be headquartered within Treaty 6 Territory and within Region 4 (North Saskatchewan River Territory) of the Métis Nation. We acknowledge the land as the traditional territory of First Nations such as the Nehiyaw (Cree), Denesuliné (Dene), Nakota Sioux (Stoney), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux) and Niitsitapi (Blackfoot). We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples for their ongoing guardianship and deep connection to the land across Turtle Island.
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