This seminar series invites leading industry experts to give an insight into what they believe are the biggest challenges facing the sector, and what the future might hold. All MIAE members are invited to attend, from undergraduate to faculty, to hear about the future and hopefully provide inspiration for the leaders of the next generation to solve some of the Grand Challenges facing Aerospace.
Upcoming
Bell Flight (12 November 2026)
Please register here: mcgill.ca/miae/grand-challenges-bell-flight
JOIN MIAE IN WELCOMING A TEAM OF ENGINEERS, led by ROBERT GARDNER, from the Mirabel facility of BELL FLIGHT, which engineers and manufactures advanced vertical lift aircraft for medical, rescue, and transportation services. Founded in 1935 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. with a global network of strategic locations. In 1983, Canada’s government selected Bell to establish the helicopter industry in Canada. In 1986, Bell Textron Canada opened the doors of its Commercial Centre of Excellence in Mirabel, Quebec – home to a fully integrated design, manufacturing and delivery operation in service to the global helicopter market. With a legacy built on industry firsts—including breaking the sound barrier and certifying the first commercial helicopter—Bell continues to revolutionize the experience of flight by developing fast, reliable, and efficient next-generation platforms like the MV-75, Bell 525, and high-speed VTOL technology.
ROBERT GARDNER has spent over 17 years contributing to the success of Bell Flight. He currently serves as the Technical Director for Commercial Programs at the company's Mirabel facility. Throughout his extensive tenure at Bell, Gardner has held critical leadership roles, including serving as Chief of Structural Analysis, Engineering Chief for 429 Technical Services, Chief Engineer, and Manager of Certification. His expert technical assessments and engineering documentation have played a significant role in major program milestones and industry compliance evaluations.
Past Seminars
Wisk Aero (2 October 2025)
MAÏ CHÉTIMA, General Manager/Head of Navigation and Flight Controls for Wisk Canada on the challenges of autonomous flight.
Pratt & Whitney Canada (26 Sept. 2024)
JEAN THOMASSIN, Executive Director of New Product and Service Introduction, on the challenges and excitement of developing a prototype hybrid electric propulsion system.
MDA (29 Feb. 2024)
GIOVANNI D'ALIESIO, Director of Business Development at MDA, on the storied past of the company and its ambitions in the future to upscale the production of satellites.
MiMi Aung (20 Nov. 2023)
MIMI AUNG, formerly the lead engineer of the "Ingenuity" Mars Helicopter at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and currently leading Amazon's Kuiper Project, on how her team overcame numerous obstacles to design the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight in another planet's atmosphere.
Airbus Canada (23 Feb. 2023)
ROB DEWAR, Senior VIce-President, A220 Customer Satisfaction and McGill alumnus, on how Airbus Canada is helping to chart the future of aviation with the A220.
Bombardier Aviation (27 Oct. 2022)
BENOIT BREAULT, Director of Research and Technology, on the future of aerospace design at Bombardier.
