Trusted Partner Since 1969 

Chris leads Conair Group Inc., including Conair, Conair France and Aero-Flite Inc., our US based subsidiary company. Chris joined Aero-Flite in 2021 bringing with him 26 years of leadership experience in both civilian and military aerospace organizations. After completing his service in the U.S. Marine Corps as a combat experienced F-18 Instructor Pilot, Landing Signal Officer, and Forward Air Controller, he held various roles in engineering, operations, and aviation safety at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

After completing his military career as a French Air Force Navigator, Tristan held a variety of management roles at Airbus Helicopters before leading SAF Aerogroup as CEO, strengthening fleet management, expanding international operations, and introducing digital innovations to improve safety and efficiency within the organization. He joined Conair in 2025 and is committed to aligning strategy with operational reality.

Sandy is a designated Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years of experience in finance across retail, technology, and manufacturing. Sandy joined Conair in 2019 as CFO and is responsible for Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology and Enterprise Resource Planning. He works closely with Conair's functional areas to ensure the execution of strategic plans and day-to-day financial management.

David joined Conair in 2019 and brings over 20 years of law experience, with the Supreme Court of British Columbia, private law firms and corporations. At Conair, David is General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Conair, leading the company’s legal function and serving as a strategic advisor to the CEO, executive team, and Board. His responsibilities include advising on commercial and government contracting, procurement, regulatory compliance, financing, insurance, aircraft acquisition, litigation management, and corporate governance.

As Corporate Secretary, David supports Board administration, oversees corporate records and policies, and helps align governance practices with business objectives.

Bernhardt holds a Master of Engineering and a Diplôme d’Ingénieur in Industrial Engineering & Automation and brings over 18 years of international experience in the aviation industry. He has built broad expertise across engineering, certification, and operational environments, with a strong focus on industrial performance, operational excellence, and scalable OEM capability.

At Conair, Bernhardt leads OEM Operations, with responsibility for engineering, production, supply chain, maintenance, customer support, quality assurance, and program execution. His organization supports the development, certification, and global delivery of next-generation aerial firefighting aircraft, strengthening Conair’s position as a leading OEM platform for special mission aviation and lifecycle support to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Scott joined Conair in 2015, transitioning from operations to finance where he plays a key role in guiding organizational initiatives, offering both strategic direction and financial expertise to support his team. As the lead for long-term financial planning, Scott manages budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling, ensuring the company remains well-positioned for sustainable growth. He proactively identifies and mitigates risks related to operational items, economic shifts, and market fluctuations while delivering timely, accurate, and compliant financial reporting.

Shannon joined the team in 2020 after 25 years working with event and communications agencies, bringing with her a unique ability to engage and inform, strengthening all facets of Conair’s marketing efforts. In her current role, she supports expansion of the company’s global aerial firefighting operations and specialized aircraft sales, identifying new opportunities, building strategic connections, and driving high priority initiatives.

Michael joined Conair after a 30-year career in wildfire, leading the wildfire operations research program at FPInnovations, a not-for-profit research and development organization based in Canada, and managing the airtanker program for British Columbia Wildfire Service, responding to wildfires spanning nearly 1 million sq kilometres with both amphibious water bombers and retardant airtankers.

Michael’s hands-on experience in aerial firefighting, combined with his research on methods to protect forests and communities from wildfires, provides global agencies with a wealth of support as they address the complex challenge of responding to escalating wildfire behaviour amid climate change.

Jody is an aviation professional and licensed aircraft engineer with over 30 years of experience across corporate, commercial, and manufacturing sectors. He joined Aero-Flite in 2024 to support government agencies worldwide with effective aerial firefighting response and promote the company’s expanding fleet. Previously, he worked at Bombardier on the Dash 8-400 and CL-415 programs before founding Vortex Aerospace in 2005, where he led the final line assembly of the CL-415 aircraft for Bombardier, responsible for training and global deliveries, growing the team to 70 specialists at its peak.

Joining Conair in 2024, Bertrand brings nearly 20 years of experience in aviation and aerospace to the organization, with expertise in OEM part design, manufacturing, engineering, and MRO support. Bertrand has successfully managed engineering teams and driven operational improvements in international settings, with experience covering the entire aerospace product lifecycle, from design and certification to production and maintenance.

He has also fostered strong customer and partner relationships, including, as Director of Engineering at MTU Maintenance Canada, leading teams to enhance repair strategies, improve operational efficiency, and streamline technical communication with customers, and, as an EASA Compliance Verification Engineer in France, providing him with a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks.

Benedikt joined Conair in May 2024, bringing with him over 14 years of aerospace and engineering expertise. In his previous roles, Benedikt drove innovation in engine maintenance processes and industrialization. He possesses extensive experience in manufacturing technology, configuration management, production planning & control, and program responsibility.

Benedikt has a proven track record of overseeing complex projects that enhance operational efficiency and drive organizational growth. As Director of Programs & Airtanker Production, Benedikt oversees aircraft conversion programs from purchase to customer acceptance. He manages the entire conversion process for internal and external clients, executing strategic projects that prioritize innovation and continuous improvement.

John is a seasoned aviation professional with 40 years of experience in the industry. He holds a BA from the University of Guelph and is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional. He has held leadership roles at Sunwing Airlines, First Air, and Air Canada, where he led improvements in safety management, quality assurance, emergency preparedness, and sustainability practices. Beyond his corporate leadership, John has dedicated over a decade to shaping the future of aviation by teaching at Seneca Polytechnic’s School of Aviation, coaching, and mentoring the next generation of aviation professionals. As the person responsible for implementing Conair’s Safety Management System, he champions a culture of safety and compliance, ensuring the highest standards of safety risk management across our operations.

Scott has been involved in the aviation industry for nearly 30 years, accumulating more than 9,000 flight hours since beginning his commercial flying career in 1996. He joined Conair Aerial Firefighting in 2018 as a Turbo Commander Birddog Pilot while on leave from Transport Canada where he had served as a Civil Aviation Safety Inspector for nine years. In 2019, Scott accepted the full-time role of Manager, Flight Standards for Conair and has maintained that post until being awarded the position of Director, Flight Operations in 2025.

Throughout his career, Scott has held leadership and regulatory positions focused on operational safety, compliance, and the continuous improvement of aviation operations. As Director, Flight Operations, he is responsible for the overall direction and supervision of flight operations and the development of policy governing these functions. Scott still enjoys flying and maintains birddog qualifications on multiple aircraft types.

Brad joined Conair as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer in 2006, travelling to remote bases throughout North America for 12 years.

At Conair, he advanced through roles including AT802 Fleet Manager and Dash 8-400 Fleet Manager, proving himself a strong leader, mentor, and innovator, offering significant contributions to the Conair Dash 8-400 Airtanker Program and French Dash 8-400 Conversion Program. Brad is proud to lead Conair’s dedicated team of over a hundred professional, passionate aircraft maintenance engineers and support staff.

Jeff is a senior HR and operations leader with over 25 years of experience in labour relations, strategic planning, and large-scale event management. He is known for building collaborative teams, negotiating labour agreements, and leading complex operations with a focus on efficiency and engagement. He has held key roles across sectors, including 12 years the Pacific National Exhibition, where he managed Vancouver’s annual fair, Playland, festivals, concerts, sporting events and tradeshows. Jeff brings a leadership style that is fueled by curiosity and creativity.

Nobert leads the team responsible for maintaining all information technology infrastructure at Conair. He first joined Conair as an IT Co-op student in 2014, while still attending university and in 2015, joined the IT Team on a permanent basis as a Jr. Network Administrator, assisting the team and maintaining the company’s network infrastructure.

He quickly progressed in the role and in 2017 was promoted to Network Systems Administrator, responsible for leading the IT Team through its day-to-day operations. As the Director of Information Technology, Nobert works closely with other departments to provide the IT support needed, while maintaining Conair’s vision to provide safe, efficient and innovative service to
our customers.

Tania began her career with Conair in June 2011 as a buyer, progressing through several key roles, including Purchasing Manager and Supply Chain Manager. With over 15 years of aerospace experience, she brings a strong foundation in supply chain strategy, procurement, and operational excellence. Known for her collaborative leadership style and deep operational insight, Tania has played a critical role in strengthening Conair’s supply chain capabilities. She holds a Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation, underscoring her commitment to industry best practices and continuous improvement. As Director of Supply Chain, Tania provides strategic oversight of Conair’s procurement and supply chain functions, supporting Maintenance, OEM operations, and Flight Operations while ensuring fleet readiness and operational efficiency.

Mike joined Conair in 2019 as a Bird Dog Captain prior to taking on the role of Chief Pilot. He has spent over 25 years in the aviation industry, including 9000 accident-free flight hours while having simultaneously held leadership, supervisory, and training roles. Prior to joining Conair, Mike was General Manager of Northern Thunderbird Air, a charter airline operator conducting mining crew changes, scheduled services to remote communities, medevacs, cargo flights, and aerial work, using a fleet of up to 10 aircraft and 30 pilots, providing aircraft maintenance inhouse.

Mike has over 20 years of experience as a Training Captain and Approved Check Pilot in Aerial Work, Air Taxi, Commuter, and Airline operations. He has held the Transport Canada approved positions as Chief Flight Instructor, Chief Pilot, and Operations Manager. As Chief Pilot, Mike is responsible for the oversight, leadership, and professional standards of Conair Pilots.

A graduate of the Aeronautical Maintenance Engineering School, Adam began his aviation career in 1988 as a maintenance engineer, holding various management positions in quality assurance, customer support, and aircraft maintenance at Bombardier Aerospace, Cascade Aerospace and Conair.

He joined Conair’s Dash 8-400 modification program in 2004 and contributed to the completion and delivery of the first Dash 8-400MR aircraft to the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Civile. He relocated to Conair France in 2005 to support the French maintenance operations, providing aftermarket customer support for the government’s fleet of Dash 8-400MRE airtankers.