Sandra is a Jane-of-all-trades. With her wide and extensive experience, she understands and can deal efficiently with the overall support, technical, customer service and tactical process operations of a business. She loves to help and continuously improve to make sure things run smoothly and everyone is happy and taken care of.

CMISA is delighted that Alan Novotny has been elected to our Board of Directors. As Wärtsilä Canada's Business Development Manager, Alan is focused on the company’s federal government projects. Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. The company has a broad portfolio of marine technology including engines, propulsion systems, hybrid technologies, data and digital tools, liquid and gas handling on vessels and integrated power train systems. Alan developed his passion for the Marine industry starting early in his career with small gas and diesel engines for the pleasure craft and commercial fishing fleet to today’s large projects such as the generator set replacements on the Halifax class frigates and other current large vessel projects. He is keenly interested in helping decarbonise the marine industry and is looking forward to working with CMISA members navigating this shift. We are sure that Alan will make valuable contributions to our Association in his new role as a member of the Board of Directors.

It is with great pleasure that we announce that Bruce Cutler is joining CMISA’s Board of Directors. As President and co-founder of Adaptive Marine Solutions, Bruce brings over 25 years’ experience in the ship building industry, ranging from conceptual design to ship maintenance and surveying, in both Canada and the United States. Adaptive Marine Solutions Inc. is a 100% Canadian owned and operated Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering design firm with offices in Ottawa, Ontario and St. John’s, Newfoundland and remote resources distributed throughout Canada. Bruce is passionate about ensuring shipbuilding in Canada thrives and believes that innovating, adapting and mentoring are key components in maintaining success in the Canadian shipbuilding industry. Through his role on CMISA’s Board of Directors, he will help the Association promote and protect Canadian design firms while at the same time ensure shipyards get the support they require in order to be successful. We welcome Bruce to the Board and look forward to his contributions.

We are thrilled to announce that Luke Joyce has joined the CMISA Board of Directors. A seasoned marketing and communications professional in both public and private sectors, Luke is Genoa Design International Ltd.'s Director of Marketing. Genoa Design International is one of the most sought after production design firms in the North American shipbuilding market and has been providing production design and 3D modeling services to shipbuilding and offshore industries since 1995. Newfoundland-based, Luke’s significant government and commercial experience will help CMISA position itself as a driving force in Canada’s growing shipbuilding sector. We are so pleased to welcome Luke to our Board of Directors.

Sherry Colville is the General Manager, Canadian Defence Business at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. With over 30 years of experience in the aerospace and defence industry, she has held leadership roles at renowned organizations such as Westinghouse, Northrop Grumman, L-3, and Lockheed Martin.

Throughout her career, Sherry has excelled in customer-focused roles spanning Business Unit Management, Program Management, Contract Management, Strategy, and Business Development. Her expertise lies in the development, manufacturing, and life-cycle support of advanced technologies and services for the Canadian Armed Forces, U.S. Government, and international naval customers.

Before joining Honeywell, Sherry served as Senior Vice President at Duke Smart Staffing Solutions, where she played a pivotal role in aligning workforce supply with evolving industry demands. Her work supported Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy and major naval programs, reinforcing her commitment to domestic talent development, ethical industry practices, and cross-border collaboration.

Named one of Esprit de Corps’ Top 20 Women in Defence (2025), Sherry remains an advocate for leadership development and continues to serve as a strategic voice in Canada’s evolving marine, aerospace and defence landscape.

As a CMISA board member, Sherry is committed to supporting the Association’s vision to strengthen Canada’s marine and defence sovereign capability by championing industrial collaboration, and long-term national readiness.

Over the course of a 30 year career, Judy has gained a solid knowledge of the marine industry, with 20 years of that time in the defense industry, largely in support of Canadian Government programs.

Following a 13 year span with BAE Systems Canada, Judy joined Seaspan in 2015 as Deputy Program Manager for the Joint Support Ship new build program. During the first four years with Seaspan Shipyards, she was privileged to experience first-hand the multiple challenges and stakeholder perspectives associated with complex government procurement.

Seaspan Shipyards is Canada’s long-term, strategic shipbuilding partner for building the large non-combat vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Through its NSS–related work, Seaspan Shipyards is leading the redevelopment of our domestic shipbuilding industry on the West Coast and delivering on the promise of ships built in Canada, by Canadians.

Currently holding the position of Director Future Programs (2019), Judy works within the Strategy & Business Development Team and is responsible for large account oversight of the Canadian Coast Guard programs, as well as international business development. 

Ben Valcour is the Deputy Program Manager with Thales Canada, Defense and Security, with over 13 years of experience in marine industry. Ben brings nearly a decade of experience in the shipbuilding industry, ranging from commercial ship repair, to new builds for the navy, as well as design programs. In addition to this, his most recent experience has been providing in-service support to the Royal Canadian Navy on numerous classes of vessels. Ben is passionate about driving innovation in the Canadian shipbuilding and maintenance industries and ensuring the industry thrives long-term. Since moving from New Brunswick to Halifax in 2008, Ben takes advantage of living by the ocean often spending time hiking the coast, enjoying the Halifax waterfront, and spending time with family and friends.

Ben holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University, a Bachelors of Management from Dalhousie University, and a Certificate in Complex Project and Procurement Leadership from Telfer at the University of Ottawa.

Marlene is an enterprising, accomplished leader, executive and team member, with solid experience in diverse industries, academic and non-profit sectors.  She is an inventor with 11 patents held, and has founded and developed several companies, most notably in the environmental sector.  Ms. Conway Diels is educated in Marketing and Business Administration and has associate degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering.  Ms.Conway Diels received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal “In recognition of her years of service in the aerospace industry, promoting excellence in education, and in leading environmental preservation initiatives.” Received Ontario Premier’s Award for Business, in recognition of development and implementation of innovative, multi-stakeholder industrial and environmental business and technological initiatives, and was designated a Mohawk College Graduate of Distinction Most recently, in January 2022, Marlene was named a finalist in the global Women and Drones Women to Watch Award for Leadership.

The Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI) represents a wide variety of companies in BC’s industrial marine sector – a sector that comprises approximately 1100 companies, sustaining 34,200 jobs and generating $7.2 billion in total output.  This includes shipbuilding and ship repair, marine infrastructure and industrial marine services, marine professional services, marine products, small craft marine construction and repair, and ocean science and technology. The association’s core activities include workforce development; skills development; facilitating and enabling innovation and new technologies in the marine space; identifying and enabling business opportunities; business development; supplier development and supply chain training; supporting international business development and increasing export of products and services; and sectoral advocacy.

Some of our in-person events for 2025 include:

1. ABCMI - BC Ferries Business Opportunities Forum, Victoria, February 27, 2025
2. ABCMI & COAST Innovation Forum, Vancouver, April 15 & 16, 2025
3. ABCMI Business Opportunities Conference & Trade Show, October 21 & 22, 2025

The Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association (ACADA) supports, connects, and promotes a diverse and dynamic membership committed to delivering industry-leading aerospace and defence solutions to the world. Through custom services and programming in direct response to market needs, ACADA helps its members and the region innovate future potential for positive global impact.