John was one of the senior executive's who helped re-start the Davie shipyard in 2013 and as Senior Vice-President of Commercial and Government Programs, led Davie's resurgence into  Government shipbuilding and ship repair.  He was responsible for business development,  proposal submissions and the contract negotiation that eventually led to the Provision of  Services Agreement with Canada for the conversion of MV Asterix into Canada’s premier Naval  Supply Ship and formation of Federal Fleet Services.  John has over 48 years of marine industry  experience in the private and government sectors, including 27 years in leadership roles in the  Canadian government, primarily with PSPC where he was Manager of Engineering and Marine  Inspection then the first Contracts Director on the highly successful Halifax Class Modernization  program.  Upon leaving the Civil Service, John spent several years at Irving Shipbuilding where  he led Irving’s successful NSPS proposal and was Project Manager on the construction of the  CCG Hero Class ships at Halifax Shipyard. John is also the founding member of the Canadian  Marine Industries and Shipbuilding Association and its first Board Chairman from 2018-2022.

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.

We are delighted to welcome Ted Kirkpatrick to the CMISA Board of Directors. As Director of Business Development and Government Relations for Ontario Shipyards, Ted is responsible for developing Ontario Shipyards’s position in the marketplace as well as managing client and government relationships. Ontario Shipyards is the largest Canadian Ship repair and construction company on the Great Lakes operating three large shipyards in Hamilton, St. Catharine’s, and Thunder Bay. Ted comes to Ontario Shipyards from the commercial shipping industry and has served as both a Captain and Navigation officer throughout the Great Lakes, East Coast and Canadian Arctic. With deep connections in the Canadian commercial shipping industry, Ted brings a vessel operator’s understanding to business relationships. We thank Ted for continuing to contribute to our sector by joining the Board of Directors.

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 Senior Vice President Operations for Duke, a female-owned and operated professional staffing solutions company that serves major clients in Canada, the United States, and globally. With over 30 years of experience in the Aerospace and Defence Industry, Sherry has held leadership roles in renowned companies such as Westinghouse, Northrop Grumman, L-3 and Lockheed.

Throughout her career, Sherry has excelled in customer-focused positions, including Business Unit Management, Program Management, Contract Management, Strategy and Business Development.  Her expertise lies in the development, manufacturing and life cycle support of high-tech products and services for Canadian Armed Forces, US Government, and International Navies.

Before joining Duke, Sherry held the position of Senior Director of the Integrated Solutions and Sustainment Portfolio at Lockheed Martin Canada.  In this role, she successfully led a program portfolio encompassing domestic and international in-service support services and product programs for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax Class Ships, Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria Class Submarines, Royal New Zealand Navy ANZAC Frigates and Royal Netherlands Navy Active Phased Array Radar among others.

Sherry’s leadership and dedication contribute to Duke’s commitment to delivering exceptional staffing solutions for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, industry demands and fostering partnerships that drive success in the dynamic fields of shipbuilding aerospace, defense, and oil and gas.

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.