Vanguard Magazine

See the full interview online Q tell us how you started out in the industry and what's brought you to where you are today? I have always been interested in aviation and aerospace. After six years as a Cadet in Sherbrooke, Eastern Township, I joined the Royal Military College with the hopes of being a pilot, but unfortunately, my eyesight had other plans. That worked out pretty well, as I instead got the opportu- nity to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Combat System Engineer on Halifax Class frigates, where I learned a lot about defence technologies. After serving 11 years in the Canadian Forces, I joined a global communication technology company. I spent seven years doing business development activities to sell defence system to DND here in Cana- da as well as globally. When I joined Airbus Group in 2009 it brought me full circle, in a sense, to my original passion of aerospace. Q What is the one thing that has you most fired up today? I get to work with an outstanding team every day. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by exceptionally talented people, whose skills and drive are what makes progress for Airbus in Canada. That's very person- ally and professionally rewarding. Team also means more than just the peo- ple I work with in the office. We're lucky to partner with outstanding Canadian com- panies that help us create better value and better products, both at home and around the world. Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue is a good example of this, where our Ca- nadian partners (PAL Aerospace, P&WC, CAE and L3 Wescam) are also global ones. We built long-lasting relationships with Canadian companies that helped us to im- prove the C295 program globally. Q What was your "aha" moment or epiphany that you think will resonate most with our reader, tell us that story? It took me a while to figure out that my number one job is to sell Canada to Air- bus, and not just the other way around. I'm not just the Airbus voice in Canada, but the Canadian voice in Airbus. There's a tremendous amount of inno- vative and exciting work taking place in Canada, and connecting it to what Airbus is doing globally is good for all involved. This is especially true on the space side of our business. Airbus is the second-largest space company in the world. By connect- ing Canadian space companies, universi- ties and other industries with what Airbus is doing globally, the company benefits and so does Canada. Q What are some of the biggest impediments to innovation in your organization or industry sector? Innovation doesn't have a passport, so its important that Canada considers solutions from a variety of companies, like Airbus, and not just those in Canada when look- ing at future projects. Open competition will get the best technology and solutions for Canadians. The Synthetic Aperture Radar Data Continuity (SAR DC) program is an ex- ample of this. It is a radar system that will provide DND with cutting edge satellite capabilities in support of maritime surveil- lance and sovereignty projection. It is very early in the program, but even at the mission concept phase its important to take a global look at the technology that's available. Doing so can allow Canada to leverage greater R&D investment and cre- ate opportunities for global companies like Airbus to work with Canadian partners. Q What technologies, business models and trends will drive the biggest changes in your industry over the next two years? New technology is only one part of in- novation. Different approaches to how governments acquire, own, and operate equipment will be important as govern- ment looks to expand and update capa- bilities. Airbus Defence and Space has much to offer in this regard. It does more than just build planes and satellites; it also has unique experience with Public Private Partnerships (PPP) on programs as com- plex as military communications systems. As the PPP industry partner with the UK on the Skynet system, Airbus owns and operates a hardened constellation of eight satellites and the associated ground network that provide all Beyond Line of Sight communications to the UK Minis- try of Defence. The PPP contract also allows other NATO and allied governments such as members of the Five Eyes countries to use the Skynet system to augment their exist- ing services. This model might be some- thing that Canada considers as it looks to programs to enhance polar satellite com- munications. Q What's your parting thought? There's a lot of Airbus in Canada. Airbus Group has had a major presence in Can- ada for 30 years. More than 2,000 Ca- nadians work for Airbus, and 570 Cana- dian companies feed into its supply chain, from which Airbus purchases $1.2 billion in goods and services every year. We are working to see that grow by bringing even more Canada to Airbus. simon Jacques presiDent airBus defenCe and spaCe Canada 42 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 www.vanguardcanada.com g gAMe CHANGER

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