STAFF
ATAC members benefit from the dedication and experience of our staff, who are available to help solve the most pressing business problems and regulatory issues.
John McKenna
President & CEO
Mr. McKenna has over 20 years work experience in both the public and private sectors. In the 1980s he worked successively as Economic advisor to Premier Robert Bourassa, later as Political advisor to the President of the Treasury Board and finally as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Transport and Minister of Public Security. In 1992, he was nominated Official Representative and Senior Political Advisor for the Quebec Government in Washington, D.C.
In the private sector he acted as Manager of Public and Governmental Affairs and Special Assistant to Executive Vice President for the Steinberg food chain. He later worked as a partner in a Boston based consulting firm, the Malloy Group, before returning to Quebec to invest in and manage three different manufacturing companies.
He taught International Business at the Williams School of Business at Bishop's University from 2001 to 2003 before becoming President and CEO of the Quebec Air Transport Association in September 2003, a position he held until coming taking up the position of President and CEO at ATAC.
Mr. McKenna was an undergraduate at McGill University. He holds Master's degrees in Soviet and East European Economic Studies from Carleton University, in Business Administration (MBA) from Sherbrooke University and in Public Administration (MPA) from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Pierre Ruel
Incoming President & CEO
Pierre Ruel is the incoming President and CEO of the Air Transport Association of Canada. On January 1st 2025, he will be responsible to the Board for the sound management of the Association and for achieving its published objectives.
His broad aviation experience spans over three decades with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Ornge, Transport Canada Civil Aviation, and The Boeing Company. His previous functions with Boeing consisted in the development of strategic programs and initiatives in support of the OEM’s core business interests in Canada. As a regulator, he was involved in oversight (Director of National Operations) as well as regulatory development (Chief of Flight Standards). As a military officer, he had the privilege to command a Tactical Fighter Squadron as well as an RCAF Wing and he also held senior level management positions both in Canada and in the United States. He is a former fighter pilot with combat experience and 3,500 flying hours. He is a graduate of the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, holds an Airline Transport Pilot license (ATPL) with a valid instrument rating and a seaplane endorsement.
His academic background includes advanced studies in defense and security with the United States Air Force Air University of Montgomery, Alabama and the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, a bachelor's degree in Military Arts and Science from the Royal Military College, and a diploma in Aviation from Chicoutimi College.
Mr. Ruel is an Officer of the Order of Military Merit (OMM), as well as a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and of the United States Meritorious Service Medal.
Les Aalders
Executive Vice President
Following his Aeronautical Engineering education and earning his private pilot’s licence, Les has been employed at various commercial aviation companies throughout Canada for more than 40 years.
Les joined ATAC in 1998 and has continuously added to his responsibilities within the association. These now include flight ops, engineering and maintenance, cabin ops, environment, and safety. Since 2012 he has served as ATAC’s Executive Vice President.
Wayne Gouveia
Senior Vice President
Wayne has over 19 years working in the Aviation sector in various aviation management roles joining Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) in 2006 as Vice President of Flight Training. In 2017 he was appointed Senior Vice President to oversee Aviation Security, Airports (AIF), Air Cargo, Dangerous Goods, Legal and the CTA. In addition, in 2020, flight training was reinstated to his portfolio of responsibilities.
As the VP representing flight training companies Wayne has led international missions accompanied by ATAC companies to China, India, Ireland, UK, Brazil and Singapore and continues to work on promoting Canadian aviation training to the world.
He has held many positions advocating for industry with all levels of government and with industry partners. Wayne was recently elected to the board of directors of the Aviation Accreditation Board International and to the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace Board of Directors.
Wayne has been a presenter and speaker and panel participant at several international aviation events. He is a graduate of McMaster University has held Canadian and CAA commercial pilot licenses.
David Rankin
Vice President
David brings to ATAC a very extensive background in aviation having managed flight schools for PAL Airlines, before becoming a line pilot on their Metroliner in both passenger and cargo operations. He joined Jazz Aviation (then Air Nova) in 1996 and progressed to the role of Director, Cargo and Charters as the regional airlines merged in the early 2000's. He later served as Jazz's senior manager of Facilities, Real Estate, & Ground Equipment, and as the Director of Safety, Security, & Environment post 9/11 and at the early stages of SMS.
He left Jazz to open his own air cargo general sales agency and his clients included Air Canada, Condor, and Sunwing Airlines. During this time, he was also contracted as the Executive Director of a regional airport assisting them to implement SMS and develop a new scheduled air service.
He returned to Jazz in 2012 as the Manager of Airport Fees and Property Leases where he managed over 150 leases and operating agreements. He worked closely with ATAC on several AIF consultations and gained a strong understanding on the application and processes of the AIF MOU.
He reopened his cargo sales business and represented ASL Airlines Belgium for the past 4 years before joining ATAC in the summer of 2024. He will initially be responsible for Flight Training, Cargo, and Dangerous Goods and has assumed these files from Wayne Gouveia.
Debbie Simpson
Corporate Secretary & EA to the President
Debbie Simpson joined the Association in 1978. She is currently the Corporate Secretary and Executive Assistant to the President.
In addition to providing administrative support to the President and CEO, her responsibilities include administering the Association's event and convention planning and Corporate Secretarial duties.
Danielle Lavoie
Assistant to the Vice Presidents
Danielle joined ATAC in April, 2009 bringing with her an extensive background in not-for-profit organization and customer service.
Danielle assists all Vice Presidents and is also responsible for the website maintenance, events registrations, newsletters and more.