Space - The launch pad for a new era of growth and innovation

Abstract coming soon!

Speaker bio:

Christine Tovee has been involved with a spectrum of space projects since her university years. After growing up in Sudbury, Ontario with roots in both the east and west of the country, Christine completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Science-Aerospace from the University of Toronto. She then earned a Masters in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As part of her research work at MIT’s Man-Vehicle Lab, she developed a virtual reality experiment and trained the astronauts for NASA’s Neurolab Space Shuttle mission.

After MIT, Christine moved to Europe to work in the aerospace and defence industry, initially with BAE Systems in the UK and subsequently at EADS, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (now Airbus Group).

At EADS' Paradigm Secure Communications subsidiary, she worked on the Skynet V military satellite telecommunications system, at the time the largest private-public partnership in the world. Christine then joined EADS Astrium Services in Paris to explore future technical strategies in the areas of Ka band satellite telecommunications and services related to unmanned aerial systems (UAVs).

After a stint as Chief of Staff to the EADS Corporate Technical Office in Germany, Christine was appointed Vice President for Research and Technology and Chief Technology Officer for Airbus Group, Inc., the US-based subsidiary. At Airbus, Christine helped determine the technology needs of all business lines in the US and delivered US-based research for the entire company. Based at the campus of California Polytechnic State University, she initiated collaboration between Cal Poly and Airbus Group on CubeSats, the new standard for micro-satellites.

Christine returned to Canada in 2016, and focused on organisational topics related to innovation and engineering. She has a passion for expanding the contribution of women in technology leadership as well as the impact of science and technology on social challenges.  She also works as a consultant to Canadian technology startups on technology road mapping, strategy, and organisational design.

Christine was a member of Canada’s Space Advisory Board between 2017-2020, which provided advice on Canada’s space strategy to the Minister for Industry, Science, and Economic Development leading to Canada participating in the Artemis Moon Mission.

Until recently, Christine was also Chief Technology Officer for Wyvern, an Edmonton-based hyperspectral space imaging company building innovative deployable optics.

She currently sits on the Independent Review Panel for Defence Acquisition for the Government of Canada and is a board director for Mission Control Space Services.