Michael Pley is a recognized aerospace and space leader serving on the Government of Canada's Space Advisory Board and as the Chair of the Space Committee for the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada. For over 15 years, Mr. Pley was an executive leader of COM DEV, Canada's leading space hardware manufacturer supplying equipment to over 900 spacecraft, including 80% of all commercial communication satellites launched and the soon-to-be-launched iconic James Webb Space Telescope. He retired as CEO in 2016 and continues to support space and SME startups in his consulting practice. Mr. Pley has been on the Dean's Advisory Board of the Faculty of Engineering of McMaster University since 2002 and its Chair since 2016, contributing and supporting engineering education at his alma mater.