Meet the Team
Board of Directors

Jane Bird
Chairman
Jane Bird is a leader in managing large, complex infrastructure-related initiatives for government and private sector partners and stakeholders. In her role as Senior Business Advisor with Bennett Jones LLP, Jane provides advice to private and public sector clients on matters related to the development and execution of infrastructure projects. Jane currently holds directorships at Global Container Terminals Inc. and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
She has been directly involved with significant projects since 1998, which include:
• Director with Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Development in London, UK, overseeing the project management and financing of the Canada House consolidation and renewal project on Trafalgar Square.
• Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Power Corporation, including development and construction of the Waneta 335 MW hydro-electric generating station in SE British Columbia: project finance; construction management; relations with the Provincial government, other project owners and key stakeholders; as well as the ongoing operation of the company’s existing generating facilities.
• Chief Executive Officer of Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc., responsible for the development and construction of Canada Line, a $2-billion, 19-km rapid transit line connecting downtown Vancouver with Richmond and Vancouver International Airport– the first public-private partnership in transit in North America.
As a result of her leadership, she was awarded the Vancouver Board of Trade Spirit of Vancouver Outstanding Leadership Award (2009), named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women (2009) and awarded the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association Appreciation Award (2011).

Hai-Gi Li
Board Member
Hai-Gi Li, Managing Director, is an investment principal for the Infrastructure Investments Group. Hai-Gi currently serves on the boards of SouthWest Water Company and Nieuport Aviation Infrastructure Partners (Toronto City Island Airport) and is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of these investee companies as well as pursuit of new opportunities in the North American transportation and regulated utility subsectors. Prior to joining the group in 2006, Hai-Gi worked in the Power & Infrastructure Group in J.P. Morgan’s Hong Kong offices where he was involved in a range of transactions including mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, debt and equity financings, valuations, public sector advice and privatizations in the Asia-Pacific region. In 1999-2001 he worked within the Diversified Industrials Group in New York. Hai-Gi graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College and holds a B.A. in Government.

Chris Ward
Board Member
Chris Ward has over thirty years of experience in infrastructure and government with a focus within the transportation sector. Currently, he is EVP for Business Development for BRAVO, an architectural and engineering firm focusing on public infrastructure.
His prior experience includes:
- CEO, Metro New York, for AECOM. In this role, his areas of responsibility included transportation, water and wastewater, environment, power, and buildings and places, which encompassed more than 1,600 architects, engineers, scientists and support staff.
- Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey where he led the World Trade Center rebuilding effort, delivering on a commitment to open the 9/11 Memorial by the 10th anniversary of the tragic events at the site.
- Executive Vice President for major projects at Dragados USA, where he was responsible for significant business development throughout the United States.
- Served in various roles in New York City during Michael Bloomberg’s first term as mayor, leading the Department of Environmental Protection in a robust expansion of its capital plan.
- Managing Director at the General Contractors Association of New York, Inc.
- Chief Executive Officer of American Stevedoring, Inc.
Chris holds a BA in History and Religious Studies from Macalester College and a Master of Theological Studies at Harvard University.

António Gomes de Menezes
Board Member
António Gomes de Menezes currently serves as non-executive Director of Eliance, a Spanish leading operator or rotary and fixed wing aircraft with operations in Europe and Latin America, providing critical mission flights; as non-executive Director of Ascendi Pinhal Interior, a Portuguese leading toll-road highway concessionaire and operator and is a Professor of Economics at the University of the Azores, among other roles as non-executive directors of airports and airlines. Since 2007, António has held several senior executive positions within the airline sector, having previously been the Chairman and CEO of SATA Airlines, Executive Member of the Board of Directors of EuroAtlantic Airways, and Chief Executive Officer of PrivatAir SA, Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors of TAP AIRPORTUGAL, the Portuguese flag carrier and member of Star Alliance, where Antonio also chaired the Audit and Finance Committee. Prior to joining the aviation industry, António worked as senior executive and director in the construction and tourism (hotel) business and has held a consulting career in business (strategy and securing funding, especially for hotels).
In addition, António has pursued an academic career, having taught and researched at Boston College, Harvard University, Bocconi University (Italy)and the University o of the Azores (Portugal). Recently, António has been retained as Senior Advisor of Sovereign Investment Funds and Consulting Companies to advise on airline strategy and air service development.
António holds a MSc in Economics and a PhD in Economics from Boston College, a post graduate degree in Management from the Catholic University of Lisbon, Portugal and a BSc degree in Economics from the New University of Lisbon, Portugal, and has published scientific papers in leading scientific journals, in economics and transportation research.

Wende Cartwright
Board Member
Wende Cartwright is President of Savira Cultural + Capital Projects and has extensive experience in city building, infrastructure planning and community development for private and public sector clients across North America. Wende was name done of Canada’s Most Powerful Women (2015) by WXN, and recognized as a Leadership Initiative Champion (2019) by the Urban Land Institute.
Wende has led the planning for significant redevelopment projects including the Globe & Mail Centre, Royal Conservatory of Music, Koerner Hall, Union Station Revitalization, Boston Symphony Hall, and was Director for the Vancouver 2010Olympics. She is currently at the helm of planning mixed-use infrastructure projects, including a nationwide redevelopment of United Church of Canada properties and CAMH Medical Research & Discovery Centre.
Wende is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, Toronto Region Board of Trade, Urban Land Institute, and WLI Women’s Leadership Initiative. She has served as Board Director for Royal Ontario Museum ICC, Museum of Contemporary Art, Health Arts Society Ontario, Association of Arts Presenters (Washington DC), and as Advisor to the 2015 Pan Am Games and City of Toronto economic development.
Wende was recently reappointed by the City of Toronto for a second term to the Waterfront Toronto Board of Directors, and Chairs the Governance, Human Resources & Stakeholder Relations Committee.

James Cherry
Board Member
James Cherry is a Montréal native and graduate of McGill University. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has over 40 years of experience in general management, project management and financial management in the International Aerospace, Defence and Rail sectors.
Over this period he has worked in senior executive positions with Bombardier Inc., Oerlikon Aerospace Inc., CAE Inc. and Alstom. He joined Aéroports de Montréal as President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2001 and retired from that position on 31 December 2016.
He currently acts as a Strategic Aviation Advisor to Arup and holds directorships in the following organizations: Cogeco Inc., Cogeco Communications Inc., PSP AviAlliance GmbH, Aerostar Airport Holdings LLC and the McGill University Health Centre.
In addition to the above, he was the co-chair of the 2017 campaign for Centraide (United Way) of Greater Montréal and has extensive past board involvement in the public sector (Canada Infrastructure Bank, St Mary’s Hospital Centre and Concordia University), the private not-for-profit sector (Conference Board, Aéroports de Montréal, Airports Council International) and private, for-profit, publicly traded companies (Logistec Inc. and Talisman Energy)
Rob MacIsaac
Board Member
Rob MacIsaac’s distinguished career has left a lasting impact on healthcare, education, transportation, and municipal government in the Province of Ontario. As President and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), one of Canada’s largest research hospital systems, he guided the organization through significant challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, while driving initiatives for operational excellence, digital transformation, and new hospital infrastructure.
Previously, as President of Mohawk College, he reshaped its strategic direction and led campus renewal. As Chair of Metrolinx, he led the creation of The Big Move, Ontario’s first regional transportation plan for the GTHA. As Mayor of Burlington, he revitalized the city's downtown and developed essential community infrastructure.
MacIsaac's extensive board service includes current roles with 407 ETR (Chair, Audit Committee) and the Joyce Family Foundation (Chair). He also chaired pivotal initiatives such as Ontario’s Greenbelt Task Force, which developed the Ontario's Greenbelt Plan.
His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Canada 125 Medal. An honorary doctorate from Charles Sturt University further highlights his achievements.
Rob is dedicated to building great cities, and creating inclusive, sustainable, and thriving communities.
Jennifer Quinn
Board Member
Jennifer Quinn is the CEO of Nieuport Aviation. She has been with Nieuport Aviation since 2021, and has served as executive lead for operations, strategy, stakeholder relations and public affairs. As an accomplished Executive, Jennifer brings public and private sector experience in strategy, commercial structuring and negotiations, infrastructure and real estate development, and risk advisory. Prior to joining Nieuport, Jennifer was a Partner and Government & Public Services Industry leader with Deloitte and also spent nearly 7 years in Senior roles at Infrastructure Ontario.
In 2024,she was awarded the Report on Business magazine Best Executive Award from the Globe and Mail in recognition of her impact to Nieuport’s business—notably, leading the operations team through the resumption of service following the pandemic and driving forward efforts in partnership with PortsToronto to deliver a U.S. Preclearance facility at the airport (expected late 2025). She was also named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2024 by the Women's Executive Network. Jennifer is passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and in 2017 was the recipient of Start Proud’s Leaders to be Proud of – Professional Leadership award, recognizing excellence in the LGBTQ community.
Jennifer has an Honours Bachelor of Accounting from Brock University, a Master’s Certificate in Public Management from York University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Staff

Jennifer Quinn
Chief Executive Officer
Jennifer Quinn is the CEO of Nieuport Aviation. She has been with Nieuport Aviation since 2021, and has served as executive lead for operations, strategy, stakeholder relations and public affairs. As an accomplished Executive, Jennifer brings public and private sector experience in strategy, commercial structuring and negotiations, infrastructure and real estate development, and risk advisory. Prior to joining Nieuport, Jennifer was a Partner and Government & Public Services Industry leader with Deloitte and also spent nearly 7 years in Senior roles at Infrastructure Ontario.
In 2024, she was awarded the Report on Business magazine Best Executive Award from the Globe and Mail in recognition of her impact to Nieuport’s business — notably, leading the operations team through the resumption of service following the pandemic and driving forward efforts in partnership with PortsToronto to deliver a U.S. Preclearance facility at the airport (expected late 2025). She was also named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2024 by the Women's Executive Network. Jennifer is passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and in 2017 was the recipient of Start Proud’s Leaders to be Proud of – Professional Leadership award, recognizing excellence in the LGBTQ community.
Jennifer has an Honours Bachelor of Accounting from Brock University, a Master’s Certificate in Public Management from York University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Cheryl Stone
Chief Strategy Officer
Cheryl is Nieuport Aviation’s Chief Strategy Officer. Having been with the organization since 2022, Cheryl’s strong understanding of the intersection between strategy and impact has made her invaluable in driving forward strategic initiatives at the award-winning passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Having worked both with government and within government, Cheryl has a proven track record of delivering strategic initiatives in partnership with government, business and community organizations.
Cheryl is a recognized leader in the aviation industry, having served as the first Young Professional Liaison to the ACI-NA World Business Partners & Associates Board and was named in 2024 to Wings Magazine’s Top 20 Under40 in Canada list. Prior to joining Nieuport, Cheryl spent six years with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) at Toronto Pearson where she managed public affairs and government relations activities with national and international industry organizations and played a lead role in the corporation's engagement with industry, business, and academic organizations.
Cheryl holds a Master’s Degree from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University and an Honours Bachelor Degree from King’s University College.

Eve Wiggins
Chief Operating Officer
Eve Wiggins is an accomplished transportation executive with over 25 years of leadership experience spanning Canadian and international transit and aviation sectors. As Chief Operating Officer at Billy Bishop Airport, she oversees passenger experience, operations, facilities management, safety and security, maintenance, information technology, and commercial partnerships.
After a decade in public transit, where she held senior leadership roles at Mississauga Transit, Metrolinx, and the Toronto Transit Commission, Eve is returning to aviation. During her time in transit, she led transformative strategies to enhance customer experience, improve safety, and drive operational excellence across some of Canada’s largest transportation networks.
Earlier in her career, Eve managed a multi-disciplinary program at Toronto Pearson International Airport, setting new benchmarks for guest experience. She began her career in the UK, contributing to airport planning and operations in key roles.
Eve holds a Master of Science in Airport Planning and Management and multiple certifications. She is active in governance through board appointments and is recognized as a thought leader in the transportation sector.

Katie Battiston
Chief Financial Officer
As the Chief Financial Officer, Katie is responsible for financial planning and analysis, financial reporting, oversight of accounts payable and receivables and financial controls. She brings over 16 years of work experience in both the public and private sectors having worked at the Hospital for Sick Children and a major accounting firm both locally and abroad. Katie graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Studies and is a CPA, CA.

Michael Stern
General Counsel & Chief People Officer
Michael responsible for overseeing the legal and corporate requirements of the business. Michael’s legal career spans all aspects of business, ranging from developing major P3 infrastructure projects across Canada to leading one of Canada’s largest renewable energy manufacturers. In the process, Michael has helped organisations from around the world navigate through M&A, finance, regulatory and other commercial matters. Michael is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Barreau du Québec.