About YQA

As the Director of the Program Management Office at Nieuport Aviation, Zaina has spearheaded transformative initiatives, showcasing a unique approach to data analysis and a future-oriented vision in relation to the advancement of aeronautical and non-aeronautical initiatives and revenues. With a focus on strategic thinking, master planning and growth projections, and a demonstrated ability to navigate the complexities of airport operations, Zaina will contribute significantly to the continued success and growth of the airport, as a contributing member of the Board of Directors.

Leadership is at the core of her expertise. Zaina has successfully inspired and motivated diverse teams, fostering a positive and collaborative work culture. With exceptional stakeholder management skills, engaging internal and external stakeholders, negotiating contracts, and navigating complex political dynamics, Zaina is established as a trusted collaborator in the aviation industry. Being Chair of the Sustainability Committee further underscores commitment in implementing environmentally responsible practices – a valuable asset for any organization committed to sustainable growth.

Zaina’s journey in the aviation industry, coupled with a robust educational foundation, positions her as a candidate with the skills and experience required for effective oversight on the Muskoka Airport Board of Directors. As a Professional Engineers Ontario Affiliate, LEED Green Associate, and member of the Ontario Good Roads Association, Zaina brings a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to excellence.

In her spare time, she loves road cycling (100’s of kilometers a month) and more importantly, she practices her love for interior design!

Jennifer Brooy is an accomplished international Financial Executive, with 30+ years of domestic and international financing experience. She has executed and/or managed over $5 billion of transactions, with a track-record of successful returns.

Jennifer is a business strategist and leader of innovative and enterprise-wide transformation. She designed and built a major global investment practice with a unique value proposition for business-to-business connectivity. She designed, championed, and led a corporate-wide multi-year, multi-million-dollar enterprise risk management transformation.

She is an enthusiastic entrepreneurial thinker and business-builder with a passion for technological advancement, equal and fair opportunity, and sustainability.

Jennifer believes in the importance of good governance. She is an accredited and seasoned Board Director offering 20+ years of intimate engagement at Board-level and is a graduate of the Director Education Program, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto; and holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Management, York University.

She has served on several corporate and not-for-profit boards, as well as being an advisor to fund investment boards.

Jeff Lehman is Chair of The District Municipality of Muskoka, having been elected by Council in December 2022. Previously, he was the 46th Mayor of the City of Barrie, serving from 2010-2022, and was twice Chair of the Ontario Big City Mayors’ Caucus, representing Ontario’s 28 largest cities. Chair Lehman was also a founding director of Alectra, the second largest community-owned utility in North America, serving more than a million customers in southern Ontario.  

Chair Lehman holds a Chartered Director (C.Dir) designation and has served on the Boards of Directors of 9 separate organizations over his seventeen-year career in public service, including on the Board of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). His articles concerning the future of municipalities have appeared in the Globe and Mail and industry publications and he has been a frequent keynote speaker at conferences, focusing particularly on innovation in the public sector and the intersection of business, community, and government. He liaises frequently and directly with senior government both on behalf of his municipality and on behalf of the municipal sector. 

Jeff comes from an aviation family. His grandfather Captain Walter Kent flew the first scheduled airline flight in North America by a turboprop aircraft, piloting a Vickers Viscount for TransCanada Airlines in 1955.  Walter later went on to be Flight Operations Manager for Air Canada.  Jeff became a professional pilot through the Ottawa Flying Club at YOW and flew in central Ontario himself before becoming Mayor of Barrie, a job which kept him out of the cockpit!

Selma is an experienced senior executive and corporate director.  Selma is a member of the Board of Directors of MAG Silver Corp (MAG:TSX/NYSE) and Ontario Power Generation; and, Chairs Ontario’s Justice Sector Internal Audit Committee.   Selma served previously as VP, Governance, Corporate Safety and Security, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (Toronto Pearson Airport).  Selma also served as Chair of the joint ACI-IATA World Smart Security Management Group.  Selma holds two law degrees; an LLB from University of Ottawa and Masters of Law from the Australian National University (Canberra).  Prior to joining the GTAA, Selma was Chair of the Ontario Capital Growth Corporation and prior thereto, Selma was SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) and served as VP, Legal Affairs and General Counsel at AT&T Enterprises Canada and AT&T Global Services Canada. Selma holds the C. Dir designation from the Directors College and the GCB.D designation with respect to ESG from Competent Boards. 

Eric Melis is a multilingual investment executive and Chartered Financial Analyst with over three decades of experience in capital markets. He brings 10+ years of expertise in public markets (asset mix/risk management and global equities) and 25 years in private markets (Infrastructure and Energy Transition investing).

Eric was one of the first employees of OMERS Infrastructure, where he worked for 10 years. For the last 13 years, he has been in private practice, i.e., infrastructure investment consulting for pension plans and other institutional investors, with the most recent years dedicated to Energy Transition, i.e., green hydrogen/green ammonia project development (including related investment consulting for third parties).

Having spent a significant portion of his career focused on Global and Transportation assets, Eric is passionate about airports. He has had the opportunity to analyze many airport investments, both large and small, from across the world. His work has also included looking at airport opportunities with significant expansion and growth components (e.g., runway expansion, duty-free shopping, food services, etc.).

Eric is also a Chartered Director, whose prior board experience includes Director/Treasurer - Montréal CFA Society, Director - Toronto Atmospheric Fund, Director/Chair Audit committee of a private pipeline company, and independent Valuation Committee member for the CBRE Global Infrastructure Fund. He currently serves on several P3 investment SPV boards and recently joined the supervisory board of the UBS Global Responsible Infrastructure Fund.

Mark Verdun is a senior technology executive with over 40 years of leadership experience in both startups and global enterprises. He currently heads the North American Alliances and Channels field operations for Oracle Corporation’s Communications Global Industry Unit. In this role, Mark leads strategic partnerships and drives business growth across key industry sectors, leveraging his expertise and experience in sales, business development, and operational management.

Throughout his career, Mark has held a variety of senior positions, including co-founder, CEO, board member, and executive manager. His diverse background spans multiple industries, where he has consistently delivered high-impact results by building strong customer relationships, developing innovative go-to-market strategies, and scaling high-performance teams.

Mark holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, an HBA in Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western University, and a C.Dir. Chartered Director designation from McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business.

An avid aviation enthusiast, Mark is also a licensed private pilot with the US Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada, holding instrument, night, and seaplane ratings. This passion for aviation reflects his commitment to precision, risk management, and a strong sense of adventure.

Outside of work, Mark is married with two adult daughters. He and his wife divide their time between Etobicoke, Ontario and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Eileen is an experienced aviation executive, bringing a depth and diversity of knowledge and experience across many dimensions of an airport’s business and operations. Prior to her recent retirement from the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), Eileen provided direction and oversight of its engagement with a broad cross-section of industry, business, and academic stakeholders that played an important role in supporting Toronto Pearson International Airport’s strategy and growth plans. During her tenure at GTAA, Eileen also held leadership roles in the areas of strategic planning, commercial and land development, and terminal operations.
Through her board role at the Mississauga Board of Trade, Eileen enjoyed contributing to the success of local business community. Eileen previously worked for Transport Canada, in Ottawa, and at Toronto Pearson and Vancouver airports, in roles that focused on planning, commercial development, and economic analysis. Eileen is a part-time resident of Muskoka