Queen's Space Conference 2020


QSC 2020: Tour the Universe

January 31st - February 2nd, 2020

About QSC 2020

What is QSC?

The conference is centered around a series of exciting talks, innovative workshops, and networking opportunities. We strive to bring together industry professionals in order to provide delegates the most informative, inspiring, and memorable conference possible. QSC is about sparking thought and idea-generation, raising awareness of the space industry, and piquing the interest in space for the future generation.

Tour the Universe: Not just a view!

What milestones have already been achieved in developing an understanding of space and in exploring the great unknown? Where will the future of space take us, and what's in store for the next generation of the Canadian space industry? Join us at QSC 2020 for a New World of astonishing answers! This year, QSC will take place January 31st - February 2nd at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. This promises to be a stellar experience, and the best space conference yet!

Speakers

Ewan Reid

President and CEO
Mission Control Space Services Inc.
Topic: Canada’s Role in Sustainable Space Exploration

"Ewan Reid is the President & CEO of Mission Control, a Canadian Space Exploration and Robotics company with a focus on mission operations, onboard autonomy and artificial intelligence. Prior to founding Mission Control Ewan was a subsystem design lead on three rover prototypes for the CSA. He was also a mission controller for ten of the last 12 Space Shuttle missions at Mission Control at NASA JSC. Ewan has degrees in Electrical Engineering and Economics from Queen’s University, a Master’s degree in Technology Innovation Management at Carleton University and is an alumnus and visiting lecturer at the International Space University."

Laurie Metcalfe

Intermediate Engineer, Exploration Planning
Canadian Space Agency
Topic: Building a gateway to the universe

Originally from Hudson Quebec, Laurie Metcalfe graduated from Queen’s University in 1997 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Laurie started her career in space with MDA as a test Engineer working on the test and integration of the arm joints for the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (SPDM). After 2 years of testing and integration, Laurie joined the MSS Operations analysis group in St. Hubert where she continued working on SPDM as the lead analyst for flight STS-123 which launched SPDM to the ISS in 2008.

Laurie was the lead SPDM analyst until 2011, when she joined the Canadian Space Agency. She continued as a member of the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations Engineering team providing support to planning, analysis, real time operations and training for MSS Operations for the next six years in various roles. For the last 2 years Laurie has been working on the development of Canadarm3, which will form Canada’s contribution the Gateway, which is the next step in the human exploration of space.

Perry Edmundson

Program Manager
Canadensys Aerospace Corporation

"Perry is a life-long space enthusiast and avid supporter of manned and robotic space exploration. He has over 23 years of experience in the Canadian space industry working on commercial and government space projects in various technical and management roles. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1996 followed by a Master’s degree in Astronautical Engineering from the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, USA in 2011 and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He is also an alumnus of the International Space University’s Space Studies Program (2005). In his current role as Program Manager at Canadensys Aerospace Corporation, Perry manages government and commercial space projects and proposals."

Pamela Woo

Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineer
NGC Aerospace
Topic: Autonomy and Making Mobile Vehicles Intelligent

Pamela Woo is a Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineer at NGC Aerospace. Her expertise is in the development of Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) software for satellites. She is currently working on the spacecraft GNC software for the ESA PROBA-3 formation flight mission.

Tim Haltigin

Planetary Senior Mission Scientist
Canadian Space Agency

Tim Haltigin is the Planetary Senior Mission Scientist at the Canadian Space Agency. In this role, he helps lead Canada’s efforts in finding new ways to explore planetary bodies throughout the solar system. He received his PhD from McGill University, where his research revealed similarities in the evolution of ice-rich terrains on Earth and Mars. In 2016 he was in the running to become Canada’s next astronaut, and in 2017 he had an asteroid named after him (130066 timhaltigin). Tim currently serves as the Canadian mission manager for OSIRIS-REx, a mission that will return a sample from asteroid Bennu to Earth in 2023.

Rami Kendala

Spacecraft Electrical Engineer
Space Flight Laboratory
Topic: Space Flight Laboratory: Microsatellites from Concept to Operations

"I am a spacecraft electrical engineer working at the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL). I work on the hardware of micro/nanosatellites. My interests in space started back in undergrad when I joined Space Concordia and worked on a student-built 3U cubesat with a payload for testing self-healing composite materials in space. This project made me realize my passion for space and the engineering challenges presented by its harsh environment. My typical day at work is spent designing hardware and rigorously testing it so that it performs well in the harsh space environment. I have a BEng in Electrical Engineering from Concordia University and recently completed my MASc in Aerospace Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS)."

Bryce Dudley

Vision Systems Engineer
MDA's Vision Systems and Sensors

"Bryce Dudley is a vision systems engineer in MDA's Vision Systems and Sensors group (formerly Neptec Design Group). His work currently supports stereo vision systems on the ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover, and the use of LiDAR systems to enable autonomous rendezvous and berthing operations at the ISS. He holds a degree in Mechatronic Systems Engineering from the University of Western Ontario, where he is currently a Masters student in Electrical & Computer Engineering, exploring the application of machine learning to 3D point clouds. Bryce also holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Calgary, the city where he grew up. Bryce now lives in Ottawa with his wife Dominique and their dog, Lily."

Past Speakers

Dr. Robert Thirsk

Former Astronaut, Canadian Space Agency

Dave Williams

Astronaut, Physician, Public Speaker

Dr. Jeffrey Sutton

President & CEO, National Space Biomedical Research Institute

Dr. Chris Damaren

Ph.D, P.Eng., Professor and Director - U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies

Ed Birchnall

Robotics Training Lead/Mission Controller - Canadian Space Agency

Gary Blackwood

Program Manager for the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Andre Dupuis

Col (Ret) Canadian Armed Forces, Director of Space Requirements

Ewan Reid

President & CEO, Mission Control Space Services Inc.

Our Sponsors

Interested in sponsoring QSC?

We'd love to chat! Email us at any of the addresses in the sponsorship package. Our sponsorship team list can be found on the last page.

Tickets

Unfortunately applications have closed... Watch for QSC 2021!

Saturday Pass


  • Talks by professionals in the space industry
  • Case Competition & Network opportunities
  • Keynote speaker
  • Saturday Banquet
  • Friday and Sunday speakers & activities
  • Hotel Stay
  • Meals throughout the weekend
  • Two night stay at the Four Points Hotel
  • Priority Seating
  • Exclusive networking event with speakers and sponsors

RMC Pass


  • Talks by professionals in the space industry
  • Case Competition & Network oppertunities
  • Keynote speaker
  • Saturday Banquet
  • Friday and Sunday speakers & activities
  • Hotel Stay
  • Meals throughout the weekend
  • Two night stay at the Four Points Hotel
  • Priority Seating
  • Exclusive networking event with speakers and sponsors

Regular Ticket


  • Talks by professionals in the space industry
  • Case Competition & Network oppertunities
  • Keynote speaker
  • Saturday Banquet
  • Friday and Sunday speakers & activities
  • Hotel Stay
  • Meals throughout the weekend
  • Two night stay at the Four Points Hotel
  • Priority Seating
  • Exclusive networking event with speakers and sponsors

Platinum Ticket


  • Talks by professionals in the space industry
  • Case Competition & Network oppertunities
  • Keynote speaker
  • Saturday Banquet
  • Friday and Sunday speakers & activities
  • Hotel Stay
  • Meals throughout the weekend
  • Two night stay at the Four Points Hotel
  • Priority Seating
  • Exclusive networking event with speakers and sponsors

Our Team

Monique Rivard
Co-Chair
Harris Cornett
Co-Chair

Speakers Team

Curtis Canty
Speakers Director
Adam Grace
Speakers Coordinator
Isabelle Thierrin
Speakers Coordinator

Sponsorship Team

Anya Jacksteit
Sponsorship Director
Justin Bonal
Sponsorship Coordinator
Will Francis
Sponsorship Coordinator
Spencer Lee
Sponsorship Coordinator

Marketing & Media

Merlyn John
Publications & Media Coordinator
Alex McKinnon
IT Coordinator & Webmaster
Ashkon Noori
Marketing Coordinator

Operations

Eden D'Abreo
Logistics Coordinator
Rachel Rotstein
Finance Coordinator
Chris Viloria
Events Coordinator
Ally Shikaze
Internal Delegates Coordinator
Ally Eastmure
External Delegates Coordinator
Matthew Fazzari
First Year Representative

Where

Four Points By Sheraton Logo

Four Points By Sheraton,
285 King St E,
Kingston Ontario

& When

January 31st - February 2nd