WENDY TAYLER – PRESIDENT/CEO
Wendy has spent over 30 years in the Yukon Territory. She is a Certified Management Accountant and has extensive experience with various businesses and industries in the North. She first joined Alkan Air in 1993 and quickly gained a passion for the aviation industry while working in accounting, dispatch and flight operations. Wendy became a partner in Alkan Air in 2007 while serving as general manager and became President in 2012.
ADAM SCHECK –
Director, Remote Aviation Operations
Adam was born and raised in the Yukon. Adam started his flight training in Whitehorse in 2001. Adam’s ambition was to fly in the bush and he flew for local operators in the Yukon including Alkan Air. In 2008 he moved south after an opportunity arose to fly floatplanes on the West Coast, making Nanaimo his new home. Since then he’s remained connected to the North spending several years flying seasonally in the Yukon. He has thousands of hours of experience safely operating a variety of aircraft on the Coast and in the North. Adam rejoined Alkan Air in 2015 and became an operating partner in 2017.
Simon Lillyman –
Vice President, Growth and Development
Simon has a wealth of experience in the medevac industry, having conducted numerous air ambulance missions as a medic since 2011. Prior to joining Alkan Air in 2019, Simon was the International Business Development Manager at Lifesupport Air Medical Services in Parksville, BC where he developed a client group of international insurance companies requiring medical transportation solutions. Initially, at Alkan Air, he managed the Nanaimo base operations and now, as VP of Business Development, is responsible for the maintenance and development of clients both in the charter market and medevac sector.
KEVIN SMIT – Director of Maintenance
Kevin has been in the aviation world since 2009. After completing his schooling at the Moncton Flight College in Moncton, New Brunswick, he was torn where to start his aviation career. With a lucky break, Kevin started bush flying in 2010 in Fort Simpson, NWT where he fell in love with the North and what it had to offer. After leaving the North late 2011, he knew it was only a matter of time before he would connect back with this spectacular mountainous land. Flying coast to coast and even outside of North America doing aerial survey, he acquired not only the importance of safety in aviation but also the knowledge of operating in foreign countries. Kevin started with Alkan Air early 2015 and has advanced to Chief Pilot, while supporting the flightlin on the Caravan, 1900 and King Airs.
ANGELA Filippi – Operations Manager
Angela began flying at 18 in the Okanagan, completing the Aviation Diploma Program OUC in Kelowna. After completing her instructor rating, she worked at flight schools in Vernon and Whitehorse before starting at Alkan Air in 2001 flying King Airs. After a lengthy break to have a family, Angela rejoined Alkan Air in 2014. In 2015 she took on the role of Safety Manager and Quality Assurance Auditor, and in 2018, the role of Operations Manager.
Lance Appleford – Chief Flight Instructor
Prior to aviation, Lance was an “English as a Second Language” teacher, which he did for 13 years; teaching all over the world. His aviation career to date is a mix of instructing and charter/medevac flying. He is the Chief Flight Instructor of Alkan Air, a Class 1 instructor that teaches the instructor, and multi-engine instrument rating as well as a Pilot Examiner for Private and Commercial Licences.
JEFF FAULKNER – Chief Aviation Officer
Jeff Faulkner has lived in the Yukon for the past 25 years and comes from a family of aviators and wilderness enthusiasts. Jeff started flying in 1997, completed his flight training with Coastal Pacific Aviation and joined Alkan Air in 2002. Jeff has a wide range of flight experience on wheel, float and ski aircraft. He has flown throughout Western and Northern Canada operating bush, charter and medevac flights. In 2012, Jeff became an operating partner and transitioned from Assistant Chief Pilot overseeing bush operations to Chief Pilot. Jeff continues to oversee the bush operation as the company’s Vice President.
Lacia Kinnear – Chief Operating Officer
Lacia has lived and worked in Canada’s north for 14 years. Lacia joined the Alkan Air team in early 2021 as Chief Operating Officer after holding a variety of senior leadership positions at Yukon University. Most notably, Lacia led most of the college-to-university transition files as Yukon College transitioned to become Canada’s first Northern University in 2020 including legislation development, development of university governance, external relations, communications, marketing, strategic initiatives and advancement. Lacia has a reputation for designing strong processes, taking a collaborative approach, and maintaining vision and perspective when things get challenging. Thrilled with the challenge of joining Alkan Air to fill the newly created COO position, Lacia joined Alkan in January 2021. In her role as COO at Alkan Air, Lacia is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company and ensuring that all of the systems, resources, and people are in place to achieve the goals of the company.
Allison Mauro – Vice President, People
Allison has been visiting the Yukon since 2013 and decided to make the move permanent in 2018. Originally from Ontario, she earned her Honours Degree in Science, specialization in Kinesiology, prior to working as a RMT on the East Coast. She first started at Alkan as the Executive Assistant , prior to taking on Human Resources in 2019, and then advancing to Vice-President, People in 2022. Allison has successfully challenged the National Knowledge Exam and is currently a Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of BC & Yukon Candidate. She is responsible for all HR functions within the company and is passionate in her approach to help Alkan be the employer of choice.
STEVEN LICK – DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE
Steven graduated from Northern Light College in 2008 and completed an apprenticeship at Adventure Aviation out of Grande Prarie. In 2010 he became fully licenced as an AME and continued in his career path to become the Operations Manager for Happy Gas, an FBO in Grande Prarie, managing all Fuel Operations, Base Operations and the maintenance of all Ground Equipment. Between 2010 and 2017 he privately maintained 20+ aircraft ranging from a Piper Cherokee 180 to King Air 90 and Pilatus PC12 out of Grande Prarie. In 2017, Steve and his family decided to move to the Yukon to be closer to family and started employment with Alkan Air in May 2017. He worked his way up from an AME on the Floor to Crew Chief and has recently become the Director of Maintenance.
Nina Bukovac – Nanaimo Base Manager
Nina is no stranger to aviation, having spent 20+ years in the industry as a dispatcher and Base Manager. Prior to joining Alkan Air in Nanaimo, Nina had worked for a variety of companies over the years, including Harbour Air Seaplanes, Pacific Coastal Airlines as well as Vancouver Island Helicopters. Nina has a passion for aviation and for helping people. She takes great pride in managing the logistics of Medevac’s within BC, Canada, US and Mexico. When she is not in the office you will find her at the farm with her daughter Melia, where they enjoy barrel racing, trail riding and cattle sorting.