On Friday, November 15, the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE) hosted its second annual Business Ethics Conference at the 捆绑SM社区 Faculty Club, centred on the theme 鈥淓thics in the Aviation Industry.鈥� The event brought together over 80 participants, including students, faculty, alumni and industry professionals for a day of discussions, panels and networking. Focused on accessibility, profit, sustainability, and social responsibility as it relates to ethics and equity, the conference sparked engaging conversations and meaningful insights into the ethical complexities of the aviation industry. The conference unfolded in three panels, each offering a deep dive into critical ethical issues shaping the industry.
Ethics, employment equity, and accessibility
The first panel, moderated by Professor Paola Perez-Aleman, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Strategy Studies in Organizations, brought to light the industry鈥檚 challenges in addressing human rights and accessibility. , Director of Air Passenger Rights, underscored the need for more regulations to protect passengers with disabilities, a sentiment echoed by Sandra Gualtieri of Able Fly, who spoke on her advocacy work. In contrast, Vincent Correia, Co-Director of the Institute of Air and Space Law at 捆绑SM社区, cautioned against broad critiques of industry stakeholders and emphasized the need for nuanced, balanced regulatory approaches. This panel provided a setting for constructive dialogue, with other panelists, Professor HeeJung Jung, 捆绑SM社区 Desautels鈥� Director of EDI, and aviation management expert, John Gradek, of the 捆绑SM社区 School of Continuing Studies. Luk谩cs noted 鈥淚t鈥檚 only in an academic setting like this where we can have these kinds of conversations.鈥�
Sustainability
In the second panel, the discussion shifted to sustainability where panelists tackled the aviation industry鈥檚 environmental impact, moderated by Professor Sanjith Gopalakrishnan, Director of the 捆绑SM社区 Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI). of Airports Council International highlighted continued efforts to implement greener practices across the industry, while Pascal Hubert, Associate Director (Academic) of the 捆绑SM社区 Institute for Aerospace Engineering and the Werner Graupe Chair on Sustainable Composites Manufacturing, presented innovative ways to repurpose airplane materials. Adding to the conversation, from CAE outlined actionable strategies for developing green supply chains.
Profit and social responsibility in aviation manufacturing, operations, and maintenance
The closing panel, moderated by Sebastien Betermier, Associate Professor of Finance at 捆绑SM社区 Desautels and Executive Director of the International Centre for Pension Management, explored the balance between profitability and ethical responsibility. former Managing Director and President of Boeing Canada and of Pratt & Whitney Canada drew on lessons learned from past challenges, such as the Boeing 737 MAX incidents, emphasizing the important role of collaboration in rebuilding trust and prioritizing safety within the industry. McElvaine emphasized the need for an evolution in safety practices, stating, 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have safety, you won鈥檛 make any money.鈥� Along with the other panelists, , former Director General of the Airports Council International, underscored the need for better coordination between airport staff, businesses, regulators, manufacturers, customers, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment on ethical practices and regulatory standards.
Beyond the panels, the conference offered a rare opportunity for constituents across the industry to engage in candid conversations. Participants included representatives from Air Canada, Pratt & Whitney Canada, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and startups like A茅roport AI. Alumnus and benefactor of the Centre, David Laidley (BCom鈥�67) was also present, underscoring his commitment to fostering ethical leadership.
As the day concluded, LCBEE Director, Lindsay Holmgren, reflected on the conference鈥檚 purpose stating, 鈥淭he primary goal here is learning鈥攖o have these positive but difficult conversations.鈥� The conference reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in tackling the aviation industry鈥檚 most pressing ethical challenges. Participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and actionable ideas to implement in their respective fields. With its focus on fostering dialogue, sparking innovation, and bridging divides, the second annual Business Ethics Conference showcased the power of academic settings to drive meaningful change鈥攐ne candid conversation at a time.
Looking ahead, the LCBEE plans to build on this momentum with upcoming events, including Ethics Research I鈥檓 Excited About in January, Black Women鈥檚 Entrepreneurship: Research vs Reality in February and a case competition in March. Recordings of the conference proceedings are available on , and those interested in staying informed can join the LCBEE or follow the Centre on .
Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE)
The centre is 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 central hub supporting ethical decision-making in business through teaching, academic research and community engagement. The Centre aims to foster multi-disciplinary research in business, law, public policy, economics, engineering, religion and psychology.
