Accountability Relationships
CATSA is an agent Crown corporation with a Board of Directors appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport.
Board of Directors
CATSA is governed by an eleven-member Board of Directors, independent from CATSA’s management. The airline associations nominate two of the directors, and the Canadian Airports Council nominates two directors. The Board of Directors and its committees meet on a quarterly basis and as required to effectively oversee the corporation’s business and strategic direction.
The Board of Directors has a number of ongoing responsibilities, including:
- Establishing CATSA’s strategic direction through various means, including its annual corporate plan, and safeguarding the resources of the corporation by approving annual reports, and capital and operating budgets;
- Approving CATSA’s corporate plan for recommendation to the Minister;
- Ensuring the fulfillment of the corporation’s mandate;
- Monitoring corporate performance;
- Ensuring the principal organizational risks are identified and that appropriate systems/mitigations to manage these risks have been implemented;
- Approving the President and Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) objectives for the year and evaluating their performance;
- Drafting, amending or repealing corporate by-laws; and
- Reviewing and approving the succession plan for senior management.
Board Committees
The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to financial reporting, financial risk management, climate disclosure, cybersecurity, internal controls, internal and external audits, budgets and any other matter assigned by the Board.
The Governance, Human Resources and Pension Committee (GHRP) assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to governance matters, human resources and compensation, management succession plans, policies and processes relating to employee business conduct and ethical behaviour, annual objectives for the President and CEO, management and administration of the employee pension plans and any other matter assigned to it by the Board.
As of September 30, 2023, CATSA’s Board of Directors included:
| Board Members | Audit | GHRP | Total Remuneration (2023/24) |
Appointment Date |
Mandate Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thao Pham, Board Chairperson | Yes | Yes | $17,580 | 2023/03/14 | 2028/03/13 |
| Sharon Duggan, GHRP Chair | Yes | Yes | $9,525 | 2018/02/21 | 2022/02/21 |
| Diane Trenn Audit Chair Appointed as a nominee of the Canadian Airports Council |
Yes | Yes | $9,135 | Original: 2018/06/14 Reappointment: 2022/10/28 |
2026/10/28 |
| Patricia Anne Kennedy Appointed as a nominee of the Air Transport Association of Canada |
Yes | Yes | $8,550 | Original: 2015/03/26 Reappointment: 2018/06/25 |
2021/06/24 |
| Rosemary Capparelli Appointed as a nominee of the National Airlines Council of Canada |
Yes | No | $8,745 | 2022/10/28 | 2026/10/28 |
| Jennifer Sullivan Appointed as a nominee of the Canadian Airports Council |
No | Yes | $7,965 | 2022/10/28 | 2026/10/28 |
| Melissa Coulson | Yes | No | $8,550 | Original: 2014/01/30 Reappointment: 2018/02/21 Reappointment amended: 2022/12/16 |
2023/02/21 |
| Jean-Philippe Brunet | No | Yes | $7,575 | 2018/02/21 | 2022/02/21 |
| Gilles Lalonde | Yes | No | $8,745 | Original: 2018/02/21 Reappointment: 2021/05/21 |
2025/05/21 |
| Penny Westman* | No | Yes | $5,430 | 2019/03/22 | 2023/03/22 |
| Vacancy |
* Board member is currently on a leave of absence.
**Per the Financial Administration Act, any Director (other than the Chairperson) whose term has expired, may continue in office until a successor is appointed.
The Government of Canada appointed a new Chairperson in 2023. The terms of five directors have expired but they remain on the Board of Directors, and there is currently one vacancy. CATSA remains committed to working with Transport Canada to support timely appointments by the Government of Canada.
CATSA’s Senior Management Team
On April 3, 2023, Nada Semaan was appointed as CATSA’s President and CEO for a five-year term by Order in Council. The President and CEO is supported by a senior management team, including:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Neil Parry | Senior Vice-President, Operations |
| Nancy Fitchett | Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer |
| Denis Perron | Acting Vice-President, Technology and Chief Technology Officer |
|
Lisa Hamilton |
Vice-President, Corporate Services, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
* Philippe Johnston will be joining CATSA as the new Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer, effective January 30, 2024.
CATSA’s Executive Compensation Structure
Maintaining a competitive total compensation package is key to CATSA's ability to attract and retain a diverse and qualified workforce. The organization’s total compensation program consists of a base salary as well as performance incentives, group benefits and pension plan.
CATSA’s Board of Directors, through the Governance, Human Resources and Pension Committee, reviews the compensation package regularly to ensure that it is reasonable and is competitive with similar public sector organizations.
Pursuant to subsection 20(2) of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act, the rate of any remuneration paid to the President and CEO is fixed by the Governor in Council by Order in Council (2023-875), wherein the base salary is within the range of $265,700 - $312,500 per annum.
In 2023/24, the base salary range for Vice-Presidents is $207,774 to $373,994. CATSA’s Vice-Presidents are also eligible to receive incentive pay in the range of 0 – 30%, depending on their performance.
Annual Public Meeting
CATSA held its 2022/23 Annual Public Meeting by means of an audio-visual presentation that was posted on the organization’s website on June 26, 2023.