Adding Strength to Your Organization Through Industry Peer Connections
In aviation, strength isn’t only measured by infrastructure, fleet size, or financial performance - it’s also reflected in the depth of our connections across the industry. Strength is resilience. It’s safety. It’s having people and organizations you can rely on when challenges arise, when lessons need to be shared, and when opportunities for improvement are waiting to be uncovered.
At Acclivix, we’ve experienced first-hand how involvement in industry associations builds that kind of strength. As members of the Alberta Airports Management Association (AAMA), the Airport Management Council of Ontario (AMCO), and through my personal involvement as a member of the board of the International Association of Airport Executives – Canada (IAAE-Canada), we’ve benefited from networks that extend across provinces, perspectives, and decades of experience.
We recently participated in the 40th annual AMCO Conference in Sudbury, and it was a powerful reminder that even in an era dominated by digital communication, nothing replaces meeting face-to-face. Conversations that start over coffee or at a tradeshow booth often lead to valuable collaborations, fresh ideas, and long-term partnerships.
In earlier roles, I’ve also worked alongside the Canadian Airports Council (CAC), and the connections made there continue to prove valuable years later - not just for business, but for professional growth and for improving the systems that keep aviation safe. Having a trusted contact to call when you need advice, want to compare practices, or validate an approach can be the difference between feeling isolated and feeling empowered to act.
For executives, this raises a set of important questions:
Are you getting real value from the groups and associations you belong to?
Are your team members also building their own networks, or does all the external connection rest with leadership?
Are there opportunities to strengthen your industry influence by serving on a board or committee?
And most importantly - how is your organization’s involvement improving your knowledge, resilience, and safety performance?
At Acclivix, we’ve found that peer connections drive progress. The ability to share best practices, benchmark performance, and learn from others’ experiences helps organizations anticipate challenges and build stronger, safer systems. Equally, business-to-business partnerships within our industry are often where new ideas are sparked - partnerships that don’t just serve one project, but strengthen both organizations for the long term.
Whether it’s through an association, a working group, or a simple coffee meeting at a conference, those relationships form the backbone of continuous improvement. When we engage meaningfully with our peers, we don’t just represent our own airport or organization - we contribute to the collective strength and safety of the entire aviation community.
Because in aviation, connection is strength - and strength is safety.