Eva Martinez embodies a lifelong passion for aerospace and aviation. A former air cadet and a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, Eva holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree with a specialty in Aerospace. Before retiring as a Major in 2002, Eva worked as an Aeronautical Engineer in the Royal Canadian Air Force and has since been working in the aviation, aerospace, and defence sector.
Fluent in English, French and Spanish, Eva was actively involved in various committees for the militaries of North, Central and South America throughout her military career. Eva helped the Chilean Air Force and the Guatemalan Army with the integration of women into their respective militaries. Most notably, Eva participated in the United Nations Mission to Guatemala (MINUGUA) as Canada’s first female military observer as part of an international contingent responsible for overseeing a ceasefire following the end of a 36-year old civil war.
Eva is the Vice President for Women in Aerospace Canada and actively serves on many boards including the Defence Industry Advisory Group (DIAG), the Advisory Council for the Best Defence Conference, and the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum (ACAM). In the past, Eva has served on the Board of the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Associations (ACADA) – an organization focused on advancing the Atlantic Provinces’ aerospace, marine and defence industries – chairing the Innovation Committee; and the Business Development Committee for the Canadian Aerospace and Defence Industry Association (CADSI). True to her roots as a former air cadet, Eva has also served on the Board of Governors for the National Air Cadet League and the Ontario Provincial Committee.
In 2014, Eva received the Elsie MacGill Northern Lights Aero Foundation Business Award in recognition of outstanding women in aviation and aerospace that, as role models, inspire and encourage increased participation in these industries by promoting awareness of the vast opportunities in all sectors.
In 2017, Eva was featured in hErVOLUTION’s 150 Days of Canadian Women in STEM initiative as part of Canada’s 150th celebrations. In 2016, Eva was selected as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians and was featured in Esprit de Corps’ “Breaking Down the Barricades: Women in the Defence World” as one of 20 prominent women in the defence sector. Eva was the 2014 recipient of the Halton Industry Education Council (HIEC) Partnership award for inspiring youth to make informed career decisions. In 2012, she was named a Canadian Diversity Champion by Women of Influence.
Weaving in her own personal experiences, Eva can speak to topics such as Women in Non-Traditional Roles, Leadership, Diversity in Aerospace & Defence, and STEM.
