Accredited Member Spotlight: Brandon Wiebe, A.A.E.

Brandon Wiebe is recognized as one of IAAE Canada's newest accredited members during the 2026 F.O.A.M. Conference.

Congratulations to Brandon Wiebe, A.A.E., Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs & Infrastructure at Nanaimo Airport, on earning his Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) designation.

Brandon recently completed the IAAE Canada Accreditation Program, earning his Certified Member (C.M.) credential through the Accreditation Academy before successfully completing the written requirement and final Board of Examiners interview. We recently caught up with Brandon to learn more about his career, his accreditation journey and what advice he has for future candidates.

Tell us a little about yourself and your current role.

I currently serve as the Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs & Infrastructure at Nanaimo Airport. In this role, I oversee airport infrastructure planning and delivery, regulatory compliance, capital development, airport planning, and strategic initiatives that support the airport's long-term growth. I have worked in the airport industry for more than 19 years and have been fortunate to build my career through a variety of operational and leadership roles. What I enjoy most about aviation is that no two days are the same. It’s a dynamic industry that requires balancing safety, regulatory compliance, customer service, infrastructure, and long-term strategic planning, all while working alongside dedicated professionals who share a common goal.

What inspired you to pursue your A.A.E. designation?

I've always believed that continuous learning is essential in aviation. The A.A.E. designation is widely recognized as one of the highest professional credentials in airport management, and I wanted to challenge myself while expanding my knowledge beyond my day-to-day responsibilities. The program also provided an opportunity to deepen my understanding of airport leadership, planning, finance, governance, and strategic decision-making, allowing me to contribute more effectively to both my organization and the industry as a whole.

Tell us about your accreditation journey.

I completed the Accreditation Academy in person, which I would highly recommend. Learning alongside other candidates and hearing about their experiences from airports across the country added tremendous value to the program and provided perspectives that simply can't be gained through self-study alone. For my Phase Two requirement, I completed a proctored essay focused on Operations and Safety & Security. My final Board of Examiners interview was also held in person, providing a great opportunity to discuss airport management topics with experienced industry professionals. My accreditation journey took a little longer than originally anticipated because I changed airports and roles during the process. While that extended the timeline, it also gave me the opportunity to apply what I was learning in a new environment with broader responsibilities. Looking back, the journey was incredibly rewarding, and the knowledge, relationships, and experiences I gained along the way made the effort well worthwhile.

Brandon Wiebe, submitted photo.

What part of the program challenged you the most?

Coming from an extensive operations background, I found the Finance and Marketing & Communications sections to be the most challenging. While I was already very comfortable with airport operations, these topics pushed me outside my comfort zone and gave me a much broader understanding of how airports are managed as businesses. Learning more about airport finance, budgeting, stakeholder engagement, marketing, and communications helped me become a more well-rounded airport professional. It reinforced that successful airport leadership requires balancing operational excellence with sound financial decision-making and effective communication with employees, stakeholders, tenants, airlines, and the community.

What advice would you give someone who is considering the Accreditation Program?

Go for it.

The program may seem intimidating at first, but it's very manageable if you approach it one step at a time. Don't wait until you think you know everything—that's exactly what the program is designed to help you learn. I'd also encourage candidates to connect with mentors and others who have completed the program. The airport community is incredibly supportive, and people are always willing to share their experiences and offer guidance along the way.

What does earning your A.A.E. designation mean to you?

Earning my A.A.E. designation is something I'm very proud of. It represents a significant professional milestone and reflects the time, effort, and commitment invested throughout the accreditation journey. More importantly, it has strengthened my confidence as a leader and broadened my perspective on airport management. The knowledge and experience gained through the program have already influenced how I approach strategic planning, infrastructure development, regulatory compliance, and organizational decision-making. I also see it as a commitment to lifelong learning and to continuing to contribute to the advancement of Canada's airport industry.

What’s next?

I'm currently focused on several exciting infrastructure and strategic planning initiatives at Nanaimo Airport, including airport master planning, regulatory transition projects, capital development, and long-term infrastructure improvements that will help position the airport for future growth. I'm also looking forward to staying involved with IAAE Canada. I'd welcome the opportunity to mentor future candidates, support the Accreditation Program, and give back to an organization that has contributed so much to my own professional development.

What has been the most memorable moment of your airport career so far?

One of the most memorable moments of my airport career was working through a major winter storm at an airport in Northwestern British Columbia. The storm began on a Thursday and didn't let up until around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, when the skies finally cleared. From what I remember, we received well over 150 cm of snow in less than 48 hours. The amount of snow was incredible. It took two snowblowers and two loaders more than 13 hours just to clear the glide slope critical area. We even had to use our LaRue snowblower to cut through the snowbanks and reopen the long-term parking lot. It was an exhausting operation, but also an incredibly rewarding one. Experiences like that remind you just how important teamwork is in aviation. Everyone worked long hours, supported one another, and stayed focused on the common goal of restoring safe airport operations. There's nothing quite like a major winter storm to bring an airport operations team together, and it's an experience I'll never forget.

Inspired by Brandon’s Story?

Every accreditation journey is unique, but they all begin with the same first step. Learn more about the A.A.E. and A.A.P. programs, eligibility requirements and the accreditation process