Mars analogue research facilities are excellent tools for advancing comparative planetology scientific research and exploration methodologies, as well as for investigating and devising countermeasures for the challenges astronauts may encounter while exploring the Martian surface. Analogue studies, and more specifically human mission simulations, also play an important role by training the future leaders in space exploration. With this in mind, the Mars Society of Canada (MSC) established the Expedition Mars program to advance the competence (knowledge, expertise and leadership) needed for human exploration of Mars. The program is divided into two distinct, but complementary, Mars analogue expedition series: Expedition Mars Analogue Training Series (ExMATS) and Expedition Mars Analogue Research Series (ExMARS). The ExMATS missions are designed to train and certify researchers, engineers and commanding officers for ExMARS missions which are dedicated to conducting extended Mars analogue research missions for maximum return on scientific research. Through the two series, Expedition Mars has established a systematic and sustainable method of developing and transferring competence within the program, and to the space community.