Speakers

Chris leads the Aviation Strategy hub KPMG in Ireland. He is Chair for KPMG's global AAM and future flight community and works with clients across the aerospace and aviation value chain, including airports, ANSPs, operators, lessors, ground handlers and the OEM supply chain.

Max joined GHI in 2017 after launching and hosting conference and award events in the UK manufacturing industry. A trained journalist, Max strives to deliver innovative content on stage, online or in print that challenges, educates and entertains. As a non-aviation professional - Max is always eager to don the hi-vis jacket and get out on the apron to experience the everyday challenges facing ground handling businesses and their airline customers. Max graduated as a biochemist from Cardiff University in 2001. He became a NUJ/NCTJ accredited journalist in 2003. Max went on to an award-winning 14 year editorial career including stints at magazines in the UK pub, pharmacy and manufacturing sectors. Outside of work - Max is never far from a book, the fridge or the 5-a-side football pitch.

Celine is a recognized driver of positive change with 20 years of experience in international environment. Former Head of Cargo Transformation at IATA and Transition Director of TIACA, Celine is the founder of Change Horizon, a management consulting company which supports aviation and logistics organizations with their sustainable corporate strategies, development, and transformation projects. Passionate about learning & development, Celine is the co-founder of the IATA FACE program to attract, develop and retain the young talents in air cargo in 2013 and the Women in Aviation & Logistics (WAL) initiative to improve the gender balance within the industry in 2021.

Desiree is a recognised expert in the aviation industry for her work with leadership teams and individuals on leadership and professional development. Prior to her 16 years in aviation, Desiree lived in Argentina, then Germany, before being relocated to the US in 2011. Desiree served as a senior leader in the aviation industry on a global level, leading multicultural customer excellence teams for some of the most recognised airlines, airports and service providers. During that time she witnessed first-hand the importance of leadership development. Desiree currently speaks on the importance of leadership development in an ever-changing aviation environment, with an increased focus on profitability, customer service and safety.

Nuria holds a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, specialized in airport infrastructure and aeronautical business management, from Polytechnic University of Catalonia and Black Belt Lean Six Sigma Certification. She started her career at Vueling Airlines. Since 2013, she worked as consultant at ALG, being involved in airport and airlines growth plans, due diligences and certifications in Europe, Africa and South America. In 2016, she joined Edinburgh Airport operations division, leading all continuous improvement projects in airside among ground handlers, airlines and airport stakeholders.
Nuria became part of Iberia Airport Services (IBAS) in 2019 and is currently heading the Commercial and Business Transformation teams. In this capacity, she is responsible for short- and long-term handling services sales and marketing strategy, managing a current portfolio of more than 200 airlines in 29 Spanish airports. Thanks to her extensive experience in airport operational management worldwide and strategic consultancy, she also strives to deliver innovation and digitalization to IBAS operation with the goal to offer better and more efficient handling services, adapted to each airline customer and business model.

Thomas completed his post graduate MBA at Denver University. He has an outstanding track record in the area of sales and marketing across different industries, including ground handling. After completing his MBA he had experienced several businesses until taking Directorship roles in key account management and business development functions at Hilti in Liechtenstein. Thomas was subsequently Vice President Global Key Account Management (2013-2016) and Vice President Commercial Africa & Middle East (2016-2018) at Swissport International. Currently, he serves as Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing at Celebi Aviation Holding.

Jelmer started out in aviation working as a baggage loader at Eindhoven airport, whilst studying at the University of Technology, where he was caught by the aviation virus. After gaining operational experience in the various Viggo daughter companies, Jelmer became the leader of the Viggo Business Development team, subsequently becoming the CTO of Smart Solutions by Viggo, a separate consulting branch within the Viggo holding. As a happy father of 1 son, I try to divide my time between my family, work and long distance cycling.

Forsyth is Chief Executive Officer of Edinburgh Midwest Aviation Partners, a company focussed on investing in aviation logistics and technology businesses, backed by substantial private capital.
In his previous career, he served as Chief Executive Officer with John Menzies plc, and as President & Managing Director of Menzies Aviation plc, which at the time had over 36,000 staff, spread across 220 airports in 34 countries turning over around £1.3 billion.  A qualified management accountant and holding an MBA from the University of Edinburgh, he built his career at Menzies on conceiving, opening and leading several products, businesses and joint ventures, including Menzies operations in Africa and India.  A stint early in his aviation career as Commercial Director also led him to become well versed in the mechanics of airline/handler pricing, negotiation and contracting, and his years as an operational leader gave him a deep understanding of ground operations.  
In 2017 Forsyth led the completion of the $202m acquisition by Menzies of ASIG, the world’s largest independent into-plane fueller, from BBA plc, one of Menzies Aviation’s most successful landmark acquisitions.

Margit started her professional career working for LTE International Airways in 1989. During the first five years she was involved in administrative tasks related to ground operations, and then gradually introduced to the contracting of ground handling services. She was appointed Ground Operations Manager in 1995, and with the introduction of JAR OPS, was appointed Post-holder Ground Operations in 2002. Margit has also worked at Airberlin as Regional Manager Ground Operations, Safety & Security for Spain and Portugal. Since 2014 she has been in the position of Post-holder Ground Operations at Albastar.

Javed Malik has been in aviation for over 27 years and held Group and C-suite level roles across both full-service carriers and low-cost airlines, Ground handling service Providers and Airport operators. He has delivered large-scale programs focused on the customer ground and in air experience, driven operational efficiencies and nationwide team management, leveraging innovative approaches with technology and hands-on practical experience to solve everyday business challenges.

Created and implemented India’s first Biometric Passenger Journey named Digi Yatra using only customers face to travel, later implemented for Airasia FACES biometric program to over 117 airports across the Asia Pacific, with a potential of over 60m passengers to use over the next five years.

He is described as a positive disruptor in the way service and efficient operations are delivered. A leader who has brought significant Transformation in complicated and highly regulated operational environments with teams of over 22,000 across Australasia, South Asia, the Far East, U.K., Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. He has achieved this by merging innovation, technology, robust processes, and people development that drives success.

Diego holds an MSc in Aeronautical Engineering and Airport Engineering from UPM, Madrid University. He has been working in Airbus since 2003, initially preparing the A380 for entry into service in airports worldwide and then taking care of aircraft/airport compatibility issues for all current and future aircraft types. He participates in several standardisation organisations and chairs the SAE AGE3 Aircraft Ground Support Equipment Committee. Diego has worked in several research European projects and continues to champion innovation in the airport ramp.

Nicholas has worked in aviation since 2004, starting in ground handling dispatch and operations with Swissport at Manchester airport. He then moved into duty management positions, both front and back of house, before working as a service delivery manager, being responsible for key contracts including Emirates, Air France, KLM and Finnair. Nicholas joined Monarch Airlines in 2014, where he worked on operational performance and the development of risk management processes. In 2017 he joined easyJet at Gatwick, as a Quality & Safety Specialist, and latterly as Ground Operations Quality & Safety Manager from January 2019.

Richard is the CEO for the Aviapartner Group and has been with the company since 2016. Previously Richard was the General Manager of Etihad Airport Services Ground Handling Company at Abu Dhabi International airport and prior to this he worked at Swissport UK as the General Manager of London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester and London Stansted Airports. Prior to joining the Aviation industry in 2009 Richard worked in the Oil, Gas and Power Generation business for E.ON and Centrica for 9 years following his time in the British Royal Navy.

Eoin Coates is currently Head of Aviation at the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), a European Trade Union Federation representing 5 million transport workers in 41 countries including workers in all sectors of aviation. Together with his Brussels-based team, the ETF are the largest representative body of aviation workers in Europe and are a social partner in the EU Sectoral Social Dialogue committee for aviation, ground handling, ATM and air crew.

After graduating from the Galway University in Ireland, he pursued a career in aviation working as cabin crew for two major Irish airlines before joining the staff of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) based in London where he was Assistant Secretary for Civil Aviation and Tourism. During this time, he worked extensively on issues related to low-cost carriers, ICAO, and sustainable tourism at global level before moving to focus on European issues in 2020.

Daniela Modonesi is currently Ground Staff Committee Chair  at the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), a European Trade Union Federation representing 5 million transport workers in 41 countries, and is the elected Women Representative in the Civil Aviation section of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) an International Trade Union Federation representing nearly 20 million transport workers in 150 countries; she is also Regional Secretary for the Italian Trade Union FILT-CGIL. She works as Ground Staff for a Groundhandling company at Bologna airport. She graduated from Bologna University Alma Mater Studiorum and has a Master degree in International Studies on Philanthropy (Bologna University and IUPUI Purdue University Indiana). She soon began to be active in  trade union work at local and national level and since 2010  at European and International level on Aviation topics. Rugby and Volleyball fan, she loves to study languages and history.

Co-founder and COO at Aerovect.

Ekkehart works with major INFORM customers around the world, and has expertise in various areas of the industry, including passengers, cargo and engineering. From 1991 to 1996 he was Assistant Professor at the Institute for Computer Science, University of Bonn. His knowledge of the development and implementation of fast algorithms has led him to compile several publications on this topic. In 1996 he was made Technical Product Manager at INFORM and since 2010, he has been CTO in INFORM's Aviation Division.

Sebastien joined the Fayat Group in 2012 as a Mechanical Engineer in an apprenticeship scheme. This occupied him for three years before he had his first experience abroad in the GSE field with Charlatte America, where he worked for 18 months. He then joined Charlatte Manutention in France in 2016 as a project manager to help develop and improve the conveyor beltloaders in terms of design and regulations. Today Sebastien is also part of the Charlatte autonomous tractor project on the commissioning and customer experimentation process side.

Aeronautical Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and MBA from IESE Business School. He has extensive professional experience in the aviation sector and especially in the airport sector. He began his professional career at Airbus as a Fluid Mechanics Engineer. He then joined ALG (Indra's consultancy firm specialising in the aviation sector) as a consultant, where he worked on various strategic projects for airlines and handlers in Europe, Latin America and North Africa. After four years as a consultant, he joined the Iberia family, first as Planning Manager and then as Senior Manager of Operational Control at Madrid Barajas, a position he held for 5 years. In June 2020 he was appointed Director of Airport Operations, a position he currently holds.

Vivien was appointed Chief Executive of Jardine Aviation Services Group (JASG) in November 2021.
Prior joining JASG, Vivien had worked in Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL) for 9 years. She was Executive Director of HACTL overseeing all the commercial and business development initiatives, as well as Managing Director of HACIS (the wholly-owned subsidiary of HACTL) providing seamless logistics solution including cross-border road feeder services and e-commerce handling.
Vivien first joined parent company the Jardine Matheson Group as an Executive Trainee in 2000 and has held various managerial positions. She has worked in aviation-related business for over 15 years, including ground handling services, air cargo and logistics.

Thomas has extensive experience of the aviation industry in which he has worked for many years, including time spent with Worldwide Flight Services as SVP Group Purchasing and CEO of the French Ground Handling Business unit.
Thomas has over ten years' experience in consulting (at KPMG Peat Marwick) and has now set up his own business. He works, amongst other sectors, for many players in the aviation field including airlines, manufacturers, ground handlers, GSE suppliers and private equity firms.

Ivan Jakovljevic is the Chief Operating Officer at Ink Innovation, and he is responsible for Ink's operations, and quality management, as well as bringing high-value experiences to customers and partners. He has a strong focus to build robust departments and deliver transformation and change programmes relating to service levels and operational performance.
 
Ivan started his career at Sky Partner R.S Ltd. performing flight control and centralised load control for 16 airlines. Prior to taking on his role at Ink, Ivan gained extensive experience in aircraft performance leading Centralised Load Control, Flight Dispatch, and Flight Support.

Ivan is passionate about aerospace science and scientific work. His educational and professional background includes PhD studies in Aeronautics, Aviation, Aerospace Science and Technology from the University of Belgrade, and five published research papers. He contributes as a scientific journal reviewer to numerous magazines.

Paulo built his entire professional career within the Ground Handling. Graduated in Foreign Languages Applied to International Business at the Federal University of Paraíba in Brazil, he began his career in a small airport in the northeast of Brazil as a passenger agent, but it was under the plane that he found his true vocation. Always very dedicated to excellence programs and safety issues, after gaining operational experience he assumed the Quality and Safety Management of Real Aviation, a Brazilian Ground Handling company in ascendancy and with operations in 16 airports in Brazil. Among his main achievements, in addition to awards and recognitions from the main Brazilian airlines for high performance in quality and safety programs, Paulo directly collaborated to make it possible to carry out the first 100% electric operation in Latin America in 2022.

Robert is Executive Vice President Cargo for Menzies Aviation, and based in Edinburgh. He re-joined Menzies in October 2017, having spent the previous nine years with Etihad, mostly based in the United Arab Emirates, where he held the position of Head of Cargo Operations, with accountability for hub operations and the global cargo handling network, overseeing significant growth of the airline and its cargo handling business. Prior to the move to Abu Dhabi, Robert’s first tenure with Menzies was a ten year stint in various commercial roles, including global key account management. He learnt the cargo business in his early years with Lufthansa Cargo based at London Heathrow in a number of operational and quality management roles. Robert is a former board member of cargoiQ and a current member of IATA’s Cargo Handling Consultative Council. He holds an Advanced Masters in Airline Operations Management from ENAC University in Toulouse, France.

Arzu is a highly qualified Global Procurement & Construction with over 23 years of experience majorly in aviation, cargo warehouses, airport passenger terminals as well as seaports, cruise terminal facilities, throughout Europe, Africa and India. Arzu has started her career in construction projects' design and site management, whereas after joining Çelebi group, she has extended her experience through years, via participating in business development case studies ,Çelebi properties' development, investments, maintenance projects and taking the leadership of the Çelebi group's procurement function globally. Arzu has expertise in creating and standardizing purchasing procedures from the scratch, designing & structuring teams ,as well as collaborating cross-functionally with all levels of leadership.

Wilson Kwong became Chief Executive of Hactl in March 2018. His 24 year career with majority shareholder Jardine Matheson Group included 7 years with Jardine Aviation Services, where he was involved in passenger and ramp handling activities.Since joining Hactl, Wilson has further strengthened Hactl’s strong focus on digitisation, innovation, compliance and sustainability. New initiatives under his management have included digital cargo-locating and ramp efficiency systems, trialling of robotics through a revolutionary Automated Parts Store, and the launch of Hactl’s ground-breaking centralised digital Control Centre. He has also overseen accreditation under all four IATA CEIV programmes (Pharma, Fresh, Live Animals and Lithium Batteries); commissioned a roof-top solar farm at SuperTerminal1; and led an award-winning green office refurbishment. He has meanwhile expanded Hactl’s service portfolio with the launch of (subsidiary) Hacis’ E-commerce Fulfilment Centre, and Hactl’s Aero Engine Handling Centre.His tenure as Chief Executive has also been marked with numerous prestigious awards for the company, including the latest Hong Kong Management Association’s coveted Quality Award.Hactl is Hong Kong’s leading independent cargo handler. Its SuperTerminal 1 base is the world’s largest multi-level, multi-user air cargo terminal, with a capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per annum.

Bastiaan de Bruijne is General Counsel at the Airports Council International (ACI EUROPE) in Brussels - the association representing more than 500 airports in 55 European countries.

Noor leads the implementation of dnata’s global Environment & Sustainability strategy across 35 countries for airport operations, catering and travel services. dnata is part of the Emirates Group and is the leading provider of air services with more than 40,000 employees globally. Noor has >15 years of Environment and Sustainability experience in the region across various industries and clients including oil & gas, ports and harbours, Giga projects, environmentally-protected areas. She has helped various government and private clients across their sustainable development journeys as well as enabled environmental compliance & assurance for sensitive projects. She comes from an engineering consulting and advisory background where she held various leadership roles in the region between WSP, Arcadis and Worley.

CEO – Saudi Ground Services

Board Member – TLD Arabia

Board Member – SAAS (Saudi Al-Amad Airport Services and Air Transport Support)
 
Raed Al-Idrissi stands out in his area with wide ranging executive experiences, extending over 20 years, varying between ground services operations and project management. He was appointed the CEO of SGS in January 2021, after fulfilling the role of the EVP of Operations during the preceding year.

Raed has been known for being a result-oriented leader, with exceptional communication and team-building skills, demonstrated in overseeing the performance ten thousand employees across all 28 airports around the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His customer-focused approach stands behind his outstanding management of the operations that serve 100 million passengers boarding over 700 thousand flights annually.

Prior to joining SGS, Raed started his career in operations with Saudi Aramco back in 2001, serving various roles in the company and making major contributions everywhere he lands; most significantly, achieving a record cost avoidance of almost 1b SAR. In 2016, he became the Chief of Ground Services Operations, which he served in until 2019. In his latest role at Aramco, Raed led multiple successful projects; including utilizing technology to rehabilitate the Shaybah Runway, obtaining the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (ISBAH) Certificate for eleven Aramco stations, and remarkably improving the operational processes resulting in better turnaround performance reaching 97% in on-time performance.

Raed is an alumnus of King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, holding an Executive MBA and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management.

Started career in the GSE industry in 1995 as a sales representative for TUG Manufacturing having its facility located in Kennesaw GA US, With a focus on both bag tractors and beltloaders within my early career I worked within the North American sector learning and understanding not only the customer and supplier relationship of the industry but also the many opportunities and challenges of the ramp operation. Our company grew over the years and broadened the product line offering to include both airstarts and pushbacks. Responsibilities grew and over the years I have learned the GSE industry from a Global standpoint. Currently manage a team covering the Globe and representing the Textron GSE brands including a broad product line up of Towbarless pushbacks and deicers units.

Dirk Goovaerts joined Swissport International AG as Head of Middle East & Africa on September 1st, 2021, reporting directly to the CEO. In addition, he serves as Global Cargo Chair, focusing on strengthening Swissport’s air cargo business. Dirk has over 25 years of experience in the ground handling and cargo industries and is a result-oriented senior executive with a proven track record in operational excellence, digital acceleration, and turnaround management. Dirk joins Swissport from dnata, where he was CEO of the Asia Pacific region. Prior to that, he was the COO of Saudi Ground Services Company, Senior Vice President Europe at Menzies Aviation, and Finance Director Global Network of Outstations at Sabena.

Soren has 30 years of experience in international consulting from various companies, including Accenture, in terms of implementing business critical systems. For the last fifteen years Soren has worked in the aviation industry, selling and implementing Resource Management, Mobility and Hub Control Solutions to airlines and ground handling organisations. Soren is a keen golfer.

In 2020, Donna opened the US offices of Kale Info Solutions. She still serves as President and CEO of Mullins International Solutions and Mullins International Academy. Prior to starting Mullins International Solutions, Donna served as Branch Manager for the Atlanta office of CV International. Before this, she was President and CEO of Alpha Sun International. Donna has served in the international transportation community since 1982, where she began as an importer of wholesale merchandise. Upon leaving the import side of the trade, Donna started her career in the brokerage and transportation arena. She has held various volunteer positions including President and Chair of the AIFBA and President and Chair of the AACA. Donna has also held an Adjunct Professor's position with Clayton State University, where she was involved in the Logistics and Supply Chain Management and teaches the ABC of Customs Brokerage as well as other international classes and courses. She also serves on the Advisory Board for the Logistics and Supply Chain Business of College at Clayton State University and Atlanta Technical College.

Nicolas joined TLD in January 2006 as COO of TLD Saint-Lin, where he contributed in particular to the development of a green product line, with a large variety of electric vehicles. He then joined TLD Canada as COO in 2010. In July 2015 he took up the position of Chief Manufacturing Officer. Since January 2017, he has been RCEO for TLD EMEAI, covering three factories and two sales entities. Nicolas possesses a Master’s in Engineering and General Studies from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers. His early background includes time spent in the oil sector as well as in the automobile industry.

David is responsible for leading the sales & service teams for JBT's EMEA region.

Cyril launched his career in the aviation industry working as a project engineer for a software company, after graduating from the engineering school ESTACA in Paris. He joined TLD (ALVEST Group) in 2016 as a sales engineer, based in Australia. During this time, he participated in expanding TLD's presence in Oceania by introducing some key electrical ground support equipment. Cyril relocated to France in 2019 to join Smart Airport Systems, where he has participated in the growth of this new division of ALVEST. He currently leads the commercialisation and project management of the TractEasy solution.