H.E Khalifa Al Mazrouei Chairman Abu Dhabi Airports Company

 

H.E Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi Director General Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority

Dr. Nawal Taneja Professor and Chairman Department of Aviation Ohio State University

For more than 35 years Dr. Nawal has been contributing within the airline industry, having worked for and advised major airlines worldwide in the areas of strategic and tactical planning. His experience also includes the presidency of a small airline and the presidency of a research organisation that provided consulting services to the air transportation community. Dr. Nawal has served on the faculty at the Ohio State University and the MIT. He has advised civil aviation authorities in public policy areas and authored four books for senior executives in the global airline industry; (1) Driving Airline Business Strategies through Emerging Technology; (2) AIRLINE SURVIVAL KIT: Breaking Out of the Zero Profit Game; (3) Simpli-Flying: Optimising the Airline Business Model; and (4) Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Passenger is Flying the Plane.

James Hogan CEO Etihad Airways

James was appointed CEO in October 2006, with over 25 years of industry expertise to the airline. James joined from Gulf Air, where he was heading Project Falcon programme, repositioning the business on a commercial platform. Prior to joining Gulf Air, James was Chief Executive of the Tesna consortium, created to acquire Ansett Airlines from administration. James has held a number of senior operational and commercial positions within the airline industry including VP, Marketing and Sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa at Herts, Worldwide Sales Director at the Granada Group and Chief Operating Officer at bmi British Midland.

 

George Bellew CEO Oman Airports Management Company

George joined Oman Airports Management Company in September 2005 as CEO, having previously held the position of CEO at Christchurch International Airport Limited, New Zealand. Before working in the airports sector George was Executive Director responsible for a portfolio of engineering and distribution companies within a public listed New Zealand company. Earlier in his career he held executive positions in both the timber and the petroleum industries. George has also held a number of non-executive Directorships with companies in such diverse sectors as the delivery of hospital service, electricity distribution and tourism. He is a graduate in both Science and Commerce.

 

Shane O'Hare CEO Royal Jet

Appointed in June 2007, Shane has over 30 years international aviation industry experience. Shane has previously held senior management positions in a number of airlines, most recently with Gulf Air as Head of Marketing. Another key position held was Director of Marketing in the Star Alliance Group, which embraces 17 of the world’s leading airlines. A globally experienced business strategist, Shane brings to the Royal Jet Group specialisation skills spanning airline management, operations, commercial, alliance management, services management, complex service brand & marketing knowledge. An MBA graduate of Bond University, Queensland, Australia, Shane has also served as Business Management Lecturer of the university’s Business School.

 

Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi Chairman Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority

Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi has been the Chairman DCA since 1997 after serving the dual role as Chairman of the Airport Board and Director of the Department. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the General Civil Aviation Authority in the UAE, Vice Chairman of RAK Airways and RAK Airport. Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi is also the Head of the Executive Committee and member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah

 

Peter Harbison Executive Chairman Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation

Peter Harbison is Executive Chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA). Peter’s has more than 30 years experience in aviation, focusing on government regulation, airport management and privatisation, and airline startup and strategy. He has conducted more than 200 consultancy projects from the Middle East, India, China, Asia and the South Pacific. Peter is a former Chairman of the IATA’s World Aviation Regulation Monitoring Group. Also a board member of the Australian Aviation Council.

 

Jean-Pierre Tabet Chief Commercial Officer Cairo Airport Company

 

Abdul Wahab Teffaha Secretary General Arab Air Carriers’ Organisation (AACO)

Abdul Wahab joined AACO as an assistant tariff analyst rising through the ranks becoming Assistant Secretary General. Elected as Secretary General in 1996. He was a key figure in developing new strategy for AACO, enhancing its power of negotiations to achieve better results for the Arab Airlines. Joint Projects were launched and include Joint Fuel Purchasing, Joint Ground Handling, Joint MIDT Processing, the establishment of Regional Training Center and Joint Network Cooperation under the name of Arabesk and Deployment of E-Tickets. AACO is now geared towards the adoption of New Generation Passenger Management systems and empowerment of E-commerce.

 

Jeh Wadia MD GoAir

Jeh Wadia is the Managing Director of Go Airlines. Jeh started his professional career at The Bombay Dyeing and Mfg Co. In 1998, he founded “The Incubation Corporation” to invest in start-up companies. Jeh founded the Integrated Clinical Research Sciences (ICRS) specialising in clinical research and trials. In 2002, Jeh was appointed Deputy Managing Director of The Bombay Burmah Trading Co. Jeh restructured the Wadia Group which resulted in a joint venture with The Port Singapore Authority (PSA), and the launch of GoAir, the airline started operations in 2005.

 

Robert Johnson CEO Dubai Aerospace Enterprise

Bob, 58, was Chairman of Honeywell’s $11 billion Aerospace business, prior to that role, he had been the President and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace. In 2005 Bob served as Chairman of the Aerospace Industries Association. Before joining Honeywell, Johnson served as President and CEO of AlliedSignal Aerospace Marketing, Sales & Service. Prior to joining AlliedSignal, Johnson was Vice President and General Manager of Manufacturing and Services for AAR Corporation. He began his career at GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) and spent 12 years in key financial management positions. In 1983, Johnson was appointed President and Managing Director of the GE Aircraft Engine’s high-technology repair business in Singapore. In 2007 Johnson was named International Executive of the Year by Miami University and The Farmer School of Business. A native of Zanesville, Ohio, he is a graduate of Miami University. He currently lives in Dubai.

 

Andrew Cowen CEO Sama

Andrew has 18 years of experience in the airline industry. Andrew was appointed CEO/Project Director to set up Sama in 2005. Prior to Sama he founded Mango Aviation Partners, an advisory firm. Mango’s works include the turn-key set-up of Sama in Saudi Arabia and the financing and launch of Silverjet, the UK’s first business class only long-haul airline. Prior to Mango, until July 2002, Andrew was the Finance Director of Go Fly until the takeover by easyJet Plc. Before joining Go, Andrew worked for 10 years at British Airways in a variety of financial roles, principally associated with BA’s Americas business unit.

 

Adel Ali CEO Air Arabia

Adel brings over 25 years of strategic aviation, tourism and marketing experience to Air Arabia. Air Arabia is one of the top 50 most admired companies in the Arab world in just four years. Previously Adel was Vice President (Commercial and Customer Service) for Gulf Air and before that, he spent over 20 years with British Airways where he also held senior management positions, including General Manager (Middle East and Africa). Adel holds an MBA degree from Marlhurst University, Oregon, USA. He bagged ‘British Airways Award for Excellence’ and ‘Middle East Tourism Contribution Award’. In 1983 and 1991, he received ‘British Airways Customer Services Award’.