Speakers
Chairperson
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.
Alastair acts for various aviation service providers, such as ground handling companies, MRO organisations, aircraft operators and airlines, on a range of commercial and regulatory legal matters.
On the regulatory front, Alastair advises on aviation safety, security and economic regulatory compliance matters as well as discrete competition law issues. His practice also involves broader advisory work on intellectual property, data privacy and cyber security within the aviation industry.
Alastair has a blend of private practice and in-house experience. He spent over four years working at a large UK airline, predominantly supporting the ground operations and airport procurement teams. A fluent French speaker, he also spent two years working for an Anglo-French defence company in Paris. He is a Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and England & Wales.
Beau is the Regional Vice President Cargo - OSEA for Menzies Aviation. Beau joined Menzies in 2005 and throughout this time has been involved within the Oceania and south-east Asian region, delivering cargo terminal start-ups, business management and operational assessments. Beau is based in Sydney, where he is responsible for Menzies Aviation’s regional cargo business strategy and delivery. Beau studied at Southern Cross University, where he received a degree in Business Management. In his spare time he enjoys football and basketball and coaching his children’s sporting teams.
Brian has 15 years of experience in the Ground Support Industry. He is currently in the role of Senior Manager over the New Product Development team at Textron GSE. There, he and his team work to develop, test, and launch the newest Textron GSE product offerings.
Brendan has been working in the aviation industry for over 20 years as a writer, analyst and consultant. He served as chief analyst for the Centre for Aviation from 2011 to 2019, based in Singapore; and as an editor for Flightglobal, from 2000 to 2011, based in Washington DC, Singapore and London. Brendan is now working as an independent analyst and consultant, having established in 2019 the Singapore-based firm Sobie Aviation. Brendan has extensive experience covering emerging markets in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific. He has written over 1,000 in depth analysis reports on emerging aviation markets, focusing on airline strategy and network development. Brendan gives frequent presentations, is an instructor on aviation courses and is often quoted by the international media. Recent television appearances include Bloomberg and CNBC. Brendan has a degree in Industrial and Labour Relations from Cornell University in New York.
During 12 years in the role as CIO for Asia for an international testing and inspection company, David learned about the diversity of industries and cultures, leading a diverse international team of 140 people. Following this period, David switched sides and joined Schindler. There he was responsible for the strategy of implementing remote monitoring and IoT technology based on cloud solutions. Since September 2019 he has worked as CIO for Cologne Bonn airport. His main focus is agile enablement and people empowerment, based on modern software architectures and cutting edge technology.
Deon is an experienced senior executive with a background in financial and operational leadership roles across aviation, customer service B2B, transport, logistics and telecoms, across UK, Europe and South Africa. He is responsible for overseeing and providing direction and leadership to operational functions across the Singaporean business as well as Commercial, Quality, Safety & Security and Learning & Development teams. Deon has worked in the aviation industry for the past 11 years in strategic regional positions and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
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.
Funda, growing up in the world of aviation, is an expert in International Relations with a MSc degree from University of Manchester on Corporate Communications & Reputation Management. She had the opportunity to work in various department in Çelebi globally, including her time spent in India over a year. While she is an expert on Cargo Operations, she had been also in Business Development and Strategic Planning and prior to her current role she was the Sales and Marketing Manager of Çelebi Turkey. Since 2018 she is heading MarCom globally for Çelebi Aviation Group.
Jan Willem holds a Bachelor degree in International Business from Maastricht University, the Netherlands, and a Master degree in Air Transport Management from Cranfield University in England. He has more than ten years of working experience in various positions in the aviation industry, primarily in Business Development and Consulting. His academic background coupled with his work experience has gained Jan Willem a very strong knowledge of the challenges, processes and particularities of the aviation industry.
Jason joined TCR in 2015, and is the Managing Director for TCR in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, where has successfully led the expansion of TCR’s GSE services. Having started his career as an engineer for a major construction equipment OEM, Jason has held various positions in leading industrial manufacturing and service businesses across Australia, Asia and the US.
A senior executive, who has led and delivered large scale operations in AirAsia's Airline structure including Ground Handling and Airport Management. As a GCOO, Javed Malik is accountable for providing AirAsia's group-wide direction on Operational Performance & Standards, bringing Technology & Innovation that will drive guest engagement on the ground, or in the air. Delivering strong financial contribution along the way through collaboration across the Operations Division, which is made up of Engineering, Flight Operations, Cabin Crew, Ground Services across 158 airports, Supply Chain, Safety, Security, and Network Operations Management Command Centre.
Peter is a partner in Clyde & Co's global aviation practice. Based in Hong Kong, Peter has over 27 years’ experience working for the aviation industry, including advising operators, passenger and cargo terminals, ramp operators, MROs, FBOs and logistics providers and their insurers on ground handling operations and contracts, contingency planning, emergency response, compliance, investigations, prosecutions, claims and debt recoveries and acquisitions. He regularly advises on the IATA SGHA and has handled some of the leading court cases on Article 8. Peter has worked for an airline and for law firms in the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Terence heads up the strategic direction of cargo development in the Asia Pacific region for dnata in both existing and new markets. His leadership has resulted in dnata becoming the first cargo handler in Australia to be awarded WHO-GDP accreditation. Based in Sydney, he currently leads the dnata reinvention strategy, with a focus on air cargo growth in the Asia Pacific region. Terence is representing dnata in various industry collaborations. Prior to joining dnata, Terence held senior leadership positions in DHL Australia, with the most recent executive leadership role that of Head of Operations & Product for eCommerce Solutions. Before DHL, Terence had various leadership roles in UPS, including the Head of Industrial Engineering & Operations for Singapore and Malaysia. Terence has in-depth knowledge of the end-to-end supply chain, freight logistics and global trade. He holds a BSc Industrial Engineering from the University of Arizona and an Executive MBA from the University of Sydney.
Thomas has been based in Singapore for the past ten years, after gaining several years of experience in Europe, Africa and in Asia. He is now the Managing Director of JBT Aerotech for the Ground Support Equipment and Airport Infrastructures division. Thomas is responsible for all commercial affairs in the region, from India to the Pacific area to south-east Asia, including Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.
With over 18 years of hands-on experience as a Learning & Development leader in aviation, William has held roles as an Instructional & Learning Development Specialist, Leadership Coach and Team Development Facilitator. Being dnata Singapore’s Head of Learning & Development, William owns the learning agenda for the entire team. Partnering with business leaders across the organisation, both locally and globally, he leads his team in driving people development requirements and building workplace learning capabilities.
Executive Director – Commercial
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl)
Managing Director of Hacis
Vivien was appointed the Managing Director of Hacis in October 2012 and concurrently holds the post of Executive Director of Hactl, overseeing commercial and business development strategies. She also serves as a member of the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council, the HKTDC Logistics Advisory Committee and is a member in Logistics Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
Vivien joined the Jardine Matheson Group as an executive trainee in 2000 and has held various managerial positions since then. She has worked in aviation-related business over 15 years, including ground handling services, air cargo and logistics.
Yacoob has been SATS’ Executive Vice President, Gateway Services since January 2014. Prior to this, he was its Executive Vice President, Food Solutions. He joined SATS in April 1981 and since then has assumed various positions including Senior Vice President, Cargo Services; Vice President, Apron Services; Vice President, Cargo Services; and Vice President, Inflight Catering Centre 2. He also held other managerial positions in apron and baggage, passenger services, marketing, and SIA Ground Services, where he was responsible for network procedures and ground handling contracts. During his terms in Food Solutions and Gateway Services, he spearheaded the Group’s entry into the sports catering, cruise terminal management, and inflight duty-free and duty-paid retail sales businesses. Yacoob sits on various boards of SATS’ subsidiaries and associate companies. He is the Chairman of SATS-Creuers Cruise Services and the Vice President Commissioner of PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta. He is also a member of Saudi Arabia’s private sector logistics advisory team. Yacoob graduated from the National University of Singapore with a BA, majoring in English.
