Key speakers to attend GALF-2014

Several key global aviation industry stalwarts have confirmed their participation in the Global Airport Leaders' Forum (GALF-2014), the knowledge-and-expertise sharing platform co-located with the 14th edition of Airport Show, making the speakers list more appealing to global aviation industry professionals.
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The additional speakers for the Forum to be held from May 12 to 13 include His Excellency Homaid Al Shemmari, CEO, Aerospace & Engineering Services, Mubadala, Dr.Mustafa Sani Sener, CEO and Executive Board Member, TAV Group of Turkey, and Yusuf Akcayoglu, Middle East Director, TAV Construction.

Omar Ghaleb, Deputy Director General, UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Eng. Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Hamdi Chaouk, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Lebanon, will also speak at the Forum. 

The other speakers are: Luca Merando, Divisional Sales and Marketing Director for Airport Industry at Selex ES, His Excellency Thani Abdulla Alzaffin, Director General and Board Member, emaratech, Bader Almershed, Vice President of Industry Affairs at Jazeera Airways, Jozsef  Varadi, CEO, Wizz Air, Gene Eu (Ching Yuh) Jan, Vice President for Finance at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport, , Abdulla Al Hashimi, Vice President of Operations at Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), Sebastien Borel, Vice President of Customer Affairs at Airbus ProSky, and Edward Christie, Managing Director of Smiths Detection. 

GALF-2014 organisers, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said the impressive portfolio of over 30 compelling speakers from a broad spectrum of the aviation and related sectors has been designed to offer an even deeper and richer learning experience to the participants. Last year’s Forum was a huge success due to its rich debate agenda and relevance to the region witnessing the fastest growth and expansion of its aviation industry. 

In order to make the event more relevant, beneficial and appealing to the regional aviation, an eight-member Advisory Board comprising of industry experts provided their valuable inputs and insights which helped in chalking out the forum agenda and finalizing the speakers. 

Leading Collaborative Sustainable Airport Growth has been chosen as the theme of this year’s gathering of high-caliber airport leaders from around the world. As many as 30 speakers will address the forum spread out in 8 sessions, each dealing with a pertinent topic of interest with Q&A opportunities for the attendees. 

Among the confirmed speakers from the UAE are His Excellency Mohammed Ahli, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, His Excellency Eng. Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, ,  His Excellency Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners' Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai), His Excellency Maj. Gen. Pilot Ahmed Bin Thani, Assistant Commander for Seaports and Airports Affairs, Dubai Police, Mohammed Al-Rais, Managing Director, Hill International Middle East, and Mohammed Al Bulooki, Chief Commercial Officer, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, George Horan, President, Dubai Duty Free, and Rob Broere, Vice President for IT Passenger Services at Emirates Airlines. 

The confirmed international speakers include Dr. John D. Kasarda, Director, Center for Air Commerce,  Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Ralf Gaffal, Vice President for  International Business at Munich Airport Concessions, Wesam Jammoul, Director of Digital Implementation Service, Smartworld, David Fielder, Global Head, Health Safety Security and Environment (HSSE), Damco Hong Kong, Jason Schwabel, Middle East Representative at US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Gerrard Baker, Regional Aviation Security Liaison Officer, Department of Transport (UK), and Duncan Alexander, Director for West-Asia at Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). 

Laila Hareb, Executive Director for Strategy and International Affairs, General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Ibrahim Khayat, President, International Centre for Strategic Analysis, C G Krishnadas Nair, Honorary President, Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries, Vijay Poonoosamy, Vice President, International and Public Affairs, Etihad Airways, Dieter Heinz, President, German Airport Technology & Equipment (GATE), and Hamdi Osman, Former Vice President of FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa, will moderate the sessions. 

Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said: “The Forum has been developed keeping in line the challengers the global aviation industry faces today and the opportunities the regional aviation boom presents. Every single topic will be enlightening. Global leaders will debate how the aviation industry is evolving in the 21st century and strategies and models to navigate the changing landscape. The Forum will be immensely beneficial to the airports given the fast pace of growth and investments in the aviation domain in region.” 

Among the companies which have stepped forward to support the forum as sponsors are emaratech, Smartworld, Airbus ProSky, Smiths Detection, TAV, Honeywell, LG and DTP. The session sponsors include Hill International and Selex ES. 

Among the topics that the Forum will be debating are Airports as Economic Pillar to Increase National Competitiveness, Aerotropolis, Seamless Experience and Excellence as Determinant Factor in Airports Success, , Technology as a game-changer for airports, Expanding Aviation’s Reach Through Open Skies, Safer skies for the future, Airport Security on a highly mobile world and Healthy and secure airports – The challenge of keeping travelers well on their way.

GALF will take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. Last year’s event attracted over 6500 visitors from 83 countries and 225 exhibitors from 35 countries.