​Friday, 27 October 2023

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Aviation under siege: understanding the impact of disruptions to airports and airlines operations


​Moderator

Mr. Luvoyo L. Gqeke, Representative of South Africa on the Council of ICAO


Mr. Luvuyo Gqeke is a Representative of South Africa on the ICAO Council. He has over 25 years' experience in aviation, having worked for an airline, a ground handling company, and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), where he was the Executive responsible for Aviation Security among other management positions including Senior Manager for AVSEC Training and Certification, as well as Manager for Cargo Security.
Mr. Gqeke holds a Bachelor's Degree in commerce from the University of South Africa and has attended management and executive leadership development programmes at different business schools., He is also a certified Aviation Security Professional.

Mr. Gqeke has served on the ICAO Aviation Security Panel and its Working Groups for several years.

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​Ms. Nathalie Herbelles, Senior Director, Airports Council International (ACI) World


In her role, she helps coordinates ACI's global policy and advocacy activities, representing the world's airports and helping deliver the association's priorities.


Prior to this role, Nathalie was in charge of security and facilitation at ACI. She has also worked for IATA in Montreal and Singapore and the Association of European Airlines in various security and facilitation roles.


A French national, Nathalie has a legal background and holds a Master's Degree in Air Transport Law and Management from Aix-Marseille University in France.


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Mr. Peter Nilsson IPMc, Head of Airpol, Police Commissioner


Peter Nilsson is a Police Commissioner and Head of Airpol. Airpol is the European Network, financed by the European Commission, for Airport Police and Border Guard Units at EU airports. Airpol is working specifically with counter terrorism and airport policing/security in general for law enforcement, first responders. Airpol collaborates with a large number of law enforcement organizations globally to develop working methods as well as with other important aviation-related organizations and is also a discussion partner for the industry that develops new technological solutions.


Nilsson has a Law Degree (LL.M.) from the University of Uppsala and a Master Degree in Sociology and Political Science from University of Leeds and University of Lund. He graduated at the Swedish Police College in 1991. After various positions both within and outside the police he was appointed Head of Border Police including the role of Airport Police Commander at Arlanda Airport (27 M passenger/year) in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2005. He managed successfully this unit (485staff/30 M Euro) for ten years.


Nilsson has extensive experience in airport security, airport policing and counter-terrorism after working more than 15 years in an international environment.

Nilsson was in 2016 awarded the International Police and Public Safety Medal by the 9/11 Award Committee at a ceremony in San Diego, US. The same year he was awarded the PPA Cross, Medal of Merit by the Estonian Ministry of Interior for services made to Estonia and the Estonian Police.


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​Mr. Mark Rodmell, Deputy Executive Secretary, European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) 


Mark Rodmell is the Deputy Executive Secretary of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and the observer nominated by ECAC to the ICAO Aviation Security Panel.  Prior to his appointment to the ECAC Secretariat, he held various aviation roles in the United Kingdom authorities.  He was the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to ICAO from 2012-2017 and was the chair of the ICAO Council's Committee on Unlawful Interference from 2014-15.  He was the United Kingdom nominee to the ICAO AVSEC Panel from 2008—2012 and 2018-2020.

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​Mr. Jeffrey Troy, President, CEO, Aviation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Aviation ISAC)


Jeff leads the Aviation ISAC, a global trust-based community, focused on the sharing of cyber threat intelligence and best practices. We facilitate information sharing, threat hunting, detection, and implementation of cutting-edge security architecture for networks and operational technology. We draw upon the capabilities of our members, the A-ISAC staff, and partners to reduce cyber risk in aviation.


Jeff is the Vice Rapporteur of ICAO Cybersecurity Panel's Working Group on Cyber Threat and Risk. Jeff co-authored a white paper on Ransomware and advocates for global engagement on the cross-border ransomware challenge. After 25 years as an FBI Agent, he retired as the Deputy Assistant Director for Cyber National Security and Cyber Criminal Investigations. Jeff spent 10 years in cybersecurity intelligence and cyber risk reduction at General Electric Aviation.


Exploring the Power of AI: the potential to support aviation security

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​Moderator 

Mr. Odhran James McCarthy, Liaison Officer, United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)


Odhran McCarthy is the New York Liaison Officer for the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), where he is responsible for engagement with the broader United Nations system and interactions with its Member States at headquarters level. He also focuses on UNICRI's work on cyber and new technologies, in particular on the use of AI-based tools, such as facial recognition technology, by law enforcement, the potential for the malicious use of emerging technologies by organized criminal groups, terrorist and violent extremists, and the dark web. Prior to this, he was engaged in monitoring and evaluating projects implemented within the framework of the European Union initiative's on the mitgation of risks related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials. He has a background in international law and the law of international organizations, having studied at University College Cork, Ireland; Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany; and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, the Netherlands. He is currently based in New York at United Nations Headquarters


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​Mr. Daniel Faggella, Founder and Head of Research, Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research


Founder and Head of Research at Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research, Daniel Faggella is an internationally recognized speaker on the use-cases and ROI of artificial intelligence in business. Since 2015 Daniel has focused on direct market research interviews with Fortune 500 AI leaders and leading academics.


Daniel is regularly called upon by global enterprises in financial services and security, and has spoken for many of the largest and most reputable organizations, including global financial services and pharmaceutical firms, and IGOs such as the World Bank, the United Nations, INTERPOL, and more.



​Dr. Benjamin Jones, Head of Strategy and Innovation, Aviation Security Policy, Department for Transport, United Kingdom


Ben is the Head of Innovation and Strategy at the UK Department for Transport. In this role, Ben sets the direction of UK government policy development in the future of aviation security, from baggage screening to advanced air mobility. In doing so he works closely with government security science and technology research programmes to set their policy direction and oversee research. He also works closely with industry and airports to understand and operationally trial novel approaches to security.


Ben represents the UK on the ICAO working group on innovation and various industry groups.  He has a background in quantum technologies and has 15 years' experience developing and testing security technologies within UK government, collaborating with technology suppliers and end users such as airports and critical infrastructure. 

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​Ms. Joé T. Martineau, Associate Professor, Department of Management, HEC Montréal, and Regular Member of the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technology (OBVIA)


Joé T. Martineau is an associate professor of organizational ethics in the Department of Management at HEC Montréal. Her research and teaching interests focus on ethics and governance issues affecting private, public and health sector organizations. Her work has led her to reflect on the composition and effectiveness of ethics programs and the diversity of ethics management practices in organizations, on the various factors that influence the ethical reflection and behavior of organizational actors, and on the ethical issues related to the digital transition and the development and deployment of artificial intelligence in organizations. She is an associate member of the Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), a regular member of the Institute of Applied Ethics (IDEA), Laval University, and a regular member of the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technology (OBVIA).

 

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​Mr. Billy Shallow, Director, Innovation and Technology, Airports Council International (ACI) World


In his role, Billy leads ACI World's Security, Innovation and Technology teams encompassing the World Airport Security Committee and the World Airport IT Standing Committee, advocating for the World's airports, raising standards and capacity building within these respective areas. His remit extends to ACI World's Smart security programme, focused on improving security detection, operational efficiency, and the passenger experience across the world's airports. Billy is the Permanent Representative to ICAO for security matters.

 
Before ACI, Billy worked at London City Airport for five years designing and implementing their security transformation programme. Billy then went on to lead consulting projects working at King Abdulaziz International Airport Jeddah, Brussels Airport, Birmingham Airport and Belfast City on security and optimization programmes.

A British national, with a passion for operational improvement, Billy is a lean six sigma black belt. He sits on ICAO's working group on innovation, as-well as a number of industry groups. He holds a University of London bachelor's degree in management and organizational analysis.

Closing Session


His Excellency Eng. Naif Ali Hamed Al Abri, President of the Civil Aviation Authority, Oman


Appointed by His Majesty the Sultan of Oman, H.E Naif Al Abri is the President of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of the Sultanate of Oman, a position he has held since August 2021. Additionally, he is a member on the Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO). H.E Naif brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the organizations, driving its strategic direction and ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, and efficiency in civil aviation operations.


With a visionary leadership approach, H.E Naif has developed and articulated a clear vision for the CAA of Oman, aligning it with the broader goals and objectives of the organization. Under his guidance, the CAA has become synonymous with excellence, collaboration, and innovation, fostering a culture that empowers professionals to excel and deliver results.


One of H.E Naif's key responsibilities is formulating and implementing policies, rules, and regulations that uphold the safety, security, and efficiency of civil aviation operations. Working closely with government agencies, international organizations, and industry stakeholders, he has played a vital role in developing and harmonizing regulatory frameworks, ensuring compliance with international standards while catering to the unique needs of Oman's aviation sector. Through these collaborations, he has actively promoted industry growth and development, creating opportunities for innovation, research, and technological advancements to enhance operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and the overall customer experience.


H.E Naif's pledge to the field of civil aviation extends beyond Oman's borders. As the 1st Vice-President at the 41st International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly, he has contributed to the global advancement of aviation standards and practices, advocating for the interests of Oman, and leveraging his expertise to shape the future of the industry on an international scale.


With a profound dedication to environmental sustainability, he passionately contributes to strengthen the Authority's efforts to align with ICAO's vision to collectively strive for a sustainable aviation sector. His active involvement spans initiatives such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the long-term aspirational goal (LTAG), and the Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), all aimed to encourage a greener future for the industry.


Alongside his unwavering commitment to excellence, deep industry knowledge, and strategic thinking, H.E Naif continues to lead the CAA of Oman towards new heights. His dynamic leadership style and ability to navigate complex challenges make him a respected figure within the aviation community, ensuring that Oman remains at the forefront of aviation safety, security, and innovation under his guidance.


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​Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General, International Civil Aviation Organization


Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar is the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He was first appointed for a three‐year term starting August 2021.


His career in international civil aviation spans over 27 years in various advisory and leadership roles. Prior to his appointment as Secretary General, Mr. Salazar served as Director General of Aeronautica Civil of Colombia – Aerocivil. For the twelve years previous to joining Aerocivil, Mr. Salazar was a Senior Advisor to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority.


His professional experience also includes terms as the President of Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), Secretary of the Colombian Civil Aviation Board and Director of its Air Transport Office, Director General of Air Transport at the Colombian Ministry of Transport, Corporate Secretary and Director of the Legal Department of Tampa Cargo (currently known as Avianca Cargo).


Mr. Salazar is a lawyer and has earned advanced degrees from Harvard University (Master in Public Administration ‐ MPA) and McGill University (Master in Air and Space Law ‐ LLM). He is fluent in Spanish, English and French, and speaks basic Arabic.



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