Glen Heavens

Chair, Synergy Aviation

Glen Heavens is the Managing Director of Synergy Aviation which he founded in 2004. Glen started his aviation career at Fairoaks Airport as a flying instructor, an airport fire fighter and in the tower as a flight information service officer. As Glen’s flying experience grew he made the decision to apply for an AOC and began operating and managing aircraft. Synergy acquired the flying school at Fairoaks in 2006 which is now established as one of London’s leading flight training organisations. Glen’s previous customer service and management skill’s have been invaluable in building one of Europe’s most resilient and well respected Aircraft Charter, Management and Training companies – the company is currently expanding and now manages large cabin aircraft as well as its fleet of King Airs and smaller Jet aircraft. Whilst still maintaining its enviable reputation as a leading VIP operator Synergy also specialises in air ambulance operations, urgent cargo and special missions in war/conflict zones.

Richard Hekker

Founder and CEO, OPES JET

Ryan Waguespack

Senior Vice-President, National Air Transportation Association

Ryan Waguespack joined the staff of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) as Senior Vice President in November 2018. A long-time supporter of the aviation business community and NATA, Ryan Waguespack served as the Chair of NATA’s WorkForce Development Committee and Illegal Charter Task Force, as well as Vice Chair of the Air Charter Committee as an association member. As Vice President, Ryan leads the Association and industry effort to combat illegal charter, working with the FAA and its Field Offices to educate the public on the risks, assisting the FAA in enforcement through data collection and reporting, and leveraging existing data sources to help the agency focus enforcement efforts.

Previously, he served in various operational roles for charter management companies, as well as aircraft sales, working closely with clients to educate them throughout the purchasing process and help them attain the best aviation solution for their needs. Prior to NATA, Waguespack held the position of Vice President of Business Development of Summit Aviation. 

Waguespack is the founder of the Alabama Business Aviation Association, an organization dedicated to promoting the value of business aviation throughout the state, educating stakeholders on the value of business aircraft and community airports, and advocating on behalf of aviation businesses.

A staunch champion for promoting aviation workforce development, Ryan travels the country to speak at industry events dedicated to reaching the next generation of pilots, maintainers and business aviation leaders. He is also a frequent guest lecturer at universities nationwide, including Auburn University in the Harbert College of Business, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Dubuque. Through Waguespack’s community-building initiatives at the universities, he is working to develop channels to connect rising students with aviation businesses.

Ryan is a recreational pilot who lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife Amanda and two children.

Dawit Lemma

Chief Executive Officer, Krimson

Dawit Lemma is the Founder and CEO of Krimson Aviation – an aviation support services company based in Ethiopia and Switzerland. He is a Swiss citizen, of Ethiopian origin, and has lived and/or worked all over the world; from Zambia to Afghanistan, the USA to Switzerland – making him a true global citizen. Dawit returned to Ethiopia in 2012, after almost 30 years abroad, recognizing the thriving potential and opportunities displayed by Ethiopia’s economic resurgence.

He is a graduate of Purdue University in the USA, where he received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering & Flight Technology. In addition, he received a MSc. degree in Aviation Management & Marketing from the Basel Business College in Switzerland. Dawit also holds an Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic’s License (American FAA), Commercial Pilot’s License (American FAA, South African CAA, Swiss FOCA/EASA), and an EASA Frozen ATPL. He has close to 20 years of experience in the aviation sector across four continents, with a cache of notable experience garnered at leading companies including TAG Aviation, Emirates Airlines, MAF, and Ethiopian Airlines, to name a few.

Dawit’s commitment to excellence and achievement has led to Krimson’s growth and sound reputation in a short period of time. Krimson’s mantra of Achievement through Quality & Integrity of Service serves as more than just a philosophy, it is a lifestyle and deep-rooted value that Dawit has applied throughout his education and professional career.

As he develops his own career he is investing in the future of aviation. In September of 2021 he launched a scholarship endowment at Purdue University to support the application and financing of students from diverse backgrounds. He believes very much in encouraging the younger generation to commit to the future of aerospace.

Dawit serves on African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) Board of Directors, is President of the AfBAA Ethiopia Chapter, and sits on the IS-BAH standards Board and represents Krimson for the EBAA Ambassadors Programme. In addition, he volunteer teaches for the Brevet d’Initiation Aéronautique (BIA) course at the Lycée Guebre-Mariam, in Addis Ababa.

Michael Skov Christensen

Satcom Direct

Michael Skou Christensen has over ten years of experience with satellite communications within the private aviation industry. In 2013, Michael led the opening of SD’s Australasia office, where he acted as Managing Director until 2016. He is now the Vice President for SD International, where he is responsible for establishing and growing the sales, support, marketing and training presence across the international business. His various roles throughout his time in aviation have seen him involved with many different parts of the value chain, from OEMs and completion centers to end-customers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, and a master’s degree in International Management. 

Tom Chatfield

CEO, Camber Aviation Management

Thomas Chatfield is a leader in aircraft completions and refurbishment management with 35 years of aviation experience. He founded Camber Aviation Management in 2014, focused on
managing the outfitting of large private jets and providing tailored technical advisory services, reflecting his business philosophy in the four pillars of company values – knowledge,
experience, innovation and trust. 

Thomas was a member of the senior management teams that created DaimlerChrysler Aviation, Santos Dumont and Qatar Executive. He has led operations, maintenance and engineering
departments; managed complex completions; performed aircraft acceptances and recovered aircraft from challenging situations.

He holds Transport Canada and EASA Aircraft Maintenance Engineer licences, with an MSc in Airline Transport Management from Cranfield University.

David T. Norton

Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP

David T. Norton is a partner and head of the aviation practice at the law firm of Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP, in Dallas, Texas.  He received his B.A. from the United States Air Force  Academy, his M.B.A. from Louisiana Tech University, and his J.D., cum laude, from Southern Methodist University, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Air Law & Commerce, published by the SMU Law Review Association.

While his firm offers a broad array of legal services, Mr. Norton focuses solely on aviation law, having an internationally recognized practice that encompasses a broad range of business aviation regulatory, risk management, transactional, tax, and commercial dispute resolution matters.  He is a frequent speaker at various business aviation conferences addressing current hot-topics in the industry, and actively participates in many business aviation industry-related committees and groups, including previously serving as:  Manager of the 2015 Fair Sales Tax Initiative for Texas Aircraft, LLC, a coalition that interfaced with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and resulted in new statutory provisions designed to bring much more clarity and fairness to the assessment of sales/use taxes on aircraft in Texas; Industry Co-Chair of the joint FAA/Industry RVSM LOA Process Enhancement Team of the Performance based Advisory Rule Marketing Committee and the subsequent related efforts to re-write AC 91-85; a  member of the Applicability Working Group of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 135/125 Advisory Rulemaking Committee; and as the founding Chair of the National Business Aviation Association’s Domestic Operations Committee.  He currently serves as a member of the American Bar Association’s General Aviation Committee; the National Air Transportation Association’s President’s Council, Air Charter Committee and Illegal Charter Task Force; the NBAA’s Tax Committee and Regulatory Issues Advisory Group and Chair of the NBAA’s Operational Excellence Strategic Focus Team; and as a member of Texans for General Aviation.  He is a past Chair of the Aviation Section of the State Bar of Texas, and is an advisory board member for the Journal of Air Law & Commerce, published by the Law Review Association of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.  Mr. Norton is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.  He is also active in many community organizations, previously serving, for example, as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Challenger Air for Kids & Friends, Inc., as well as the Frontiers of Flight Museum, located at the Dallas Love Field Airport.

Mr. Norton was a regular commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1984 to 1993, serving primarily as a KC-10A pilot and aircraft commander. Before becoming a pilot, he also briefly served as a KC-135A navigator.  He is a veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (the first Gulf war), Operation Southern Watch (the Middle East no-fly zone), and Operation Restore Hope.  Mr. Norton currently holds many civil pilot certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.  He is an airline transport pilot (multi-engine land) with a DC-10 type rating, and a commercial pilot (single-engine land).  He also maintains certification as a certified flight instructor, instrument and multi-engine, as well as an advanced ground and instrument instructor.  When not spending time with his beautiful wife of over thirty years, Martha, or flying his Cessna C-177B Cardinal around North Texas on the weekends, he can be frequently found strumming one of his several favorite Ukuleles to the delight of all (or so he thinks).

Fabrice Roger

Sales Director, Jetcraft

Juris Zacs

Insurance Broker & Branch Manager, Marine Insurance Services

Being a branch manager and director of aviation and marine insurance in Spain, he is representing specialized insurance brokerage Marine Insurance Services SIA Sucursal en España (Branch in Spain) which is a part of the Marine Services Group™ (MSG), a unique group of companies covering more than 25 products for the maritime, aviation and transport industry in 4 general business lines: Insurance, Legal, Shipsale and Survey.

Juris has almost 20 years of insurance brokering experience and more than a decade working closely with Marine Insurance Services to develop general and business aviation solutions for the aviation industry.

By closely working with business aviation market, Juris has been a key person for many business jet owners and operators helping successfully to place adapted insurance programs with well know and reputed insurance companies across the globe.

Mark Bisset

Partner, Clyde & Co

Mark’s experience extends for over 20 years and includes loan and lease financing, operating leases and tax-based leases, export credit finance, and aircraft trading, in a wide variety of jurisdictions. Mark is very active in the business jet market (acting for banks, owners and operators). Mark’s Finance team won Airline Economics – Law Firm of the Year in 2016.

Mark also has extensive aviation regulatory experience.

Mark is recognised as a leading aviation/asset finance practitioner in the UK directories. Who’s Who Legal Aviation has commented that Mark is an “exceptional finance lawyer with extensive knowledge of both the commercial airline and business jet market” and lists him as a global Thought Leader for aircraft finance.

Mark is contributing editor of the annual publication “Getting the Deal Through – Aviation Finance and Leasing” and co-editor of “Getting the Deal Through – Air Transport”.

Mark is a Guest Lecturer in aircraft finance at the International Institute of Air and Space Law, Leiden University.

Mark is recognised as a Thought Leader in Who’s Who Legal 2020: Global Elite 2020 – Aviation.

Eric Weisskopf

Hyperion Aviation/Flying Group

Johan Blitz

UBS

Johan was approached by UBS to set-up and head the Corporate Aircraft Finance team, and joined the bank in 2005 in Zurich.

Since the team was established in 2006, UBS has, under Johan’s leadership, grown its portfolio of business jets extensively. UBS was awarded “Best Financier Europe 2013” and “Best Private Bank in EMEA 2014” for corporate jet financings, “Best Business Jet Financier 2015” and “Best Business Support Services 2015” in APAC.

Johan started his career in commodity trading, and joined a large Swiss bank in 1999 to specialise in aircraft financing. He has since put his significant experience and understanding of the aircraft financing market at the disposal of the bank’s clients and, with his team, supports the bank’s WM business. Johan speaks German, French, English and Swedish.

Johan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Banking and Finance) from the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich. Furthermore, Johan is also an Export Specialist with Swiss Federal Certificate and a certified Corporate Banker.

Camilla Bonfield

Senior Disputes Associate, DLA Piper

Camilla represents the interests of airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, insurers, and other aviation stakeholders in domestic and multi-jurisdictional disputes. She specialises in cross border litigation and arbitration, recently successfully defending a major aircraft manufacturer in complex litigation in the English Commercial Court.  Camilla has a well-developed practice advising lessors and airports on the detention of aircraft worldwide.  Following completion of a judicial secondment to the High Court in London, Camilla has first-hand experience of the English court system.

In addition, Camilla provides regulatory and commercial advice to clients within the aviation sector in respect of liability under the Chicago Convention, EC Regulation 261/2004 and the Montreal Convention 1999, including in the context of accident investigations. 

Gwen Edwards

Partner, CMS

Gwen specialises in debt finance and leasing for both corporate and commercial aircraft. She advises financiers, lessors, airlines and owners across a broad range of cross-border aircraft transactions, including portfolio migrations, aircraft acquisitions and disposals, lease and loan financings, sale and leaseback transactions, export credit and PDP facilities. She also has significant experience of distressed debt, restructuring and aircraft repossessions.

Razvan Stefan

CEO & Accountable Manager, Emperor Aviation

Borna Vrdoljak

Airbus Corporate Jet

Mélanie Prince

Head of Innovation, F/LIST

Mélanie Prince is a Canadian aerospace professional with over 20 years of experience in business jet interiors. She is the Head of Innovation at F/LIST, guiding the research and development team towards creating the next generation of unique & innovative cabin interior products. She is also a seaplane pilot and is dedicated to an environmentally responsible future.

Jay McGrath

CEO, Spectrum Networks & Managing Partner, SkyCinema Aviation

Jay McGrath is the Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Networks LLC, a provider of light fidelity (LiFi) and Far UV sanitization lighting solutions for private and commercial aircraft. Spectrum Networks recently closed their Series A round in October 2021 and their development is fully funded to bring these revolutionary wireless cabin technologies to market in 2022. He is also a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SkyCinema Aviation, a firm determined to shift the cabin audio paradigm from “good enough” to “best in class” via strategic partnerships such as Dolby Labs.

Most of Jay’s commercial career has been spent in private aviation, focusing on cabin technology such as in-flight entertainment (IFE) and cabin management systems. From his days as a Sales Engineer with Airshow Incorporated in 2001 to, most recently, the Vice President of Business Development at Astronics Custom Control Concepts, he has had the opportunity to lead market technology entries, both linefit and retrofit, from King Air 350s to 747 head-of-state aircraft.

Prior to this, Jay was an officer in the United States Air Force, managing GPS development programs and coordinating international test cooperation efforts at the highest levels within United States and allied governments. He earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Air Force Academy and his Executive MBA from the University of Southern California. 

Yuri Dzun

Sales & Marketing Europe, ArcosJet

Aviation passionate, working in the industry since 2010. Responsible for Sales and Marketing activities in Europe at ArcosJet.  Born in Siberia in 1985, accomplished first degree in Haifa University (Israel), and has continued to Moscow, where used to work in the business aviation field, including charters, business development and sales fields. In 2014 he moved to Rome (Italy), where he completed MBA Aviation Management degree at LUISS Business School. Today he is based in Bergamo (Italy) and happily working with the business aviation market.

James Carroll

Director of Business Development, JSSI

As Director of Business Development for Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI®), James Carroll implements and oversees sales initiatives, develops relationships and promotes JSSI programs and services throughout Western Europe. Previously at JSSI, Mr. Carroll had responsibility for Account Management and advised on financial and contractual problems. Mr. Carroll started his aviation career at BAA Heathrow where he was promoted to Duty Manager of Terminal 4 and then held the position of Crisis Manager for the online travel company lastminute.com. James holds a BA Honours Degree in French and Spanish, is an accredited Senior Aircraft Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers and enjoys playing tennis in his spare time.

Pascal Barreau

Founder and COO, OPES JET

Roberto Hlaca

Director, GetJet