Anamaria Magri Pantea

Management Consulting, Ascend Consulting

Anamaria is an economist with specialisation in finance and an MBA alumni of the Edinburgh Business School, UK. She has almost 20 years of experience in innovation management and business development initiatives, including in terms of access to EU funding and other financing options.

She has worked with the European Commission as staff member of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, as Malta National Contact Point and Management Committee representative for the EU’s Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, as well as an independent expert, evaluator and reviewer on a number of EU, national and inter-governmental funding programmes in support of RTDI, entrepreneurship and SMEs development.

Anamaria also provides consultancy on innovation management, exploitation strategy and business development to various organisations and companies across Europe. She does this both on an independent basis, and as expert service provider in the context of various EU, inter-governmental and national support programmes.

Clayton Healey

AIC Title Service

Eric Lewin

Global Closing Room

Eric Lewin is an owner of Global Closing Room.  Global Closing Room provides buyers and sellers of aircraft and yachts with transaction execution services using state-of-the-art, enterprise-grade technology and ancillary business services, such as currency flow facilitation.

Write to Contact@GlobalClosingRoom.com for more information.

James Foden

MCST

Dr Ing James Foden is a warranted engineer by profession with an extensive track record within R&D&I across the knowledge triangle, with particular expertise in manufacturing engineering, technology management and technology strategy. James Foden has held various positions within the local and UK private sector, across the energy generation, pharmaceutical and aviation industries, with the latter being the most predominant. His current role is that of Senior Director, Strategy, Research and Technical Affairs at the Malta Council for Science and Technology. Within his role, he is responsible for the entity’s four technical units that cover Policy, Strategy, Internationalisation, National Funding Programmes for R&I, local participation in the EU Framework Programme, as well as Space.

Michael Skou Christensen

VP International, Satcom Direct

Simon May

Flightcare Global

Anthony Galea

Managing Director- Marine and Aviation, Vistra

Mark Byrne

Director, Martyn Fiddler Aviation

Stockton Birthisel

Atlas Corporate Services

Stockton Birthisel is the founder of Atlas Corporate Services Limited, a boutique fiduciary based in the Isle of Man which specialises in the establishment and administration of corporate vehicles for aviation, which is owned by Cavendish Trust Company Limited. Stockton was an early pioneer in the importation of aircraft in the Isle of Man, his first import dating from the early 2000’s, long before the creation of the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry made it fashionable in the jurisdiction. With nearly twenty years of experience in the field, Stockton is well-versed in the VAT and Customs law aspects of aircraft and has been actively pursuing client solutions in the post-Brexit environment. Stockton has a number of Russian high-net worth individuals and corporates amongst his clientele.

Razvan Stefan

CEO, Emperor Aviation Services

Derek Bloom

Of Counsel, Marks & Sokolov, LLC

Eric Weisskopf

Chief Executive Officer, Hyperion Stockton Birthisel, Atlas Corporate Services

Viren Joshi

AirFinance

Viren is a seasoned veteran with 30 years of experience in the Insurance and Finance sectors. Viren spend the latter part of his career at Export Development Canada. His path at EDC covered leadership roles in underwriting, risk & transaction adjudication providing oversight on credit decisions across all sectors. During his last role at EDC, Viren oversaw business development with the focus specifically on the Aerospace sector. As a Global Accounts Director, Viren managed some of the larger aerospacecompanies such as Airbus, Bell Helicopter, Pratt & Whitney, DeHavilland, Textron, and Bombardier.

After a successful career with EDC, Viren recently joined AirFinance to expand their product offering in working capital and supply chains. As an industry expert, Viren has participated in numerous panels and conferences within the aviation sector. He understands economic cycles and the impact to businesses – having supported companies through the post 9/11 fall out and the 2008/09 economic downturn.

Viren finished his post-graduate qualifications at the University of Toronto. He subsequently completed his CFA designation in 1999.

Bernie Burns

Founder & President, B2 Aviation

Zoe Layden

Chief Business Officer, Falcon MGA Services

Michel Buffat

Head Aviation & Yacht Finance, Credit Suisse

Michel Buffat joined Credit Suisse in 2001 after having spent eight years at a blue chip
Swiss engineering firm. Michel has held various corporate finance positions before he
joined the aircraft and yachts finance team in 2005. There he has been serving the bank’s
ultra high net worth clients in various positions, such as sales manager, head of
transactions as well as responsible for portfolio and recovery management. Since 2018
Michel is heading the team and is in charge of Credit Suisse’s global aviation and yacht
finance business.
Michel is an active member of the wider business aviation community. Until 2018, he
was chairing the EBAA AMAC Financier’s Subcommittee. He is regularly participating
as speaker in CJI and other industry events.
Michel has built up the yacht finance business of Credit Suisse since its relaunch in 2014.
He represents the bank in the longstanding partnership with the prestigious Yacht Club de
Monaco and has brought it to the next level. Together with the club, he is driving
common initiatives such as the Explorer Awards and the “La Belle Classe Blue
Yachting” initiative for Superyachts.
Michel holds an MBA from the University of Rochester as well as a masters degree in
mechanical engineering from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich.

Yosef F Hafiz

Vice President Sales & Marketing, NASJET Private Aviation – Commercial

David Norton

Partner and Head of Aviation Practice, 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).

Steffen Fries

CEO & Accountable Manager, MHS Aviation GmbH

John King

Solairus Aviation

Mike Nichols

CAM, CAE, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Innovation National Business Aviation Association, Inc

Mike Nichols, CAM, CAE, is senior vice president of strategy and innovation for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). He leads the NBAA division charged with creating opportunities for emerging technologies relevant to business aviation, such as urban air mobility/eVTOL technologies; providing innovative strategy perspectives to enhance existing programs, products and services; and promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within NBAA.

Nichols also oversees NBAA’s professional development initiatives – which includes leading the team members who manage NBAA’s professional certification programs – and provides overall direction for the association’s many educational offerings. His responsibilities include defining the vision and strategy for enhancing NBAA’s conferences and seminars, including 10 annual events, through an increase in attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and engagement.

Nichols first joined the association in June 2003 as manager of tax and finance issues. Subsequent positions included director of tax, economics and operational services; vice president of operations, education and economics; and vice president of operational excellence and professional development.

During his tenure, Nichols has served as liaison to several NBAA standing committees as well as the Operational Excellence Strategic Focus Team, and he led the team that produced the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE), an annual trade show in Shanghai, China.

He has represented the association on many policy matters, including serving on the FAA’s Part 135/125 Aviation Rulemaking Committee and the Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment Aviation Rulemaking Committee. He also has served as an advisor to the FAA, International Business Aviation Council at the International Civil Aviation Organization on various aviation economic policy panels.

Prior to joining NBAA, Nichols held positions at the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, Right Management Consultants, and the American Association of Blood Banks.

He has achieved several industry certifications, including the Certified Aviation Manager (CAM), Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Institute for Organization Management (IOM) credential. As an undergraduate, he earned a B.S./B.A. in business administration/international business from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, studied abroad in England and interned in Germany.

An active instrument-rated private pilot for land and seaplanes, Nichols owns a Grumman Tiger aircraft and is a member of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Seaplane Pilots Association, American Yankee Association, AHS: The Vertical Flight Society and the American Society of Association Executives. He also is a lifetime member of the Phi Chi Theta co-ed professional fraternity for business and economics.

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 since 2015. He is a Swiss citizen, but 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, as he recognized the thriving potential and opportunities being 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 an MSc. degree in Aviation Management & Marketing from the Basel Business College in Switzerland. Dawit also holds an Airframe & Power- plant Mechanic’s License (American FAA), Commercial Pilot’s License (American FAA, South African CAA, Swiss FOCA/EASA), and an EASA Frozen ATPL. He has over 20 years of experience in the aviation sector across 4 continents, with a cache of notable experience garnered at leading companies from around the world, including TAG Aviation, Emirates Airlines, MAF, and Ethiopian Airlines, to name a few.

For the past few years, Dawit has been advocating and promoting the growth of Business and General Aviation in Africa. Dawit served on the Executive Committee of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) as Director of Membership and Events, and currently serves as a Board Member of the AfBAA  and the President of the AfBAA Ethiopia Chapter.

Dawit’s commitment to excellence and achievement has lead to Krimson’s rapid growth and sound reputation. Krimson’s mantra of Achievement through Quality & Integrity of Service serves as more than just a philosophy but a lifestyle and deep-rooted value that Dawit has applied throughout his education and professional career.

Matthieu de Varax

Matthieu de Varax, Founder and Managing Partner, Odi-sé Avocats, member of the Lawyers in Business Aviation Committee of the European Business Aviation Association

Len Cormier

Safety Oversight Consultant, Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, (BCAA)

Len Cormier is a Safety Oversight Con sul tan t for the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority
(BCAA) and also provides technical support to the Bermuda Aircraft Registry.
Prior to working in Bermuda, Len was engaged by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) for 14 years as a Chief Technical Advisor in the Asia Pacific region.
Over this period, he was responsible for assisting states in strengthening their safety
oversight programmes.
He was previously engaged by Transport Canada for 20 years as an inspector and manager
in the area of personnel licensing, aerodromes and flight standards. For most of that
period, he was responsible for the development of air operator regulations and standards,
as well as oversight of air operators.
Len began his aviation career as a pilot for various air operators in Canada. He holds a
Canadian Airline Transport Pilot License and is type qualified on the DC-3, C550, CL601,
B737, B757, B767 airplanes and on the Bell 206 helicopter.

Katrina Abela

Senior Associate, GVZH Advocates

Mag. Martina Flitsch

Partner, Flitsch Leuthner Leiter Rechtsanwälte GmbH

Steven Quayle

Director, Cains in the Isle of Man

Steven Quayle is a Director and Head of Aviation at leading independent Isle of Man law firm Cains. He has over 18 years’ experience of advising on domestic and cross-border asset finance, with a particular focus on business aviation.

Steven advises in connection with business jet finance, sale and purchase, Isle of Man aviation regulation, ownership structuring, and insolvency and asset repossession. He has been heavily involved in the growth of the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry since its inception in 2007 and has led the Cains team on a number of significant transactions alongside the Registry, including disputed mortgage enforcements, the exercise of repairman liens, sanctions and injunctive matters, and investigations into unlawful chartering.

Steven is recognised by The Legal 500 as a ‘Leading Individual’ in his field. He is the only Isle of Man lawyer currently ranked in the Chambers and Partners Global shortlist of leading private aviation lawyers, where clients describe Steven as “easily the best aviation lawyer in the Isle of Man”.

Ing Maxine Scicluna

Aircraft Engineering Expert, Lufthansa Technik

Tom Chatfield

CEO, Camber Aviation Management

Eric Jullien

Commercial Airbus Corporate Jets

Professional Experience

From 2009, Deputy Vice President Commercial for AIRBUS Corporate Jets.

From 1997 to 2009, Regional Sales Director South and East Europe at AIRBUS Commercial Aircraft, in charge of airlines in Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon Malta and Poland.

From 1992 to 1997, Business Manager Civil Aviation at OFEMA (Office Français d’Exportation de Matériel Aéronautique) in Paris.

From 1990 to 1992, Assistant Manager at BBL Aviation in Paris, the aircraft finance division of Bank Brussels Lambert.

Military Service

Intelligence Officer (Lieutenant) in the French Air Force from 1989 to 1990.

Education

From 1987 to 1989, MBA in Finance and International Business Strategies from ESSEC (Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales) in Paris.

From 1984 to 1987, Civil Aviation Engineering Degree in Aircraft Design, Manufacturing and Airline Operations from ENAC (Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile in Toulouse.

Hobbies

Travelling, History, Modern Painting & Music, Martial Arts, Motor Biking, Scuba Diving.

Miscellaneous

Married, 1 son, 1 daughter.

Born March 1964 in Strasbourg (France).

Tobias Laps

Executive Vice President Sales, Comlux