As the world takes steps to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have an extraordinary opportunity, and responsibility, to ensure civil aviation security is one of the priorities in coming back to business. In doing this, we cannot forego the lessons learned by our governments and the aviation industry throughout the pandemic. Though there were challenges, the aviation community found solutions to ensure and maintain the appropriate levels of security with a reduced workforce and financial constraints throughout the pandemic. The innovation surrounding this inspired the new theme for the ICAO Global Aviation Security Symposium 2021 (AVSEC2021): “Business NOT as usual”.
AVSEC2021 will provide a unique opportunity to hear from leading experts from around the world as they share how they addressed these unprecedented challenges and implemented the best practices for addressing them. Listen into the conversation live on our ICAO TV site, don’t miss this chance. These are some of the speakers who are participating in the event:
Manager of Aviation Security and Facilitation, Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority
Captain (Retired) Althea Bartley is the Manager of Aviation Security and Facilitation for Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority. She is a Subject Matter Expert in aviation security and delivers training on behalf of ICAO within the North America and Caribbean Region. Captain Bartley currently represents Jamaica at the ICAO/LACAC Regional Group on Aviation Security and Facilitation and is the current vice-chairperson. She also led the development and delivery of the JCAA cyber-security aviation awareness training programme which was delivered in Montego Bay, Buenos Aires, and Kingston with the assistance of OAS, Argentina, and ICAO for members within the Caribbean and Latin America. She was invited to present at the Pearson International Airport Intelligence Training Symposium in Toronto in April 2017. Capt Bartley has worked with the Organization of American States over the years to identify technical experts to deliver aviation security training for the Region. Currently, she is working on delivering an online version of the Cyber Security Awareness Workshop.
Vice President of Security and Facilitation, Airlines for America (A4A)
In her role as Vice President for Security and Facilitation at Airlines for America, Beyer is responsible for security, cargo, and passenger facilitation issues. She oversees all aspects of interaction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and other federal security agencies. Beyer joined A4A with 11 years of U.S. federal government experience. She previously served as the Director for Aviation and Surface Transportation Security at the National Security Council where she was responsible for directing and coordinating national aviation security policies, including revision of the National Strategy for Aviation Security and spearheading efforts to obtain legislative authority to counter unmanned aircraft systems. Prior to the NSC, Beyer held several positions at TSA including as Europe, Africa, Middle East Bureau Chief, managing engagement with transportation security stakeholders across these regions. Prior to joining TSA, she served in various roles at DHS including as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Visa Waiver Program Office, as well as serving as the DHS Liaison to the European Union Presidency, stationed in Budapest, Hungary and Warsaw, Poland.
Consultancy Practice Director, 3D Assurance
Andy Blackwell is a subject matter expert on Security Management Systems (SeMS) and transport security matters. He was formerly Head of Corporate Security with Virgin Atlantic, responsible for all aspects of the airline’s security programme, including SeMS implementation and development. Prior to joining Virgin Atlantic, he was UK Security Manager and Lead Threat Assessor with DHL International. He has a law enforcement and intelligence background, serving with UK Customs, British Transport Police, and the National Criminal Intelligence Service. Andy has been commended by the Metropolitan Police for demonstrating a high degree of professionalism and providing an exceptional level of service during a period of heightened threat against civil aviation interests. Blackwell is now a director of 3DAssurance specialising in risk and security management.
Chief of Countering Terrorist Travel Section, Special Projects and Innovation Branch, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism
Ms. Bradley is the Chief of the Countering Terrorist Travel Section within the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). Within this role, Ms. Bradley is the officer-in- charge of the UNOCT’s flagship global initiative, the UN Countering Terrorist Travel Programme, as well as managing programming of the UNOCT Addressing Counter Terrorism within Aviation Security portfolio. Bradley’s tenure at the UN has included positions at the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the Regional Office for Eastern Africa. Previous to the United Nations, Bradley worked for more than twenty years with the Government of Canada in the fields of border security, migration management, national security intelligence and managing migration integrity in Southern and Eastern Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Director General, Airports Council International (ACI) World
De Oliveira has been Director General of Airports Council International World since June 2020. His aviation experience spans multiple subjects, from his degree as a Chemical Engineer with an aviation fuel background, to holding executive positions at the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association, at World Fuel Services, at the IATA Switzerland office, and at Shell. He is currently a Board Member of HERMES Air Transport Organisation.
Executive Director of International Policy and Programs Division, TSA
In his role as Executive Director for International Policy at the TSA, Hearding leads and oversees the organization’s international air carrier security programmes, international capacity development, the National Cargo Screening Program, and many of the TSA’s multilateral programmes. Because of his role, he also represents the TSA before foreign governments in bilateral and multilateral for a, including ICAO’s AVSEC panel. Prior to his international work, Pete was the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs from September 2011 to October 2016, where he advanced TSA’s mission through collaboration with Congress. He served as the Acting Assistant Administrator for more than a year during his tenure. While in Legislative Affairs, Hearding developed and advanced TSA’s legislative priorities and prepared agency officials for appearances before Congress. He also oversaw the passage of TSA’s first – and many subsequent – legislative proposals into law. Before joining TSA in 2008, Hearding worked for U.S. Representative James P. Moran (VA-08) from 2001 through 2008. He served as the Congressman’s advisor on Homeland Security and Defense policy and appropriations.
Director-General of Mobility and Transport, European Commission
Henrik is an economist by training and holds degrees from Tallinn Technical University and Aarhus University in Denmark. He held various positions in the Estonian Government Office between 1995 and 2004. He was mainly responsible for coordinating the work for the Estonian accession to the European Union. In 2001-2002, he was Minister of Economy. In 2004, he moved to the European Commission as Head of Cabinet of Vice President Siim Kallas until 2013, when he became Deputy Secretary General. In October 2015, he became Director-General for Mobility and Transport in the European Commission.
Director, Air Transport Bureau, ICAO
Since his appointment as Director on May 2020, Mr. Rahma has been responsible for programmes dedicated to three of ICAO’s five strategic objectives: security and facilitation, economic development of air transport, and environmental protection. Previously at ICAO, he was also the Regional Director of the ICAO Middle East Regional Office, where he was instrumental in strengthening the aviation industry in the area by efforts including enhancing risk awareness and response, promoting technology and innovation, improving oversight and quality assurance, and so on. Throughout his 30-year aviation tenure, he has also worked in both the public and private sectors, including positions for the Egyptian government, and as a board member for various aviation companies.
Director of Civil Aviation, South Africa Civil Aviation Authority
Khoza has brought over 14 years of experience in senior management positions in aviation to her current position as Director at the South African Civil Aviation Authority. Under her leadership, SACAA has witnessed improvements in most safety areas, as assessed by the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme in 2017. She has served as Chairman of ICAO AVSEC, and cochaired their working group on Air Cargo Security. Her many years of experience at SACAA are decorated by numerous awards, including the Best Performing Institution in Transport award (three years in a row), and the South African Auditor-General’s Clean Audit Award (five consecutive years).
Deputy Director of Aviation Security and Facilitation, ICAO
Lefoyer has been Deputy Director in charge of Aviation Security and Facilitation in the Air Transport Bureau of ICAO since 2017. He leads teams responsible for developing Aviation Security, Cybersecurity, Border Security and Facilitation policies, Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), conducting audits of Member States’ aviation security activities, assisting States that are unable to address deficiencies highlighted by those audits, and implementing the Traveler Identification Programme (ICAO TRIP) Strategy.
Sylvain is Secretary of the ICAO Aviation Security Committee (ASC), of the International Explosives Technical Commission (IETC) and of the Aviation Security Panel of experts, and Chair of the ICAO Secretariat Study Group on Cybersecurity. Previous to his role in ICAO, Sylvain’s career in maritime, ground and air transport safety and security spans more than 25 years in the French ministry of transportation.
Senior Director of International Relations and Security, Singapore Ministry of Transport
Lim is Senior Director for International Relations and Security with the Ministry of Transport, Singapore. He served as the Vice-Chairman of ICAO Aviation Security (AVSEC) Panel from March 2009 to March 2011, and then as Chairman from March 2011 to April 2015. During this period, the Panel made a number of key achievements, such as the establishment of the ICAO’s Comprehensive Aviation Security Strategy 2011-2016; the development of new Standards and Recommended Practices for air cargo security; cyber security; security of air traffic service providers; access control measures with respect to persons other than passengers; security awareness training; landside security and international AVSEC co-operation, amongst others. Lim’s tenure at ICAO has included many achievements and key roles that have helped make aviation safer throughout.
Senior Research Manager, Deloitte Services LP
Joe is a research manager with Deloitte’s Center for Government Insights. His research focuses on innovation and technology adoption for both national security organizations and commercial businesses. His previous work includes experience as a consultant to the defense and intelligence industries, high school science teacher, and Marine Corps intelligence officer.
Assistant Administrator of Policy, Plans and Engagement, TSA
In his position at the TSA, Meyenschein develops effective, efficient, and risk-reducing security policies and plans in cooperation with the United States’ transportation stakeholders and partners. Mayenschein has a long history at the TSA, including being directly responsible for their technical training, checkpoint design, operational performance, developing counterterrorism contingencies, and even led several classified task forces on overseas threats. Throughout his 40 years of aviation experience, he’s also served as an executive at United Airlines, Ameriflight, and US Airways. He has piloted for US Airways, in the Pennsylvania National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, and was designated as both a Naval Aviator and Master Army Aviator.
Administrator, TSA
Pekoske was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the TSA’s seventh administrator in August 2017. Throughout his five-year term, he has led a workforce of around 64000 employees, and is responsible for security operations at almost 440 airports throughout the United States. In his five years of service at the TSA, he also served as the Senior Official, performing the duties of Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security from April to November 2019, and as a commissioner on the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which discussed defense strategies in case of cyberattacks to the United States. Before joining the TSA, Pekoske had a U.S. Coast Guard Career of 33 years, which culminated in his service as 26th Vice Commandant. He has been twice awarded the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal.
Director, Hong Kong International Aviation Academy
Mr. Richard Skinner is the Director of the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), and institution established in 2016 to provide aviation training needs to support both the domestic growth of Hong Kong’s aviation industry as well as establishing Hong Kong as a regional aviation training hub for Asia Pacific. The HKIAA provides Air traffic control training, airport operational training, AVSEC training as well as a wide selection of professional and aviation specific academic programmes.
Richard holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Plymouth University, UK and a Master of Business Administration, Aerospace Management from the Toulouse Business School, France. Richard spent 28 years in the Hong Kong Police Force of which 11 years were in senior management positions. While in the Hong Kong Police, Richard was seconded to the Hong Kong International Airport in 2013 as the Assistant Executive Director AVSEC Operations and later became the Director of Aviation Security Training for the Aviation Security Company Ltd (AVSECO), prior to joining the HKIAA.
Head of Training and Human Factors, Aviation Security, United Kindom Civil Aviation Authority
Nina Smith is the current Head of Aviation Security Training and Human Factors at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, where she leads a team responsible for the regulation and quality assurance of security training in the industry. She is the current chair of the Training Taskforce at the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), and a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Training Working Group. Prior to her current role, Nina worked as a Senior Regulatory Advisor and National Aviation Security Auditor in the UK.
DAVID STERLAND
Chief of Implementation Support and Development, Security Section, ICAO
Sterland has been working in the air transport industry since 1988, specializing in aviation security and facilitation since 1999. He held management roles with British Airways, the UK Department for Transport, and airport operator BAA. He joined the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2011 and has held aviation security and facilitation roles in HQ and the Middle East Regional Office in Cairo. David assumed the role of Chief, Implementation Support and Development – Security (ISD-SEC) Section in the Air Transport Bureau in January 2018. His work focuses on providing aviation security assistance and training to the Member States of ICAO.
Director General, IATA
Before becoming the eighth person to lead IATA as Director General, his 40-year-long aviation career included 13 years at IATA Board of Governors. He started his career as a pilot for Aer Lingus, rising to Chief Executive of one of its charter airlines, and later Chief Operations Officer and Chief Executive of the Airline as a whole. He continued on as Chief Executive of British Airways and oversaw the forming of the International Airlines Group, becoming its Chief Executive until his retirement in September 2020.
Consultancy Practice Director, 3D Assurance
John Wood is a Security Management Systems (SeMS) subject matter expert, previously responsible at the UK CAA for formulating the SeMS strategy and developing the framework with industry partners. He is now a director of 3DAssurance, specialising in risk and security management. Experienced in the design and implementation of effective strategic change in public and private sectors, Wood has been a lead designer of numerous governance, risk and compliance systems. Most recently he has specialised in SeMS projects and the development of security management practices with many industry stakeholders, clients and authorities in several countries and jurisdictions. John is a qualified project, programme and risk manager, (PRINCE2, MSP, MoR) with a Master’s degree in Theoretical Physics from Oxford University.
AVSEC2021 is sponsored by: