Peter Harbison - Conference moderator Peter Harbison is Executive Chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).
He is a prominent commentator on Asia Pacific aviation affairs. The Centre produces industry research and analysis, along with numerous newsletters.
Peter’s career in aviation comprises more than 30 years, with extensive experience in government regulation, airport management and privatisation, and airline startup and strategy.
He has conducted more than 200 consultancy projects either as project manager or senior advisor, from the Middle East, India, China and most parts of Asia to the South Pacific. Kavita Maharaj - Conference moderator After a decade working as a producer, reporter and anchorwoman for some of the world’s most respected television news organizations, Kavita Maharaj has recently joined the London based financial communications firm MERLIN as Associate Director. For the last two years, Kavita has consulted on media projects for the some of Europe’s most influential CEOs.
Prior to this, she was the anchor/editor of two of CNBC’s European prime-time programs providing in-depth analysis, opinion and perspective on the day’s major financial and economic issues. She has interviewed some of the world’s most powerful decision makers, including a variety of politicians and CEOs. Before joining CNBC in 2003, Kavita worked as a reporter and anchorwoman for both ITV and BLOOMGERG TELEVISION. Ashraff Ali Ashraff Ali, Head - Corporate Planning & Business Development, Malaysia Airports (Niaga) Sdn Bhd (ERAMAN MALAYSIA), 54 years, is graduated in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in United Kingdom. He has more than 29 years of experience with the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry and the last 19 years specializing in the travel retail and duty free business. Melvin Broekaart Global Account Manager Airports, Heineken Duty Free & Travel Retail
Melvin Broekaart, Global Account Manager Airports for Heineken Duty Free & Travel Retail is responsible for Heineken’s positioning on international airports around the world.
Melvin joined Heineken in 2002, running international projects in Algeria and St. Martin until he joined the Duty Free & Travel Retail department as a Trade Sales Manager in 2004. Since the beginning of this year he assumed his current position with a clear focus on Heineken’s new F&B concept ‘HeinekenBar’ besides the more traditional retail sales.
Prior to joining Heineken, Melvin was founding partner of Campus Communication Consultancy in The Netherlands. He holds an MSc degree in Business Administration from the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) and studied at EAESP Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Amy Choi Amy Choi is Retail Planning and Development Manager at Hong Kong International Airport working on the airport’s advertising business as well as retail.
Amy joined Hong Kong Airport Authority in 1992 and before the new airport opened in 1998, participated in the new airport project in retail planning, retail leasing and strategy development, in the lead up to the opening of the new airport retail facilities.
After the new airport opened, she became responsible for the retail management working on the major airside retail expansion in 2002 and 2003. She is currently in charge of planning and implementation of new retail projects at HKIA.
Prior to joining Hong Kong Airport Authority, Amy worked as Senior Analyst at IBI Group, a real estate planning firm in Toronto and as Financial Analyst at IBM in Hong Kong.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce & Finance degree and Master of Business Administration degree from University of Toronto. Dato' Seri Bashir Ahmad Managing Director and CEO, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
Dato’ Seri Bashir Ahmad, aged 59 and a Malaysian is the Managing Director and CEO of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad since June 2003. Malaysia Airports is a public listed company and operates KL International Airport and 38 other airports in Malaysia.
Dato’ Seri Bashir is a graduate of University Malaya with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Honours) majoring in International Relations. He started his career with Malaysia Airlines (“MAS”), the National carrier of Malaysia. He has held various senior positions in Malaysia Airlines during the 29 years of service in the said organization. He started as a Management trainee in 1972 and rose up to the position of sales manager and marketing manager by 1982. He was promoted to the position of International Relations Manager in 1982 and rose up the ranks to become Deputy Director of International Relations in 1991. In that capacity his primary function was to acquire traffic rights for the expansion of MAS network to 79 destinations. Shriram Bharath Managing Director, Cochin International Airport (CIAL)
Before joining the airport industry, Bharath has worked with the Indian government in both Ministry of Law and Justice and the Finance Ministry as Director and Deputy Secretary in Deputation.
His previous experience also includes the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where, as Deputy Commissioner, he was involved in streamlining the administration department. He has also worked in various capacities with the Indian government’s IT and Revenue departments.
Shriram, who holds an MBA in International & Business Finance from Dehli University, is fluent in 7 languages, is an amateur musician playing regular concerts and is in the process of publishing a book on ‘Vaastu Shastra’, an ancient Indian form of Feng Shui. Pascal Bourgue Marketing, Retail and Communications Director, Aéroports de Paris (ADP)
Pascal BOURGUE is Marketing, Retail and Communications Director for Aéroports de Paris. He joined Aéroports de Paris as Chief Communications Officer in March 2003, moving into this new role in February 2006.
Pascal BOURGUE, 57, holds a doctorate in corporate management from Paris-Dauphine and is a graduate of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques of Bordeaux.
He began his career at Automobiles Peugeot from 1977 to 1987 as manager of Strategy and Market Research; he later moved to SNCF as Assistant Marketing Director from 1987 to 1991, and then became Main Line Communications Director from 1991 to 1996. After a period with Bouygues as Communications Director for the "9 Telecom" Group from 1998 to 2001, he joined Assurances Générales de France as Communications Director for two years before joining ADP in 2003. Lars Croné Lars Croné, Vice-President – International Development SSP Group Ltd, is responsible for the expansion of SSP’s airport food & beverage activities around the world.
Lars joined SSP in 1997 when the company was operating predominantly in European airports, and the business was present in some 45 airports in 14 countries. Today SSP is the leading global airport food and beverage operator with activities in more than 120 airports in 26 countries.
Lars has more than 20 years of experience from the international airport world. He has held various airport/airline management positions in Japan, Saudi-Arabia, Germany, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Denmark. Tony Davis CEO & President Tiger Airways
Tony Davis was appointed to his current position in January 2005. An aviation professional with over 20 years experience in both full service and low cost airlines, Mr Davis has led the development of Tiger Airways as one of Asia’s leading low fare airlines.
Since Mr Davis’ appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, Tiger Airways has grown its network from just 3 destinations to 16 destinations in 7 countries, was the launch customer of Singapore’s Budget Terminal and has carried more than 2 million passengers. The airline’s achievements and innovation have been recognized by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation’s “Best Low Cost Airline” Award in 2006. Noel Derby Noel is Director of Business Development for McNally Design International and The Irish Pub Company. He provides branding and integrated communication strategies for McNally clients and its offices in Dubai, Doha, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Sydney. He was previously Chairman of McCann Erickson in Ireland and CEO Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and advised Nestle, Coca-Cola, R J Reynolds, L’Oreal, Gillette, Esso, GM, Johnson & Johnson, Levi’s, Guinness and Nestlé, amongst other Fortune 500 companies. Mark Foley Director - Capital Programmes, Aer Rianta
Mark joined Aer Rianta in November 2000 as Director of Capital Programmes. Mark is responsible for Masterplanning and the delivery of the capital programme at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports. Mark spent 14 years with Loctite Ireland Ltd., 10 years of which was spent at Senior Management level in Engineering and Operations Management roles. Mark completed a number of consultancy assignments for Loctite in the USA, Puerto Rico and Brazil, and project managed the European consolidation of adhesives manufacturing operations after the acquisition of Loctite by Henkel.
KGaA. in 1996.
Prior to joining Aer Rianta, Mark was Managing Director of Industrial Print Group Ltd. where he led the consolidation of Irish Operations and the development of global supply positions with many of the leading electronic and computer manufacturers. Foster Fu Market Exploitation Director, Beijing Capital International Airport
Foster Fu is Market Exploitation Director for Beijing Capital International Airport. He started out his career in the hotel and leisure industry before joining Beijing Capital International Airport in 1994 as the Chinese Director of all Commercial operations opposite the management team from Aer Rianta International.
He has held various positions at BCIA since, including Director of Purchasing, Duty Free Purchasing Manager and Airport Brand Development Manager before entering his current role last year. In his capacity as Market Exploitation Director, Foster Fu is responsible for retail strategy, marketing and brand management.
During his career at BCIA, he has launched a number of premium and luxury brand boutiques at the airport including China’s first Hermes duty free boutique, as well as boutiques for Aigner and Omega, among others. Eugene Gan Senior Vice President (Worldwide Operations), Changi Airport International
He had been with CAI for more than 5 years when he assumed his current position in 2006. He currently oversees the development of all investment deals, management contracts and consultancy projects in the major regions of China, India, Middle East and Russia. Prior to joining CAI, he worked in various large organizations including Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Singapore Economic Development Board the Singapore Air Force. Erik Juul-Mortensen Erik Juul-Mortensen is President, Maxxium Global Travel Retail.
He is also President of Tax Free World Association. Erik has served the industry with distinction since joining Danish Distillers in 1987 as Vice-President of the newly-established export and duty free division, later being promoted to Senior Vice-President and Export Director and in 1996 International Director. Following the acquisition in December 1999 of Danish Distillers by V&S Vin & Sprit, he transferred to the newlycreated Stockholm-based V&S International Brands as Senior Vice President and Commercial Director. He assumed his current role in October 2001. Andrew Mc Leod Andrew McLeod, Global Travel Retail Director, British American Tobacco, was born in Melbourne, Australia and commenced his professional career in Sales. He then managed a Distribution company before moving to Sydney for 5 years where he worked in Marketing, Finance & Audit. In 1997, he moved to Auckland New Zealand, as Sales & Marketing Director for British American Tobacco (BAT). In 2001, Andrew moved to Singapore, as Regional Account Director and set up a regional structure for international customers before assuming his current role, based in Hong Kong as BAT’s General Manager, Asia Pacific Travel Retail. Mohamad Nada Business Development Manager for the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia, GACA
Mohamad Nada is responsible for the Haj Terminal Expansion and Rehabilitation Project at King Abdulaziz International Airport. This project, the first ever Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) type project run by the private sector in Saudi Arabia, should see the first phase of the new facilities inaugurated in September this year, with the entire terminal completed by the same time in 2008, making it one of the fastest BTO-type construction projects in the world.
Mohamad Nada started his career as a Research Engineer with the Motor Industry Research Association in the UK after graduating from Manchester University with a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. In 1981 He joined UK based construction management firm Ralph M. Parsons working on the KAIA projects and has been Business Development Manager at GACA since 1993. Frank O'Connell Frank O’Connell, Director-Retail, AerRiantaRetail part of the Dublin Airport Authority, holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Stirling and is a graduate of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. He has acquired over 15 years of experience in the advertising business while holding several Art and Creative Director positions before joining Aer Rianta in 1979. Mr O’Connell is a member of the Board of Aer Rianta International and of the Supervisory Board of Flughafen Düsseldorf GmbH. Mr O’Connell is President of the Paris based European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) and represents Europe on the Duty Free World Council, is co-author of the book “European Airport Retailing, Growth Strategies for the next Millennium” and has written extensively on airport retailing. Frank O'Donovan Frank O’Donovan, Consultant, Apex Business Development Partners Ltd
Following seventeen years working in senior positions at home and abroad with Aer Rianta International, Frank O'Donovan has recently established his own company, Apex Business Development Partners Ltd.
In recent years, he worked on ARI projects in Cyprus (Hermes Airports BOT project for the development of Larnaca and Paphos Airports) and duty free projects in Barbados, Kosovo and Serbia. In the 1990’s, he worked on resident projects in the Far East – China, Thailand and Singapore. René Riedi Chief Operating Officer, Dufry Eurasia & Asia, sharjah International Airport, Uniited Arab Emirates
Mr. Rene Riedi is a Swiss national, born in 1960. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree of Business Administration specializing in Marketing at the School of Economic and Business Administration, in Switzerland.
From 1987 – 1993 he was in different marketing positions with Elida Cosmetics, the personal care division of Unilever (Switzerland) and Lever AG, the household cleaners division of the same group.
After different assignments in sales and marketing of Dufry, formerly known as Weitnauer, and one of the world leading travel retail operators with their shares listed at the Zurich Stock Exchange, he is now the Chief Operating Officer of the retail region Eurasia & Asia and member of the Group Executive Committee. His responsibilities include the control and management of all retail activities in the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Asia Pacific. Armen Ara Sahagian Transportation Security Administration Representative, United States Department of Homeland Security
In February 2005, Armen A. Sahagian arrived in Singapore to serve as the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Representative based in the U.S. Embassy Singapore.
He holds regional responsibility in working with nine countries on matters of security for various modes of transportation such as aviation, rail, mass transit, pipelines, and maritime. The countries include the following: Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Brunei; India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Pakistan, Papua New Guinea; and Singapore.
During Mr. Sahagian’s 23 years of service in the U.S. Federal Government, he initially spent 6 years on national defense matters pertaining to tactical command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence equipment for the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), followed by 17 years specializing in transportation security matters on both a domestic and international level, working first for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and later the U.S. TSA. Lye Teck Tan Mr Tan Lye Teck is the Senior Director (Airport Management) of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, which owns and manages Singapore Changi Airport.
He currently oversees four Divisions in CAAS, namely the Airport Management, Commercial, Development & Engineering and Air Cargo Divisions.
The previous appointments he has held in CAAS include Director of the Air Traffic Services Division; Head of Management Information Services; Director of Air Cargo; Director of Airworthiness/Flight Operations; and Director of the Airport Management Division.
Mr Tan has participated in various activities of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, including the ICAO Council Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). He is a member of the ICAO Facilitation Panel as well as ACI’s committee on facilitation and services.
Mr Tan holds an aeronautical engineering degree from the Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile (ENAC), France, and a MSc in management from Stanford University, USA.
Tom Thomas President, Duty Free Security Company, & Owner, Gateway Duty Free
Tom Thomas is Managing Director of Gateway Duty Free, which he founded in 1980. He started out in the industry in 1968 when he joined Trusthouse Forte’s (now Alpha) newly formed shipping division. He then went on to become Duty-free manager on board a number of cruise ships for Fred Olsen Lines and Chandris Lines up until the mid 70s. In 1977 he became State Manager for James Richardson Duty Free at Perth Airport where he remained until founding Gateway.
Tom has been a board member for ADFA (Australian Duty Free Association) since 1996 and has been President since 2003. He is also a member of APTRA.
He is married with two children and enjoys photography, sailing and traveling.
Sunil Tuli Managing Director, Kingpower Hong Kong
Before joining Kingpower in April 2003, he spent over twelve years with the Weitnauer Group (now Dufry) as Chief Operating Officer Asia Pacific and Middle East, Managing Director for Wietnauer Singapore and General Manager for Scotts Weitnauer, Travellers Duty Free and Sincere Watch Duty Free.
Between 1984 and 1990 Sunil was General Manager Duty Free at the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC)
He is a board member of companies in Singapore, UK, France and New Zealand and serves as on the board of Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA).
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