Program
Monday January 30
13:30
Registration opens at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Hotel
15:30-
16:00
Departure from Hilton Yas to Capital Experience Oasis Desert Camp
Afternoon-evening:
Air Cargo Executives Networking Desert Happening; including
• 4WDs dune drive experience
• BBQ buffet dinner
• Camel riding
• Belly dance performance
• Tanour performance
• Sunset in desert dunes

Tuesday January 31
09:00
Welcome remarks
H.E. Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi Airports Company
09:30
The Big Picture – Permanent Disruption or What?
- Opportunities & Challenges for 2023
- How to cope with perpetual disruption
- Market outlook 2023 and beyond
Moderator: Steve Townes, CEO, ACL Airshop
Martin Drew, Sr. Vice President Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group
Asok Kumar, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Air Freight, DB Schenker
Wolfgang Meier, President & CEO, Silk Way West Airlines
Jaime Álvarez Price, Senior Director Cargo, COPA Airlines
10:45
Networking break – coffee [sponsored by Challenge Group]
11:15
Restoring Global Trade
- The future of globalization and global trade
- How will changing trade policies affect global supply chains?
- Supply chain resilience: Just-in-time or diversification
- Trade disruptions – The new normal?
Moderator: Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA
Coleman Nee, Senior Economist, Economic Research & Statistics Division, World Trade Organisation
Alina Fetisova, Trade Facilitation Officer, International Trade Center
Dr. Ludwig Hausmann, Partner, McKinsey & Company
12:00
Humanitarian Flight Operations – Why it matters
Steven J. Smith, President & CEO, Airlink
12:15
Outlook Pharma Supply Chain
- Latest trends in the pharma supply chain by air
- Next big thing in pharma
Moderator: Dr. Omar Najim, Executive Officer Director, Abu Dhabi Department of Health
Trevor Caswell, Manager, Demand & Product Development (Cargo) Air Service & Business Development, Edmonton Int’l Airport
Hicham Mirghani, GCC Corporate Affairs Director, AstraZeneca
Geert Aerts, Chief Cargo & Real Estate, Brussels Airport Company
Fabrice Panza, Manager Global Cold Chain Solutions, Etihad Cargo
13:00
Lunch [sponsored by Boeing Commercial Airplanes]
14:15
What’s Next in Technological Development?
• Latest technology developments from several industries
• Deduction: Which trends will influence our world in the next years
Nick Sohnemann, Founder & Managing Director, Future Candy
FUTURE CANDY is an innovation agency. We make the future comprehensible and tangible, using the latest technology. We inspire, develop and implement innovation projects. We are your innovation tacklers.
https://www.futurecandy.com/en/
14:45
Future Outlook – Innovation & Digitalization
- How digital innovation is driving the recovery
- Innovative technology in air cargo
- Next generation logistics: Trends & Innovation
Moderator: Frédéric Chapelle, Partner, PWC
Magali Beauregard, Chief Commercial Officer, Cargo AI
Camilo Garcia Cervera, Global VP Business Development, WebCargo by Freightos
Irina Albanese, Head of Innovation ME & Africa, DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation
Ali Ghaffar, Sales & Account Manager EMEA, CHAMP Cargosystems Ltd.
Jasraj S. Chug, Co-Founder & Director, Cargoflash Infotech Pvt Ltd
Pierre-Antoine Fontaniere, Business Development, PayCargo
16:00
Networking break – coffee [sponsored by Billund Airport]
16:20
Sustainable Transformation in Air Cargo
- Sustainability in air cargo logistics
- Review on latest industry solutions
- Electric cargo aircraft – Will it work?
Moderator: Mariam AlQubaisi, Head of Sustainability & Business Excellence, Etihad Airways
Teddy Zebitz, CEO, Saudia Cargo
Trevor Caswell, Manager, Demand & Product Development (Cargo) Air Service & Business Development, Edmonton International Airport
17:30
End conference day 1
17:45
Networking cocktail at Ballroom Terrace [sponsored by ACL Airshop]
Wednesday February 1
09:00
Future of Sea-Air Market
- Global Sea-Air logistics market developments
- Current competitive landscape
Moderator: Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO, Astral Aviation
Graham Burne, Chief Commercial Officer Logistics, AD Ports Group
Peter Penseel, COO Airfreight, CEVA Logistics
Robert Sutton, SVP Freezone, Abu Dhabi Airports Company
09:45
Airports & Cargo – How to Create Excellence?
- Review of current challenges and opportunities for airports
- What will airlines ask for when it comes to developing the most competitive cargo hubs?
Moderator: Steven Polmans, VP Business Development & Free Zone, Abu Dhabi Airports Company
Milton de la Paz, VP Airline Relations & Global Strategy Development, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Steven Verhasselt, Founder, FB Cargo Strategy
József Kossuth, Head of Cargo, Budapest Airport
Chris Notter, Independent Consultant
10:45
Networking break – coffee [sponsored by Liege Airport]
11:15
Global Air Freight Outlook
- Market Outlook 2023 and beyond
- Hot spots for growth
Moderator: Danita Waterfall-Brizzi, Principal Cargo & Logistics Consultant, Hospitio
Sander Schuringa, Commercial Manager, Seabury Cargo/Accenture
Soufiane Daher, Expert, McKinsey & Company
11:45
Freighter Availability & Future Demand
- Update next-generation widebody freighters
- Future demand for cargo aircraft
- The future of freighter conversions
Moderator: David F. Hoppin, Managing Director, Airline Strategy Group, Inc.
Tim Strauss, CEO, Amerijet International
Brian Hermesmeyer, Director – Product Marketing | Freighter Customer Lead, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Yair Munker, Commercial Director MEA, Challenge Group
Jim Gibbs, President, Kansas Modification Center
12:45
Lunch [Sponsored by Silk Way West Airlines]
13:45
Ground Handling – Who’s Coming up with Innovative Ideas?
- Innovation in cargo operations and handling
- Future trends in cargo handling: Digital & automation developments
Moderator: Kai Domscheit, CEO, CHI Deutschland Cargo Handling GmbH
Tushar Jani, Chairman, CSC Group & SCA Group of Companies
Sara Van Gelder, Director of Products, Nallian
Dirk Goovaerts, Global Cargo Chair & CEO Continental Europe, ME & Africa, Swissport
Naresh Ranganathan, Head Cargo Services, Etihad Handling Services
14:45
The Perishables Supply Chain
- Latest trends in flower and fruit logistics
- Enhancing quality and efficiency
Moderator: David Kerr, CEO, European Cargo Limited
Willum Van den Hoogen, Managing Director, Florius International FZCO
Khata Vinin, AOT – Airports of Thailand
Yamrot Nigussie, Cargo Manager Gulf, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo
Frédéric Brun, Head of Commercial & Logistics, Liege Airport
15:30
Networking break – coffee [sponsored by CHAMP Cargosystems]
15:45
The Future of Air Cargo – Concluding Discussion
- Industry collaboration – next level
- Challenges and opportunities beyond current crisis
- Adapting business models to disruption
- Serving the customer – future perspectives
Moderator: Robert Van De Weg, Chief Commercial Officer, ECS Group
Alexander Larsen, Global Manager Cargo Sales , Air New Zealand Cargo
Osmannuri Ustabas, Manager Cargo Business Development & Innovation, Turkish Airlines
Leonel Ortiz, Cargo Development Director, AVIANCA Cargo
Godfried Smit, Secretary General, European Shippers Council
16:45
Concluding remarks – End of conference – Farewell reception
Due to unforeseen circumstances the program may change.