Content Programme

Max joined GHI in 2017 after launching and hosting conference and award events in the UK manufacturing industry. A trained journalist, Max strives to deliver innovative content on stage, online or in print that challenges, educates and entertains. As a non-aviation professional - Max is always eager to don the hi-vis jacket and get out on the apron to experience the everyday challenges facing ground handling businesses and their airline customers. Max graduated as a biochemist from Cardiff University in 2001. He became a NUJ/NCTJ accredited journalist in 2003. Max went on to an award-winning 14 year editorial career including stints at magazines in the UK pub, pharmacy and manufacturing sectors. Outside of work - Max is never far from a book, the fridge or the 5-a-side football pitch.

Atilla is a graduate in Civil Aviation & Transportation Management at Anadolu University and he holds an MA from Istanbul University. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. He joined Celebi in 1993, where he took several operational and executive roles within the group. After his tenure at Celebi Hungary as a Managing Director, he took up role of Ground Handling and Business Development President for the group in 2010. Currently, he is serving as President for Ground Handling & Cargo (EMEA) and is an Executive Director for the group of companies. Atilla is also an active Board Member of ASA.

Cisse is on the Board of Directors of NAS subsidiaries in the Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, India, Mozambique and Uganda. Cisse has been with NAS since March 2016 as the General Manger of NAS Cote d’Ivoire, handling all NAS operations, functions, personnel and business development in the country. He has over 32 years of experience in the ground handling, passenger handling and other aviation operations in Africa and in his previous position with Menzies Aviation last served as General Manager, Ground Handling, in Johannesburg. Prior to that, he worked as Operations Director at Aviation Handling Services – Ghana. He has also worked in Ghana and Guinee Conakry as a Country Manager for the national carrier where he helped launch the airline, Air Senegal. Cisse holds a Licence Certificate Specialisation in American Civilisation and Literature from the University of Dakar.

For the past 20 years, Tom has been working to connect African aviation professionals to best safety practices that are essential to their work. An important part of that experience is related to transfer of knowledge through training by the AviAssist Foundation, of which he is Director. Having lived, worked and flown in Africa for many years, Tom has gained unique expertise on African aviation safety issues. As a result, he is well versed in the technical as well complex political, social and cultural issues that play an important role in improving aviation safety in Africa. He has facilitated numerous safety trainings and workshops in Africa on a wide variety of subjects, is a regular speaker at meetings and conferences in and on the continent and is founder of the Africa’s only magazine dedicated to safety, SafetyFocus. Tom is a law graduate of Leiden University in the Netherlands, with a specialisation in Air and Space Law, and pursued African Studies at the same university.

Gordon has been employed by Kenya Airways for the last 12 years. In that time he has had various roles, including Business Analyst for three years, Manager Hub Control Centre for three years and Manager Outstations (network-wide) for four years. For the last two years he has been Head of Ramp Services at the KQ hub, responsible for ensuring safe and secure ramp services at JKIA for Kenya Airways and customer airlines, in compliance with regulations. Gordon holds a BSc in Applied Statistics from the Maseno University and a Diploma in Airline Management from IATA.

Lukasz has 21 years of experience in airline ground operations, commercial, cross-cultural negotiations with airports and service providers across the Middle East, Europe, Russia, Central and South East Asia, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Before joining NAS, he served as Senior Regional Manager Airport Services at flydubai, where he was responsible for the management of carrier’s operations at 90 airports across their network. Lukasz was also in charge of airport services procurement, commercial negotiations and contract management for ground handling, cargo, airport, fuel and lounges. He holds a Logistics Management degree and a Master’s in Management and Marketing from the Warsaw School of Economics in Poland.

Sanjeev is the Founder and CEO of Astral Aviation. In 2020, Sanjeev was appointed Vice Chairman of AFRAA’s (African Airlines Association) Cargo & Route Network Committee, based on his extensive experience in the air cargo sector in Africa. Prior to that, in 2017, Sanjeev became the first Director from Africa to sit on TIACA; he is currently Vice Chairman. A banker by profession, Sanjeev has a Master’s in Business Administration from the Schiller International University in London, in addition to being a member of EO Kenya (Entrepreneurs Organisation) and YPO (Young Professional’s Organisation), Africa Great Lakes.

Henry holds a BSc and a Master's and is an alumni of University of Cape Town’s Programme for management development. Has more than 25 years’ experience in IT, three of which were in the hotel industry, with five years in logistics and 16 in airline IT management. For four years, he was a member of IATA's StB Group and the IATA AIR Think Tank. Henry is also a member of PMI international and the PMI (Kenya) chapter, a member of the Computer Society of Kenya and CIO East Africa. He has been responsible for IT delivery at Kenya Airways since 2009, during which time he has led several IT delivery projects. He has also developed more than three mobile apps and seven websites, amongst many other solutions.

With more than 40 years' experience in the airline industry, Bob has spent the past 20 years working for leading South African ground handling companies. He has a well-rounded perspective of the dynamics of the field of ground handling through being both a buyer and a seller of services over the past 30 years. His current role is that of VP Commercial for Swissport South Africa and he sits on the company EXCO. Bob chairs the Airside Operators Association of South Africa, representing providers of ramp, cargo, catering, security and fuel services to the airline industry. He also served as an Officer on the IGHC for eight years and as Vice Chair of the IATA GHC.

David is responsible for leading the sales & service teams for JBT's EMEA region.

Sanjeev is the Founder and CEO of Astral Aviation. In 2020, Sanjeev was appointed Vice Chairman of AFRAA’s (African Airlines Association) Cargo & Route Network Committee, based on his extensive experience in the air cargo sector in Africa. Prior to that, in 2017, Sanjeev became the first Director from Africa to sit on TIACA; he is currently Vice Chairman. A banker by profession, Sanjeev has a Master’s in Business Administration from the Schiller International University in London, in addition to being a member of EO Kenya (Entrepreneurs Organisation) and YPO (Young Professional’s Organisation), Africa Great Lakes.