Moderator:
Barbara Keating, President, Computer Frontiers
Panelists:
Adefunke Adeyemi, Regional Head for Airline and Relations, Africa and Middle EastInternational Air Transport Association (IATA)
Dr. Amany Asfour, Chairperson, COMESA Business Council
Bilal Eksi, CEO, Turkish Airlines
Todd Neuman, Executive Vice President, The Americas, South African Airways (SAA)
Adefunke Adeyemi is a 12 Year Veteran of the Global Aviation Industry and a transformative leader focused on bringing value and international standards to the industry, impacting lives and the business environment through her work and initiatives. In her current role as the Regional Head for Airline and Relations of IATA for Africa and the Middle East, covering 68 countries, she advocates for the overall sustainability and growth of the industry as a whole, and is the intermediary between airlines, the wider aviation community and the general public. She is responsible for conceptualizing and delivering an ongoing campaign regarding the transformation of Africa’s socio-economic prospects through enhanced connectivity across the continent.
Dr. Amany Asfour holds various high level portfolios in African business platforms. She is the President and founder of Egyptian Business Women Association (EBWA), President of the Business and Professional Women-Egypt ( BPW -Egypt) and African Alliance for Women Empowerment (AFRAWE), Chair of Federation of Business Women Associations of COMESA(FEMCOM), and Chair of Human Resources, Science and Technology Cluster-African Union ECOSOCC ( Economic Social and Cultural Council). She has a passion for women entrepreneurship and empowerment and has participates in various international and regional structures for this cause. Dr. Asfour is a renowned businesswoman, the owner of multi-million dollar medical supplies company in Egypt.
Bilal Ek?i is the Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines Inc. Mr. Ek?i joined Turkish Airlines in 2003 as the Head of Overhaul Workshops. Mr Ek?i carried out the duty of maintenance of aircraft engines, landing gears and all components between 2003 and 2005. In 2005, he has been assigned as the Chief Ground Operations Officer at Turkish Airlines Inc. Having served as the Chief Production Officer at Turkish Technic in 2008 and 2009; and as the General Manager of Cyprus Turkish Airlines as part of the reorganization of Cyprus Turkish Airlines in 2010; and as the Executive Vice President at "Turkish Engine Center (TEC)", established by the Joint Venture of Pratt Whitney, the American Engine manufacturer, and Turkish Technic Inc. between 2010 – 2011; Mr. Ek?i was assigned as the Director General of Civil Aviation in April 2011. During his tenure as the Director General of Civil Aviation, Turkey has been reelected as a member of Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 66 years later its pervious membership and has become one of the 36 members in ICAO’s decision-making platform.
Barbara Keating founded Computer Frontiers, Inc. in 1996 as an international project development and implementation firm dedicated to the applied use of Internet, information communications technology and free market principles to further the business, trade and development goals. She has implemented ICT projects in over 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. In the last decade, Keating founded a family of eight affiliated information communications technology companies in Africa. For the past 19 years, Keating has advised Presidents, Ministers of Communication, Telecommunication Regulators and providers, and U.S. multinational corporations in 36 African and Middle Eastern countries.
Todd Neuman serves as the Executive Vice President for South African Airways in North America. Based at the carrier’s North American Regional Office in Plantation (Fort Lauderdale), Florida, he oversees the commercial operations for South African Airways, including sales, marketing, and corporate communications. Neuman began his career with South African Airways in 2006, as vice president of sales, responsible for passenger sales strategies and business development. An airline industry veteran with more than 30 years’ experience, Neuman has held senior management positions with World Travel Holdings, a leisure travel company based in Burlington, Massachusetts. Prior to his engagement with World Travel Holdings, Neuman served 22 years with US Airways in several management positions in the sales and marketing departments. During his tenure at US Airways, he was instrumental in business development to support the airline’s aggressive expansion into the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. |
