ACE 2024 Air Charter Expo

Kevin has 30 years’ experience in the charter industry. His career started with Monarch Airlines, working in a variety of roles in the company’s commercial division. After 11 years Kevin made the jump from Monarch Airlines into charter broking as a commercial aircraft junior broker for the then Air London (now Air Partner) where he held several roles before entering the management side of the business, promoted to the company’s Operating Board as Director of Middle East & Asia based in Dubai. After leaving Air Partner Kevin returned to the UK in 2012 and set up his own aviation consultancy and management services company where he has provided strategic growth and managerial support as well as commercial, operational, and training know-how. Returning to Air Partner in 2021 Kevin now holds the position of Head of Aircraft Leasing, Operations and Compliance for the Air Partner Group. Kevin was elected as Chairman of The Air Charter Association in March 2020.

An aviation and logistics consultant with over 35 years of commercial transportation experience, Alex held leadership positions with DHL and National Airlines before joining Texel Air.

Alex assists Texel with sustainable airline growth by facilitating relationships with transportation providers such as integrators, freight forwarders and brokers. Texel offer tailored logistics services for specialised requirements as well as ACMI or charter movements of cargo and personnel. Texel’s laser focus on on-time performance and positive customer experience sees continued expansion of core services in parallel with development of bespoke services in response to customer demand.

As Commercial Manager of UK airline Eastern Airways, Andy Barlow is responsible for the airline’s adhoc charter business. With an aviation career spanning over 30 years, including experience in passenger handling and airline station management roles, and a passion for aviation, Andy has led the growth of Eastern Airways’ passenger charter business for over 25 years. Eastern Airways is an IOSA certified airline operating a fleet of 29 to 76 seat jet and turboprop airliners with a portfolio of scheduled service, ACMI and ad-hoc charter operations and is a long-standing member of The ACA. 

 

 

 

Donough Hughes currently serves as COO for Le Bas International.

Founded in 1990 Le Bas International is a leading provider of air charter services worldwide, relied upon by incentive houses, premier travel agencies, governments, corporations, sports teams and celebrities.

Lisa Thompson (previously Crew so you could say Lisa was destined to be in aviation) looks after the fabulous Executive Broker Team at Hunt and Palmer. 

Lisa joined Hunt and Palmer 18 months ago, switching her Operator Hat for her Broker Hat, after over 20 years working with various Private Jet Operators. Having started her aviation career in her early 20’s, Lisa truly caught the aviation bug. Her love of aviation and offering excellence, saw her progress through the ranks, being involved in exciting new starts ups, developing, running and expanding airlines, but most importantly this has given Lisa full understanding of the high standards and services required from both brokers and operators, to truly offer the best service.

Matthieu Dardenne is an aviation enthusiast with extensive experience in sales, training, and marketing within the automotive and aviation industries. Raised in a family of aviators, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Take Air in 2014 and later join a Belgian operator as a charter executive. Since 2021, Matthieu has served as Director of Sales at FLYINGGROUP, managing a team across seven international offices. FLYINGGROUP operates a fleet of 55 aircraft under three AOCs and specializes in charters, aircraft management, and fractional ownership. Outside of work, Matthieu enjoys rugby, mountain climbing, hiking, and traveling with his family.

Ekaterina Andreeva has over 12 years of experience in the air cargo industry, including operational, sales, and leadership roles at Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

She currently works as Head of Business Development at Chapman Freeborn Airchartering, where she oversees growth initiatives and works to expand the company's presence by building strong relationships with customers and partners.

Ekaterina has also held several voluntary roles, serving on the Advisory Board at Breakbulk Europe and currently at The Air Charter Association’s NextGen Group. She is based in London, UK.

Edward joined Air Charter Service (ACS) in 2022, initially focusing on UK-based event helicopter charters. His role has since expanded to encompass global events and ad-hoc charters, as well as involvement in special projects within the oil and gas sector. Throughout his tenure, Edward has played a pivotal role in overseeing significant team expansion, which has been instrumental in driving the growth and success of ACS's helicopter division. His leadership and strategic vision have enabled ACS to broaden its service offerings and enhance its market presence, ensuring the company remains a leader in the air charter industry.

Declan Lehane - Rotary Charter Sales & Ground Operations Manager at Castle Air Helicopters

Heading up the ground operations and charter department at one of the UK’s largest on shore rotary operators - in post as the Form Four position holder for the last ten years, adding to over 18 years’ experience in the aviation industry.

Through a diverse role his involvement within Castle Air ranges from organising bespoke solutions to UHNW customers both individual and corporate through to tailoring Management contracts, increasing the Rotary Ownership within the company’s fleet and ensuring Castle Air’s compliance with regulatory bodies.

Glenn has over 18 years of experience in aircraft charter, leasing and management.  His career in aviation started when he joined ACC Aviation in 2004 and he was instrumental in helping the company grow and become one of the top 5 global aircraft brokerages. He has worked on a wide variety of leasing and air charter projects all around the world, from becoming a successful ACMI leasing broker he then led the diversification of ACC Aviation into the adhoc and corporate charter markets. Glenn built a wealth of knowledge across all areas of the aviation business, from his hands-on commercial brokering experience to being part of the management team who carried out an equity backed MBO of the company. Prior to his aviation career, Glenn gained a BA Honours degree from the University of London in History and Geography and held roles in a major utilities provider and a retail company. Having joined The Air Charter Association in 2008, Glenn has been a supporter of the important role the association has in the future of the industry and was elected to the Board in 2017. He has chaired the Training and Events Committee, played a key role in creating of the Broker Qualification course and was elected as Deputy Chair in 2020 prior to taking on his current role as Chief Executive in 2021.

Nancy has more than 15 years of experience as a strategist in voluntary markets for sustainability, implementing then-new but now commonplace concepts such as offsets and carbon accounting. Nancy specializes in areas such as business aviation, building corporate portfolios and launching consumer carbon emissions offset programs. During her time as a senior manager at carbon offset provider TerraPass and as a consultant to such organizations as the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, The Good Traveler and the Rocky Mountain Institute, Nancy built one of the nation’s first offset providers and developed innovative, first-of-their-kind programs in corporate aviation, shipping and commercial travel. Nancy also serves on the advisory board of Climate Neutral and Pips Rewards. Her passion for aviation and its sustainable future brings a unique understanding for a robust roadmap for climate success for the private aviation community.

Pedro Aguiar has worked for Embraer SA for 20 years and currently is a Customer Support Manager in Europe for Executive Jets, where he also plays the role of Sustainability Ambassador for the Services and Support unit.

Pedro has a keen interest in aviation sustainability and is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge for Sustainability Leadership. He is supporting the development of Embraer’s Sustainability strategy and also keen to help customers better navigate the challenges of the Net Zero transition.

Nicola-Jane Sellers is Luxaviation's Group Sustainability Manager, responsible for integrating environmental awareness into core business practices and mobilsing Luxaviation’s sustainability strategy across its global operations.

Joining Luxaviation in 2017, Nicola-Jane initially specialised in multidisciplinary and international charter programmes for a diverse fleet of business jets and helicopters before dedicating her career to aviation sustainability. An alumna of The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Nicola-Jane has focussed her work on promoting sustainable aviation fuel, carbon offsetting, and applying environmental psychology principles to support long-term sustainability in business aviation.

Nicola-Jane serves as Chair of The Air Charter Association’s Next Generation Group and is a member of the Association’s Sustainability and Innovation working group. Recognised for her commitment to raising awareness of environmental sustainability, Nicola-Jane was awarded the prestigious Sir Michael Marshall Award for Sustainability in Aviation in 2022, becoming the first female recipient.

Jenny Kavanagh joined Cranfield Aerospace Solutions in 2017 as Head of Airborne Systems, moving to the role of Chief Strategy Officer in 2020 following the successful launch of Project Fresson, the conversion of a 9-seat Britten Norman Islander aircraft to gaseous hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.

Jenny has been a Chartered Engineer for 22 years, has led product development projects in aerospace for the past 19 years and is now responsible for the strategic exploitation of Cranfield Aerospace’s hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain technology. A mother of two, she is passionate about the aviation industry’s ambition to decarbonise and to help create a cleaner world for future generations.

Adam holds a group role looking at investments in future flight technologies for OneSky, part of the Directional Aviation group of companies that includes Flexjet, Sirio, Sentient, FXAIR & PrivateFly (which he founded with his wife Carol; acquired by the group in 2018). This includes consideration of eVTOLs, electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft and the associated infrastructure.

After a career as an RAF pilot, Adam entered the world of private aviation, originally with NetJets, then in partnership with London City Airport, winning the contract to expand private aviation operations at RAF Northolt.

He remains a passionate aviator and a well-known industry advocate for aviation innovation and sustainability. Adam extends an open invitation to ACE attendees to fly with him on an electric Pipistrel Electra out of Fairoaks...just get in touch!  

TBC

Jessica started her aviation career in 2016 at Avinode Group as a Product Specialist. She has progressed within the company, joining the account managing team in 2018 and worked her way up to a Senior Account Manager. Prior to Avinode Group, she studied in Georgia, USA on a golf scholarship and graduated with a Master of Business Administration.

Her main day-to-day responsibilities include developing and executing account portfolio plans to maximize client retention, contract upgrades, and the sales of new products and services. In addition, mentoring Account Managers and new team members, by providing advice on sales and customer success strategies and tactics.

Jessica became a part of The Air Charter Association's NextGen Group in April 2024. She hopes to inspire the next generation to pursue their dreams in the exciting, fast-paced world of business aviation.

Kat Kucharewicz is an experienced education professional with a robust background in further and higher education management. She has over a decade of customer service experience within aviation sector. Currently, Kat is a Section Manager and Higher Education Programme Leader at Uxbridge College, where she oversees curriculum development, employer engagement and student success on further and higher education programmes. She is passionate about travel and tourism, aviation, and continues improvement and innovation in teaching practices. In her free time, Kat enjoys hiking, reading and basketball.

 

William Finden’s recruitment career began in 2007, and he has dedicated his last 17 years to the aviation & aerospace sectors. William is an advisor of choice on all matters related to recruitment and he has collaborated with hundreds of organisations, delivering thousands of searches at all levels in his career from LAE’s to CEO’s. William is the founder of Oaklands Global, a leading UK based specialist recruitment and executive search business servicing the international aviation & aerospace markets.

Greg Charman is Air Partner’s Talent Business Partner and also takes the lead for the companies’ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda.  Greg moved from a senior management role in the public sector to join Air Partner 3 years ago and has enjoyed helping to shape and deliver a number of key projects including the current charter growth programme.  Greg is passionate about providing opportunities for younger people who want to develop roles within the aviation sector and Air Partner has created a range of initiatives including; work experience opportunities, work internships, apprenticeships,  a training academy and offering longer term t-level placements.

 

Kevin has 30 years’ experience in the charter industry. His career started with Monarch Airlines, working in a variety of roles in the company’s commercial division. After 11 years Kevin made the jump from Monarch Airlines into charter broking as a commercial aircraft junior broker for the then Air London (now Air Partner) where he held several roles before entering the management side of the business, promoted to the company’s Operating Board as Director of Middle East & Asia based in Dubai. After leaving Air Partner Kevin returned to the UK in 2012 and set up his own aviation consultancy and management services company where he has provided strategic growth and managerial support as well as commercial, operational, and training know-how. Returning to Air Partner in 2021 Kevin now holds the position of Head of Aircraft Leasing, Operations and Compliance for the Air Partner Group. Kevin was elected as Chairman of The Air Charter Association in March 2020.

Aoife is a partner of The Air Law Firm, a boutique law firm based in The City of London and Shannon, Ireland specialising in aviation law.  Aoife advises clients on transactions in business and commercial aviation, military aircraft and civil aerospace.  She is internationally renowned for her work in aircraft finance and speaks regularly at conferences and industry events.

Aoife is an active member of the aviation industry. She is also Chair of the British Business and General Aviation Association, lobbying with local and international Governments and Associations on behalf of the industry.  She is named as a leading practitioner/Band 1/Top Recommended lawyer in all independent and international publications and guides such as Chambers, Euromoney, Legal 500, Spears 500, Best Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal. Aoife is regularly invited to speak at international aviation conferences and events.  She writes for and has been quoted in all major leading publications including the Financial Times, BART, Fly Corporate, Airfinance Journal and Altitudes.

Marc heads award-winning aviation, travel and mobility PR and digital marketing consultancy 8020 Communications. The firm has been a leader in general aviation communications for almost 20 years, with client experience including Textron Aviation, London Biggin Hill Airport, Jetcraft, Luxaviation, Avinode, Rolls-Royce and The Air Charter Association. The 8020 Communications team advises clients on all aspects of reputation management, including messaging, issues management, crisis management, sustainability, media relations, social media and digital advertising. Prior to founding the company, Marc worked in London, Dubai and Bahrain for international PR consultancies Burson-Marsteller, Finsbury and Hill & Knowlton. He was also corporate communications manager for then FTSE 100 company Spirent plc.

Richard Koe is one of the founders of WINGX, which he developed over the last decade with his business partner Christoph Kohler, establishing WINGX as an industry-leading provider of market intelligence on the business and general aviation sector. WINGX serves hundreds of subscribers from across the industry with dashboards which relate data, analytics and insights on aircraft utilisation. In 2023, WINGX was purchased by JETNET LLC and is now a key component in the group’s build-out of ownership, valuation, equipment and flight data to the wider aviation market. Prior to WINGX, Richard worked in a variety of industries including telecom, oil & gas and security printing. Richard has a BA from Oxford and an MA from Johns Hopkins universities.

 

David has spent most of his career in aviation, joining the Royal Navy in 1984 before training as an Air Traffic Control officer in the Royal Air Force. A varied military career provided David with expertise including airfield operations, regulatory compliance, risk management and leadership. In his final years with the RAF, he built a strong reputation in leadership development. After leaving in 2006, he held senior roles at Birmingham Airport, becoming COO in 2014.

In 2019, David was appointed CEO of London Biggin Hill Airport. Successfully steering the company through Brexit and COVID, he has cemented the Airport as London’s pre-eminent full-service business aviation airport and a leading centre for Aviation Technology and Enterprise.

David is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Association and lists his main interests as military history, cricket and skiing.”