Highlights / Key Themes
- My Geneva Forum – New this year, you will be able to view an on-line version of the delegate list, upload your profile and make contact with other parties before the event
- Economic Outlook – this year we bring you – Doug McWilliams, CEO, Centre for Economics & Business Research
Imagine a world where a plane could fly around the world using solar energy – hear about this and more from Bertrand Piccard, Record Breaking Round The World Balloonist and Initiator, The Solar Impulse
Meet The Airline/Lender Speed Networking – meet up to 20 airlines or lenders in 20 minutes
Back by massive popular demand – Gordon Bethune, Former CEO & Chairman, Continental Airlines
The Forecasts – hear from experts such as Chris Tarry, Rigas Doganis, Julian Lee, Brian Pearce, Adam Pilarski and others on their forecasts for the future of aviation
- Update On Deliveries From The Manufacturers – the downturn has obviously
- Get hands-on advice & ideas on How Best To Prepare Now For Recovery at our pre-conference workshop led by MBA
Brand new for 2010 we are introducing My Geneva Forum. This is an on-line networking tool whereby:
· you can load your profile for other participants to view
· you can access the delegate list and view the provided profiles, thus gaining a better understanding of which other participants may be of interest to you
· you can make contact with other registered delegates - enabling you to set up meetings before the event and thus maximise your time at the conference.
The system will go live 2 weeks before the event and all registered (and fully) paid delegates and speakers will be sent their login detail
The aviation industry is influenced more than most by both the world economy and oil prices so it is critical that you have the best information and analysis of these markets. The outlook for the global economy in the next 12 months and the longer term will be analysed by leading economist, Doug McWilliams, who, through CEBR, has been at the forefront of research and has pioneered a number of innovative forecasting techniques for combining economic information with business data. Doug has advised clients across the widest range of businesses including airlines and airports, banks and other financial institutions.
The Outlook For Oil Prices will be covered by Julian Lee Senior Energy Analyst, CENTRE FOR GLOBAL ENERGY STUDIES. Julian specialises in global oil market analysis and writes for the CGES on a wide range of subjects including the political and economic problems faced by major oil producers in the Middle East, OPEC issues, the demand for aviation fuel and the impact of technological advances on the costs of finding and producing oil. Julian is also responsible for the CGES' publication, ‘Oil Market Prospects' and regularly contributes research-based articles and the oil market review and forecast section for the ‘Global Oil Report'.
In 1999, after 21 attempts, Bertrand Piccard finally set the record for the first non-stop circumnavigation of the earth in a balloon - thus also captaining the longest flight in terms of duration and distance in the history of aviation. Then, in 2003 he launched the Solar Impulse project whose object is to fly round the world in a solar aircraft, without fuel or polluting emissions - it aims to have an airplane take off and fly autonomously, day and night, propelled uniquely by solar energy, right round the world without fuel or pollution. Testing of the aircraft began in 2009 with the flight planned for 2011.
In order to facilitate the meeting of airlines with lenders, we will be holding an Airline/Lender Speed Networking Session during the coffee break on Day 2. Each airline will be placed at a different table and each lender will be able to spend 1 minute with each airline - you will be able to swap business cards and briefly explain your interests before moving onto the next airline. Then after the session, delegates may choose to revert to some they have met for a longer chat. This is a quick and highly efficient way of enabling you to quickly meet with up to 20 of your counterparts in other organisations.
Last year, we introduced Gordon Bethune at The Geneva Forum and he was ranked as the best speaker at the Forum, for his insights and views. This year, we have invited him back to comment on what has transpired in the airline industry in the last year and to explain what he would be doing, if he were running an airline in these challenging times. As many of you will already know, Gordon earned worldwide acclaim at Continental Airlines for spearheading one of the most dramatic corporate turnarounds in United States history.
His sterling success in rescuing the financially troubled carrier from a seemingly irreversible tailspin, has made him a legend in commercial aviation. Continental went on to thrive under his leadership, winning more awards for customer satisfaction from J.D. Power and Associates than any other airline and Fortune magazine named Continental among the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America for six consecutive years. Mr. Bethune previously held senior management positions with the Boeing Company, Piedmont Airlines, Western Airlines, Inc. and Braniff Airlines.
· The Academic, Aviation Consultant, Academic, Author - Rigas Doganis Non-Executive Director, EASYJET & HYDERABAD INT'L, Visiting Professor, CRANFIELD COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS and Consultant, RIGAS DOGANIS & ASSOCIATES - this former CEO at Olympic Airways whose major restructuring programme produced Olympics's first profit in 18 years has one of the most global and varied experience in the aviation sector and will be putting his views on the aviation outlook on the line.
· The Valuation & Aviation Forecaster - Dr. Pilarski, SVP, AVITAS oversees the company's valuation and consulting services. However, much of his life is spent on his responsibility supporting customers with studies including traffic forecasts, economic forecasts, statistical analyses, strategic planning and airline industry, so his expert and analytical views are always of great interest and relevance.
· The Aviation Economist - Brian Pearce, Chief Economist, IATA - as a former senior economist with both UBS Warburg and Ernst & Young, and now Chief Economist at IATA, Brian has a unique view on the outlook for the economy and the implications for the aviation sector. Hear his views on when the recovery in the aviation sector will really set in and what this means for traffic and aircraft deliveries
· The Oil Expert - Julian Lee, Senior Energy Analyst, CENTRE FOR GLOBAL ENERGY STUDIES - with his focus on oil prices and also the world economy, will be able to give you his expert insights into the outlook for oil price
The downturn has obviously had a very significant impact on deliveries. Hear from both Boeing and Airbus what they are seeing in terms of deliveries with respect to the airlines and whether they are seeing any signs of confidence or recovery yet.
If you attend our pre-conference workshop on Charting The Road To Recovery In Aviation, you will run through practical strategies with workshop leaders and aviation consultants, MBA, who will be joined by Superjet Int’l, 5 Lakes Consulting, Altair Aero Projects, Swicorp Private Equity, Swiss Aviation Group and ESolutions
|
Bertrand Piccard
Record Breaking Round The World Balloonist and Initiator
The Solar Impulse
In 1999, after 21 attempts, Bertrand Piccard finally set the record for the first non-stop circumnavigation of the earth in a balloon - thus also captaining the longest flight in terms of duration and distance in the history of aviation. Then, in 2003 he launched the Solar Impulse project whose object is to fly round the world in a solar aircraft, without fuel or polluting emissions - testing of the aircraft began in 2009 with the flight planned for 2011. |
|
Gordon Bethune
Former CEO
Continental Airlines
Gordon earned worldwide acclaim at Continental Airlines for spearheading one of the most dramatic corporate turnarounds in United States history. His sterling success in rescuing the financially troubled carrier from a seemingly irreversible tailspin, has made him a legend in commercial aviation.. Rated the best speaker at last year's event, he is back by popular demand, with his views on airlines' current strategies for meeting the challenges being faced in these tough markets. |
|
Doug McWilliams
CEO
Centre for Economics and Business Research
The CEBR provides analysis and forecasts advice to companies of all sizes, and public bodies. They work with clients across a wide range of businesses including airlines and airports, banks and other financial institutions. Since 1992, the CEBR has been at the forefront of research, pioneering some innovative forecasting techniques for combining economic information with business data. Douglas has advised many organisations, including Siemens, Vodafone, Mercedes, Canary Wharf Group. |
|
Norman Liu
President & CEO
GECAS
Having previously worked for GE Capital and Kidder Peabody, Norman Liu joined GECAS in 1995 and assumed his current position in 1996. He was named a Corporate Vice President of GE Capital in 1992 and was appointed a Corporate Vice President of GE in 2002. He is also on the Board of Global Infrastructure Partners, a joint venture between GE Infrastructure and Credit Suisse. |
|
Marc Verspyk
Senior Vice President, Finance
Air France
Marc started his career in Air Inter as planning manager and later as ground handling manager. He headed the corporate finance department of Air France until 2005, in charge of long term financing of Air France, closing numerous deals (secured financings, syndicated loans, securitization, convertible bond,). He was in charge of the subsidiaries and investments between 2005 and 2007, controlling their financial performance, the investments and seating at various boards. |
|
Dr. Adam Pilarski
SVP
Avitas Aviation
After 17 year as an economist with Douglas Aircraft Company, Dr. Pilarski joined AVITAS to oversee AVITAS's valuation and consulting services. He is also responsible for supporting customers with studies including traffic forecasts, economic forecasts, statistical analyses, strategic planning and airline industry issues. His last position at Douglas Aircraft Company was Chief Economist and Director of Strategic Planning. |
|
Prof. Rigas Doganis
Non-Executive Director
Easyjet & Hyderabad International
Consulting to numerous airlines, airports, banks and governments, Doganis is also a Non-Executive Director of Hyderabad Airport and of easyJet Plc. He was also previously a non-executive director of South African Airways and headed Air Transport at Cranfield University. Serving as Chairman and CEO at Olympic Airways in Athens from February 1995 to April 1996 he successfully conducted major restructuring which produced Olympic's first profit in 18 years. |
|
David Arendt
Executive VP & CFO
CARGOLUX
David is a Member of the Executive Committee, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Administration of Cargolux, the all-cargo airline based in Luxembourg. He joined Cargolux in October 1998 as Senior Vice-President, Finance and Administration, heading a division of 80 people, and member of the Executive Committee. Prior to Cargolux, David was a Member of the Management of Banque Generale du Luxembourg (now Fortis Banque Luxembourg) in Luxembourg from 1994 to 1998. |
|
Brian Pearce
Chief Economist
IATA
An economist with over 20 years of international experience in several industries, Brian was formerly Head of Global Economic Research at UBS Warburg and Chief Economist at Ernst & Young. Prior to joining IATA, Brian was Director of Forum for the Future's Centre for Sustainable Investment, where he was extensively involved in the UK Air Transport White Paper consultation and wider discussions on environmental policy related to aviation. |
|
Julian Lee
Senior Energy Analyst
Centre For Global Energy Studies
Julian specialises in global oil market analysis. He also writes for the CGES on a wide range of subjects including the political and economic problems faced by major oil producers in the Middle East, OPEC issues, the demand for aviation fuel and the impact of technological advances on the costs of finding and producing oil. Julian is also responsible for the CGES' publication, ‘Oil Market Prospects' |
