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AviaDev 2025 agenda

Wednesday 11 June

08:00 - 09:00

Registration and Refreshments

09:00 - 09:10

Welcome Remarks

Jon Howell

CEO and Founder
AviaDev

09:10 - 09:40

If you build it, they will come: Engaging stakeholders to improve air connectivity

Tim Harris

Partner
Helm Growth Advisors

09:40 - 10:00

Zanzibar's tourism and connectivity objectives

Arif Abbas Manji

Executive Secretary
Zanzibar Commission for Tourism

10:00 - 10:30

Pitch Perfect: How to approach airlines with a winning business case

Tim Harris

Partner
Helm Growth Advisors

10:30 - 11:30

The power of partnership: How airports, destinations and airlines collaborate to grow connectivity

Moderated by:

Francis Doku

CEO
Maestro Africa Group

In conversation with:

Keira Langford-Johnson

Business Development Director
Proflight Zambia

Minosoa Tatamo Rakotozafy

Head of Aeronautical Activities
Ravinala Airports

Abeiku Santana

Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Ghana Tourism Authority

11:30 - 12:30

Moving the needle: Driving policy change to improve air access

Moderated by:

Natalia Rosa

Tourism Project Lead
SADC Business Council

In conversation with:

Hafsa H. Mbamba

Tourism Delivery Manager
Zanzibar Presidential Delivery Bureau (ZPDB)

Rashid Toefy

Deputy Director General for Economic Development and Tourism
Western Cape Government

12:30 - 12:45

Day One Wrap Up

Jon Howell

CEO and Founder
AviaDev

12:45 - 14:00

Networking Lunch

16:30 - 17:30

Stone Town Tour

Join a walking tour around Stone Town

17:30 - 20:30

Welcome Reception

Networking Reception at The Beach House, Stone Town

Thursday 12 June

08:00 - 09:00

Registration and Refreshments

08:45 - 09:00

Welcome to AviaDev 2025

Jon Howell

CEO and Founder
AviaDev

09:00 - 09:30

Welcome to Zanzibar

09:30 - 10:00

Macro Economic Keynote

Daniel Silke

Political Economy Analyst & Futurist 
Political Futures Consultancy

10:00 - 11:00

Flightpath to growth: Rethinking ownership, market access and unlocking capital for African airlines

Moderated by:

Hilka Birns

Aviation Journalist
ch-aviation

In conversation with

Munawer Dhirani

CEO
Flightlink

Julian Edmunds

Group Strategy & Development Director
Fastjet

Mesfin Tasew

Group Chief Executive Officer
Ethiopian Airlines

Peter Ulanga

Managing Director & CEO
Air Tanzania

11:00 - 11:20

Regional connectivity opportunities presented by Embraer

Theo Wensink

Head of Marketing – MEA, Senior Director Airline Marketing
Embraer Commercial Aviation

11:20 - 12:05

AI: Friend or foe? Can AI revolutionise commercial performance in African aviation?

Moderated by:

Refilwe Ledwaba

Pilot, Founder, and Instructional Designer
.

In conversation with:

Hassan Aurag

Brand Ambassador
Hitit

Martin Gitonga

General Manager Digital, Brand and Marketing
Kenya Airways

Bharat Kumar

Senior Vice President - Airline Passenger Solutions Practice
Revenue Technology Services (RTS)

Judy Waruiru

Regional Managing Director
Network International

12:05 - 12:15

Complex Flight Plan: Navigating connectivity amid conflict and risk

Tatenda Karuwa

Account Executive
Solus Insurance Brokers

12:15 - 12:55

Beyond the headwinds: Navigating rising costs, finance hurdles and supply chain challenges for African airlines

Moderated by:

Tristan Brouard

AVP - Asset Management
ACC Aviation

In conversation with:

Abderahmane Berthe

Secretary General
African Airlines Association (AFRAA)

Miguel Carneiro

Chief Commercial Officer
TAAG – Angola Airlines

Linas Dovydenas

President – IMEA (India, Middle East, Africa)
Chapman Freeborn Global Aircraft Charter Specialist

Raphael Haddad

President
Jetcraft Commercial Limited

Richard Jacobs

Chief Commercial Officer
TrueNoord

12:55 - 13:00

Day Two Wrap Up

Jon Howell

CEO and Founder
AviaDev

13:00 - 14:00

Networking Lunch

14:00 - 18:00

One-to-One Route Development Meetings

18:00 - 22:00

Gala Reception

At Sea Cliff Resort & Spa

Friday 13 June

07:00 - 08:00

AviaDev Morning Run around Stone Town

08:00 - 09:00

Morning Refreshments and Networking

09:00 - 09:30

The future of travel

09:30 - 10:15

Sweating the assets: Maximising efficiency in airline network planning

Moderated by:

Sean Mendis

Director
SeanMendis.com

In conversation with:

Rupert Kraus

Network & Partnerships
EW Discover GmbH

Keira Langford-Johnson

Business Development Director
Proflight Zambia

Karanja Ndegwa

Managing Director & CEO
Jambojet

Adedayo Olawuyi

Chief Commercial Officer
Uganda Airlines

Tebogo Tsimane

Interim Chief Commercial Officer
South African Airways (SAA)

10:15 - 10:40

Exploring the horizons: Unserved air routes to, from and within Africa

Geert Lemaire

Market Intelligence and Consulting Director
Airbus

10:40 - 10:50

Charity Presentation: Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)

Dr. Mahmoud Abdulwahab Alawi

Principal
Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)

10:50 - 11:00

Introducing the CareStore by Rolls-Royce

Jason Sutcliffe

Marketing Director – Middle East, Africa & Central Asia
Rolls Royce

11:00 - 11:45

Maximising non-aeronautical revenue: Balancing revenue growth, efficiency and customer service experience in Africa's airports

Moderated by:

Jody Appollis

Aviation Project Manager & Business Development Lead Sub-Saharan Africa
NACO Airport Consultants

In conversation with:

Namory Camara

Managing Director
SOGEAC

Murat Gun

Managing Director
ELR UAE and Travel Retail

Seif Juma

Director General
Zanzibar Airports Authority

Oliver Mathwich

COO - Global Airport Operations
Dnata

Dr Bao Rasebolai Mosinyi

Chief Executive Officer
Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana

11:45 - 12:00

The commercial benefits of preparing for the worst. Steps you can take to attain more favourable positioning in the insurance market

Michael Jonga

Director Africa
AI12

Denis Kulikov

Deputy CEO
AI12

12:00 - 12:10

Handover Ceremony 2026

12:10 - 12:30

Future Leaders

Moderated by:

Mahek Shah

Private Pilot and Licensed Drone Pilot
AviaDev Ambassador

AviaDev Ambassadors:

Is-Haka Harith Salim

AviaDev Ambassador

Marilyn John

AviaDev Ambassador

12:30 - 12:55

Ato Girma Wake Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding contribution to route development in Africa

Girma Wake

Industry Expert
AviaDev Patron

Joao Jorge

former Director General
LAM Mozambique

12:55 - 13:00

Closing Remarks

Jon Howell

CEO and Founder
AviaDev

13:00 - 14:00

Networking Lunch

14:00 - 18:00

One-to-One Route Development Meetings