10-12 June 2026
Gaborone International Conference Centre, Botswana
AviaDev 2026 agenda
Wednesday 10 June
08:00 - 09:00
Registration and Refreshments
09:00 - 09:10
Welcome to the Finance and Leasing Forum
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
09:10 - 09:40
State of the industry. An overview of the African Aviation Finance & Leasing Market in 2026
Tristan Brouard
AVP - Asset Management
ACC Aviation
09:40 - 10:25
PANEL: Financing African Aviation to 2030. Who's providing the capital and on what terms?
In conversation with:
Jacob Bakst
Managing Director, Transportation Division
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM BANK)
Abderahmane Berthe
Secretary General
African Airlines Association (AFRAA)
Raphael Haddad
President
Jetcraft Commercial Limited
Thato Matsha
Head: Aviation Finance - Africa
Investec
10:25 - 11:00
THE DEAL ROOM: How Airlink structured its Embraer E195-E2 acquisition
Moderated by:
Sean Mendis
Director
SeanMendis.com
In conversation with:
Scott Boardman
VP- Marketing
Azorra
Katherine Whelan
Chief Commercial Officer
Airlink
Adam Young
Regional VP Sales – Southern Africa
Embraer Commercial Aviation
11:00 - 11:45
PANEL: How Risk can be Managed, Restructured and Repriced in African Aviation
Moderated by:
Tatenda Karuwa
Account Executive
Solus Insurance Brokers
In conversation with:
Basil Gygax
Sales Director Africa
TrueNoord
Dikko Nwachukwu
Chief Executive Officer
Andara Systems
Diana Nyambura
Chief Executive Officer
Skyward Airlines
11:45 - 12:00
The Role of Data in Fleet Planning
Adeel Siddiqi
Head of Middle East and Africa
Cirium
12:00 - 12:50
PANEL: How to structure fleet strategies for growth. Matching fleet, routes and balance sheets
Moderated by:
Patrick Baudis
Co-Founder
Airline Factory
In conversation with:
Joep Ellers
Airline Marketing Director for Africa
Airbus
Vincent Eva
Senior Manager: Aircraft Fleet Management
FlySafair
Sohail Mahmood
Chief Operating Officer
Africa World Airlines
Hellen Mwariri Mathuka
Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer
Kenya Airways
Jason Sutcliffe
Marketing Director – Middle East, Africa & Central Asia
Rolls Royce
12:50 - 13:00
Day One Recap
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
13:00 - 14:00
Networking Lunch
14:00 - 17:00
AviaDev Outreach Programme (invited students only)
17:30 - 20:30
Opening Welcome Reception at GICC
Thursday 11 June
08:00 - 08:45
Registration and Refreshments
08:45 - 09:00
Welcome to AviaDev 2026
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome to Botswana
Capt Thuto Toise
Chief Executive Officer
Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana
09:30 - 10:00
Macro Economic Keynote Address
Daniel Silke
Political Economy Analyst & Futurist
Political Futures Consultancy
10:00 - 11:00
C-SUITE PANEL: Route Development in 2026 and beyond. What's driving the decisions and how can we catalyse growth?
Moderated by:
Hilka Birns
Aviation Journalist
ch-aviation
In conversation with:
Miguel Carneiro
Chief Commercial Officer / Chief Transformation Officer
TAAG – Angola Airlines
de Villiers Engelbrecht
Chief Executive Officer
Airlink
Kirsten King
Group CEO
fastjet
Dr Bao Rasebolai Mosinyi
General Manager
Air Botswana
11:00 - 11:25
Exploring the horizons: Unserved air routes to, from and within Africa
Geert Lemaire
Market Intelligence and Consulting Director
Airbus
11:25 - 12:05
PANEL: How Are Airlines and Airports Unlocking New Revenue and Cutting Costs?
Moderated by:
Candy Kasonkomona
Regional Vice President Southern, Eastern & Central West Africa
Hahn Air
In conversation with:
Hassan Aurag
Brand Ambassador
Hitit
Patrick van der Knoop
Global VP Airline Sales
Nuvei
12:05 - 12:15
Africa's evolving jet fuel supply landscape. The impact of government involvement in procurement
Momodou Bah
Director of Supply - Africa
AEG Fuels
12:15 - 12:55
PANEL: Unlocking Africa’s Most Promising International Markets
Moderated by:
Sean Mendis
Director
SeanMendis.com
In conversation with:
Liezl Gericke
Head of International
Virgin Atlantic
Marco Goetz
Chief Commercial Officer
Discover Airlines
Ariana McKnire
Director of Airline Business Development
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Jonathan Pollard
Chief Commercial Officer
London Gatwick
Daté Dovéné Tevi-Benissan
Commercial Director
ASKY
12:55 - 13:00
Day Two Recap
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
13:00 - 14:00
Networking Lunch
14:00 - 18:00
One-to-One Meetings
18:00 - 22:00
Gala Reception - Sponsored by Puma Energy
Enjoy a fun and relaxing evening at the Phakalane Golf Estate
Friday 12 June
07:00 - 08:00
AviaDev Morning Run
08:45 - 09:00
Welcome back
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
09:00 - 09:30
The Evolution of Connectivity
09:30 - 10:15
PANEL: Turning Tourism Demand into Air Service Opportunity
Moderated by:
Natalia Rosa
Tourism Project Lead
Southern Africa Tourism Alliance
In conversation with:
Rupert Kraus
Network & Partnerships
Discover Airlines
Keira Langford-Johnson
Business Development Director
Proflight Zambia
Minosoa Tatamo Rakotozafy
Head of Aeronautical Activities
Ravinala Airports
10:15 - 10:40
PANEL: Connecting Africa: Unlocking Intra-regional Connectivity Potential
Theo Wensink
Head of Marketing – MEA, Senior Director Airline Marketing
Embraer Commercial Aviation
10:40 - 10:45
Outreach Partner Presentation: Dare to Dream
Capt. Kgomotso Phatsima
Founder and President
Dare to Dream
10:50 - 11:00
Airport Project Showcase
11:00 - 11:40
PANEL: From Runways to Real Estate: Airport Investment Opportunity
Moderated by:
Nelly Alandou
Senior Aviation Consultant, Strategy and Planning
NACO Airport Consultants
In conversation with:
Hilton Carty
Founder and MD
Aperture Properties
Sanjeev Gadhia
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Astral Aviation
Mpolaheng Mohlopi
Chief Financial Officer
Lanseria International Airport
Keletsositse Olebile
Chief Executive Officer
Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC)
11:40 - 12:00
The big debate - Open Skies
Edmund Makona
SAATM Ambassador for the Southern region
AFCAC
Namhla Tshetu
Executive Manager at Corporate Services
Airlink
12:00 - 12:10
Handover Ceremony: AviaDev 2027
12:10 - 12:30
Future Leaders: In a rapidly evolving aviation landscape, why should aviation organizations prioritise employing the next generation?
Moderated by:
Ellah Wafula
Founder
Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance - Kenya Chapter
Ambassadors
Passionate Lebeko
AviaDev Ambassador
Rethabile Molatedi
AviaDev Ambassador
12:30 - 13:00
Presentation of the Ato Girma Wake Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding contribution to route development in Africa
Moderated by:
Girma Wake
Industry Expert
AviaDev Patron
In conversation with:
Aaron Munetsi
Chief Executive Officer
Airlines Association of Southern Africa
13:00 - 13:05
Closing Remarks
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
13:05 - 14:00
Networking Lunch
14:00 - 17:30
One to one meetings