James Hogan, President & CEO of Etihad Airways (photo), Marillyn Hewson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin, and Tony Douglas, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company, will be the opening speakers at Abu Dhabi’s second Global Aerospace Summit.
The invitation-only strategic forum for senior international industry leaders in aviation, aerospace, defence and space is hosted by Mubadala Development Company and organised by Streamline Marketing Group.
The Summit will run from 7-8 April 2014 at the St. Regis Hotel, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi and is expected to attract 1,000 C-level executives from across the world, making it one of the most important industry forums in 2014.
Mr. Hogan will speak on the Summit’s opening panel, on how partnerships and collaboration offer a new and effective route for the industries to deliver improved returns. Etihad Airways has introduced a unique new strategy in aviation, in which its industry-leading organic growth has been boosted further still by minority equity investment in airlines in key markets around the world.
“This will be one of the most significant gatherings of aviation and aerospace senior executives anywhere in the world this year,” said Mr Hogan. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to share with them the Etihad Airways story on partnership and collaboration.”
Badr Al-Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Strata Manufacturing PJSC (Strata), the composite aerostructures manufacturing facility owned by Mubadala, and a member of the Summit Advisory Board, said this second Summit would build on a highly successful first event.
“Abu Dhabi is progressing towards becoming a truly international hub for the aerospace, defence and space sectors. This is reflected by the fact that at 2014’s Summit, we are expecting a greater representation from emerging markets and we will drive industry-shaping initiatives that will make a difference globally. The Summit will give us a chance to share some of our learning with emerging and mature markets, as well as hearing from world-leading companies on their best practice,” he said.
Laila Ali bin Hareb Al Muhairi Assistant Director General - Strategy & International Affairs UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said: “Over the next few months, we will be announcing speakers and participants across the full program covered by the Summit. They will represent leading businesses and organisations from all the key sectors, as well as from other industries that can offer lessons for our areas.”
The themes covered by the Summit will include Workforce and Industrialisation together with dedicated, sector-specific strategy seminars including, Defence Industry Closed Door Briefings, an Abu Dhabi Suppliers Forum and a Military, Satellite and Communications session. It will bring industry experts together to answer the challenges faced by the sector and shape future growth strategies.
Leaders from companies in both established and emerging markets will share their experiences of supporting industrialisation, improving supply chain standards and creating value-added jobs for highly skilled individuals.
The Summit will also see an initiative designed to inspire the next generation of industry leadership, with the launch of the ‘Global Aerospace Ambassadors’ programme. This programme is designed to support education professionals in the delivery of a successful curriculum in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It aims both to inspire students and to provide parents with sufficient information to guide informed educational choices.
The inaugural Summit in 2012 attracted more than 900 C-suite executives from 52 countries. The 2014 event will also include delegates from emerging markets such as Russia, China, India, Eastern Europe and South America.
