Tao Ma has been appointed the Representative of China on the Council of ICAO. Mr. Ma’s tenure commenced on 1 September 2006.He was Chairman of Technical Co-operation Committee of ICAO in 2007. A graduate of the University of Civil Aviation of China, Mr. Ma holds a master’s degree in aviation safety management. Following graduation in 1983, he joined the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), initially at a post in the Flight Training Division concerned mainly with flight operations and licensing standards. He was promoted in 1995 to Director of the Flight Standards Liaison Division, where he was responsible for building relations with other countries with respect to flight standards and air safety matters. Mr. Ma was promoted in 1998 to Assistant Director General, and in 2002 to Deputy Director General, of the Department of Flight Standards. In the latter post, where he served until his appointment to the ICAO Council, he provided overall national policy direction for the development of flight standards, specifically for general aviation, pilot training and licensing, and aeronautical medicine. Mr. Ma has completed various training courses outside China, including courses in flight operations inspection and executive development in Europe, and acquired his private pilot licence in Australia. He currently holds a commercial pilot’s licence issued by the CAAC. Mr. Ma has been involved in a number of international programmes. He served as Acting Chairman of an innovative safety initiative known as the Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme — North Asia (COSCAP-NA). He was also Co-Chairman of an aviation cooperation programme involving China and the United States, and served as a member of the ICAO Proficiency Requirements in Common English Study Group.