IASS 2025 Theme  |  Culture. Collaboration. Capability: Building the Foundations for the Next Generation of Aviation Safety  

In today’s complex aviation environment, building the foundations for the next generation of safety requires a deep commitment to three interdependent pillars: culture, collaboration, and capability. A strong safety culture ensures that every level of an organization prioritizes risk awareness, transparency, and continuous learning. Collaboration among stakeholders — regulators, operators, manufacturers, and front-line personnel — is essential to share insights and align safety goals. And capability means having not only the right tools and systems but also the knowledge, skills, and adaptability to proactively manage emerging risks. This conference will explore how these three foundational elements work together to drive new standards of performance and ensure aviation continues to set the benchmark for safety excellence.  

Our program is still under development, so be sure to check back for updates often as we prepare for this exciting event!

Agenda

THANKS TO OUR DAY 1 GENERAL SESSION PLATINUM SPONSOR

Tuesday, November 4, 2025
7:00 AM

Pick up all your registration materials here and get answers to all your questions.

Thank you to our badge sponsor:

7:30 AM

Join us for a networking breakfast before the day begins.

Sponsored by:

8:30 AM

Speaker:  Dr. Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation

8:40 AM

Speaker: Gilberto López Meyer, Senior Vice President of Corporate Safety and Security for Aeroméxico

8:45 AM
 
8:55 AM

Global aviation leaders discuss how the next generation of safety performance must be built on a set of core principles. Safety leadership within many stakeholder organizations must be keenly aware of where the challenges lie within their organizations and what plans are being carried out to address those challenges. Forming and shaping the culture in clear and direct ways helps to bring about the changes necessary to become resilient while considering human behaviors, innovation on technical and organizational fronts, and the importance of continuous improvement.  

 

Moderator:  Dr. Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation

Speakers:
Capt. Mark Cameron, Head of Safety, Qantas Airways and Freight 
Sasha Johnson, Vice President, Corporate Safety, United Airlines 
Yannick Malinge, Senior Vice President, Head of Aviation Safety, Airbus 
Capt. Kazu Tachibana, Executive Vice President, Japan Airlines Aviofuture Lab  

10:00 AM

Sponsored by:

10:30 AM

Mental health and well-being pose significant challenges to aviation safety, as pilots and other aviation personnel operate in high-stress environments that demand sustained focus, quick decision-making, and emotional stability. This panel will aim to advance the implementation of mental health and well-being initiatives that have been identified during prior research and discussions. Presenters will provide insight, practical solutions, and measurements that organizations can use to update their policies, establish screening and awareness programs, and foster cultures of support and openness.

Moderator: Bobbi Wells, Vice President, Safety Systems, Efficiency, & Compliance, American Airlines 

Panelists: 
Capt. Dave Fielding, Chair, International Peer Assist Aviation Coalition (IPAAC) 
Guadalupe Cortés Obrero, Manager Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program, ENAIRE 
INVITED: Dr. Punita Masrani, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, V M Medical Centre and Aviation Medicine Specialist & Aviation Medical Examiner 

11:30 AM

“Is the state of the pilot’s mind the new upset prevention safety focus?”  This topic explores the evidence for why a UPRT approach to mental health performance-safety is a proven path ahead. 

Speaker: Capt. Herwin Bongers, International Peer Assist Aviation Coalition (IPAAC) 

12:00 PM

Sponsored by:

1:30 PM

A strong safety culture is the foundation of resilient aviation operations — but how is it built and sustained? This panel will describe the pre-conditions necessary for organizations to advance their safety culture, provide practical strategies for embedding it across organizations, provide a means of measuring progress, and offer tactics for overcoming cultural barriers.
 

Moderator: Capt. Houston Mills, President of Flight Operations, UPS 

Panelists:  
Capt. Haig Anyonyi, Director Corporate Quality, Safety, & Environment, Kenya Airways 
Capt. Mark Burtonwood, Divisional Senior Vice President Group Safety and Network Operations, Emirates Group 
Jason Ragogna, Managing Director of Corporate Safety, Delta Air Lines 

2:30 PM

Speaker: Francesco Gaetani, Flight Standards Director and Chief Pilot, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

3:00 PM

 Sponsored by:

3:30 PM

Aircraft manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing the implementation of effective safety management systems (SMS) as part of a proactive approach to aviation safety. These systems are designed to identify, assess, and mitigate potential safety risks throughout the aircraft design, production, and maintenance lifecycle. Manufacturers are integrating SMS principles into engineering processes, quality control, and supplier oversight, often leveraging data analytics, real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance technologies to enhance decision-making.

Moderator: John Thomson, Senior Technical Advisor specializing in Safety Management, U.K. CAA International 

Panelists: 
Terri Braun-Voutsas, Executive Director of Flight Safety, GE Aerospace 
Christopher Dyer, Product Safety Officer & Vice President Product Safety, Certification & Validation, Pratt & Whitney 
Jon Wandless, Director of Safety & Airworthiness, Rolls-Royce  
Chris McGregor, Flight Safety Officer, ATR 

4:30 PM

Even well-designed procedures can erode over time as informal workarounds and habits take root — often unintentionally. This panel will explore the phenomenon of procedural drift; the risks posed by deviations from standard operating procedures (SOPs); how organizations can detect, understand, and address these shifts before they lead to serious safety consequences; and how recent events are shaping a renewed focus on adherence, clarity, and safety assurance.
 

Moderator: Chris Carter, Director, Asia Pacific Centre for Aviation Safety, Flight Safety Foundation 

 

Panelists: 
Capt. Conor Nolan, Director Safety and Security, Aer Lingus    
Capt. Henry Donohoe, Senior Vice President, Group Head Safety, Security, Quality, ERP & Medical, Air India  
Dr. Kristine Kiernan, Associate Professor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University  

6:30 PM
 
Time Zone: (UTC+01:00) Lisbon [Change Time Zone]

THANKS TO OUR DAY 2 GENERAL SESSION PLATINUM SPONSOR

Wednesday, November 5, 2025
7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Pick up all your registration materials here and get answers to all your questions.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
 
8:30 AM - 8:35 AM
 
8:35 AM - 9:05 AM

Speaker: Luis Rodrigues, Chairman and CEO, TAP Air Portugal 

9:05 AM - 9:55 AM

This panel will explore how underwriters assess safety risk and influence operational safety — leveraging data, SMS maturity, and transparency. This risk evaluation often overlaps with how operators manage operational safety, as both focus on identifying hazards, assessing the probability and severity of outcomes, and implementing mitigation strategies. Both parties are increasingly aligned in promoting proactive safety cultures, investing in risk-reducing technologies, and using data-driven approaches to enhance predictability and reduce uncertainty in flight operations.

Moderator: Eduardo M Dueri, Senior Partner, Safety & Operations Aviation Risk Solutions, and Managing Director, Gallagher Aerospace, Latin America Region 

Panelists: 
Anthony Frankel, Head of General Aviation, UK & Lloyd’s and Global CUO General Aviation AXA XL 
Dan Boultwood, International Head Airline & Deductible, AIG 
Judith Connatty, Fuel and Insurance Director, Air Europa 

9:55 AM - 10:25 AM

Aviation is often visualized as a system that defies prediction. Materially undesired events (MUE) occur regularly and in a seemingly random manner. But our next speaker is here to tell you that there's a method to this madness. There is a difference between chaos and disorder. Chaos follows a pattern, and through a study of the chaos theory, coupled with management of entropy (the scientific concept that allows for the measurement of disorder) and some lessons from evolutionary biology, we can not only avoid an MUE, but predict one. 

Speaker: Capt. Samir Kohli, Founder and CEO, The Erring Human   

10:25 AM - 10:55 AM

 Sponsored by:

10:55 AM - 11:45 AM

Increasingly complex artificial intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential to enable data-driven actions though the integration and implementation of AI present challenges for those who are unprepared. This panel will explore real-world cases from aviation and other safety-critical sectors to demonstrate how AI can be effectively embedded into operational environments. Discussions will highlight how AI can identify meaningful patterns, streamline decision-making, and enhance proactive risk management in real time — often delivering measurable safety and efficiency benefits shortly after deployment.

Moderator: Harrison Wolf, Associate Director, Advanced Aviation Systems, Flight Safety Foundation 

Panelists:  
Alan Sternberg, CEO, Beams Safety AI 
David Schöne, Managing Director, FlightGuardian Aviation Safety GmbH  
Karl Steeves, CEO, TrustFlight  

11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
 
1:15 PM - 1:30 PM
 
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

The time has come to rethink how those of us in aviation learn. For too long, we’ve focused mainly on what goes wrong — but what about everything that goes right? This session will shift your perspective. It’s about expanding our safety mindset to include learning from everyday operations, not just the rare failures. The biggest opportunities for improvement are often hidden in plain sight — in normal flights, routine shifts, and daily decisions. Learning From All Operations isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a practical, proven, and necessary step forward for aviation safety. You’ll leave this session with concrete, real-world knowledge that you can start applying right away.

Moderator: Capt. Nicholas Peterson, American Airlines 

Panelists:  
Jesús Romero Hernández, Safety and Security Manager, ENAIRE (Spain) 
Capt. Nikhil Mathen, IndiGo Airlines  
Hideaki Miyachi and Toshiya Yuasa, Japan Airlines  

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

The aviation industry faces significant challenges in training the next generation of front-line staff, including pilots, air traffic controllers, and maintenance personnel, amid a rapidly evolving technological and operational landscape. Additionally, the industry must adapt training programs to incorporate new technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced aircraft systems, while still emphasizing foundational skills like decision-making, communication, and situational awareness. This panel examines how to overcome these challenges as the industry invests in innovative training methods, including virtual reality simulators, competency-based training, and partnerships with educational institutions, to build a skilled and resilient workforce for the future.

Moderator: Graham Braithwaite, Director, Aerospace and Aviation, Cranfield University  

Panelists: 
Richard J. Kennedy, Head of Learning Science & Human Performance, CAE - Civil Aviation Training  
Dr. Bilal Kilic, Airline Captain and Type Rating Instructor, Turkish Airlines   
François Caruel, Technical Audit and Airworthiness Management Director, Safran Aircraft Engines 

3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

 Sponsored by:

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

The growing global demand for airspace — driven by both traditional operations and an expanding array of new aircraft and mission types — necessitates a fundamental transformation in air traffic management (ATM). Future ATM systems must accommodate this surge while preserving the high levels of safety that currently exist and enabling seamless integration of crewed and uncrewed aircraft. This panel will explore how future ATM systems can harness (AI), support dynamic airspace management, and facilitate effective collaboration between human operators and highly automated systems to safely manage the complexity of tomorrow’s operations.

Moderator: Michelle Merkle, Director, Air Navigation Bureau, ICAO 

Panelists:  
INVITED: Akbar Sultan, Director, Airspace Operations and Safety Program, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 
INVITED: James Bell, Innovation Strategist, Civil Aviation Authority U.K. 
Michelle Bishop, Director, Programs, CANSO 
Virginio Corrieri, Director of Safety and Flight Operations, Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) 

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
 
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
 
Time Zone: (UTC+01:00) Lisbon [Change Time Zone]
Thursday, November 6, 2025
7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Pick up all your registration materials here and get answers to all your questions.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
 
8:30 AM - 8:35 AM

Speaker: Mark Millam, Director, Technical Programs and Events, Flight Safety Foundation 

8:35 AM - 9:05 AM
 
9:05 AM - 10:05 AM

As aviation operations grow increasingly complex — with the integration of advanced technologies, expanded global networks, and emerging sectors like uncrewed aerial systems and urban air mobility — SMS must continue to mature to remain effective. Modern SMS must evolve into dynamic, data-driven frameworks capable of anticipating and mitigating risks in real time. This maturation involves deeper integration of predictive analytics, cross-sector collaboration, and a strong safety culture that encourages transparency and continuous learning. This panel will discuss meeting these challenges while being scalable and adaptable to support diverse stakeholders and keep the public trust.

Moderator: Manoosh Valipour, Safety Management Panel (SMP) Secretary, Air Navigation Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organization 

Panelists:  
Steve Hough, Managing Principal Consultant, Baines Simmons  
Hector Hidalgo Medellin, LGQS Managing Director/LAT Senior Manger Quality, Safety and Compliance, Lufthansa Group Quality Services (LGQS)/Lufthansa Aviation Training Group (LAT)  
Capt. Mary Ann Schaffer, Managing Director of Aviation Safety, United Airlines 

10:05 AM - 10:35 AM

 Sponsored by:

10:35 AM - 11:35 AM

Integrating the new breed of emerging and advanced aerial vehicles (AAV) — including drones and eVOTL — into airspace around the world presents a range of complex challenges that span technological, regulatory, infrastructural, and societal domains. These include the development of a robust and harmonized regulatory framework, infrastructure development, public acceptance, and trust in frameworks that support the safe and efficient rollout of these operations on a global scale.

Moderator: David Hansell, Global Regulatory Professional, Irish Aviation Authority 

Panelists:  
Matt McCardle, Head of Global Infrastructure, Expansion, and Regulatory, Amazon Prime Air 
Billy Nolen, Chief Regulatory Officer, Archer Aviation 
INVITED: Ben Ivers, Autonomous Systems Global Safety and Regulatory Affairs, Boeing 

11:35 AM - 12:05 PM

Triggered by the statement in Flight Safety Foundation’s 2024 Safety Report that miscommunication was a common thread in a number of recent incidents, this presentation proposes a systematic methodology to assess communication and language issues within the investigative process and help identify miscommunication of various kinds. Such a structured approach to considering communication and language as a human factor in aviation supports industry understanding of this area and contributes to the development of actionable recommendations, ultimately reducing the risk of future accidents and strengthening aviation safety. 

 

Speakers:  
Dr. Markus Bieswanger, Professor and Researcher, University of Bayreuth, Germany 
Elizabeth Mathews, Associate Professor, Aviation Safety Program, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 
Dr. Flavio Antonio Coimbra Mendonca, Associate Professor and Researcher, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 

12:05 PM - 1:35 PM
 
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM

State safety programs (SSPs), implemented by aviation regulators, must continually mature to remain effective in managing the evolving landscape of aviation safety. The evolution of these programs must evolve as the complexity of air traffic systems increases and new technology is introduced in all types of flight vehicles. This panel will discuss how ongoing investment in regulatory expertise, technology, and stakeholder engagement will be key to ensuring that SSPs can anticipate change, adapt policy, and maintain high levels of safety in an increasingly dynamic global aviation environment.

Moderator: Alan Foo, Deputy Director-General, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore 

Panelists: 
Paule Avomo Assoumou Koki, Director General, Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA)  
Giancarlo Bouno, Group Director Safety and Airspace Regulation, U.K. CAA 
Gérson Costa, Safety Promotion and Continuous Improvement Coordinator, Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency ANAC  

2:35 PM - 3:05 PM

This presentation focuses on how TAP Air Portugal manages turbulence throughout the entire flight cycle. This process begins with flight planning and dispatch, continues with in-flight turbulence management, and concludes with post-flight data analysis. 

We’ll provide an overview of each stage, highlighting the key procedures and strategies involved in effectively handling turbulence. Additionally, we’ll present a study we conducted using flight data to illustrate our approach and its impact. 


Speakers:  
Catarina Moitinho, Safety Data Integration Engineer, TAP Air Portugal  
Capt. Luís Xavier, Flight Safety Officer, TAP Air Portugal 

3:05 PM - 3:35 PM

 Sponsored by:

3:35 PM - 4:35 PM

As global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) have become critical to aviation operations, threats such as spoofing and jamming have grown in frequency, scale, and sophistication — posing serious risks to flight safety and operational continuity. From commercial airliners losing positional integrity near conflict zones to business aircraft receiving false navigation cues in high-risk regions, these disruptions are no longer isolated or theoretical. This panel will examine real-world incidents, assess the implications for global aviation safety, and explore current and emerging mitigation strategies. Experts will discuss technological countermeasures, operational best practices, and the role of collaboration among industry, regulators, and defense communities in building a more resilient navigation infrastructure.

4:35 PM - 5:00 PM

Attendees will help provide consensus on the summit’s most critical themes — such as strengthening safety cultures, advancing data sharing, or improving training — that help unify efforts and foster industrywide alignment. This summary will help ensure that all stakeholders leave with a shared understanding of priorities and a roadmap for follow-up actions. 

 

Speaker: Mark Millam, Director, Technical Programs and Events, Flight Safety Foundation 

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

Speaker:  Dr. Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation

Time Zone: (UTC+01:00) Lisbon [Change Time Zone]