Boeing - Experts & Thought Leaders

The number of women in the civil aviation workforce, especially in leadership positions like CEOs, pilots, air traffic controllers, and aircraft engineers, has been on an ascent, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as the global aviation industry heads toward growth and expansion.  To boost their presence in leadership roles in the US$553.9 billion-value global airlines market, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association representing approximately 275 commercial airlines that account for more than 83 percent of total global air traffic, launched the 25by2025 initiative in 2019 to increase female representation – in senior aviation roles and in areas where women are traditionally underrepresented – by up to a quarter by 2025. ICAO’s global survey The rate of female aircraft care engineers and mechanics rose to three percent worldwide An ICAO’s global survey revealed that the participation of women holding positions as pilots, air traffic controllers, and maintenance technicians has increased on an overall basis to 4.9 percent globally in 2021. The percentage of women pilots in service increased to 4.0 percent globally, with the highest increase observed in the Asia Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean regions. North America scored highest globally with 4.6 percent women pilots, followed by Africa and Europe with 4.1 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively.  The percentage of female aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians rose to three percent worldwide, with increases being seen in all regions except the Middle East and Africa. The number of women air traffic controllers remained stable globally at around 20.6 percent, with increases being observed in the Latin America/Caribbean and Middle East regions. The Latin America/Caribbean region featured the highest percentage of women controllers with 31.8 percent, followed by Europe with 21.4 percent, as per the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).  Report by the Emirates News Agency WIA Middle East Conference and Awards will take place as a co-located event of the 23rd edition Currently, 27,000+ women are employed in the UAE aviation sector, accounting for 42 percent of the total workforce, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency. The Arab region, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has the world’s lowest rate of female labour force participation - 18.4 percent compared to the global average of 48 percent.  To boost the numbers of women in civil aviation in the Middle East region, the Women in Aviation (WIA) Middle East Conference and Awards will take place as a co-located event of the 23rd edition of the Airport Show taking place from May 16 at Sheikh Saeed Hall of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Initiatives of the WIA Association May Ismail, Event Manager at RX Global, the organisers of the Airport Show, said: “We are helping give momentum to the efforts to draw more women into the aviation fold in responsible positions to enhance the pace of growth and add vibrancy to the industry.” Being organised by the Emirates Aviation Association (EAA) and the Women in Aviation (WIA) Middle East Chapter and hosted by Airport Show, the 11th edition of the Conference and Awards is slated to attract not only the region’s most influential women pioneers in the aviation industry but also organisations that collectively support the initiatives of the Women in Aviation (WIA) Association members. Women's advancement into leadership Among the conference sponsors is Boeing. In a statement, Kuljit Ghata-Aura, President of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa and Central Asia, said: “We've seen Boeing’s community outreach programs firsthand, cultivating entrepreneurial skills for women across our region. They drive women's advancement into leadership and nurture future female professionals. These efforts, emphasising crucial entrepreneurial skills like communication, negotiation, and strategic acumen, empower women and promote diversity, innovation, and sustainable progress.” At the WIA Conference, winners will be presented with eight awards At the WIA Conference, winners will be presented with eight awards-Innovative Leader Award in Women in Aviation; Women in Aviation Leadership Award; Most Supportive Company for WAI-Middle East; Most Sustainable Company in Aviation; Best Educational Institution in the Aviation Field Award; Best Training Institution in the Aviation field Award; Most Recognised Women in Aviation Award, and Achiever Award in Women in Aviation. Goals of progress and advancement Yousif Al Hammadi, President of Emirates Aviation Association, said: “We at Emirates Aviation Association are proud to support the Middle East Chapter of Women in Aviation and I wholeheartedly endorse the commitment to equipping aviation professionals with the skills necessary for future success. The mission to foster collaboration and drive impactful industry evolution resonates deeply with our shared goals of progress and advancement. I encourage every one of you to join us for enlightening panel discussions. Together, let's seise the opportunity to inspire, empower, and shape the future of aviation. Your participation is instrumental in forging a path towards enhanced opportunities and success for all.” Mervat Sultan, President and Founder of Woman in Aviation Middle East Chapter, remarked: “At the Middle East Chapter of Women in Aviation, our focus is on equipping all professionals in the aviation industry with the necessary skills to navigate future demands. Our mission is to facilitate collaboration for impactful industry evolution. Through meaningful collaboration, we'll overcome obstacles, forge connections, and foster an environment that embraces diversity and inclusivity. Each member of the aviation community plays a crucial role in shaping the future, and together, we’ll steer towards enhanced opportunities and success for all.” Changing aviation landscape Thirteen of the 15 nations with the lower rates of women participating in the labour force in the MENA With 53 percent of Emirati women employed in the workforce, female workforce participation in the UAE well outpaced the current global average of 47.4 percent. In 2018, compared with the Middle East and North Africa, MENA countries, the UAE had more women pilots, captains, aircraft engineers, mechanics, aircraft maintenance, and air traffic controllers. Thirteen of the 15 countries with the lowest rates of women participating in the labour force were in the MENA. The WIA Conference will debate collaborative efforts between governments, civil companies, and educational institutions; navigating public perception in the Digital Age, the era of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), and adapting to a changing aviation landscape. In addition to Merwat Sultan, the WIA conference will be addressed among others by Kuljit Singh Ghata-Aura, President of Boing Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, Jen Watson, Founder-CEO of Renaissance, an aviation industry HR Advisor and Search Specialist, Eng. Salem Alzaabi, Aircraft Engineer, Etihad Airways, Dr. Maryam Kutait, Lead, Global Accellators and Innovation Programmes at Boeing, and Roula Droubi, Regional Director for Government, Industrial; and Community Engagement at Boeing.  Initiative’s signatories IATA observed that the last decade has brought sweeping redefinition to workplaces across the Middle East. “To a degree not seen before in the history of the region, it is making strides in closing its gender gap, with an increasing number of organisations adding gender diversity to their agenda. Several of these organisations are pioneering gender equity practices and policies in a way that is uniquely reflective of the region’s cultural and societal context.”  With IATA having more than 200 signatories, the change is already taking place in the civil aviation industry. There are more than 1,000 new female pilots at airlines that have signed up for the initiative. The initiative’s signatories counted during the 2021-2022 period over 1,000 new female pilots (25+ percent) in their ranks and 28 percent of women in senior roles. Less than seven percent of board seats are held by women in the Arabian Gulf states as against 20 percent globally.

Under the patronage of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt’s Arab Republic and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Egypt is set to host the 3rd edition of Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX), taking place from 4 to 7 December 2023, at Egypt International Exhibition Centre. The exhibition will showcase the latest military technology, equipment, and systems across land, sea, and air through more than 400 exhibitors from 46 countries.  Event attendees The event will welcome a number of officials and military delegations who have confirmed their attendance to witness the latest defence technology and systems while enabling them to exchange ideas and build invaluable relationships between key players in the industry. EDEX 2023 will include 22 country pavilions from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Korea, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America.  Defence and security event The exhibition provides a unique opportunity for visitors to witness the latest technology Organised by Arabian Word Events (AWE), the pioneering organiser of award-winning international events, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Military Production, and the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation, EDEX is the only defence and security event that covers Africa and the Middle East and the largest in Africa.  The exhibition provides a unique opportunity for visitors to witness the latest technology, equipment, defence systems, and military products in addition to the Egyptian Pavilion where attendees can view the cutting-edge present and future capabilities of the Ministry of Military Production. High-level military delegations from more than 100 countries have been invited, and 35,000 visitors are expected to attend the exhibition over four days.    EDEX EDEX is set to feature an impressive lineup of renowned companies covering all aspects of defence and security, such as land vehicles, air defence, coastal defence, shipbuilders, maintenance and repair, cyber security, missile systems, unmanned and autonomous systems, parachuting and airdrop, satellite communication, search and rescue, surveillance systems, tactical equipment, training and simulation equipment, and much more. Don't miss the chance to explore cutting-edge innovations across these crucial sectors at the event.  Industry sponsors EDEX has secured high-level industry sponsors including a handful of the world's most reputable military equipment manufacturers namely; Amstone, Dassault Aviation, Hanwha, MBDA, ALIT, Lockheed Martin, Naval Group, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Esri, NAS and Leonardo DRS. Over its past editions, the event gained growing momentum with the participation of nearly 400 exhibitors from 42 countries in 2021, a notable increase from 376 exhibitors from 41 countries in 2018. Also, EDEX 2021 saw the attendance of 78 official VIP delegations from 54 countries, and more than 30,000 visitors.

The Security Executive Council proudly welcomes Mark Kelly and Bill King as their two newest Subject Matter Expert Faculty and Dave Komendat as Emeritus Faculty. Mark Kelly Mark Kelly has more than 25 years of experience managing global security programs for major multi-national organisations. His expertise spans the overall suite of physical security programs, but he specialises in supply chain security. He is the former Global Head of Field Security and Supply Chain operations for Dell, the former Senior Director of Field Security for McKesson, and he has held regional loss prevention roles for several retailers.  Work experience He has also managed and mentored large teams spanning the globe and protecting offices Mark has developed end-to-end supply chain integrity and security programmes for manufacturing and logistics operations, including third-party relationships and dependencies. He has also managed and mentored large teams spanning the globe and protecting offices, warehouses, manufacturing, and data centre locations. Mark sits on several advisory boards and has been a repeat guest lecturer at Georgetown University as part of their Master’s programme in Supply Chain. Bill King Bill King boasts more than 40 years of military and contract security experience. Bill spent 27 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as an infantryman, reconnaissance specialist, drill instructor, and Counterintelligence Agent. He has held management positions within the contract security business ranging from Security Officer to Vice President/General Manager. Industry Expert He is skilled in business development, officer training, fire and life safety training, and security programme design He has worked extensively with large multi-facility clients, corporate campuses, and industrial and government facilities, and he is skilled in business development, officer training, fire and life safety training, and security programme design. Bill is active in both professional and civic organisations including ASIS and the Marine Corps Counterintelligence Association. Dave Komendat Dave Komendat retired as the vice president and chief security officer for The Boeing Company, a role he held for 14 of his 36 years in the security profession. Komendat was responsible for the company’s global security and fire protection policy and procedures, site security, executive protection, supply chain and aviation security, structural and aircraft fire protection, government and proprietary information security, classified cyber security, strategic intelligence, international security, business continuity and disaster preparedness, Global Security Operations Center, and security background investigations. Experience and award In 2018, Dave was awarded the Director’s Award for Exceptional Public Service by FBI Director Christopher Wray He represented Boeing as past co-chairman and current board member on the Domestic Security Alliance Council and served as president of the International Security Management Association and a member of the Threats and Information Committee for the Overseas Security Advisory Council. In 2018, Dave was awarded the Director’s Award for Exceptional Public Service by FBI Director Christopher Wray. Subject matter experts The SEC is the only research and advisory firm to exclusively use former corporate security senior pioneers from Fortune 500 companies as the subject matter experts.  The team leverages their experience and knowledge to help other security pioneers excel.