2024 Speakers

See Willie Walsh's bio and photos

H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri was appointed Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and member of the UAE Cabinet in July 2020.

He is the Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE International Investors Council, the CSR UAE Fund’s Board of Trustees, and the Head of the Circular Economy Policy Committee within the UAE Circular Economy Council. He also chairs several government committees including the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, the National Civil Aviation Security and Facilitation Committee, the Economic Integration Committee, and the Emirates Tourism Council.

Prior to his appointment, Al Marri held various senior government positions. He was the Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet since 2017, during which he was instrumental in strengthening the interdependence between the federal and local governments. In this role, he also spearheaded many initiatives aimed at measuring public opinion and acceptability of public policies, and he developed critical partnerships with international organizations such as the World Economic Forum.

Minister Al Marri formerly served as the Chairman of the Securities and Commodities Authority and the Director General of the Executive Office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He was part of the leading team behind the launch of “Area 2071,” the nucleus of the future envisioned in the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. He also took part in the unveiling of the Hatta Economic Zone development project and the relaunching of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development.
In addition, as former CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, Al Marri played a vital role in the successful launch of Dubai 10X, the Emirate’s bid to become the city of the future, and other initiatives at the local and national levels.

Minister Al Marri is a member of the Boards of Directors of various federal entities. In these roles, he actively supports the development of priority sectors in the country such as the Golden Visa initiative, which seeks to attract talented individuals from across the world.

Minister Al Marri holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Moreover, he is a graduate of the UAE Government Leaders Programme and Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development.

Amrita Sen is the Founder and Director of Research at Energy Aspects, a global research house that advises over 500 companies globally on energy markets and geopolitics. Amrita leads Energy Aspects’ forecasts and analysis of crude and oil products markets, and she also delivers expertise in natural gas and energy transition analytics.

Amrita’s deep understanding of the complex relationships within the global energy sector, her wealth of industry contacts, and over 15 years of market experience enable her to have a unique perspective on international energy markets. She advises central bankers, OPEC+ oil ministers with close relations to the GCC, and CEOs of oil companies around the world.

She holds a PhD from the University of London, an MPhil in Economics from Cambridge University, and a BSc in Economics from the University of Warwick. She was formerly Chief Oil Analyst for Barclays Capital and is frequently featured in leading media outlets.

She has served as a research fellow at both the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies and the Atlantic Council and is currently a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Amrita is regarded as a leading authority on oil markets and is a sought-after speaker for top industry conferences.

Andrew Parker was appointed Chief Sustainability Officer in August 2021 to drive the Group’s sustainability and ESG (environment, social and governance) strategy and commitments.

This includes the Group’s 2050 net zero emission plan – one of the first of any airline worldwide and our program for waste and plastic eradication.

He also manages the integration of ESG into all aspects of the business. Prior to this role, Andrew was Group Executive – Government, Industry, International and Sustainability from 2013 to August 2021, having led the Group’s Sustainability efforts since 2017.

Before Qantas, Andrew was Senior Vice President – Public, International, Industry, Environment Affairs at Emirates, based in Dubai and was a key architect in the Qantas Emirates alliance that launched in 2013.

Andrew previously worked in public affairs, government and journalism. He is the Chair of the Australia Day Council of NSW, and a Director of Street Side Medics.

When global leaders are facing crisis or excited to unlock opportunity, they turn to Anita Mendiratta. Respected as an executive advisor, author, diplomat, and on-air personality in Tourism, Development, and Leadership, Anita leads Anita Mendiratta & Associates.

With professional foundations with IBM, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company, Anita possesses over three decades of experience across over 100 countries and is admired for having an innate ability to feel the ‘heartbeat’ behind the economic, social, political, and environmental dynamics of nations. Anita holds particular expertise in providing government tourism entities, airlines, airports, hotels, attractions and bid committees with a strategic compass for internal alignment and external impact. Since 2020, Anita has been guiding leaders and educators in sustainable recovery of Travel, Tourism and Aviation in a post-COVID world.

Recognised as one of the ‘Top 25 Inspirational Executives in Travel/Hospitality’, her latest book The Call To Leadership: Unlocking The Leader Within In Times Of Crisis was released worldwide in November 2023. Receiving praise from across government, business, and academic circles worldwide along with nomination for numerous international book awards including The Financial Times Book of the Year 2024 and Best Business Book Award 2024, the book reveals the true essence of leadership in times of extreme challenge. Beyond technical aspects, it goes deep into the hearts and minds of global decision makers. Through exclusive interviews, C-suite leaders in business and government share never-before-heard perspectives on leading through one of the most challenging times in modern history – the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are remarkable, emotionally raw, and rigorous as a study of exceptional leadership, revealing how we can understand, control, and navigate our own ability to face a crisis - personal or professional - emerging safer and stronger. Importantly, one-third of all proceeds of the sales of the book will be donated directly to the Anita Mendiratta Foundation www.anitamendirattafoundation.org - her UK registered charity which restores early childhood education in tourism- based economies and communities around the globe that are recovering from crisis.

Other honours include:

• Special Advisor to the Secretary General, UN Tourism (formerly UNWTO)
• Strategic Advisor - CNN International
• Executive in Residence - University of Surrey, UK
• Visiting Professor- Cranfield University, UK

Anna Stewart is a CNN correspondent based in the network’s London bureau, covering topics relating to international business, technology and politics.

She reports daily on the latest global economic and financial news for CNN’s flagship shows and is the presenter of tech show Decoded, deciphering the latest in cutting-edge technology, from around the world, and from within the metaverse too.

Stewart also hosts CNN’s European business show Marketplace Europe, a monthly programme that showcases business innovation and technology, with interviews from some of the biggest names in business.

Stewart is a regular attendee and speaker on the international conference circuit, including at CES, Mobile World Congress, Viva Tech, Web Summit, GITEX, World Air Transport Summit, Watches and Wonders, and the World Government Summit.

She has interviewed a breadth of guests including Prime Ministers, royalty, and the leaders of the world’s biggest businesses, from airlines and carmakers to tech companies like Google DeepMind and OpenAI.

1PointFive is a global leader in carbon dioxide removal (CDR), providing scalable, affordable solutions to geological net zero.  1PointFive is leading the commercialization of Carbon Engineering’s ground-breaking technology that captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, providing two complementary solutions to help the aviation industry to reach true net zero: carbon dioxide removal and sustainable aviation fuel. 

Ms. Stukas is a professional engineer with over two decades experience bridging the gap between technology and business to overcome barriers to cleantech commercialization. She currently leads a variety of 1PointFive’s partnering and business development efforts, with a focus on the aviation ecosystem, and previously led Carbon Engineering initiatives ranging from strategic projects to government programs.

Ms. Stukas previously worked with Angstrom Power and BIC developing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, where her responsibilities spanned IP and licensing strategy, product safety, and international regulatory development, including at the United Nations and International Civil Aviation Organization.

Ms. Stukas currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, and of Science World; her work has been recognized by the Minerva Foundation’s Women In™ Energy Award for Philanthropy and Business in Vancouver’s Forty Under 40 Award.is annual technology predictions.

Cristina is currently the VP of Sustainability and Product for LATAM Cargo. She is responsible for all the functions related to Sustainability, Product Development, Customer Experience, global relationship with Strategic Accounts and Brand Strategy of the cargo business of LATAM Airlines Group.

She has 12 years of experience in the air cargo industry. During this time, she has led different business areas related to Commercial Strategy, Marketing and Global Accounts. During the pandemic, she successfully led the Project Hope, which was the operation set up for bringing the COVID vaccines to South America.

She holds a Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) in Business Administration from ICADE University of Navarra (Spain) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from IESE Business School (Spain). Before joining LATAM and prior to her MBA, she worked in the banking and real estate sectors in positions related to strategy and business development.

Mr Dane Cheng has been Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) since 2019, leading the organisation to sustain Hong Kong as one of the world’s leading destinations for both business and leisure travellers.

Mr Cheng leads the organisation’s strategic direction in response to global developments and emerging tourism trends and promotes Hong Kong to visitors worldwide. He works closely with key partners and stakeholders to maximise the contribution of tourism to Hong Kong’s economy.

Mr Cheng had more than three decades of marketing and management experience, including senior managerial positions at the tourism and commercial sectors. He served in regional and directorial roles in Cathay Pacific Airways – Hong Kong’s flagship carrier – where he was responsible for overseeing regional marketing strategies and worldwide passenger businesses. Before joining the HKTB, Mr Cheng was an executive director of Hang Lung Properties, taking charge of the company’s service delivery, including property services and digital transformation.

Donald Emmanuel Payen is a senior airline and tourism professional. He joined Air Mauritius in 1979 and spent most of his career with the national airline. He has held several Management positions in Cargo, Commercial, Communications, Customer Experience and Operations from 1988 and served the Company in Mauritius (Airport and Head Office), Reunion, Singapore and France.

He was appointed member of the Leadership Team in 1999, initially at Director level (Executive) and at Executive Vice President level in 2007. Donald Payen retired from Air Mauritius at the end of July 2020 and joined the Ministry of Tourism as Senior Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism at the beginning of August 2020. He was appointed Chairperson of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority since April 2023.

Donald Payen is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute FCMI (UK), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute Logistics of Transport FCILT (UK), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing FCIM (UK), a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society Fraes (UK), an Honorary Fellow of the Aeronautical Society of Mauritius FAeSM, and a Fellow of the Mauritius Institute of Directors FMIoD.

He was made a Knight of the Order of Merit “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite” by the French Government in 2016. The British Empire Medal (BEM) was conferred on him by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll in 2021. And finally, he was awarded the “Médaille de l’aéronautique” by the French Government in 2022.

Gabriela Hiitola is a seasoned aviation executive with a distinguished career spanning over two decades, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Finnair Cargo. With a wealth of experience and expertise in various leadership roles, Gabriela has played a pivotal role in shaping and optimizing the operations of Finnair.

Gabriela holds a Master of Engineering degree in Air Transportation from Zilinska Universita in Czechoslovakia and an eMBA in Management from Tampere University of Applied Sciences in Finland.

Starting her journey at Finnair in 1998 as part of the Cargo Development Team, Gabriela quickly rose through the ranks, demonstrating her exceptional leadership capabilities. Over the years, she has held key positions within the Operations Department, including Vice President of Operations Control Center (OCC), Vice President of Ground Operations, Head of Resource Planning, Head of Flight Planning, and Head of Crew Planning & Control.

In her role as SVP of Finnair Cargo, Gabriela oversees the strategic direction and operational efficiency of Finnair's cargo division, driving growth and ensuring seamless logistics solutions for customers worldwide. Her tenure as VP of Operations Control Center saw her spearheading the safe and punctual operation of Finnair's network, leveraging her strong leadership and expertise in disruption management.

Prior to her OCC role, Gabriela served as VP of Ground Operations, where she led Finnair's ground operations across its global network, ensuring safety, efficiency, and reliability. As Head of Resource Planning and Flight Planning, she optimized resourcing, improved planning systems, and implemented cost-effective strategies to enhance operational performance.

Throughout her career, Gabriela has been recognized for her dedication to excellence, strategic vision, and commitment to driving results. Her extensive experience, coupled with her passion for aviation, has solidified her reputation as a respected leader in the industry.

Julia Simpson is President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council.  She spent 14 years in the aviation sector on the Board of British Airways and Iberia and as Chief of Staff at International Airlines Group.

Before joining British Airways, Julia was senior adviser to the UK Prime Minister. She has held a number of key positions in the UK government and public sector, including Director at the Home Office and Department for Education and Employment; Assistant Chief Executive at the London Borough of Camden; and head of communications at the Communication Workers Union.

Julia is currently on the Board of the London Chamber of Commerce. Julia believes in the power of travel to transform lives, grow economies, and protect the planet and its people.

Appointed SVP & Chief Management Officer in 2024, Kersti Krepp is responsible for leading the all-cargo carrier’s business with oversight of the senior management team and commercial leadership team, as well as the company’s strategic communications. Ms. Krepp has been with Polar Air Cargo for more than 20 years, and an air cargo executive for nearly three decades.

Prior to her role as Chief Management Officer, Ms. Krepp served as Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for Polar’s end-to-end commercial strategy encompassing sales, customer service, marketing, and account management.

Ms. Krepp joined Polar in 2002 in Hong Kong, focused on sales and customer relationships. She took on increasing responsibilities as she drove Polar’s expansion across the APAC region. She served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing for the APAC region prior to her appointment as SVP and Chief Commercial Officer.

Ms. Krepp began her career in aviation with Evergreen in the U.S. and relocated to Hong Kong to serve as Senior Vice President, Asia, where she was responsible for opening and running Asia commercial operations for that carrier. She also co-founded and was Chief Operating Officer of V-Logic, an international logistics and supply chain management provider.

A graduate of the University of Western Ontario in Canada, Ms. Krepp earned a Master of Business Administration from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology/Kellogg School of Management joint degree program.

Kim joined IATA in 2020 and is responsible for driving IATA’s data strategy, technology operations and cybersecurity activities.

Kim came to IATA from the Standard Bank Group of South Africa (SBSA) where she was the Head of Data and Technology for Global Markets and Transactional Products and Services.

She began her career in 2002 with a focus on executing strategic IT initiatives around data and digitization in the financial sector. In addition to SBSA, this included earlier roles at Investec Bank (South Africa) and Standard Advisory (UK).

Additionally, Kim worked with Ellerines Holding Limited (EHL) to enhance a credit platform for microlending opportunities through furniture retailing.

Kim has an Honours degree in Business Commerce from the University of Johannesburg as well as further post graduate studies in Data and Digitization.

Lars Kroeplin is the Senior Director for Corporate Responsibility Strategy at Lufthansa Group with a special focus on the customer centric transformation of Lufthansa Group towards the future of more sustainable flying.

Current focal points of his work include the development of sustainable product offerings for the travelling public, especially by giving access to CO2 reduction with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

Also, he leads a program to combine financial soundness with the ambitious sustainability targets of the Lufthansa Group. In addition, he coordinates all efforts for voluntary carbon offsetting in the Lufthansa Group, in particular the expansion of technical removals to the portfolio.

Lars joined Corporate Responsibility in May 2021 building a new team that drives sustainability with the customer in mind. He is with Lufthansa Group since 1991 and has worked in various commercial and strategic leadership positions also at Lufthansa Cargo, Euro wings and on international assignments.

Lee Beck is CATF’s Senior Director in Europe and the Middle East, leading CATF’s climate strategy to advance a broad portfolio of solutions in both regions. She is also responsible for advancing CATF’s efforts on the global climate policy stage through CATF’s presence at COP28 in the UAE and at COP27 in Egypt. Having worked on climate and clean energy and lived in the U.S. and Europe, Lee is an expert on transatlantic partnerships and international affairs, and is passionate about advancing and strengthening the transatlantic relationship to achieve climate goals.

Before stepping into her current role, Lee was CATF’s Global Director for carbon capture, leading the team’s expansion in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, and helping launch CATF’s overall European efforts. Under her leadership, the carbon capture team played an integral role in advancing cutting-edge carbon management policies globally. The team helped secure $12 billion in funding for carbon capture, removal, and storage in the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as well as make improvements to the 45Q tax credit in the Inflation Reduction Act. The team also put forward the vision for a European Strategy for Carbon Capture and Storage.

Lee came to CATF from the Global CCS Institute, where she served as a Senior Advisor leading the Institute’s advocacy efforts in North America, and was part of a global team focused on advocacy and policy. Previously, Lee worked for the Vermont Energy Investment Cooperation, and at Eni USA in their Washington DC International Relations Office, focusing on international affairs and government relations. She also worked for the EU Delegation to the U.S. as a trainee on transportation, energy, and environmental policy issues. Before working in the
energy field, Lee was a journalist reporting for multiple outlets reporting from Germany, Italy, Tanzania and Hong Kong.

She has a Master of Arts in International Affairs & Economics with majors in Energy, Resources & Environment and Political Economy from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). A German citizen, she speaks German, French, and Italian. She is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center.

Louise Tricoire is Senior Vice-President of the Aviation & Marine Fuels Division, at global multi-energy company, TotalEnergies. She oversees TotalEnergies’ dedicated business entities in charge of worldwide aviation and bunkering fuel activities.

In a 20-year career within TotalEnergies, she has built a highly successful track record across a number of key positions, including senior roles in Commercial Development, Strategy & Ventures and Head of Businesses, in the fields of LNG, fuel marketing and other downstream activities.

She has lived and worked in numerous geographies including France, the Americas & Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Singapore and India. With a passion for driving sustainability within the energy sector, she has been active since 2019 in reducing the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of TotalEnergies’ assets, which is at the heart of TotalEnergies’ strategy.

She first created the CO2 Fighters Squad to make the best of Low Carbon Businesses developed in TotalEnergies’ Gas, Renewable and Power (GRP) Branch, towards the decarbonization of TotalEnergies ’assets.

In 2021, she was appointed Vice-President Customer Line CO2 in the newly created OneTech Branch of TotalEnergies, to build on all the Company’s consolidated technical expertise to accelerate the development and implementation of the best solutions to decarbonize TotalEnergies’ sites, as well as to scale up the technical team dedicated to TotalEnergies’ Carbon Capture & Storage development.

With her appointment as Vice-President of TotalEnergies Marine Fuels in 2022, she took on the pivotal role of leading the entity’s efforts to provide low- and zero-carbon marine fuel solutions, aligning with the global maritime industry’s decarbonization goals.

Now, as Head of the newly established Aviation & Marine Fuels Division, Louise is spearheading TotalEnergies’ commitment to support customers across the aviation and maritime industries with sustainable fuel solutions.

Louise started her career in 1997 as a consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers. She is a graduate of Centrale Paris’ engineering school in France.

See Marie's bio and photos

Eng. Maryam Al-Balooshi is the first Arab expert in the field of Aviation Environment started in 2006, to become the founder of Aviation Environment in UAE and the region. One of the first expert in the world seconded to the Department of Environment in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO-UN) in 2010. UAE Official member in the Committee of Aviation Environment Protection (CAEP-ICAO) since 2016 and became the Vice Chair of the CAEP in 2023. Regional Chair and founder of Aviation Environment committee for Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) in 2010.

State Lead Negotiator for Aviation Climate Change and State COP member since 2010. Environment Manager at the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of United Arab Emirates since 2010.

Maryam is an Author launched up to date 7 books. A Columnist A Calligraphist, In 2020,selected by Van Cleef and Arpels for the first time ever in their history to introduce a calligraphy artwork based on the region’s values marrying their values as well introducing “The flowers of Values” artwork. In 2021 Collaborated with BMW in creating a story artwork to present the limited edition of X7 for UAE 50 Anniversary.

Joined the company in 1998. Previously responsible for the Renewables Platform 2019–2022 and for the Oil Products business area 2014–2019.

Has also served as Executive Vice President of the Oil Products and Renewables business area 2011–2014, Executive Vice President of the Oil Products business area 2009–2010, Vice President of the Base Oils business in the Specialty Products Division 2007–2009, Vice President of Oil Refining Business Development in 2007 and Gasoline Exports and Trading Manager 2004–2007 in the Oil Refining Division. Member of the National Emergency Supply Council 2018.

Mihir is a visionary in the automation space and co-founder of Automation Anywhere. He pioneered the technology that empowers customers worldwide to automate business processes with intelligent software bots – generative AI-powered digital workers that perform repetitive and manual tasks, resulting in dramatic productivity gains, optimized customer experience and more engaged employees.

His vision for intelligent automation power by cloud-native technology has defined a new category in automation. Under his leadership, Automation Anywhere has become a global leader and continues to create groundbreaking technologies to accelerate digital transformation for some of the world’s largest organizations.

Prior to founding the company, Mihir held leadership roles in Internet, e-commerce and wireless markets at the forefront of innovation. An avid hiker, Mihir climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2023.

Nick Allan has been the Chief Executive Officer of Control Risks since January 2019. Previously, he was CEO for the Europe and Africa Region, and before that led the Asia Pacific region for a number of years.

Nick sits on the Board and Executive Committee. Throughout his career at Control Risks, Nick has advised clients on some of their most complex strategic challenges, helping them to understand the totality of their risk profiles. From directing a global cyber security transformation exercise at a leading international insurance firm, to advising a mining investor on its worldwide expansion, Nick has focused on finding solutions and opportunities that are dynamic and pragmatic. He has a particular interest in the role of business in conflict areas.

Before becoming CEO, Nick was central to the creation of Control Risks’ cyber security business and driving the company’s expansion in Africa and Europe. Nick is invited to speak at events across the world. Recent engagements include ExCred International, the International Court of Justice Conference and Africa Real Estate Investors. He has featured in international media including the BBC, CNBC and Bloomberg.

Before Control Risks, most of Nick’s career was spent with De La Rue. He studied Politics at the University of Bristol and has an MBA from Imperial College Management School, University of London.
Nick speaks fluent Spanish and conversational Portuguese.

Paul Griffiths serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Airports, overseeing the strategic direction and operational excellence of Dubai International (DXB) – renowned as the world's busiest airport for international passengers – and Dubai World Central (DWC).

Assuming the role of Dubai Airports' inaugural CEO in October 2007, Paul has been a driving force behind a series of successive milestones in the organization's history. Notably, he played a crucial role in the seamless launch of Terminal 3 at DXB on October 14, one year after joining. On June 27, 2010, he successfully inaugurated Dubai's second airport, DWC. Further contributing to Dubai's aviation legacy, Paul spearheaded the opening of Concourse A on January 2, 2013, the world's first purpose-built A380 facility, followed by Concourse D on February 24, 2016. Under his guidance, the passenger terminal at DWC commenced operations on October 27, 2013.

Marking a historic moment on December 20, 2018, Paul, alongside Dubai Airports’ Chairman, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, welcomed DXB’s billionth passenger.

In the face of the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis, Paul's adept leadership enabled DXB to emerge as a global leader in the recovery of air travel, with the hub surpassing pre-pandemic traffic levels in 2023. Correctly anticipating and preparing for explosive growth, he strategically navigated the crisis, positioning DXB ahead of projections. Throughout 2022-23, DXB, under Paul's vision, not only accommodated double-digit growth in passenger numbers but also achieved significant enhancements in the airport experience, ensuring a seamless journey for tens of millions of guests from the kerb to the boarding gates.

Before assuming his role in Dubai, Paul served as the Managing Director of London’s Gatwick Airport. Prior to his tenure at BAA, an airport operator, in 2004, he spent 14 years with the Virgin Group. During this period, he worked closely with Sir Richard Branson as a Board Director of the Virgin Travel Group, overseeing the commercial activities of both Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin Trains.

Richard Quest is CNN's foremost international business correspondent and anchor of Quest Means Business, the definitive word on how we earn and spend our money. Based in New York, he is one of the most instantly recognizable members of the CNN team.

Additionally, Quest is the host of two of CNN International's signature monthly feature programs: Business Traveller, which covers global business travel trends, issues and innovations of the travel industry, and Quest's World of Wonder, an immersive travel series that finds Quest exploring a new destination each month and meeting fascinating people who reveal the heart of the city.

Quest also serves as CNN Business editor-at-large and often hosts the digital live financial show "Markets Now" live streamed from the floor of the NYSE every Wednesday at 12:45pm ET at CNNMoney.com/MarketsNow.

Quest Means Business, which airs weekdays at 3pm ET / 8pm BST on CNN International, destroys the myth that business is boring, bridging the gap between hard economics and entertaining television. CEOs and global finance ministers make a point of appearing on QMB. Guests of the show include the biggest names in banking like Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Richard Clarida and Robert Zoellick, the former President of the World Bank; European policy makers including former IMF chiefs Christine Lagarde and Dominique Strauss-Kahn as well as former EC President Jose Manuel Barroso, and some of the most influential names in corporate America including Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey and Hans Vestberg of Verizon.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact economies and businesses around the world, Quest regularly interviews leaders across pharmaceutical, technology, aviation, travel and tourism industries including Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Moncef Slaoui, Moderna chairman Noubar Afeyan, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, and IMF's chief economist Gita Gopinath.

Quest's dynamic and distinctive style has made him a unique figure in the field of business broadcasting. He has regularly reported from G20 meetings and attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland each year. Quest has covered every major stock market and financial crisis since Black Monday in 1987 and has reported from key financial centers globally including Wall Street, London, Sao Paolo, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

In addition, Quest is the established airline and aviation correspondent at CNN. He has interviewed all of the major airline executives including current Delta CEO Ed Bastian, former Delta CEO Richard Anderson, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker, United CEO Scott Kirby, AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, Emirates CEO Tim Clark, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss and Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. He has covered a number of breaking aviation stories like the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in Ukraine, the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo crash and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

Quest is the author of 'The Vanishing of Flight MH370: The True Story of the Hunt for the Missing Malaysian Plane,' which details his unique perspective on covering MH370 for CNN.

Quest is also the face of CNN's coverage of major UK events. He led CNN's coverage of the 'Brexit' vote in 2016, and has continued to report on the impact the historic vote is making on markets, economies and businesses. He used his expert knowledge of the British Royal Family to front the channel's coverage of the 2018 marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 live from the banks of the River Thames; and the 2011 marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

His coverage of breaking news, which has spanned more than two decades, has seen him report on a range of stories from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the death of Yasser Arafat, the Lockerbie Pan Am 103 crash to the death of Michael Jackson. Quest is more than just business; there are few journalists who have had guests as varied, from His Holiness, The Dalai Lama to actress Joan Collins to founder of Playboy Magazine, Hugh Hefner.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) awarded Quest the 2013 UNWTO Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of his work as a business journalist reporting on the tourism industry.

Prior to joining CNN, he worked at the BBC, where he was the North America business correspondent, based on Wall Street for 12 years.

Quest is British, holds an LLB (Hons) degree in Law from Leeds University, and was called to the Bar.

Scott Kirby was appointed chief executive officer of United Airlines in 2020 just as United was facing the worst crisis in its history caused by the pandemic.

Under his leadership, United has made a number of strategic investments to execute the company’s strategy including its United Next growth plan, a commitment to be 100% green by 2050 without relying on traditional carbon offsets, and taking real action on diversity, equity and inclusion with the opening of the United Aviate Academy. The goal of the academy is to train about 5,000 new pilots at the school by 2030 with at least half being women or people of color.

Prior to United, Scott’s 30-year career in aviation included time at America West, US Airways, and American Airlines where he served as President up until being named President of United Airlines in 2016.

Scott earned his bachelor’s degrees in computer science and operations research from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in operations research from George Washington University. He is married and has seven children.

Shai Weiss is Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Atlantic and an Executive Director of its Board. With the belief that everyone can take on the world, Virgin Atlantic leads from the front in pursuit of its vision to become the most loved travel company. In service of its people, customers, and the communities from which it operates. With an unrelenting commitment to business as a force for good, Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, with a commitment to achieving 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050.

Shai was named Virgin Atlantic CEO in January 2019 and led the Company during Covid-19, emerging from the pandemic a transformed airline, in the process evolving from being a challenger brand to being recognized as a flag carrier. Shai joined Virgin Atlantic in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer later assuming the role of Chief Commercial Officer.

During Shai’s tenure Virgin Atlantic has been recognized as a leader in safety, customer and employee satisfaction and has been awarded the Global Five Star Award by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) for seven ears running and the only British carrier to achieve this. In 2022, the airline was ranked as the number one most loved workplace in the UK by Newsweek and 1st in the UK and 7th globally in World’s Best Airlines 2023 by airlinesratings.com.

Shai serves as a non-Executive Director of Check Point Software Technologies (NASDQ: CHKP), a leading provider of cyber security solutions. In 2022 Shai served on the Prime Minister’s Business Council.

In 2006 he was a Founding Partner of Virgin Green Fund and an Investment Partner with the Virgin Group from 2012. Before joining Virgin, he held several senior management positions at ntl:Telewest (now Virgin Media), the UK and Europe’s largest cable operator. Shai was part of the turn-around of ntl with roles including Managing Director of Consumer Products, Director of Operations, and Director of Financial Planning for the Consumer division and was behind the merger between Virgin Mobile UK and ntl:Telewest and the subsequent re-brand to Virgin Media. Prior to ntl, Shai established the European office of early-stage technology venture fund JVP and was a Senior Associate with Morgan Stanley Technology Group in London.

Shai holds an MBA from Columbia University in New York and a BBA from City University of New York, Baruch College. He resides in London, has two children in university, attends Arsenal games whenever he can, loves The New Yorker and attempts to play basketball on weekends. Shai is active on Instagram and LinkedIn sharing thoughts on aviation and stories from the front-line showcasing Virgin Atlantic people.

Shane is responsible for planning and strategy at Alaska, with a primary focus on driving the financial model and performance across Alaska and Horizon. He oversees the financial planning and analysis, commercial analysis and business transformation functions for the company, and is closely involved with driving key revenue and cost initiatives. Shane also leads Alaska’s customer facing digital properties, through which over 65% of all sales are transacted. He also has responsibility for the labor relations function at Alaska Airlines, emphasizing trusting and transparent relationships with labor leaders from each of our unions.

Shane joined Alaska in 2000 as an analyst in the company’s real estate division. There he held several positions of increasing responsibility involving cost management, airport lease negotiations, and ground and facilities equipment maintenance support. He moved into Alaska’s corporate financial planning and analysis group in 2005 as a director and in 2008 became managing director of the department, leading the airline’s budgeting, variance and forecasting processes and providing economic analysis for fleet and other capital investments, strategic initiatives and labor negotiations support.

In 2010, he became vice president of labor relations, building and leading the company’s relationship with its five unions and ultimately negotiating six long-term labor contracts. In 2015 he became responsible for the revenue management and E-commerce functions for Alaska, and managed Alaska’s relationship with key commercial technology partners.

Shane has served on the executive advisory board for the business school at his alma mater, Pacific Lutheran University and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Nature Bridge, a nonprofit based in six national park locations helping young people connect to the wonder and science of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of our planet.

Shane grew up in University Place, Washington and attended Pacific Lutheran University, where he majored in Business Administration with a Finance concentration. He holds an MBA from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

Simon J. Evenett is currently Professor of Economics at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and from 1 August 2024 will join the faculty of IMD Business School.

Simon is also Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum's Trade & Investment Council and Founder of the St. Gallen Endowment for Prosperity Through Trade, where the internationally recognised Global Trade Alert, Digital Policy Alert, and New Industrial Policy Observation monitoring initiatives are housed.

Simon engages with companies and governments on the subjects of trade and industrial policy, geopolitics, corporate strategy and readiness.

Mr. Clark is President Emirates Airline, a position he has held since 2003.

During his tenure, Mr. Clark has driven Emirates’ rapid growth into the world’s largest international airline serving 130 cities on six continents via its hub in Dubai. He has also steered the airline through multiple ups and downs in the aviation industry, including a remarkable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic into record profitability.

He has been in the civil aviation business for his whole professional career, having joined British Caledonian in 1972, before moving to Gulf Air in 1975 and subsequently in 1985 to Dubai where he became a member of the founding team of Emirates as Head of Airline Planning. 

Mr. Clark has been awarded numerous honors, including CAPA Airline Executive of the Year in 2022 for his individual influence on the aviation industry, strategic thinking, and innovative direction for the growth of Emirates and the industry. In 2023, Future Travel Experience presented Mr. Clark with its first-ever FTE Visionary Award in recognition of his influence in shaping the industry; and Air Transport World presented Mr. Clark with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Toshiyuki ONUMA is the Senior Deputy Director-General, Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Since joining the Ministry in 1992, he has continuously worked in the field of civil aviation, including working experience in the Legal Bureau of ICAO from 2001 to 2003.

Among others, Mr. Onuma has been involved in Japan's policy on decarbonization, leading policy coordination with multiple ministries, agencies and industries both domestically and internationally.

From January 2024, Mr. Onuma has been the Alternate Representative of Japan on the Council of ICAO. From April 2024, Mr. Onuma has been the Visiting Professor of the Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo.

He is a graduate from the University of Tokyo (LL.B.) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School (LL.M and LL.C.M). He is a member of the New York State Bar.

Vanessa Hudson commenced as Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in September 2023.

Ms Hudson was previously Group Chief Financial Officer for four years, including through the pandemic and the airline’s recovery. She has also served as Qantas Chief Customer Officer, with responsibilities spanning all aspects of the customer experience and strategy. 

Joining Qantas in 1994, she has held a variety of senior commercial, customer and finance roles across the Group, in Australia and overseas, including Executive Manager of Sales and Distribution, Senior Vice President for Qantas across the Americas and New Zealand, Executive Manager of Commercial Planning and Executive Manager for Product and Service. 

In these various roles her responsibilities ranged from sales channels, revenue management and network planning, to transformation in catering, airports and network.

Vanessa has a Bachelor of Business and was admitted as a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1994.

Dr. Werner Vogels is Chief Technology Officer at Amazon.com where he is responsible for driving the company's customer-centric technology vision.

As one of the forces behind Amazon's approach to cloud computing, he is passionate about helping young businesses reach global scale and transforming enterprises into fast-moving digital organizations.

Vogels joined Amazon in 2004 from Cornell University where he was a distributed systems researcher. He has held technology leadership positions in companies that handle the transition of academic technology into industry. Vogels holds a PhD from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and has authored many articles on distributed systems technologies for enterprise computing.

On his blog, all things distributed, Werner shares insights and thought leadership content on a range of topics, such as cloud computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, as well as his annual technology predictions.

Yvonne Manzi Makolo is an accomplished business leader serving as the CEO of RwandAir, Rwanda's national flag carrier, since 2018. With a rich professional background, she embarked on her journey with RwandAir in April 2017, initially joining as the Deputy CEO in Charge of Corporate Affairs. Before her tenure at RwandAir, Yvonne held prominent roles at MTN Rwanda, the largest telecommunication company in the country, where she notably served as the Chief Marketing Officer and briefly acted as the CEO.

Yvonne's expertise is further strengthened by her educational background, including a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Information Technology. With over 11 years of valuable commercial experience, she has proven her aptitude for strategic decision-making and driving organizational growth.

As a visionary leader in the aviation industry, Yvonne Manzi Makolo continues to guide RwandAir towards new heights, ensuring its prominence as a symbol of national pride and excellence in Rwanda.

In addition, Yvonne Manzi Makolo was Chair of the IATA Board of Governors from 2023 to 2024.