CANSO Team

Meet the CANSO team working across the globe.

Simon Hocquard

Director General

In leading and managing CANSO as the global voice of air traffic management, Simon is responsible for delivering CANSO strategies; expanding worldwide membership; and enhancing CANSO’s relationship with its industry peers and stakeholders.

Chantelle Hutchinson

Executive Assistant

Chantelle’s role is to support the Director General in all aspects of his planning, schedule management, communication liaison, information preparation and records management.

Richard Hijnekamp

Finance and Associate Member Relations Director

Richard is responsible for all internal and external financial matters, from day-to-day activities to management reporting.

Harold Baas

Finance & Accounting Assistant

The Finance & Accounting Assistant supports the Finance Director on all operational finance and control activities, including reporting and financial analyses.

Esther Brouwer

Manager HR and Compliance

Esther is responsible for CANSO’s global HR matters and making sure CANSO is in compliance with national and international laws and regulations.

Shera Mebarki

Office Manager

Shera is responsible for managing the daily operations and activities of CANSO, ensuring that the CANSO offices run efficiently. Her responsibilities include general office management, information and communications technology, procurement, contract management and member administration, including the CANSO Member database.

Deborah Seymour

Director of Communications

As Director of Communications, Deborah takes the lead for producing high quality, targeted communications to CANSO’s key stakeholders. Her responsibilities include media relations, producing CANSO’s publications including its quarterly Airspace magazine, managing CANSO’s digital/online presence, and building an enduring brand for CANSO.

Rob Howell

Communication Channels Manager

Rob manages CANSO’s main communications channels, including myCANSO, ATM News, and the bulk of CANSO’s mailings to its members. He also manages all the communications aspects of CANSO’s events.

Angy Odysseos

Media Relations Manager

Angy is responsible for managing all CANSO external communications. Her responsibilities include media relations, including the full media CANSO media operations for Airspace World and our other major conferences and summits, handling CANSO’s social media pages, and producing the quarterly Airspace magazine.

Emma King

Design and Web Coordinator

Emma is responsible for developing and maintaining CANSO’s brand identity; and designing CANSO’s printed and digital materials, including publications, brochures, promotional and event materials.

Jade Newton

Events Manager

Jade is responsible for the planning and delivery of CANSO’s first-class events. Jade oversees the successful delivery of CANSO’s international conferences, meetings and virtual events and leads the development, implementation, management and execution of these activities.

Chime Agu

Senior Events Coordinator

As part of the Events team, Chime provides support in the organising and delivery of CANSO’s online and physical events and conferences. Chime leads on the logistical preparations of each event.

Ruth Vissering

Events Coordinator

As part of the Events team, Ruth provides support in the organising and delivery of CANSO’s online and physical events and conferences.

Programmes

Michelle Bishop

Director Programmes

Michelle oversees CANSO’s global programmes and leads strategy related to ATM. She is responsible for coordination with aviation industry stakeholders and CANSO policy and advocacy activities.

Carlos Cirilo

Director ICAO Affairs

The Director ICAO Affairs is responsible for officially representing the air traffic management industry to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) by serving as the official observer to the ICAO Council. As such, the position leads and manages CANSO’s relationships with State representatives to ICAO, ICAO Secretariat and key industry partners such as ACI, IATA, ICCAIA, IFATCA etc. The Director ICAO Affairs also oversees the day-to-day operations of the CANSO Montreal office.

Daniel Vaca

Senior Manager CNS/ATM Technical Affairs

As Senior Manager CNS/ATM Technical Affairs Dan represents the air traffic management industry at the ICAO Air Navigation Commission. In this role, he provides expert technical advice and contributes to the development of international standards and recommended practices (SARPs). He also coordinates CANSO’s representation in ICAO panels and formulating positions on technical rulemaking.

Eduardo García González

Senior Manager Future Skies

Eduardo is responsible for advancing CANSO’s vision for future ATM services and the innovations needed to enable it. He coordinates the work undertaken by the CATS Global Council, its Technical Committee and Expert Groups related to the roadmap for future skies and works actively with ICAO panels on topics such as Advanced Air Mobility.

John Wennes

Safety Programme Manager

John drives and leads safety matters related to ATM across CANSO and the air transport industry. He oversees the strategic direction of CANSO’s safety programme and manages the work programme of the Safety Standing Committee (SSC) and its workgroups. He serves as the focal point for CANSO on safety matters and coordinates with industry and regulatory organisations.

Nicki Harricharan

Operations Programme Manager

Nicki drives and leads operations matters related to ATM across CANSO and the air transport industry. She oversees the strategic direction of CANSO’s operations programme, and manages the work programme of the OSC and its workgroups. She serves as the focal point for CANSO on operations matters and coordinates with industry and regulatory organisations.

Regions

Poh Theen Soh

Director Asia Pacific Affairs

Based in Singapore, Poh Theen is responsible for CANSO’s activities and initiatives in Asia-Pacific. He represents the interests of CANSO and its Members to promote and facilitate the development of air navigation services in the region. He represents CANSO and the ATM industry across the region with governmental and industry bodies.

Javier Vanegas

Director Latin America and Caribbean Affairs

Based in Miami, Javier is responsible for CANSO’s activities and initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. He represents the interests of CANSO and its Members to promote and facilitate the development of air navigation services in the region. He represents CANSO and the ATM industry across the region with governmental and industry bodies.

Thabani Myeza

Director Africa Affairs

Based in Johannesburg, Thabani is responsible for CANSO’s activities and initiatives in Africa. He represents the interests of CANSO and its Members to promote and facilitate the development of air navigation services in the region. He represents CANSO and the ATM industry across the region with governmental and industry bodies.

Connie Nkosi

Africa Affairs Coordinator

Connie assists the Director Africa Affairs. She is responsible for coordinating and liaising with CANSO Members in the Africa region on specific projects.

Tanja Grobotek

CANSO Director Europe Affairs

Based in Brussels, Tanja is responsible for CANSO’s activities and initiatives in Europe. She represents the interests of CANSO and its Members to promote and facilitate the development of air navigation services in the region. She represents CANSO and the ATM industry across the region with governmental and industry bodies.

Johnny Pring

Manager Europe Policy and Advocacy

Johnny is responsible for implementing the CANSO Europe policy, advocacy and communications strategy in line with the CANSO goals and objectives. This includes promoting CANSO positions with the EU institutions and other European stakeholders and communicating these to the media. He also supports the Task Force following the EU’s ANSP Performance and Charging Scheme and coordinates CANSO Europe’s work on environmental and social dialogue issues.

Bart Nicolai

Manager Europe ATM

As the Manager Europe ATM, Bart leads coordination of member positions on key ATM technical, operational, and safety measures. He collaborates with partners on the Single European Sky initiative, advocates positions with European institutions, and ensures alignment with global strategies. Bart also spearheads lobbying efforts with the European Commission, EASA, SESAR JU, ICAO Europe, and EUROCONTROL.

Tedi Minga

Europe ATM Coordination Officer

As the Europe ATM Coordination Officer, Tedi coordinates the creation and alignment of members’ positions on ATM technical, operational, and safety measures, including the Single European Sky initiative. He provides secretariat services to various permanent groups and task forces, ensuring coherence with globally agreed CANSO policies. Tedi also facilitates advocacy activities with European institutions and coordinates involvement with several key bodies, including EASA, the European Commission Drone Expert Group, and EUROCONTROL, among others