CANSO Africa Conference 2025 – Our Programme

Our conference theme this year is: Future skies for Africa, enhancing alignment, collaboration and implementation

This year’s conference is more than a gathering—it’s a strategic moment for Africa to help shape the global future of air traffic management. As airspace users diversify, technologies advance, and automation accelerates, Africa has a unique opportunity to position itself as a proactive player in global aviation transformation.

The conference will bring together leaders, technical experts, regulators, and innovators from across the continent and the world to explore how Africa can align its plans with global strategies, including the Complete Air Traffic System’s (CATS) Global Council’s Vision 2045, its Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and ICAO’s evolving global frameworks.

Each day of the conference will be guided by a thematic focus:

  • Day 1 â€“ This day will be dedicated to various workshops, some hosted by our industry partners. The main focus will be on the changing ATM Eco-system and Safety Culture.
  • Day 2 – The Road Ahead: Aligning the Future with Our Past and Present
    A deep dive into the CATS Vision 2045 and CONOPS, exploring how to align them with AFI initiatives and create a tailored high-level roadmap for Africa. We will also identify opportunities to fast-track technology deployment by focusing on readily achievable goals and global best practices.
  • Day 3 – Enhancing Safety Foundations for Future Skies
    A focused look at the safety enablers for the future operational environment, including the evolving safety culture, leadership’s role in change management, safety data integration, and the shifting employee profile. Discussions will link back to the leadership and human factors themes introduced earlier in the programme.

Agenda

  • OVERVIEW
  • LIST VIEW
  • TUESDAY
  • WEDNESDAY
  • THURSDAY

*All speakers are listed in alphabetical order per session.

Tue 26 August Event Location Contributors

08:00-17:00

Registration

Victoria Foyer

08:00-17:30

Exhibition

Victoria Foyer

09:00-12:00

AFC3 Meeting (by invitation only)

Victoria 3

12:00-13:00

Light Lunch for Workshop Attendees

Victoria Foyer

12:00-13:00

AFC3 Meeting Lunch (by invitation only)

Waridi Restaurant

13:00-15:00

CANSO Workshop: The Role of Leadership in Shaping and Managing Safety Culture

Victoria Ballroom

14:30-15:00

Networking Break

Victoria Foyer

15:30-17:30

Workshop: Next-Level Applications for Space-Based ADS-B Data

Sponsored by:

Sponsor Image
Victoria Ballroom

17:30-18:30

Welcome Drinks

Victoria Foyer
Wednesday 27 August

08:00-17:00

Exhibition

Victoria Foyer

08:00-09:00

Registration and Welcome Coffee

Victoria Foyer

08:00-09:00

Welcome Coffee

Victoria Foyer

09:00-10:30

Opening Session

Victoria Ballroom

Facilitator

Thabani Myeza – CANSO

Speakers

Brown M. M. Ondego – Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

Emil Rogers – Roberts F.I.R

Emile Arao – Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

10:30-11:00

Networking Break

Victoria Foyer

11:00-11:45

Opening Keynote: Setting the Scene – The Global Roadmap for Future Skies

Victoria Ballroom

Speakers

Maartje van der Helm – LVNL

Tim Arel – CANSO

11:45-12:45

Leadership Dialogue: Regional Integration and the Future Skies of Africa

Victoria Ballroom

Moderator

Dr. Eduardo García – CANSO

Panellists

Anne Gitau – Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

Flora Mwanshinga – Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority

Gaoussou Konate – African Airlines Association

Josia Manyakoana – ATNS

Tim Arel – CANSO

12:45-13:45

Networking Lunch

Victoria 3

13:45-15:30

Interactive Session: Aligning CATS with Regional Plans

Victoria Ballroom

Facilitators

Dr. Eduardo García – CANSO

Nicki Harricharan – CANSO

Presenters

Anne Gitau – Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

Flora Mwanshinga – Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority

Josia Manyakoana – ATNS

Joyce Asante – Ghana Civil Aviation Authority

15:30-17:00

Future Skies for Africa: Africa’s Technology Advantage – Or Is It?

Victoria Ballroom

Facilitators

Joyce Asante – Ghana Civil Aviation Authority

Nicki Harricharan – CANSO

17:00-17:15

Closing Session

Victoria Ballroom

19:30-22:00

Conference Dinner

Offsite

Hosted by:

Sponsor Image
Wed 27 August Event Location Contributors

08:00-17:00

Exhibition

Victoria Foyer

08:00-09:00

Registration and Welcome Coffee

Victoria Foyer

08:00-09:00

Welcome Coffee

Victoria Foyer

09:00-10:30

Opening Session

Victoria Ballroom

10:30-11:00

Networking Break

Victoria Foyer

11:00-11:45

Opening Keynote: Setting the Scene – The Global Roadmap for Future Skies

Victoria Ballroom

11:45-12:45

Leadership Dialogue: Regional Integration and the Future Skies of Africa

Victoria Ballroom

12:45-13:45

Networking Lunch

Victoria 3

13:45-15:30

Interactive Session: Aligning CATS with Regional Plans

Victoria Ballroom

15:30-17:00

Future Skies for Africa: Africa’s Technology Advantage – Or Is It?

Victoria Ballroom

17:00-17:15

Closing Session

Victoria Ballroom

19:30-22:00

Conference Dinner

Hosted by:

Sponsor Image
Offsite
Thursday 28 August

08:00-13:30

Exhibition

Victoria Foyer

08:00-09:00

Welcome Coffee

Victoria Foyer

09:00-09:15

Opening of Day 3

Victoria Ballroom

Speaker

Thabani Myeza – CANSO

09:15-10:30

Safety Focus – Enhancing our Safety foundations for Future Skies

Victoria Ballroom

Facilitators

Dr. Jaco van der Westhuizen – ATNS

John Wennes – CANSO

Panellists

Ahmed Bola – NAMA

Derek Lartey – Ghana Civil Aviation Authority

Kamamba Wamuwi – Zambia Airports Corporation Limited

Margarett da Graça – ASA

Maureen Isika – Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

Samba Dabor – Roberts F.I.R.

10:30-11:00

Networking Break

Victoria Foyer

11:00-12:30

Safety Focus – The Changing Employee Profile and the Implications for Safety Management

Victoria Ballroom

Facilitator

Andrea Sack – Austro Control

Presenter

Mercy Makau – Young Aviators Club of Africa

Speaker

Derek Lartey – Ghana Civil Aviation Authority

Panellists

Amos Bwali – Zambia Airports Corporation Limited

Josh Gilmore – Firstfruits Services

Maureen Isika – Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

Simphiwe Masilela – ATNS

12:30-12:40

Closing Session

Victoria Ballroom

Speaker

Maureen Isika – Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

12:40-13:00

Conference Closing Ceremony

Victoria Ballroom

Speaker

Andile Mtetwa-Amaeshi – Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority

13:00-14:00

Networking Lunch

Victoria 3

14:00-16:00

Tour of KCAA Area Control Centre and Disaster Recovery Centre

Offsite

Thu 28 August Event Location Contributors

08:00-13:30

Exhibition

Victoria Foyer

08:00-09:00

Welcome Coffee

Victoria Foyer

09:00-09:15

Opening of Day 3

Victoria Ballroom

09:15-10:30

Safety Focus – Enhancing our Safety foundations for Future Skies

Victoria Ballroom

10:30-11:00

Networking Break

Victoria Foyer

11:00-12:30

Safety Focus – The Changing Employee Profile and the Implications for Safety Management

Victoria Ballroom

12:30-12:40

Closing Session

Victoria Ballroom

12:40-13:00

Conference Closing Ceremony

Victoria Ballroom

13:00-14:00

Networking Lunch

Victoria 3

14:00-16:00

Tour of KCAA Area Control Centre and Disaster Recovery Centre

Offsite

Speakers

Emile Arao

Director General

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Tim Arel

Chair

CANSO

VIEW

Joyce Asante

Director Air Traffic Safety Engineering

Ghana Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Fred Bamwesigye

Director General

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Ahmed Bola

General Manager Safety Management Systems/Quality Asssurance

NAMA

VIEW

Tim Brouwer

Senior Account Manager

Aireon LLC

VIEW

Amos Bwali

Manager Air Traffic Services

Zambia Airports Corporation Limited

VIEW

Margarett da Graça

Director of Operations

ASA

VIEW

Samba Dabor

Safety Manager and Deputy Chair, CANSO Africa Safety Workgroup

Roberts F.I.R.

VIEW

Dr. Eduardo GarcĂ­a

Senior Manager Future Skies

CANSO

VIEW

Josh Gilmore

Management Consultant

Firstfruits Services

VIEW

Anne Gitau

Director Air Navigation Services

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Nicki Harricharan

Operations Programme Manager

CANSO

VIEW

Maureen Isika

Senior Air Traffic Control Officer and Chair, CANSO Africa Safety Workgroup

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Capt. Gilbert Kibe

Managing Director

Air Transport Consulting Ltd.

VIEW

Gaoussou Konate

Consulting Director, Technical and Operations

African Airlines Association

VIEW

Derek Lartey

Acting Safety Standards and Quality Assurance Manager

Ghana Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Anthony MacKay

Vice President and Chief Safety & Quality Officer, and Chair, CANSO Safety Standing Committee Steering Group

NAV CANADA

VIEW

Mercy Makau

Founder & President

Young Aviators Club of Africa

VIEW

Josia Manyakoana

Interim Chief Air Traffic Services Officer

ATNS

VIEW

Simphiwe Masilela

Air Traffic Controller

ATNS

VIEW

Moisés Monteiro

Chairman & CEO

ASA

VIEW

Andile Mtetwa-Amaeshi

Director General

Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Flora Mwanshinga

Director Air Navigation Services

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Thabani Myeza

Director Africa Affairs

CANSO

VIEW

Brown M. M. Ondego

Board of Directors Chairman

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

VIEW

Stuart Ratcliffe

Product Manager, AireonFLOW

Aireon LLC

VIEW

Emil Rogers

Secretary General and Deputy Chair, CANSO AFC3

Roberts F.I.R

VIEW

Andrea Sack

Director Safety, Security & Quality Management, Austro Control and Vice-Chair, CANSO Safety Standing Committee Steering Group

Austro Control

VIEW

Paco Solvez

Senior Sales Manager, MEA & LATAM

Aireon LLC

VIEW

Matita Tshabalala

Aviation Psychologist

HumanErgoCoach

VIEW

Maartje van der Helm

General Manager of Performance & Development and CANSO OSC Chair

LVNL

VIEW

Dr. Jaco van der Westhuizen

Human Factors Specialist

ATNS

VIEW

Kamamba Wamuwi

Manager Safety Health Environment and Quality (MSHEQ)

Zambia Airports Corporation Limited

VIEW

John Wennes

Safety Programme Manager

CANSO

VIEW