CANSO Latin America and Caribbean Conference 2024 – Our Programme

Rohan Garib, Executive Manager, Air Navigation Services, Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority and Chair, CANSO LAC3.

Rohan has has 10 years executive experience providing strategic and operations leadership and 12 years aviation management experience in both the regulatory (economic regulation) and services (air navigation services) sectors in civil aviation. His work experience includes airport management and civil aviation management environments. He also has more than 28 years  combined  work  experience  in  specialist  areas  of  civil  aviation,  airport,  licensing,  finance,  human resources, auditing and social welfare.

His academic qualifications include Business Management, Masters in Aviation Management, and Master in Laws. He is the holder of an Air Traffic Control License and Air Traffic Instructor License.

Christopher Barks, Regional Director, North America Central America and Caribbean Region, NACC, ICAO

Up to 14 July 2023, Christopher was the Director of Global Strategy and Mission Support in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of International Affairs in Washington, DC. He was responsible for leading the development of a data-informed, agency-wide strategy and measurable business plan targets for FAA global engagement. Prior to this, he was the Manager for ICAO and Global Affairs, leading the team that coordinated U.S. Government positions on ICAO matters and overseeing a Crisis Response Working Group that addressed risk to airlines in conflict zones. In this capacity, he participated in the Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART), contributing to the
development of guidance to the aviation industry to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

From 2013 to 2019, he served as the Director of the FAA’s Western Hemisphere region. Based in the U.S. Embassy in Panama, he led FAA Senior Representatives in Miami, Panama, and Brazil and a staff in Washington D.C. to coordinate all FAA international activities with partners in the Americas and the Caribbean.

Christopher received a Master of Arts in German and European Studies from Georgetown University in 1997 and Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations and German Studies from the University of Minnesota in 1993. He is fluent in Spanish (having lived for 17 years in Latin America), German, and has basic knowledge of Portuguese and French. He was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2010.

Tim Arel, Chief Operating Officer, FAA ATO.

Tim is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient and secure air traffic services for approximately 50,000 aircraft operating every day over nearly 30 million square miles across the National Airspace System (NAS).  

He provides leadership and guidance to more than 35,000 employees and oversees the daily operation of the ATO, an organisation made up of air traffic controllers, technicians, engineers, pilots and a host of other technical and support personnel.

The organisation is also responsible for operationalising airspace modernisation initiatives and integrating unmanned aircraft systems and commercial space operations into the NAS. 

Throughout his 33-year career with the FAA, Tim has developed expertise in airspace security, air traffic safety, resource management and labour relations.  Prior to being named ATO Chief Operating Officer in October 2022, he served as Deputy COO from 2017-2022, overseeing domestic air traffic operations and managing the ATO Officers Group, the organisation’s executive leadership team. 

Mr. Arel’s previous leadership roles in the ATO include Director of Safety, Deputy Vice President of Safety and Technical Training and Vice President of Air Traffic Services.  Earlier in his career, Arel managed the ATC Investigations Team, the Compliance Services Group, the Quality Assurance Group and the Runway Safety Group.  He began his FAA career as an air traffic controller in 1989.

Micilia Albertus-Verboom, Director General, DC-ANSP.

Micilia was appointed Director General of the Dutch Caribbean Air Navigation Service Provider (DC-ANSP) in January 2006. DC-ANSP is responsible for the provision of air navigation service within the Curacao Flight Information Region.  Micilia was chairperson of the CANSO Latin America and Caribbean Committee (LAC3) from 2011 through 2017 and from 2019 through 2020. As chair of the LAC3, Micilia was appointed member of the CANSO Executive Committee. Prior to joining DC-ANSP, Micilia worked for the Government of the former Netherlands Antilles with over seven years’ experience in the Justice Department.

Lieutenant-General Sérgio Bastos, Vice-Director, Department of Airspace Control, DECEA.

Lieutenant General Sérgio Rodrigues Pereira Bastos Junior is a Brazilian Air Force fighter pilot. He was Head of the Brazilian Aeronautical Commission in Washington-DC and Deputy Defense and Aeronautical Attaché at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington-DC (2014 – 2016). He also served as Head of the Administration Subdepartment of the Department of Airspace Control (2018 – 2020); and President of the Airspace Control System Implementation Commission (2020 – 2021).

Daiana Carbonell Reyes, Director General, ECNA.

Daiana is an outstanding civil servant with nine years of experience in the air navigation activity in Cuba. She graduated in Industrial Engineering, and has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and excel in various areas of work such as human capital, logistics, investments and business.

She currently assumes the challenge at the head of ECNA, where her vision is to optimise the use of Cuban airspace and foster active collaboration among the region’s Air Navigation Service Providers.

René Armas Maes, Director of Sales, Metron Aviation

René began his career as a consultant at Simat, Helliesen & Eichner based in New York City where he consulted airlines, airports and ANSPs around the world. In addition, René is an airline and airport management instructor on behalf of IATA and ACI with a focus on business restructuring, strategic planning, revenue optimisation and cost reduction initiatives. He regularly contributes to a number of media outlets and aviation magazines including Reuters, CNN and Flight Global.

Currently, as a Commercial Director at Metron Aviation – An Airbus company – René partners with ANSPs, airlines and airports worldwide to optimise air traffic flow operations, enhance demand predictability, reduce fuel cost and CO2 emissions. 

Tania Helena, Senior Analyst International Programs, JetBlue

Helena is the Senior Analyst for International Programs at JetBlue Airways. She has been with JetBlue for nine years and holds a degree in Mathematics. She is currently completing her MBA in Aviation as well as a Project Management certification. In her role, Tania specialises in ensuring compliance with flight standards, operating permits, and FAA operation Specification (OPSPEC). She oversees key aspects of international flight operations, including airspace and route optimisation, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to uphold flight safety and operational efficiency of the operator’s operation.

Marina Martin Ortigosa, Business Development Manager, INDRA

Marina Martín Ortigosa works as an ATM Solution Sales Manager at Indra. She is an aerospace Engineer with specialisation in air navigation and has a master’s degree in Air Transport Systems.

Her professional career started as a systems engineer specialised in Automation Systems focus on operational environments, ATM technical specifications and automation system trainings for Air Traffic Controllers. Afterwards, Marina worked as Technical Manager for Indra’s ATM projects worldwide. She is currently in charge of business development and commercial responsible of the Indra’s ATM suite, ManagAIR.

Howard Greaves, Deputy Director General, ANS, JCAA

Howard received his validation as an Air Traffic Controller at the Norman Manley International Airport in July 1994. Since then, he has served as an Air Traffic Controller at the Sangster International Airport, and Kingston Air Traffic Control Centre. He was served in several critical positions at the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority to include Manager, Quality Assurance and Services, Manager, Air Traffic Services, and Director, Air Traffic Management. Mr. Greaves was promoted to his current position as Deputy Director General, Air Navigation Services in March 2021.

With over 30 years’ experience as an Air Traffic Controller, he also has a Master’s in Business Administration with distinction from the Mona School of Business and Management and a Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Technology.

Hector Franklin Lee, CENAMER ACC Chief, COCESNA

Hector has been an Air Traffic Controller for 32 years and currently serves as the Chief of CENAMER ACC within COCESNA, the International Organisation for Central American Integration.

Through his career, he has witnessed the evolution from traditional procedural methods to the modern era of radar surveillance.

Pablo Fernandez Izquierdo, Business Development Manager, Thales

Pablo is a Computer Engineer with a distinguished educational background from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid (ICAI), complemented by an Executive MBA. With a career spanning 28 years across various companies and sectors, he has dedicated 23 years to the aeronautical industry.

Throughout his career, Pablo has held pivotal roles as a Systems Engineer, ATM expert, and has taken on significant responsibilities in commissioning and installing systems. His expertise extends to his roles as Bid Manager and Program Manager, where he has successfully led projects in multiple countries around the globe.

Francisco Samayoa, Deputy Director General, AAC El Salvador

Francisco began his career in aviation as a Flight Dispatcher in 1998. Then, in 2001, he became an Air Traffic Controller, until 2016, within which he stood out as an Aerodrome controller, Control Tower Supervisor, as well as approach Controller for procedures and Surveillance. He joined the Civil Aviation Authority in 2017, as Airport Delegate, then in 2020 as Certifications Inspector, in 2021, he went on to manage said department and since July 2024 as Deputy Director of Air Navigation.

He is a commercial fixed wing pilot, and has a Mechanical Engineering degree, graduated from UCA University, graduated from Westmoor High School, Daly City California in 1998.

Betty C. Stenaka, Programme Manager, Infina

Betty is the Programme Manager of the Infina ANSP Learning Portal (ALP) and also serves as an Executive Director for Infina. As a PMP-certified program manager with over 28 years of experience, Betty successfully leads product development and launch teams working with FAA’s Training and Runway Safety Programmes.

Some major accomplishments working with those programmes include developing and delivering the FAA’s Stand Up for Safety series to provide mandatory special emphasis training for its controller workforce, over six years of recurrent web-based and instructor-led training to the FAA ATC workforce, and microlearning training targeting general aviation pilots via the FAA Runway Safety Pilot Simulator.

Betty earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Francisco Medela, Industry Affairs Director, ACI-LAC

Francisco joined ACI-LAC after working for Airbus Defence and Space in Madrid, Spain. First working as a Procurement Engineer in the Avionics System commodity, and then as a Material Services Customer Support Engineer on the A400M program.

Francisco holds a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid as well as a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the same institution. During his master studies he worked in the Spanish airport operator AENA in the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces division updating the entire Spanish airport network and elaborating obstacles impact reports for the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA).

Nicki Harricharan, Operations Programme Manager, CANSO

Nicki recently joined CANSO, bringin with her 16 years of FAA experience. She began her career as an Air Traffic Controller at the Washington DC ACC, then progressed to Front-Line Manager at New York ACC. She later served as a National Traffic Management Specialist at the FAA Command Center’s Severe Weather Unit, where she managed traffic flow during severe weather events, presidential movements, and rocket launches.

Most recently, she led the Central Altitude Reservation Function (CARF) Unit and Space Operations team, integrating rocket launches into the National Airspace System and handling altitude reservations for military and civilian purposes.

Dr. Waseem Naqvi, Director, Business Development, Marketing, Solution Consultancy, Collins Aerospace

Waseem is responsible for defining business and technology strategy, market and product roadmaps and investment priorities.

He has over 25 years in the Air Traffic Management industry and leads Collins Aerospace initiatives to enable new aircraft types (e.g. Advanced Air Mobility) to enter the National Airspace System.

Adriana Candez, Manager Sales, Frequentis AG

With a degree on Computer Programming from Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ) and MBA Marketing degree in the COPPEAD Graduate School of Business, Adriana started her professional life as an Air Traffic Controller in Brazil. Shortly after, she joined Brazilian Airspace Control Implementation Agency and worked for15 years in different relevant projects related to the major air traffic control programmes in Brazil: Brazilian Airspace Control System (SISCEAB) and Amazon Surveillance System (SIVAM).

Since 2000, through her commercial roles as senior business development manager in the aeronautical industry, first at SITA and more recently in Frequentis, Adriana has been supporting the regional development of many ANSPs, through Latin America and Caribbean region.

William Rubiano, OCC, Delta Airlines

William has 27 Years Aviation experience with several airlines operating worldwide as an aircraft dispatcher, manager of overflight permits, OCC Manager and OCC Director

He has 10 Years as an officer in the US military, and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies

John Wennes, Safety Programme Manager, CANSO

John has more than 27 years experience in the aviation industry. He holds Federal Aviation Administration Control Tower Operator certificates from multiple facilities ranging from control towers in remote locations in Eastern Europe to managing operations at one of the busiest and most complex facilities in the Asia Pacific region.

He has a wide range of aviation experience from being an instrument rated pilot to working as a terminal air traffic controller at one of the busiest terminal radar approach control facilities in the United States to serving as the Traffic Management Officer and facility Air Traffic Manager for the Federal Aviation Administration.

His background also includes air traffic expertise in managing jurisdictional airspace and procedural changes, large scale multinational military exercises, major airport construction projects, and oversight of safety management systems. He has also has served as subject matter expert supporting the National Transportation Safety Board through aviation incidents and accidents.

Alfonso Arroyo, Representative Latin America and Caribbean, EASA

Alfonso Arroyo is the representative of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Alfonso is established in Panama City where EASA’s LAC Regional Office is hosted.

The main objective of Alfonso’s engagement is to further strengthen the partnership between EASA and the civil aviation authorities and industry stakeholders in the LAC region. He works to increase awareness of the EU/EASA regulatory framework and helps implementation of the new project ‘EU-Latin America and the Caribbean Cooperation on Civil Aviation (EU-LAC APP2)’ to reinforce partnerships with LAC key partners.

Alfonso has worked for the European Commission since 1997. He started his duties in DG MOVE in the Air Transport Directorate in 2004 responsible for the external dimension of the Single European Sky, the EU initiative in the ATM domain to defragment the European skies. He contributed to the preparation of the European framework regulations in the ATM/ANS area. Since 2010 he works on aviation safety where he coordinated a wide range of activities with EASA such as regulatory proposals, technical assistance programming and international strategies. He had a key role as Secretary and coordinator of the regulatory committee where EU Regulations on aviation safety were discussed and adopted.

Anthony MacKay, VP/Chief Safety & Quality Officer, NAV CANADA and Chair, CANSO SSC

Anthony provides leadership to the teams managing environment, occupational health and safety, safety investigations, quality assurance, fatigue management, industry safety partnerships and all aspects of NAV CANADAs Safety Management System. Before that he led Air Traffic Services for NAV Canada’s seven Flight Information Regions and the National Operations Centre. 

The bulk of his 38-year aviation career has been within Air Operations and Air Carriers as an Operations Manager, Chief Pilot, Check Airman, Chief Technical Pilot, and line pilot. 

Paco Solvez, Sales Director, MEA and LATAM, Aireon LLC

Paco has more than 20 years’ experience working in the aviation industry leading commercial processes for a wide range of solutions on the ATM, communication and surveillance fields. He is the company representative at different fora including trade and international organisations. He is a Bachelor in Telecommunication Technologies Engineering and Master in Business Administration.

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