CANSO Leadership Summit 2025 – Our Programme

To kick off Airspace World week, senior leaders from CANSO’s Member organisations are invited to the CANSO Leadership Summit 2025.

Our Summit will be held at the stunning and historic venue – Convento do Beato – from 13:00-18:00 on Monday 12 May.

This year, we are excited to invite the CEOs, Focal Points, (or their delegates) from our Member organisations to attend our Summit, as we continue to elevate the event as a key leadership gathering. 

The theme for our summit this year is: “Enabling Future Skies: Driving Innovation, Integration, and Collaboration in ATM”

This aligns with the CATS CONOPS vision for Future Skies, emphasising the critical transformations needed in airspace management. It highlights the role of digitalisation, automation, and cross-industry collaboration in shaping a seamless, scalable, and sustainable ATM system.

The Summit will focus on:

• Leveraging Digital Transformation – Optimising ATM through real-time data sharing, automation, and AI-driven decision-making
• Integrating New Airspace Users – Enabling seamless operations for AAM, drones, and High-Altitude Operations (HAO) within a harmonised system.
• Strengthening Global Collaboration – Aligning strategies between ANSPs, regulators, and industry partners to drive meaningful progress.
• Building the ATM Workforce of the Future – Addressing talent attraction, skills development, and leadership in an evolving aviation landscape.

The Summit will begin with a light Welcome Lunch at 13:00, with the full programme to be announced shortly. Stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, we are excited to share that two of our key speakers have been confirmed. 

• David Seymour, Chief Operating Officer, American Airlines will share his insights in a Fireside chat with Simon Hocquard, Director General, CANSO.
• Mohammad Taher, otherwise known as the Airport Guy and Aviation Ambassador for the UK, Department for Transport will provide powerful pointers on attracting new talent to build the future of ATM.

Our Programme

Agenda

• OVERVIEW
• LIST VIEW

*All speakers are listed in alphabetical order per session.

Tuesday 12 May

13:00-14:00

Welcome Lunch

Foyer

Sponsored by:

14:00-14:05

Welcome and Opening

Claustro

Speaker

Simon Hocquard – CANSO

14:05-14:50

Fireside Chat: What are the Key Transformations that the Aviation Industry will undergo in the next 20 years

Claustro

Moderator

Simon Hocquard – CANSO

Speaker

David Seymour – American Airlines

14:50-15:40

Panel Discussion: Smart Skies: Optimising Airspace Through Advanced Digital Information and Automation

Claustro

Moderator

Michelle Bishop – CANSO

Panellist

Benjamin Binet – Thales

Dr. Todd Citron – The Boeing Company

Justin Erbacci – ACI

Maartje van der Helm – LVNL

Mark Cooper – NAV CANADA

15:40-16:00

Networking Break

Foyer

Sponsored by:

16:00-16:50

Panel Discussion: Unlocking the Potential of Higher Airspace

Claustro

Moderator

Claudia Bacco – Global Airspace Radar

Panellist

Andy Thurling – DroneUP

Elkhan Nahmadov – ICAO

LaKisha A Price – FAA ATO

Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen – Sceye, Inc.

Richard Deakin – Stratospheric Platforms

Thomas Mickler – European Union Aviation Safety Agency

16:50-17:10

Keynote Speech: Attracting New Talent to Build the Future of ATM

Claustro

Presenter

Mohammad Taher – UK, Department for Transport and The Airport Guy

17:10-17:50

Panel Discussion: Transforming Future Skies

Claustro

Moderator

Alex Bristol – Skyguide

Panellist

Ahmed Al Jallaf – UAE – GCAA

Arndt Schoenemann – DFS

Norazman Bin Mahmud – CAA Malaysia

Prosper Zo’o Minto’o – ASECNA

Sérgio Bastos – DECEA

17:50-18:00

Wrap up and close

Claustro

Speaker

Simon Hocquard – CANSO

18:00-19:00

Welcome Drinks (for CANSO Leadership Summit attendees only)

Foyer

19:00-21:00

Airspace World Opening Reception

Claustro

Mon 12 May	Event	Location	Contributors
13:00-14:00	Welcome Lunch Sponsored by:	Foyer
14:00-14:05	Welcome and Opening	Claustro	Speaker Simon Hocquard
14:05-14:50	Fireside Chat: What are the Key Transformations that the Aviation Industry will undergo in the next 20 years	Claustro	Moderator Simon Hocquard Speaker David Seymour
14:50-15:40	Panel Discussion: Smart Skies: Optimising Airspace Through Advanced Digital Information and Automation	Claustro	Moderator Michelle Bishop Panellists Benjamin Binet Dr. Todd Citron Justin Erbacci Maartje van der Helm Mark Cooper
15:40-16:00	Networking Break Sponsored by:	Foyer
16:00-16:50	Panel Discussion: Unlocking the Potential of Higher Airspace	Claustro	Moderator Claudia Bacco Panellists Andy Thurling Elkhan Nahmadov LaKisha A Price Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen Richard Deakin Thomas Mickler
16:50-17:10	Keynote Speech: Attracting New Talent to Build the Future of ATM	Claustro	Presenter Mohammad Taher
17:10-17:50	Panel Discussion: Transforming Future Skies	Claustro	Moderator Alex Bristol Panellists Ahmed Al Jallaf Arndt Schoenemann Norazman Bin Mahmud Prosper Zo’o Minto’o Sérgio Bastos
17:50-18:00	Wrap up and close	Claustro	Speaker Simon Hocquard
18:00-19:00	Welcome Drinks (for CANSO Leadership Summit attendees only)	Foyer
19:00-21:00	Airspace World Opening Reception	Claustro