Insights from the IATA World Safety & Operations Conference in Marrakech

I recently had the privilege of attending the IATA World Safety & Operations Conference in the beautiful city of Marrakech, Morocco, and it was an insightful experience from start to finish. The event kicked off with a vibrant cultural show, showcasing the rich traditions of Morocco, followed by the welcome from Mark Searle of IATA and opening speeches from H.E. Mohammed Abdeljalil, the Minister of Transport and Logistics of Morocco, and global aviation leaders like Abdelhamid Addou from Royal Air Maroc and Michele Merkele from ICAO. These set the stage for the dynamic discussions that followed.

The opening plenary panel, moderated by Nick Careen from IATA, focused on how innovation and technology can drive airline performance. It was fascinating to hear from leaders like Abdelhamid Addou, Mesfin Tasew Bekele from Ethiopian Airlines, Marc Parent of CAE, and Willie Walsh of IATA. They emphasized how critical innovation is for operational efficiency and safety in aviation.

Another compelling session was moderated by Matthew Vaughan of IATA, discussing how we can manage safe and efficient operations amidst global events. The panel included insights from James Coventry of WTW, Yannick Malinge from Airbus, and Elmarie Marais from GoCrisis. Their reflections on the resilience of the aviation industry in the face of global disruptions and cybersecurity risks were invaluable.

The following days continued with more impactful discussions, including a fascinating Air Canada case study that highlighted the essential role of leadership in preventing incidents. It was also interesting to hear different perspectives on safety resilience in an ever-changing world, with safety leaders sharing their global views. A personal highlight for me was the session moderated by Professor Grahame Braithwaite from Cranfield University, someone I truly admire. His deep dive into leadership and human factors was eye-opening.

The event concluded with a powerful and heartfelt keynote by Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the NTSB, reminding us of the importance of keeping a human-centered approach to safety. It was a perfect closing message that left a lasting impression on me.

On a personal note, two standout moments for me were connecting with Mohammed Tahir (aka The Airport Guy) and Yannick Malinge from Airbus. Mohammed’s session on the power of storytelling and empathy in safety communication, especially his insights on The Tipping Point’s rules and the Stickiness Factor, really struck a chord with me. After the event, I had the pleasure of spending close to two hours in a casual chat with him, discussing everything from how he got into public speaking to his passion for storytelling. It was such an energizing conversation, and I took away plenty of fresh ideas to bring back to Etihad Airport Services.

I was also thrilled to meet Yannick Malinge, a figure I deeply respect when it comes to aviation safety. Our brief conversation and his admiration for India’s aviation infrastructure, especially the Airbus facilities in Delhi and Bangalore, was inspiring. His contributions to the panel on safety innovations were just as impactful, and I left feeling incredibly motivated.

The IATA team did a fantastic job leading thought-provoking discussions throughout the event. Their focus on AI, risk management, and integrating safety into everyday operations was spot on. Sessions on the IOSA journey and the evolving Safety Hub were particularly valuable.

I’m leaving this conference with a wealth of knowledge, new perspectives on leadership, technology, and the human factors that shape how we operate. I’m excited to implement these learnings and continue striving for safety excellence at Etihad Airport Services.

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