AGM 2022 Speakers

Sheila is the Director of the Economy Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Sheila was previously the Director of the Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility operations at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Sheila has served as an Environmental Specialist at a U.S. State Department of Environmental Protection, the Environment Liaison Centre International and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

At UNEP, she held positions ranging from Senior Advisor in the organization’s Strategic Implementation Team, to Acting Director of the Policy and Programme Division and Deputy Director of the GEF Division. She also served as external advisor in UNDP reviewing its business model in one of its global fund operations.  She authored The Policy Process in International Environmental Governance and Promoting Coherence: Towards an Effective Global Environment Facility. Sheila holds a doctorate in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, is one of the most recognisable figures in the global aviation industry. His vision and commitment enabled the ground-breaking development of Qatar Airways from a small regional carrier into one of the world’s leading global airlines in the span of just 20 years. Today, Qatar Airways flies one of the youngest, most sustainable and state-of-the-art fleets in the skies serving over 130 destinations across six continents.

H.E. Mr. Al Baker is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) and is a non-executive Director of Heathrow Airport Holdings (HAH) - the company responsible for the running and development of the U.K.’s largest airport. In June 2015, the President of the Republic of France, François Hollande, presented H.E. Mr. Al Baker with the Legion of Honour in recognition of his leadership in the aviation industry. In 2019 H.E. Mr. Al Baker was appointed Secretary-General of Qatar’s National Tourism Council (NTC).

A highly motivated individual, H.E. Mr. Al Baker is a successful businessman in Doha and beyond, holds a private pilot license and is also CEO of several divisions of Qatar’s national airline – including Qatar Executive, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Aircraft Catering Company, Qatar Distribution Company, Qatar Duty Free and Internal Media Services, to name a few.

Born in Doha, he is a graduate in Economics and Commerce and worked at various levels in the Civil Aviation Directorate before being tasked with creating the world’s best airline in 1997.

Nick Allan has been the Chief Executive Officer of Control Risks since January 2019. Previously, he was CEO for the Europe and Africa Region, and before that led the Asia Pacific region for a number of years. Nick sits on the Board and Executive Committee.

Throughout his career at Control Risks, Nick has advised clients on some of their most complex strategic challenges, helping them to understand the totality of their risk profiles. From directing a global cyber security transformation exercise at a leading international insurance firm, to advising a mining investor on its worldwide expansion, Nick has focused on finding solutions and opportunities that are dynamic and pragmatic. He has a particular interest in the role of business in conflict areas.

Before becoming CEO, Nick was central to the creation of Control Risks’ cyber security business and driving the company’s expansion in Africa and Europe.

Nick is invited to speak at events across the world. Recent engagements include ExCred International, the International Court of Justice Conference and Africa Real Estate Investors. He has featured in international media including the BBC, CNBC and Bloomberg.

Before Control Risks, most of Nick’s career was spent with De La Rue. He studied Politics at the University of Bristol and has an MBA from Imperial College Management School, University of London. Nick speaks fluent Spanish and conversational Portuguese.

Myles is Professor of Geosystem Science in the School of Geography and the Environment and Department of Physics, University of Oxford. He served on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for its 3rd, 4th and 5th assessments, and was a Coordinating Lead Author for its special report on ‘the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels’.

He is the Director of Oxford Net Zero, the University of Oxford’s interdisciplinary research initiative on net zero, and founded the Climate Prediction project, the world’s largest climate modelling experiment. Myles’ research concentrates on how human and natural influences contribute to observed climate change, as well as the risks of extreme weather and quantifying their implications for long-range climate forecasts.

Andrés Bianchi’s experience in the airline business spans nearly 17 years, twelve of which he has spent in the air cargo business. He held various positions in the financial, operations, and commercial departments. In April 2017, he was appointed LATAM Cargo’s Chief Executive Officer. Between 2010 and 2017, Bianchi served in multiple roles at LATAM Cargo including VP Finance, SVP Network and SVP Sales & Revenue Management for North America, Europe and Asia.

Prior to joining LAN Cargo he worked at McKinsey and Company (2008 to 2010) and between 2002 and 2006, when he moved to the USA to pursue his MBA, he was LAN Airlines’ Head of Investor Relations.

Bianchi holds a degree in Business Administration from Universidad Católica de Chile and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business, from which he graduated with honors.

Rikke Christensen - VP Networks, Alliances & Commercial Planning, Virgin Atlantic LimitedRikke Christensen is Virgin Atlantic’s Vice President of Networks, Alliances and Commercial Planning. Rikke has been with Virgin Atlantic since September 2019 and leads on Virgin’s network strategy, planning, airport slots and airline partnerships.                     

Rikke has more than 15 years of network planning expertise, across four different airlines – including experience in low cost, regional and full network carriers. Rikke is also chair of International Air Transport Association (IATA) Slot Policy Working Group and member of Worldwide Slot Board– an industry-wide body which discusses and debates future slot rules, policy changes and developments in aviation.

Rikke holds a Master in Business Administration and is originally from Denmark, she loves sports, food and travel.

Jonathon is a Master’s graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London and has an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.

In July 2015 Jonathon became Group Head of Sustainability for the International Airlines Group with responsibility for the group sustainability strategy across the Groups’ four airlines Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia & Vueling.

In August 2019 he was elected as the Chair of the newly formed IATA Sustainability and Environment Advisory Council.

Jonathon is also Chair of the oneworld airline alliance’s Environment & Sustainability Best Practice Group.

In November 2020 Jonathon became Chair of the UK Government’s Jet Zero Council’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Delivery Group.

Angela is Senior Vice President of Strategic Business Development at Everland LLC where she leverages her 20+ years of experience in sustainability, environmental policy and as an environmental attorney to help companies elevate their environmental leadership through creating partnerships to protect some of the world’s most vulnerable forests. 

Prior to joining Everland, Angela was at United Airlines both as Managing Environmental Counsel and as Managing Director Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, where she led a team responsible for United’s environmental regulatory compliance, climate policy, sustainability measures, and alternative fuels strategy. Under Angela’s leadership, United was recognized as an environmental leader including for its climate change work, including its leadership in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (first commercial scale use of aviation biofuels and largest investment) and its industry engagement for aviation climate policy. Angela played a role as an expert on carbon markets and biofuels in the United Nation’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection in developing the first global market-based-measure for international aviation CO2 emissions

She received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Rice University and her law degree from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters.

Robin Hayes is chief executive officer of JetBlue Airways Corp., which encompasses JetBlue – New York’s Hometown Airline® – as well as subsidiaries JetBlue Technology Ventures and JetBlue Travel Products.

He joined JetBlue in 2008 and served as the company’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer until becoming president of the airline in January 2014. In February 2015 he was appointed as JetBlue’s third chief executive officer, serving as president and CEO until 2018.

Prior to joining JetBlue, Robin was executive vice president for the Americas at British Airways. Over the span of a wide-ranging 19-year career with BA, he also served as area general manager for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

He serves as chair of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); vice chair of the board of Airlines for America (A4A); and a member of the board of KeyCorp; Make-A-Wish Connecticut; and the Wings Club Foundation.

Robin is a graduate in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. He received a BSc and a master’s in engineering from the university.

Henrik is 52 years old, an economist by training and holds a degree from TalTech (Tallinn Technical University). He has also studied in Aarhus University in Denmark.

He held various positions in the Estonian Government Office between 1995 and 2004 and was mainly responsible for coordinating the work for the Estonian accession to the European Union, working directly with the Prime Minister.

In 2001-2002 he was Minister of Economy.  In 2002-2003 he represented the Estonian Government in the Convention on the Future of Europe. In 2004 he moved to the European Commission as Head of Cabinet of Vice President Siim Kallas.

From November 2013 he was Deputy Secretary General of the European Commission and represented the European Commission in the Committee of Permanent Representatives. In October 2015 he became Director-General for Mobility and Transport in the European Commission.

Jane Hoskisson joined IATA in 2014, and in 2019 established the 25by2025 program to lead the industry in addressing gender balance across the industry.

Prior to joining IATA, Jane worked, Oil and Gas and Tobacco.   At BP, Jane held a number of roles in HR across the group, and in 2010 developed a company-wide audit program to establish the links between culture and safety following the Gulf of Mexico incident.

Jane holds a degree in Business and German, an MBA and an MSC in HR.

Jayne Hrdlicka is the Chief Executive Officer of the Virgin Australia Group, a major Australian airline operating domestic and short-haul international flights, charter and cargo services, and the award-winning Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program.  Since joining Virgin Australian in November 2020, Jayne has managed the transformation of the airline under new ownership in a difficult operating environment dominated by COVID-19.  In her time as CEO, Jayne has overseen fleet growth of over 50 per cent - from 58 Boeing 737 aircraft to 88 aircraft, introduced a simplified fare structure focused on providing value to customers, announced a commitment to a target of net zero emissions by 2050, invested in the re-start of international travel for the airline, refreshed the lounge product as well as delivered step change investments in technology.  

Jayne has 20 years leadership experience in the consumer and aviation sectors. Prior to joining Virgin Australia, Jayne was CEO of the a2 Milk Company, and prior to that Jayne held leadership roles at Qantas Group for nearly a decade, where she led the design of Qantas Airlines transformation across both cost reduction and customer experience improvement.  She also was the CEO of the Jetstar Group for six years delivering significant improvement in customer experience across all airlines as well as substantial growth in revenue and earnings.  Jayne was also CEO of Qantas Loyalty and Digital Ventures before leaving to join the a2 Milk Company.

Jayne currently serves as Chair of Tennis Australia and is a member of the Hawaiian Airlines’ Board of Directors.  Formerly, Jayne was a Non-Executive Board Director of Woolworths, was a former senior partner with Bain & Company and leader in the firm’s Customer Strategy and Marketing Practice. She led Bain’s Customer Practice for the Asia region.  Earlier in her career, Jayne also spent 6 years as an executive and subsequently a CEO of two publishing and marketing related businesses. Both of these businesses required the design and execution of complex transformations.

As CFO, Ursula Hurley is responsible for JetBlue’s overall financial strategy including accounting, audit, aircraft and engine transactions, cash management, corporate finance, financial planning and analysis, fuel, and tax. She is also responsible for the company’s real estate and strategic sourcing units.

Prior to being appointed CFO, Ursula was head of treasury and investor relations for JetBlue, managing the company’s $13 billion balance sheet, comprising corporate and aircraft finance; cash management and investments; fleet management; fuel purchasing and hedging; fleet strategy and programs, strategic sourcing and managing JetBlue’s relationships with the investor community.

Throughout her 18-year career in the airline industry, she has also held various roles in financial reporting; financial planning and analysis; and investor relations. Ursula is president of the JetBlue Foundation whose mission is to promote diversity in STEM education and create career paths for the next generation in aviation. She also sits on the Fairfield University Dolan School of Business Advisory Board. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Fairfield University and an MBA from Columbia University.

Mallika is Shell’s Chief Economist. She advises on macroeconomic issues, economic trends, and related policy matters to shape Shell’s long-term scenario outlooks. She leads strategic engagements on energy transitions with national and city governments across the world, notably a multi-year collaboration with the Chinese government. Mallika also advises on Shell’s strategic policy and advocacy approach to support the company’s energy transition strategy. She sits on a range of external advisory boards.

Prior to joining Shell, she was Deputy Director at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs responsible for evidence and analysis across the environment, food, and green economy portfolio. She has held senior positions across the UK government, including at the Cabinet Office as Head of Policy Analysis for the 2009 G20 London Summit. Before that, Mallika worked in senior economics and policy roles in the USA.

Mallika holds Ph.D. and M.S degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, and a B.A. from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University.

30 years of experience in the oil industry incl. 20 years in the fuel management team of Lufthansa Group.

Working for Oil tanking, Mabanaft and Phibro the oil trading division of investment bank Salomon Brothers in London. Joining the fuel risk management and supply department of Lufthansa in 2001. Responsible for the global jet fuel self-supply and trading scheme for the Lufthansa Group.

General Manager of Lufthansa Fuel Company – Lufthansa`s oil trading division - and since March 2022 Head of Fuel Management Supply of Lufthansa Group.

Adrian Neuhauser was named President and CEO of Avianca in April of 2021, after having joined the company as CFO in 2019. In his initial role as CFO, Adrian led Avianca’s 2019 out-of-court restructuring, subsequently arranging and overseeing the Company’s successful Chapter 11 reorganization and emergence during the COVID pandemic.

Prior to Avianca, Mr. Neuhauser worked for over 20 years at various investment banks -including Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America Merrill Lynchwhere he developed extensive experience advising clients in the transportation sector, including airlines, aircraft lessors, railroads, and logistics companies. Between 2012 and 2014, Adrian served as President of Railex, a refrigerated unit train and thirdparty-logistics provider that was subsequently acquired by Union Pacific. He holds a dual degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Pontificia Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile.

Gideon Rachman is chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times. He writes a weekly column for the FT and hosts an international-affairs podcast. His main interests include geopolitics in Asia, US foreign policy and the future of the EU.

Rachman won the Orwell Prize for journalism (2016) and was also named commentator of the year in the European Press Prize awards in 2016.

He has written three books on international politics – Zero-Sum World (2011), Easternisation (2016) and Age of the Strongman (2021). He is also a regular public speaker, appearing before both academic and business audiences.

A graduate of Ecole Polytechnique (Paris) in 2001 and the French National University of Civil Aviation (ENAC in Toulouse) in 2003, Pierre-Hugues has also spent one year in UC Berkeley as graduate student in transportation engineering.

Pierre-Hugues worked at the French CAA for 7 years, 3 of which is the head of the French Airlines Department (2006-2009). From 2010 to 2012, Pierre-Hugues was working as an advisor to the French Transportation Minister. He then joined Aéroports de Paris as deputy director of the Le Bourget division.

In 2014, along with three partners he founded La compagnie, a scheduled airline based in Paris delivering pure business class service to New York.

Pierre-Hugues joined VINCI Airports in June 2017 where he supervises the airport business expertise on air service development, extra aeronautical activities and airport operations.

With over 18 years in the energy industry, Bryan Sherbacow is a recognized pioneer in the development of low carbon fuels and responsible for the first commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

As CEO of Alder Fuels, a clean tech development and production company, Mr. Sherbacow is leading commercialization of a proprietary process to produce carbon negative crude oil that is scalable and cost-competitive with the petroleum it replaces.

Previously, Mr. Sherbacow co-founded AltAir Fuels, which developed the world’s first refinery designed to produce SAF. Mr. Sherbacow was responsible for identifying strategic industry partners and equity investors in addition to negotiating contracts for the refinery JV, technology licensing, engineering and construction. Commissioned in January 2016, AltAir Paramount converted a petroleum refinery to the production of SAF, renewable diesel, naphtha and propane. Mr. Sherbacow negotiated the aviation industry’s first commercial contracts for SAF with United Airlines and World Fuel Services. Additionally, he executed the first contract for operational use of renewable diesel fuel by the U.S. Navy. Subsequent contracts included Gulfstream, Boeing, UPS, Amazon and Shell.

In March 2018, Mr. Sherbacow facilitated the acquisition by World Energy of AltAir and the Paramount refinery assets. Mr. Sherbacow also serves as Chairman of the Low Carbon Fuels Coalition and a steering committee member of the Business Aviation Coalition for SAF.

Anna Stewart is a CNN reporter based in the network's London bureau. She is the presenter of CNN's Marketplace Europe. She covers topics related mainly to international business and the British Royal Family.

Stewart reports daily on the latest global economic and financial news for CNN's flagship business programmes: First Move with Julia Chatterley and Quest Means Business.

Stewart has previously hosted CNN's Passion to Portfolio, travelling the globe telling the stories of entrepreneurs who have turned personal dreams into professional success. Stewart has also hosted CNN Equestrian across Europe, and reported for Marketplace Africa from South Africa.

In 2018 Stewart played a key role in CNN's coverage of the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, playing into live news for CNN International, CNN Domestic and HLN. She also reported on the couple's Royal tour of the UK and Ireland, in the months running up to the big day. In resposne to the 2020 coronavirus crisis, Stewart launched 'The Good Stuff', a strand of 60 second reports focusing on positive news stories.

Stewart has previously worked at CNBC. She was awarded an academic scholarship by the University of Oxford- where she received a B.A. in English Literature. She was also awarded the Oxford Gibbs prize for achievement.