Agenda

Summer is a Market Research Analyst at Valour Consultancy, a multi-award winning, UK-based market intelligence firm. She joined the company in 2023 and has led Valour’s research covering the market for IFC in business aviation. She has a broad range of experience in the commercial aviation sector expanding across IFC, IFE and content licensing.

Reza Rasoulian, senior vice president & general manager of the Aviation Business Unit at Hughes, leads the company’s aviation business, including both commercial and business aviation. He also leads product development for NGSO and other mobility markets.

Prior to joining Hughes in his current position, Reza was vice president of global connectivity at Carnival Corporation, creating frictionless experience at scale for the world’s largest cruise company.

Among many awards for excellence and leadership, Reza received the 2018 Euroconsult Smart Ship of the Year award for a record 3.174 Gbps of satellite bandwidth delivered to a ship.

Reza earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems & Management Science from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Whiting School of Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University. He is also PMP certified.

Eric PEYRUCAIN is a Commercial Senior Director for Connected Aircraft at AIRBUS SAS, where he leads the sales to scale the digital transformation of Airbus Aircraft.

With over 30 years at Airbus, Eric’s career is defined by his transition from R&T Engineering to strategic leadership. He notably led the design, sourcing, and development of the full Navigation suite for the A350 XWB, contributing across nearly every Airbus aircraft family, including the military A320, A400M and MRTT.

Transitioning to the Strategy and the Digital Transformation Office, he drove long-term concepts in Connectivity, Energy, and Systems, championing the development of innovative connected digital solutions.

Eric now leverages his deep experience to deliver significant customer value by spearheading the sales of Connected Aircraft solutions within the Airbus Commercial organisation.

A graduate of ENAC, Eric also enjoys photography, mountain biking, gardening, and actively supporting sustainable development.

Ben Asmar is Vice President of Products and Strategy at RAVE Aerospace, where he leads the strategic direction and development of the company’s RAVE In-Flight Entertainment platform. With more than 27 years of experience spanning Government, Technology, Gaming, and Aviation, including 16 years in aviation leadership roles. Ben has a strong background in technology, program management, and product innovation. He is dedicated to advancing the passenger experience through technology and user centered design, driving innovation across RAVE Aerospace’s next-generation IFEC products and services.

Duncan is a visionary entrepreneur and product expert who’s been creating innovative solutions for the aviation industry, including commercial airlines, airports, and business aviation, for over ten years. With a proven track record in both aviation and sports management, Duncan has been instrumental in building multiple billion-dollar businesses by leveraging his ability to identify and solve complex business problems through cutting-edge technology.

A senior leader with over 40 years of experience in the civil aerospace industry, specialising in engineering, international program management, marketing strategy and communications.

Jon has deep knowledge of inflight entertainment and connectivity, cabin systems, interiors, seating, and aircraft design and integration.

With a track record of leading global programs and driving innovation, Jon brings a strategic approach to aerospace marketing and product development, ensuring customer-focused solutions that enhance the passenger experience, operational excellence, and market growth.

Previous roles at FlightPath3D, Panasonic Avionics, Lumexis Corporation, Ink, Airbus, Fairchild Dornier and BAE SYSTEMS.

Germain is an experienced leader in the air transport and travel
industries, encompassing innovation & climate change challenges. For
over 10 years at Air France, he led several transformation projects and
managed operations at the Charles de Gaulle hub and in the Indian
Ocean. He pursued his career in Mauritius leading the business
development activities of an Aviation services company in Eastern Africa
and in the Indian Ocean, and managing several brick-and-mortar and
online travel agencies.

Inflight Editor Satu Dahl is a highly respected aviation journalist who, for over a decade, has been reporting on airlines' latest developments and ground-breaking new products, as well as conducting extensive airline executive interviews and in-depth analysis on the global aviation marketplace, covering both commercial and business aviation.

Ricky works closely with airlines to ensure goals and budgets are met while identifying new and unique opportunities to enhance their inflight entertainment experience. He maintains oversight of the entire production and delivery process, meeting key milestones to deliver both content and innovation.

With over 25 years in the inflight entertainment industry—the majority of which were spent in Asia running the regional head office—Ricky has worked with numerous carriers across the Asia-Pacific region. He has grown the client base and built long-standing relationships with airlines, resulting in unique programming initiatives that are still flying today.

Having witnessed the evolution of the business from analogue VHS and audio cassettes to today's expansive AVOD platforms, Ricky offers a broad perspective on what is achievable and what resonates with passengers, especially as on-ground and in-air content experiences become increasingly aligned.

Ricky values being part of an evolving industry that continues to offer unique opportunities and global connections, giving him the chance to work with people from many cultures and explore diverse cuisines along the way.

David Whelan is a Senior Analyst at Valour Consultancy, specialising in in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) as well as the broader landscape of aircraft digitalisation. His work focuses on delivering high-quality market intelligence, supporting clients through tailored consultancy services, and helping stakeholders navigate a rapidly evolving aviation ecosystem. David contributes to the development of in-depth industry reports, providing actionable insights on emerging technologies, competitive dynamics, and passenger experience trends. In addition to analytical work, David is an active industry commentator, regularly sharing perspectives through public speaking engagements, panel discussions, and written publications.

Corinne Streichert is the founder of IFECtiv LLC, a West Coast-based consulting firm specializing in Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC). A multi-award-winning veteran of the IFEC industry, Corinne is renowned for her innovative approach to enhancing inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) experiences in the commercial aviation sector. She is also the producer and host of the “On Your Flight Today” podcast, where she interviews global experts on topics ranging from aircraft interiors and inflight entertainment to the overall passenger experience. Corinne is currently a member of the judging panel for the prestigious Crystal Cabin Awards, an international accolade recognizing excellence and innovation in aircraft interior design and passenger experience.

Inflight Editor Satu Dahl is a highly respected aviation journalist who, for over a decade, has been reporting on airlines' latest developments and ground-breaking new products, as well as conducting extensive airline executive interviews and in-depth analysis on the global aviation marketplace, covering both commercial and business aviation.

Driven by world-class customer experience design, creative thinking, and continually innovating in the airline industry, Rossen is a visionary leader and experienced senior executive with over 20 years of experience working for the world’s best airline brands.

As the Director General’s Advisor and Chief Customer Experience Officer at Saudia, Rossen is driving a major transformation of the guest experience strategy in line with the Saudi 2030 vision by building a customer-centric approach to delivering future-proof aircraft, lounge and airport interiors, technology-enabled experiences and new service concepts that will be the foundation of the airlines’ customer experience for years to come.

Prior to this post, Rossen was Chief Officer Customer Experience at Qatar Airways and spearheaded the rebuilding of the customer experience division post-covid, leading the largest-ever global recruitment drives in the history of the airline, delivering the highest guest satisfaction during the FIFA 2022 World Cup, expanding the Lounges portfolio and introducing new technology that was at the forefront of innovation through continued investment in onboard product, service and dining experiences. The outcome of this strategy is unmatched in the industry as the Qatar Airways Group announced a record profit in its 25 Year history, was named “Airline of the Year” by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax as well as three additional awards driven by excellence in their customer experience, including World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining, and Best Airline in the Middle East.
Earning an internationally recognised reputation for creating bespoke guest experiences and being awarded as number #3 on the Future Travel Experience Airline Passenger Experience Global Power List, he has held various senior executive and advisory roles in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Guest Experience Officer, Advisor to Group Chief Executive Officers, and Chief Officer Customer Experience.
Rossen’s story began flying as a Cabin Crew in Canada and soon after completing his education and training he became accredited with an FAA Commercial Business Jet Pilot license, flew as a pilot on a corporate jet, managed airline operations and startups and lead the Customer Experience transformation for the most innovative airlines in the world.

Husham is an accomplished engineer and brings decades of experience within the aviation industry to RoyalJet’s leadership team, including in commercial and private aviation, both in the Middle East and abroad. Husham joined RoyalJet in 2006 and was quickly promoted to the role of Vice President Technical Services, overseeing all of RoyalJet’s technical functions. As a key leader, Husham ensures that RoyalJet maintains a safe, compliant and efficient technical operation and guides the development of the company’s maintenance, engineering, logistics and other technical support personnel. Husham is a licensed aerospace engineer and also holds both an MBA and Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Strategic Management.

During her airline career, Jennifer Coutts Clay has held several senior job positions, spread across three continents. At British Airways, Jennifer was the first woman in the airline to be appointed to run operations and.sales as Head of a geographical region. Subsequently, she held the position of Control/er Corporate Identity during British Airways' transition from government- to investor­ownership. At Pan American World Airways, she served as Genera/ Manager Product Design and Development. She worked as Consultant to Eastern Airlines, to United Express and Atlantic Coast Airlines, and to South African Airways. She was a certified Consultant (#PA-23925) to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She is a Contributing Editor to Aircraft Interiors International magazine and is a Sponsor of the Pan Am Museum Foundation and the Crystal Cabin Awards.

Anita Gradwohl is an Austrian aviation and aircraft interiors expert and currently serves as Group Director of Customer Relations & Sales for the New Business Unit Aviation at F/LIST, a global leader in high-end interiors for business & private jets, commercial aviation and residential spaces.

She began her career in aviation in 2005 at Diamond Aircraft as a dispatcher and quickly advanced to Area Sales Manager for the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. In 2011, she joined F/LIST, where she has played a key role in building and expanding the company’s aviation division and strengthening international customer relationships.

With extensive experience in sales, customer relations, and global business development, Gradwohl brings a strategic, customer-focused perspective to the future of aircraft interiors.

Jan Petersohn is Director Business Development Aircraft Systems at Diehl Aviation, bringing nearly two decades of experience in aircraft cabin systems and lighting to the panel. His expertise is rooted in a deep specialization in cabin lighting technology, having led some of the industry's most significant LED lighting programs for passenger aircraft. In his current role, Jan is responsible for commercial strategy, pricing, and contract negotiations across major cabin systems programs with focus on cabin lighting solutions. Jan has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and is based at Diehl's Nuremberg site, which is at the heart of cabin lighting.

Corinne Streichert is the founder of IFECtiv LLC, a West Coast-based consulting firm specializing in Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC). A multi-award-winning veteran of the IFEC industry, Corinne is renowned for her innovative approach to enhancing inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) experiences in the commercial aviation sector. She is also the producer and host of the “On Your Flight Today” podcast, where she interviews global experts on topics ranging from aircraft interiors and inflight entertainment to the overall passenger experience. Corinne is currently a member of the judging panel for the prestigious Crystal Cabin Awards, an international accolade recognizing excellence and innovation in aircraft interior design and passenger experience.

Melanie Berry has been the Director of Customer Experience at Iberia since May 2017. She has 25 years of expertise in transforming customer satisfaction, operational performance, sustainability and employee engagement for global airlines. During her time at Iberia, the customer experience has been improved with a completely revamped journey, through digitalisation in all areas, the introduction of free messaging, a new catering provider, improved amenities and delivery of the next generation of aircraft.

Reza Rasoulian, senior vice president & general manager of the Aviation Business Unit at Hughes, leads the company’s aviation business, including both commercial and business aviation. He also leads product development for NGSO and other mobility markets.

Prior to joining Hughes in his current position, Reza was vice president of global connectivity at Carnival Corporation, creating frictionless experience at scale for the world’s largest cruise company.

Among many awards for excellence and leadership, Reza received the 2018 Euroconsult Smart Ship of the Year award for a record 3.174 Gbps of satellite bandwidth delivered to a ship.

Reza earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems & Management Science from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Whiting School of Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University. He is also PMP certified.

Eva Birgitte Bisgaard is President of Eutelsat’s Connectivity Business Unit and a member of the Group’s Executive Committee.
She is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of international experience in commercial leadership, strategic transformation and connectivity-oriented business development across the telecommunications and commercial technology sectors. Before joining Eutelsat Group, Eva Birgitte served as Chief Commercial Officer at Maersk Tankers, where she led global commercial engagement with partners and customers and drove digital innovation to enhance service performance across markets. During her time there, she also headed sales and services while overseeing decarbonisation and digitalisation initiatives.
Prior to Maersk Tankers, Eva Birgitte spent nearly two decades with the Danish telecommunications operator TDC, where she held senior leadership roles including Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of YouSee. In these positions, she was responsible for defining and executing go-to-market strategies, advancing customer-centric connectivity offerings, and leading brand and sales development. Earlier roles included leadership positions in TDC’s enterprise and international wholesale divisions, where she focused on expanding digital services and data solutions.
A Norwegian national, Eva Birgitte holds a Master’s degree in International Business from Aarhus Business School/University of Aarhus, Denmark, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from BI Norwegian.

Chris Moore is CEO of Gogo, a leading provider of broadband connectivity solutions for business and government aviation.
In his previous roles at Satcom Direct, Chris spearheaded the company’s growth from $120 million to $490 million in annual revenue, driving expansion and new market access in international markets from $8 million to over $100 million, and achieving over 16% YoY growth. After relocating to the United States in 2017, he was promoted to COO and later President of the company. In 2024, he led the negotiations in the successful sale of Satcom Direct to Gogo Business Aviation. During the sale, he was recruited as CEO of Gogo where he is responsible for steering the company’s strategic direction and fostering innovation while identifying new commercial opportunities to enhance business growth.
With over 20 years of experience in the global telecommunications and the IT business space, Chris’s leadership skills have been key in developing commercial solutions and strategic partnerships. Previous roles include Vice President of Sales at Horizon Mobile and Head of Global Sales at Inmarsat PLC, where he drove significant revenues across aeronautical, maritime, land, and government markets.
Chris holds an International Business Degree from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, and is a strong advocate for leveraging technology to improve customer experiences, market competitiveness, and raising industry connectivity standards.

I’m the owner and founder of Rocket Girl Coaching and a proud wheelchair user. My life and work are dedicated to personal and organisational development to provide practical help to improve inclusion and understanding in society.

I do this through consultancy, disability equity training and coaching, following 28 years in software engineering, which took me around the world. I work in practical and repeatable ways to improve the passenger experience in aviation. I am chair/co-chair and member of several access advisory groups in aviation and public standards (Department for Transport Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, British Airways, Wilson James, British Standards Institute, RAF Museum).

I deliver first class Disability Equity in Aviation training and co-created passenger service courses distributed by IATA and learned to fly in 2012 as a massive AV geek.

Beatriz holds a degree in Economics and Business Management from ESEN in El Salvador and an MBA from the University of Manchester. Since April 2025, she has been the Chief Customer Officer at Iberia in charge of all customers related areas and as well as the loyalty program.
Beatriz has 20 years of experience in commercial areas of various airlines and has developed most of her career in Revenue Management. She joined Iberia in 2014 as Senior Manager of Long-Haul Flight Revenue Management. In May 2019, she became the Director of the area, and during her tenure, Beatriz contributed to Iberia regaining its leadership on routes between Europe and the American continent.

In 2022 she was appointed Global Sales Director at Iberia where she was responsible for leading relationships and planning commercial strategies with travel agencies worldwide, as well as corporate segments and business development.
She holds dual Salvadoran and Spanish nationality and is a mother of four children.

Melanie Berry has been the Director of Customer Experience at Iberia since May 2017. She has 25 years of expertise in transforming customer satisfaction, operational performance, sustainability and employee engagement for global airlines. During her time at Iberia, the customer experience has been improved with a completely revamped journey, through digitalisation in all areas, the introduction of free messaging, a new catering provider, improved amenities and delivery of the next generation of aircraft.

Tammo Bahns is a mechanical engineer who specialises in product development and was educated at the Technical University of Hamburg. Tammo joined Diehl Aviation in 2017 and has been a key contributor to the company’s innovation activities ever since. He began his career in Hamburg, focusing on developing cabin monuments, before transitioning to a role that brought together engineering expertise from several Diehl locations.
His work has spanned connected cabin technologies, as well as innovations for greater eco-efficiency – two distinct innovation streams that each require collaboration across multiple Diehl sites and product groups.
Building on this experience, Tammo focuses on innovative concepts to improve cabin accessibility and enhance the travel experience for all passengers.
Through these projects, Tammo gained a deep appreciation for the importance of involving people with disabilities early in the design process. He is currently based in Everett, Washington.

After joining Airbus in 2003, Hans-Gerhard held various positions in the field of Human Factors in Cabin & Cargo. In 2016, he was appointed as Senior Expert for this field providing guidance for technical decisions on ergonomics, comfort, health, usability and cabin operations.

He also acts as Airbus engineering focal for accessibility of aircraft cabins. Hans-Gerhard holds a doctorate in Human-Machine-Systems from the Technische Universität, Berlin, and has an interdisciplinary background in engineering and psychology.

Stephanie Werner is Regional Director of Cabin Marketing at Boeing, where she champions innovation and equity in the passenger experience. In this role, she works with airlines around the world to understand their evolving needs, partnering internally with Boeing's Product Development engineering and Product Strategy teams to bring inclusive, customer-centered cabin solutions to life.

Before moving into marketing, Stephanie spent years as an aircraft interior designer specializing in VVIP and head-of-state configurations on the 777, 787, and 747 platforms. This technical design background, combined with her work on international resorts and at a supersonic aviation startup, sharpened her belief that everyone can benefit from thoughtful, research-informed design.

Stephanie's international experience spans multiple sectors and continents, giving her a broad understanding of the diverse communities airlines serve. She holds advanced degrees from Northwestern University and Washington State University, spanning marketing, interior design, and business — a foundation that informs her approach to accessibility as both a design challenge and a business imperative.

Beyond Boeing, Stephanie translates her commitment to equity into community action. She promotes literacy as a Team Read board member, fosters global dialogue as a World Affairs Council Fellow, and advocates for women's leadership through the Junior League of Seattle.

At AIX, Stephanie joins the Inclusivity panel to explore how thoughtful design, evolving policies, and emerging products can make air travel more accessible and dignified for passengers of all needs and backgrounds.

Stephanie is an aviation and passenger experience communications professional with over a decade of experience across editorial, media, and industry insight roles.

She is currently serving as APEX Insights Editor for the Airline Passenger Experience Association, but first cut her teeth on aviation journalism at HMG Aerospace, where she learned her trade working on Inflight and LARA magazines as an editorial assistant and then later as Assistant Editor.

Kurt Weidemeyer is Vice President, Product Management at Thales InFlyt Experience (IFE), a leading provider of cutting-edge connected inflight entertainment and digital solutions that engage and inspire millions of airline passengers around the globe. Kurt has more than 20 years of diverse product management, technical, and leadership experience in the aerospace and connectivity industries.

In this role he leads the Product Management organization for Thales IFE’s product portfolio including inflight entertainment systems, Seat Integration, Connectivity, Digital Solutions, and Cloud Technologies.

Prior to joining Thales, he held several leadership roles at Inmarsat Aviation including Senior Vice President, Technology and Vice President, Business Aviation. Kurt previously worked for nearly a decade at Honeywell Aerospace where he held various roles of increasing responsibility in program management, technology, customer service, marketing and product management.

Kurt holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. He is a certified Six Sigma Greenbelt.

Takuya (Nate) Matsuo is a business leader with expertise in strategy, marketing, and branding, with extensive experience in the airline and financial services industries.

He began his career in 2000 at Japan Airlines (JAL), where he focused on business planning and marketing strategy. Over time, he played a key role in developing and executing company-wide marketing and branding initiatives, contributing to the airline’s strategic growth.

In 2017, Takuya was appointed Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of JAL Payment Port, a fintech joint venture between JAL Group and SBI Group. There, he led the Neobank project, Japan’s first Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) model, driving innovation at the intersection of aviation and financial services.

In 2021, he joined Z Holdings (now LINE Yahoo) as Division Director of the Consumer Loan Business Division at a subsidiary digital bank. He led the consumer finance business, overseeing strategy and growth in digital lending.

From January 2023, he served as Marketing Director at ZIPAIR, supporting marketing execution. In December 2023, he was officially appointed Executive Officer and CMO, where he continues to lead marketing strategy and brand development.

Joe Leader serves as the Group CEO of APEX, covering Airline Passenger Experience Association), IFSA (International Flight Services Association), and FTE (Future Travel Experience). As a forerunner in aviation and technology, Leader has been a leading executive for more than two decades across technology and aviation companies. Leader holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Emory University, an MBA in technology management, and conducted his business Ph.D. research on accelerating technology adoption in aviation. For the past five decades, APEX has served as the non-profit passenger experience trade association of nearly every major airline and airline passenger experience company in the world with IFSA serving all in-flight service and catering worldwide. Acquired by APEX to expand further across airlines, airports, and industry stakeholders, Future Travel Experience enhances travel experience alongside business performance through in-person events, digital platforms, working groups, proof of concept initiatives, awards, competitions, and weekly updates reaching over 60,000 travel industry leaders.

Eric serves as the Head of Cabin & Cargo Innovation at Airbus, where he explores next-generation aircraft interiors. He places a special focus on sustainability, prioritizing both environmental efficiency and enhanced accessibility for all passengers. Previously, he was instrumental in establishing the Airspace Customer Definition Centre, a pivotal hub for airline collaboration and design. Eric further contributes to the aviation industry by moderating the BDLI working group on Cabin & Cargo sustainability and serving on the Airbus Germany University Board.