Strategy Summit Speakers
Andrew Herdman
Director General, Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA)
Andrew Herdman has held the position of Director General of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) since November 2004.
In this role he is committed to expanding the role of the Association as the leading trade organization for international airlines based in the Asia-Pacific region, addressing a wide range of both regional and global policy issues affecting the industry. AAPA works closely with regulators and other industry associations with the aim of fostering the sustainable growth of international civil aviation.
Prior to joining the AAPA, Andrew held a number of senior positions with the Swire Group, the parent company of Cathay Pacific Airways, with other diverse interests in aviation, property, beverages, marine services, trading and industrial sectors, predominantly based in the Greater China region, most recently as Director Corporate Affairs at Swire Pacific and a Director of the parent holding company, John Swire & Sons.
Mr. Herdman spent much of his earlier career in a variety of senior aviation-related roles with Cathay Pacific Airways and its associated companies, including: Managing Director, Cathay Pacific Catering Services, Managing Director of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd (HAECO), Chairman of Xiamen-based TAECO; Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo; Director and General Manager of ABACUS, and a board member of Worldspan.
Mr. Herdman is a graduate of Oxford University, with BA (Hons) and a post-graduate BPhil in management studies. Married with two daughters, he also enjoys tennis, sailing and hiking.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Benito C. Bengzon, Jr.
Undersecretary of Tourism Development, Philippine Department of Tourism
Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. completed his Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the University of the Philippines in 1984. From 1989 to 1992, he took up his Masters in Business Administration at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and in 1999 graduated from the National Defense College of the Philippines with a Masters degree in National Security Administration.
He started his career with the Philippine Department of Tourism in 1986 where he was involved initially in tourism planning, product research and development. From 1993 to 1999, he headed the DOT’s Investment Promotion Unit. In 1999, he was assigned to Tokyo as Tourism Attaché. He returned to Manila in 2007 and handled the Marketing Team for Japan and later also for the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific. In 2010, he was appointed Assistant Secretary for International Tourism Promotions and designated as the spokesman of the Department. In November 2014, he was appointed as Undersecretary of the Tourism Development Sector.
He also currently sits in the Civil Aeronautics Board as Alternate Vice Chairman and is a member of the Philippine Air Negotiating Panel.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Vinoop Goel
Asia-Pacific Regional Director of Airport, Passenger, Cargo & Security Department, IATA
Vinoop Goel is the Asia-Pacific Regional Director of Airport, Passenger, Cargo & Security Department for International Air Transport Association (IATA). He is based at their Asia Pacific regional office in Singapore.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 260 airlines or 83% of total air traffic. IATA supports many areas of aviation activity and helps formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues.
Vinoop leads a team that is responsible for all IATA's activities in the Asia-Pacific region relating to airports – including Infrastructure, Capital expenditure and charges, Fuel supply, Passenger experience, Baggage services, Cargo, Ground handling, Security and Facilitation. In this capacity, Vinoop works with airports, governments and other aviation stakeholders in the region to improve the end-to-end passenger and cargo journey.
Vinoop has a degree in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT, Delhi in India. He has about 25 years of aviation industry experience including a 15 year stint in Japan and has been with IATA since 2005.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Joy Caneba
CEO, Air Asia Philippines
Joy was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of PAA on 1 April 2014. A lawyer by profession with a vast experience in corporate legal matters, Joy has been an advisor and counsel to AirAsia in its efforts to enter the Philippines and establish its brand and operations there. She was also instrumental in AirAsia Inc.’s acquisition of Zest Airways via strategic alliance in 2013, a partnership that paved the way for PAA to operate on a much larger scale.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Andrew Harrison
CEO, Cebu Airport
Andrew has worked in the Air Transportation (Airports) industry for the last 26 years in 12 airports globally and has gained considerable experience in Airport Operations, Airport Development and Airport Privatization at a senior leadership level.
His key expertise today is in the development of airport projects at a transformational level which entails leading the Project Team through facilities enhancement (Landside, Terminal and Airfield), leading the Management Team through the development of a lean and efficient organization structure populated by motivated and trained personnel to deliver business results based on the strategic objectives aligned to the mandate of the Shareholders and the Board of Directors.
He is currently serving as the Chief Executive Advisor, MactanNCebu International Airport and his previous roles include Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Delhi International Airport, Chief Executive Officer of Male’ International Airport (Maldives), Chief Operating Officer of Delhi International Airport, Chief Operating Officer of Hyderabad International Airport and Airport Operations Director for London Luton Airport. In addition, he has held various operational roles in Airports in the USA, South America, Saudi Arabia and England.
Under GMR, where he has worked for the last 10 years he has delivered GMR’s core competence of transforming legacy airports under the PPP initiative into efficient, award winning airports that have achieved significant revenues whilst at the same time providing world class airport facilities for the benefit of airlines and passengers. GMR, in all it’s projects seeks to play a significant role in economic contribution to the local economy, development of people skills to equip them for roles in more advanced airports as well as community support initiatives through its CSR Programme.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Conrad Clifford
Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific, IATA
Conrad Clifford is the Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific at the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Conrad is responsible for IATA’s activities across the Asia Pacific region, focusing on serving the regions airline members’ and stakeholders’ needs. He will place a key priority on further developing IATA’s partnerships across the region, enabling IATA global standards and perspective to deliver maximum value to the safe, sustainable and profitable development of aviation. He joined IATA on 1 February 2014.
Prior to joining IATA, Conrad has a career in aviation spanning more than 33 years. He has CEO’d a startup, a domestic, a regional and an international carrier. He has an intimate knowledge of top brand carriers having worked for Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates. Conrad has lived and worked in Asia, Africa and Europe and has a broad and indepth knowledge of strategy and business planning, pricing and revenue management and airport operations.
Conrad, a British national, was born in the United Kingdom in 1958 and graduated from Cambridge University. He has obtained an MBA from Durham University Business School. He has broad international working experience and is able to converse in Mandarin Chinese and some French, German, Korean and Thai.
Conrad is married with two sons. He enjoys outdoor activities like jogging and playing golf.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Alexander Lao
Vice President, Commercial Planning, Cebu Pacific
Alexander “Xander” Lao has been the Vice-President – Commercial Planning of Cebu Pacific (Cebu Air, Inc.) since January 2012 and has been with the company since October 2007.
In his role, Xander oversees the Commercial aspects of Network Planning, Network Management and Revenue Management and Pricing. Prior to joining Cebu Pacific, he was Assistant Vice President for the Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company. Xander has a degree in Legal Management from Ateneo de Manila University, is a Fellow with Distinction of the Life Management Institute and has a Masters Degree in Business Administration, Major in Finance from the Asian Institute of Management.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Andrew Wong
Regional Director, Flights APAC, TripAdvisor
Based in Singapore, Andrew Wong is Regional Director, Flights at TripAdvisor. Responsible for the APAC region, Andrew works with airlines, low-cost carriers and online travel agencies to provide the widest range of travel options, prices and itineraries to TripAdvisor’s Flight meta search users. His specialty is airline distribution, online travel media and monetization of traffic.
Andrew was previously based in London where he expanded TripAdvisor’s flight business to Europe, Brazil and Russia. Andrew also worked on TripAdvisor’s core hotel side of the business, engaging with tour operators, online travel agencies and hoteliers across Europe. Before TripAdvisor, Andrew worked for Travelport in London where he negotiated complex Full Content agreements with airlines. Andrew also worked to take over distributor operations and set-up direct offices in Senegal, Cameroon, Latvia and Romania for Galileo International. Prior to this, Andrew worked for a short-lived Canadian low-cost carrier. Andrew is from Toronto, Canada and holds a Masters degree in Air Transport from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.
Participating Talks and Sessions
John Schubert
Managing Director, Marketing Asia Pacific and India, Boeing
John Schubert has been with the Boeing Company for 30 years and is currently the Managing Director of Marketing for Asia Pacific and India. John is responsible for the marketing analysis of commercial airplanes to airlines in the Asia Pacific and India regions. He is responsible for market strategy, product analysis and product marketing activities in these regions.
Previously, John was a Senior Analyst in the Sales Strategy organization responsible for developing twin aisle product and sales strategies. As Regional Director of Marketing in Asia Pacific from 2004 to 2010, John coordinated commercial airplane marketing activities in Malaysia and Indonesia. From 1997 to 2004, John served in the Financial Analysis Group, supporting sales campaigns and providing financial analysis assistance to airlines.
Before coming to Marketing, he spent 13 years in Engineering in both Boeing Defense Systems and Boeing Commercial Airplanes. John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon Institute of Technology and an MBA from Seattle University.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Dr Mathew McDougall
CEO, Digital Jungle
Dr. Mathew McDougall grew up between Australia and New Zealand then in his late teen’s ventured overseas for his University studies. Now, after 23 years of working in the Internet technology space and digital marketing areas, he boasts over 10 years working experience in China and time spent working in Australia, UK, US and Japan.He is a renowned expert on digital marketing, especially in the area of Chinese digital marketing. Recognized for his published articles, his frequent speaking engagements, as well as his prestigious consulting and teaching programs. Dr. McDougall thrives in entrepreneurial environments, where fast-paced change and continually evolving technology is the norm.
He was the founder of SinoTech Group (headquartered, China), a social media technology business in 2007 that secured VC funding to develop a range of Chinese/Western social monitoring technologies.
Dr. McDougall subsequently went on to found a digital marketing Agency called, “Digital Jungle” in early 2011. This multicultural digital Agency wanted to exploit the needs of Western organisations that needed support in marketing to a Chinese audience. Over the short number of years, DIgital Jungle has grown to now have offices in China (Beijing & Shanghai), Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, partnerships with Agencies around the world.
In the workplace, Dr McDougall is the type of “leader” that is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get involved with the team at all levels.
Dr. McDougall is also the editor of the “Digital Marketing Inner Circle” blog on digital marketing, author of “The Chinese Social Media Universe”, a frequent spokesperson on Internet issues and guest speaker at Internet industry forums worldwide such as:
- Ad-Tech
- SES Conference & Expo
- ATEC (Australian Tourism Export Council)
- iMedia Asia
- Social Media Summit
- AMP Amplify
- PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association)
- Routesonline
- China Retail Showcase
- G20 Global Cafe
Participating Talks and Sessions
Andrew Cowen
CEO, HK Express
24 years in the aviation industry initially with British Airways before focusing on the emerging low cost and business aviation airline sectors. Today, as Deputy Chief Executive, Andrew is leading the transformation of Hong Kong Express into a low cost carrier.
Andrew typically works very closely with airline shareholders/senior management ‘on the ground’ and for extended periods of time. Holding top-level management positions, his usual role is to guide and direct the creation of new aviation businesses, typically new LCCs, taking them from concept through to launch, and then on through their early growth stages.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Rico Hizon
News Anchor, BBC World News
Participating Talks and Sessions
Albert Villadolid
Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Distribution Commercial, Amadeus IT Group
Amadeus IT Group, the world’s leading and largest travel Information Technology distribution company. He is responsible for all aspects of Amadeus’ interests in wholly-owned travel distribution businesses in Southeast Asia. He leads a team of more than 130 highly motivated professionals based in the region. Aside from directly managing this dynamic region, he has administrative oversight on two lines of business of Amadeus based in the Philippines serving the Asia Pacific region.
Mr. Villadolid completed the Amadeus Senior Managers Program conducted by the Cranfield Management Development Center, England, last December 2007. He also completed senior management courses in corporate governance conducted by professors from the Instituto de Empresa Business School, Madrid, Spain and in Innovation Management by professors from the Australian Graduate School of Management (in 2010).
Mr. Villadolid received his MBA degree from the Graduate School of Business of De La Salle University (1990) , where he consistently belonged to the Dean’s Honor List. He also has a B.S. Industrial Management Engineering (minor in Chemical Engineering) Degree from the same school which recognized him with a Gold Medal for Most Outstanding Leadership Award. He also completed a special diploma in Airline Management from Bar Ilan University, Israel, in 1991.
Mr. Villadolid started his professional career by teaching at De La Salle University upon graduation in 1985. He spent more than 20 years teaching at the Graduate School of Business of the De La Salle University, and held the position of Chairman, Information Systems and Computer Application Department of the said graduate school, from SY2000-2008. In School Year 2000-2001, Mr. Villadolid received the very prestigious Most Outstanding Faculty Award from the graduate school. He worked for Philippine Airlines from 1986, rising from the rank until he became one of its youngest staff directors. In Philippine Airlines, Mr. Villadolid worked in airport services, industrial engineering, and corporate logistics covering inflight catering, construction, purchasing, information systems, and ground equipment services. In 1991, he transferred work to manage a subsidiary of Philippine Airlines engaged in computerized reservations systems in the country. He left the PAL subsidiary in November 2003, and later joined and headed Amadeus – Philippines as General Manager effective 01 December 2003. In August of 2014, he was promoted to head the Southeast Asia Cluster of Amadeus Asia Pacific.
In March 2008, Mr. Villadolid became one of the Philippines’ first Professional Industrial Engineers. In 2011, he led the Amadeus - Philippine office to receive two Amadeus Global Excellence Awards for various best-in-class improvement projects. These awards were the first for Asia Pacific. He also holds the distinction of being the only one among the Amadeus senior executives in Asia Pacific to receive in two consecutive years (2011 and 2012) citations from the Asia Pacific President of Amadeus for his valuable contributions to the Amadeus Asia Innovation Program.
Mr. Villadolid is a member of the Management Association of the Philippines, where he was past chairman of its Trade and Industry Committee, and a member of the association’s Membership, Information Communications Technology (ICT), and National Branding Committees. He is also a founding member of the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Michael Miller
Head of Content & Industry Relations, Routes
Michael Miller is Head of Content and Industry Relations for Routes, which is part of the Transport and Technology division of UBM; a leading global event marketing and communications services business. Mike leads the creation and development of Routes conferences at events worldwide, and is responsible for relations with aviation, travel and other industry groups.
Mike has 25 years experience in the aviation industry as both a journalist and consultant prior to joining the Routes team in 2014. He has managed nine aviation publications, mostly under the Aviation Week banner at McGraw-Hill, and has had aviation clients in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Clients have included Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, US Airways, JetBlue Airways, Bombardier, ALTA and the government of France. He oversaw the creation of the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum. Michael also was Vice President, Strategy, at the American Aviation Institute and President of Miller Air Group.
He has been interviewed several hundred times on aviation issues by CNN, BBC, CNBC, NBC, Al Jazeeera and others. He is based in Orlando, Florida.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya
Secretary, Philippine Department of Transportation and Communication