Speaker Biograghy: Jack is a civil engineer with BSc (Eng) Civil and BSc (Eng) (Hons) Civil degrees from the University of Pretoria. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s SED programme. He has been providing a service to the public transport sector for more than 41 years, and is currently CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency, tasked with overseeing the building and operation of the Gautrain. In 2011 he was appointed to head up a special team of experts tasked with developing a 25-year integrated transport masterplan for the Province of Gauteng (ITMP25). In 2011 he was elected UATP President for Africa and Vice President of UITP. He also serves as a member on the UITP Policy Board. In 2012 the Gauteng Premier appointed him project leader of the Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis project.


Day 1 - 10 March
Session: Airport Cities & Transport Connections

10:40 - 11:10 - Aeroptropolises – unlocking economic development potential
Synopsis: Aerotropolis is an urban development concept in which the region’s layout, infrastructure and economy have at their core an airport. In principle, it resembles a traditional metropolis with its central city area and commuter links to a variety of suburban developments. The key difference is the Aerotropolis’s dynamic links to global markets.

Audience will learn:

• Aerotropolis planning must be used as a government intervention to improve the status quo
• The plan must be developed to underpin the Global City Region concept
• The implementation of the plan must lead to significant further sustainable economic development and job creation
• The proposed plan must be environmentally sound and sustainable, and echo the principles of 'green' development
• The plan must give priority to the consideration of logistic hubs