Speaker Biograghy: Thomas is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, where he obtained an Aviation Business Management degree. After four years with ACI World, where his responsibilities included development of policies, recommended practices, guidelines and strategies for airport operations, safety, airport IT and air cargo, he took up the position of Safety Officer at Geneva Airport, in charge of developing the airport Safety Office and ensuring the aerodrome certification process. He managed the development and implementation of the safety management system, employee health and safety, infrastructure safety, and emergency planning and management. In 2013, Thomas became the Department Head for the Airport Operations Center. In this transverse operational role, he is now responsible for the management of daily airport operations but also for any disruptions, major events and crisis situations impacting airport operations. He earned his ICAO/ACI International Airport Professional accreditation (IAP) in 2012.


Day 3 - 16 March
Session: Management & Operations: Crisis & Disaster

12:25 - 13:30 - Panel Discussion: Airports and emergency preparedness: the challenge of covering all contingencies
Synopsis: Airports face all manner of emergency situations, some of them due to natural causes, others man-made. This panel explores three case studies: the impact of volcanic activity on an airport in Costa Rica; the effect of the 2015 wildfires in Alberta and how the airport became a centre for relief efforts and community recovery; the freakish story of an airport in Portugal, which literally lost its terminal roof in a storm. Finally, the panel will explore the modalities needed for a command centre to stay on top of emergencies.

Audience will learn:

• Airports need to anticipate even the most bizarre emergency situations and have a system for mitigating them
• Airports and the community must be in lockstep in terms of teaming up in emergencies
• Effective airport-wide communications and fast-track decisions are critical in any emergency
• Airport staff need to be trained to handle emergency scenarios through frequent simulation exercises
• The airport needs to be keenly aware of its relations with the public and press during any crisis situation