Global Airport Development (GAD) Advisory Board
Meet Our Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board brings together a distinguished group of industry leaders, subject-matter experts, and strategic thinkers who guide our vision and help shape the direction of our work. Each member contributes a unique blend of experience, insight, and forward-thinking perspective, ensuring that our initiatives remain relevant, innovative, and aligned with the evolving needs of the industry.
Drawing on decades of combined expertise across their respective fields, our advisors play a vital role in reviewing emerging trends, challenging assumptions, and offering guidance that strengthens the quality and credibility of our programs. Their collective knowledge helps us stay ahead of industry shifts, anticipate future challenges, and deliver meaningful value to our community.
Head of Transport – EMEA
Macquarie
Shawn leads the EMEA Transport sector team for Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), focused on growing the investment set across the various transport subsectors as well as supporting existing portfolio companies. With over two decades of experience in transportation infrastructure, Shawn has built a career spanning infrastructure investment, financial advisory, corporate strategy and large-scale infrastructure development.
Prior to joining MAM, Shawn was most recently the Global Corporate Development and Strategy Director for Ferrovial. Prior to this, Shawn spent several years advising investors and government agencies on transport-related transactions across the US, UK, and Europe while also have led major infrastructure development and business planning projects at airports in Chicago, Abu Dhabi, Keflavik, Manchester, Nairobi, and other global locations. Shawn holds a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and Master of Science from Northwestern University.
Denitza Weismantel
Senior Vice President Global Investments & Management
Fraport AG
Denitza Weismantel is a member of the management team in Fraport’s Global Investments & Management division. She is responsible for a portfolio of airports serving over 40 million passengers and oversees business development activities in North America, Eastern Europe, and Asia.
Since joining Fraport in 2015 as Project Director, Denitza has held strategic responsibility for leading and successfully executing international M&A projects and investment initiatives, overseeing transaction processes from origination to completion while working to balance financial targets with long-term business stability.
In addition to her operational responsibilities, Denitza serves as Chairwoman or member of several supervisory boards within the Fraport Group and acts as a shareholder representative.
Previously, she worked in consulting, where she was involved in international strategy and transaction projects across various sectors and regions.
Denitza holds degrees in Business Administration from J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt and in Banking and Finance from the University of Wales, Bangor.
Senior Client Partner, Aviation & Aerospace Practice
Korn Ferry
Michael Bell is a Senior Client Partner, Global Sector Leader for the Aviation & Aerospace Practice, based out of the firm’s Miami office.
Michael was previously with a global recruiting firm, where he founded and led the Global Aviation, Aerospace & Defence Practice. He provides top-level executive search and leadership advisory services to a broad range of clients in the airline, airport, aerospace, aviation services, and cargo sectors.
Over his 30 years in the profession, Michael has led over 1,300 searches for aviation and aerospace organisations around the globe, including numerous CEO and C-level mandates. Mr. Bell is also active in the Board Practice and has assisted numerous aerospace and aviation sector clients in the recruitment of outstanding board directors.
Earlier in his career, Michael enjoyed seven years at McKinsey & Company with a specific focus on the firm’s Organisational Performance Practice. Prior to McKinsey, he worked at the Rotman School of Management of the University of Toronto, where he partnered with the dean, the faculty and the dean’s advisory council on a broad range of development areas, including strategic planning, program development, fundraising, community and alumni relations.
Michael is an active contributor to the latest thinking on leadership in the aviation arena and serves as a regular speaker and moderator at industry conferences, having addressed audiences at over 100 events on five continents.
In addition, he has authored several industry studies on leadership and published numerous articles in aviation and aerospace industry trade media.
Michael holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto.
He speaks English, French and Arabic and has worked in more than 95 countries around the globe.
President & CEO – Commercial & Growth
GMR Airports Limited
A graduate in commerce and a cost accountant, Mr. Rajesh Kumar Arora has over 30 years of professional experience with a successful career and proven track record in Manufacturing & Infrastructure Sectors. He has deep experience all in the facets of Finance and Business like Mergers and Acquisitions, Fund raising including overseas fund raising, controllership role, corporate governance, business development and Stakeholder management etc.
He served in senior positions in Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals and has rich experience in Corporate Finance & Accounts, Taxation etc. He was associated with company for more than 17 years.
He joined the GMR Group in 2007 and over the period of time, served in various capacities including the previous role of Chief Financial Officer of Hyderabad International Airport.
Over a period of last 5 years, Mr. Arora has led the business development efforts for the Airports business under GMR Airports Limited (GAL) in India & abroad. GMR Airports is the holding company which overseas functioning of airports of the group namely at Delhi, Hyderabad, Mopa-Goa, Cebu, and the upcoming airport in Crete Islands, Greece, Nagpur and Bhogapuram.
In his current role as President & CEO – Commercial & Growth, he has been instrumental in creating Business platforms under GAL consisting of Duty Free, Cargo, Car Park, F&B and Retail Master Concession businesses. These business platforms shall help unlock tremendous value for GAL and potential business size of close to USD 1 Bn.
Director, Infrastructure Investments
PSP Investments
Emily Lawrence is a Senior Manager in the Infrastructure Investments Team at the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), one of Canada’s largest pension investment managers.
With over 7 years of experience in the Infrastructure sector, Emily has been involved in the origination, execution and asset management of equity investments in infrastructure investments globally. She holds a BSC degree in Finance and BSC degree in Economics from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
Emily is a non-executive member of the Board of Spark Infrastructure, an Australian regulated utilities company.
President & CEO
Corporación Quiport
Ramón Miró has been leading Quito International Airport as CEO since 2021. He is a seasoned airport executive, with multi-decade international experience in airport concessions and privatizations, complemented with banking, power deregulation and management consulting work, among other areas of expertise.
Mr. Miró has been involved in the management of airport concessions for more than 15 years, including the Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito, Ecuador and the Juan Santamaría Airport in San José, Costa Rica.
He is passionate about the sustainability triple-bottom-line: people, environment and economics. Mr. Miró strongly believes that airports play a critical role in creating enduring and successful communities, being engines of great economic growth, creating jobs and supporting the city and country brands, particularly in emerging markets where their impact is much more material.
He studied engineering at Trinity University (San Antonio, TX), has an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Northwestern University) and obtained the “International Airport Professional” (IAP; 2013) certification awarded after having completed the “Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme” (AMPAP), offered by the Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations specialized agency for the global regulation of air transport.
Chief Executive Officer
Sofia Airport
Jesus Caballero is the CEO and the Chairman of the Board of SOF Connect - the operator of Sofia Airport.
Before, Mr. Caballero was the CEO of Seville and Melilla airports, and was also involved in the management of Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga airports. He holds the record for the youngest CEO of an airport in Spain.
Jesus Caballero manages investment projects for over EUR 624 million to enhance infrastructure, passenger experience, digitalization, renovation of Terminal 2 and construction of Terminal 3 at Sofia Airport.
Mr. Caballero is active in the field of sustainable aviation industry as a member of the Council of ACI WORLD Fund and as a member of the Board of ACI EUROPE.
Founder
Rosemark Infrastructure Advisory Limited
David has over 30 years of experience in the Aviation industry, most recently as co-head of OTPP’s Airport asset management subsidiary responsible for their 5 European Airports. He is Joint Deputy Chair of Copenhagen Airports and Birmingham Airport as well as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the HSSE committee at London City Airport. He was a Managing Director at MAp Airports, one of the largest private airport owners and operators, as the lead shareholder representative for Copenhagen and Bristol airports. For 10 years he was Corporate Development Director for BBA Aviation plc, the Global Aviation Services Group, having qualified as a Chartered Account at PWC.
Head of Airports and Ports
Credit Agricole
Rosemary Ong
Principal Markets Development Advisory Specialist
Asian Development Bank
Ms. Ong is well regarded for her in-depth understanding of and experience in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and privatization, having developed significant thought leadership on these subjects. With extensive experience in advising on PPP transactions. Rosemary led the transaction advisory for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport PPP (est. project cost $2.2 billion) that reached financial close in September 2024 and will be advising the Philippine Department of Transportation for the bundling of regional airports.
Rosemary has proven a track record in delivering high-impact advisory services. Before joining the Asian Development Bank (ADB), she served as a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Singapore, where she spearheaded the origination and execution of project finance and PPP advisory mandates across the Asia-Pacific region, covering countries such as Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Brunei.
She holds a Master's degree in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management, Philippines, and a Certificate in Finance from ESADE Business School, Spain.
President & CEO
Modalis
Curtis Grad is Chief Executive and founding partner of Modalis Infrastructure Partners Inc., a strategic investment and professional advisory services company specializing in international transport infrastructure privatization, investment, development, operations, business intelligence and talent solutions. During his 25+ year career in the transport infrastructure sector, he has led extensive change management and redevelopment programs for various international airport and port facilities worldwide, spanning Canada, Jamaica, Cyprus, Jordan and Panama.
Managing Partner
Exambela Consulting
David Feldman has nearly 30 years of experience in the global airport industry.
David is Managing Partner of Exambela Consulting, a specialist consultancy based in Switzerland that works with airport CEOs, their boards and their investors to solve strategic problems. Clients include both private and public airport airport clients, and their investors, around the world.
Before founding Exambela Consulting, David was based in Paris and was a partner at Oliver Wyman Consulting and leader of the firm's global airport practice. Previously David also worked at United Airlines' headquarters in Finance and Route Planning.
David received a BFA, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Managing Director
Tamparuli Advisory Sdn
Edward has practical, hands on experience with airports, airlines and aviation regulators across the world. His career covers British Airways (primarily airport focused roles), AviAlliance (airport investment fund) and, since 2005, airport and aviation strategic and commercial advisory work with Booz & Co, PwC and Tamparuli Advisory. He recently co-authored a book “Airport Management: Investing in, Operating and Growing the Business” (Routledge, 2026). He is based in Malaysia and has a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific aviation industry. He has an MBA from London Business School and a BSc from the University of Kent.
Amit Rikhy
Chief Commercial Officer
Bradford Airport Logistics
Amit Rikhy is Chief Commercial Officer at Bradford, where he leads global commercial strategy and enterprise growth. He is responsible for scaling new business development, accelerating revenue growth, building strategic partnerships, and expanding Bradford’s presence across aviation and adjacent high-security infrastructure markets. He is focused on positioning Bradford as a trusted, long-term logistics partner delivering operational efficiency, safety, sustainability, and enhanced customer experience.
Principal and Founder
Airport Economics Consulting Inc
An economist by profession, Patrick Lucas has over 20 years of experience in analytic and strategic roles for international organizations. He is the founder of Airport Economics Consulting Inc., a business advisory serving the needs of airport operators and related stakeholders on the economic, financial and regulatory aspects of the industry.
In his previous capacity as Vice President and Chief Economist for Airport Council International (ACI World), Patrick led ACI's policy positions related to economic regulation, user charges, privatization, commercial activities (non-aero), green finance, and infrastructure management. He also led the authorship of ACI’s major flagship publications: the World Airport Traffic Report and the Airport Economics Report. Patrick continues to deliver courses in airport economics as a member of ACI’s Global Training Faculty as well as for joint programs with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Patrick holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a master’s degree in economics from Concordia University in Montreal.
Patrick Folley
Global Director – Aviation Strategic Advisory
Ramboll
Former COO BIAL
Independent Advisor
Chief Executive Officer
The Berekely Group
Dr. Waleed Youssef is Chief Executive Officer of The Berkeley Group and served as Director General of ASA, the Aviation Services Association, the global voice of the ground handling and aviation services industry, through December 2026. Over 35 years in aviation, he has led airport privatizations and strategic transactions across six continents, including Pulkovo St. Petersburg, Oman Airports, the Saudi airport privatizations, Aqaba, and Bangalore, with a broader portfolio spanning JFK Terminal 4, Muscat, Lima, Athens, Mexico City, and Farnborough. He was previously Chief Strategy Officer of TAV Airports Holding, founding General Manager of TAG Aviation UK, and held senior roles with IFC and Abu Dhabi Airports Company. A former Chairman of the ACI World Economics Committee and Board Member of ACI Asia-Pacific, he holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in air transport engineering, economics and finance from the University of California, Berkeley.
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