The three-day AVSEC Global Symposium has concluded, rounding off its action-packed programme with 12 workshops on its final day. AVSEC Global Symposium 2021’s programme offered over 700 industry professionals a wealth of knowledge and thought-provoking discussion through keynote sessions, presentations, and workshops around today’s security concerns amid pandemic challenges, and tomorrow’s imminent threats.
The Symposium’s Excellence Awards recognized individuals and organizations for demonstrating exceptional performance across key areas. The selection was conducted by an independent panel of judges from Edith Cowan University of Western Australia, from more than 100 entries. AVSEC Senior Professional of the Year awarded to Bernard Lim – Senior Director, International Relations and Security, Ministry of Transport (MOT), Singapore (Winner) and Col. Marwan Singel Director of Dubai Civil Aviation Security Center (Merit); AVSEC Staff Member of the Year taken home by Maurice Padilla, Compliance Manager – Global Elite Group (Winner); Atta Ur Rehman, Sub inspector -Airports Security Force Pakistan (Merit); Training Organisation of the Year won by CAA International (Winner); Global Elite Group (Merit); Trainer of the Year, given to Michael Kern, Manager Security Training – Jetblue Airways (Winner); Ahmed Kamal Sobeh, AVSEC instructor – Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (Merit); Organisation of the Year, was clinched by Certis Aviation Security (Winner); Bahrain International Airport Police Directorate (Merit); and Team of the Year won by Project Safe Bags – Terminal Security – (Winner); Patrick Kane & J.C. Nolan – Atlas Air (Merit).
Osprey and Medaire were also recognised for providing Intelligence to the Aviation industry and Philip Baume, Managing Director – Green Light Ltd. received a special award recognising a Lifetime Contribution to the Aviation Security Industry.
On its first day, the AVSEC welcomed a who’s who of notable industry leaders, including His Excellency Juan Carlos Salazar, the newly appointed Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation; The Honourable Robert Courts, United Kingdom Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security; His Excellency Cherubin Okende, Minister of Transport for the Democratic Republic of the Congo; His Excellency Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai, in addition to other dignitaries from 50 countries.
Acclaimed speakers included a diverse group of experts and innovators, such as: Secretary General Ivonne Higuero from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Anita Hazenberg, Director of INTERPOL Innovation Centre; Eng. Hussain Qabbani, ICAO; Matthew Vaughan, IATA; Jason E. Schwabel, US Transportation Security Administration; Roni Tidhar, Israel Airport Authority; Lt Gen (ret) Mzwandile Petros, Airports Company of South Africa; Mohammed Al Tayer, GCAA; Matthew Pedler, Australian Department of Home Affairs; Professor James L. Regens, University of Oklahoma; Bruce Dorris, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, among other reputable security leaders.
The AVSEC Global Symposium has become a must-attend security event, and is one of the biggest globally, attracting influential leaders and thinkers, security solution innovators, and world-renowned experts to discuss the latest developments in the field, highlight best practices and promote innovation.
Organised by Emirates Group Security, the 5th edition of AVSEC Global 2021 was held from 3-5 October at the JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai.
