Host Sponsor
November 10-11, 2026 Brisbane Convention Centre Australia • #MROAA
PRE-SHOW PLANNER
EV E N T GUIDE
mroaustralasia.aviationweek.com
Welcome Dear Colleagues,
CONNECT WITH ME
Georgia Halliday Senior Conference Producer Aviation Week Network
2 | #MROAA
n +44 (0) 73 9300 2707 n www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-halliday-b83503202 n georgia.halliday@aviationweek.co.uk
Queensland Government Welcome Message
?
mroaustralasia.aviationweek.com | 3
Agenda Monday, November 9 Hosted by
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Welcome Networking Reception
11:30am
Day One | Tuesday, November 10 8:00am
10:45am Morning Networking Break
Sponsored by
Registration and Refreshments 9:00am
Opening Remarks from Aviation
Georgia Halliday, Senior Conference Producer, Aviation Week 9:10am
Welcome from Queensland Government 9:25am
Presentation: Regional Forecast and Key Trends
Panel Discussion: Planes, Strains and Turbulent Gains –Operational Strategies to Navigate Uncertain Times Skyrocketing fuel prices, geopolitical instability, limited expensive parking and delayed fleet renewals are straining airline operations across the region. How are airlines balancing fuel hedging strategies with the unpredictability of global markets? What are the operational trade-offs of reducing flight frequencies versus increasing ticket prices? How are airlines adapting their operations to minimise downtime and associated costs? How can MROs and lessors support airlines in managing cost pressures? How are airlines managing the trade-off between cost control and maintaining service quality?
Daniel Williams, Director, Fleet Data Services, Aviation Week
Moderator: Rahul Shah, SVP Strategic Growth and Business Development Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, AAR CORP. Viv de Beus, Head of Base Maintenance, Qantas Engineering Craig Richardson, VP and Head of Technical for APAC, Carlyle Aviation Management
10:00am
12:15pm
Attend this session for the facts and figures as we assess the future of the market. During this timely forecast, understand the critical opportunities and challenges for the Australasia region.
Opening Panel Discussion: The Supply Chain Equation – Balancing Sovereignty, Costs, and Resilience The aviation industry in Australasia faces unique supply chain challenges, from geographic isolation and skyrocketing shipping/fuel costs to limited sovereign MRO capabilities. What measures can airlines, MROs, OEMS and suppliers take to build resilience in the face of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and shifting market dynamics? How can regional stakeholders, including airlines, lessors, airports, and governments, collaborate to address the high costs and limited availability of parking and hangar facilities? What measure can the industry take to balance shortterm fixes with long-term resilience strategies? How are key players adapting their pricing models to reflect current realities? What impact will recent uncertainty have on the financial trade-offs between investing in sovereign/localised capabilities versus outsourcing to lower-cost regions? Moderator: LeeAnn Shay, Executive Editor MRO and Business Aviation, Aviation Week Errol Bellchambers, GM for Procurement and Supply Chain, Alliance Airlines Bradley Davren, CEO, AVCRO Sesh Sarkar, Head of Supply Chain, Virgin Australia Martin Urwyler, MD, Asia Pacific Aircraft Components Services (APACS)
4 | #MROAA
Case Study: From Waste to Wings – The SAF Revolution
With fuel shortages and price hikes threatening operational stability, the development of local SAF production capabilities is not just a sustainability imperative but a strategic necessity for long-term resilience. This case study will spotlight the recent SAF facility at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, which uniquely utilized waste products as feedstock to overcome challenges faced by regions reliant on agricultural land or food crops. What challenges were encountered during the development of the SAF initiative, and how were they overcome? What lessons can other regions learn from Australasia’s approach to building sovereign SAF capabilities?
12:45pm Networking Lunch 2:00pm
3:20pm Afternoon Networking Break 4:15pm
Panel Discussion: From Nose to Tail – Unlocking Value in Aircraft Retirement
Panel Discussion: Pacific Lifelines – Keeping the Skies Open
With a growing trend of parked aircraft and accelerated retirements driven by rising operational costs, fuel price volatility, and supply chain disruptions, the aviation landscape in Australasia is undergoing significant change. To what extent can innovative teardown strategies and part-out processes maximize the value extraction from retired aircraft? What does the next 2-5 years look like for the teardown and USM markets and how might the risks of potential oversupply impact the profitability/sustainability of teardown companies?
The Pacific Island carriers are vital lifelines for their communities, yet they continue to face a complex web of challenges, ranging from supply chain issues to high operational costs. Coupled with recent geopolitical pressures, it necessitates tailored strategies, innovative solutions and regional collaboration to ensure sustainability. What are the unique challenges faced by island carriers, and how are they being addressed? What role do regional collaborations and partnerships play in mitigating the challenges of small island carriers? How do supply chain issues compare to those in other parts of the world and are there lessons to be learned from other remote regions, such as the Caribbean, in addressing similar challenges?
Moderator: Geoff Shearer, Director Business Development – Asia Pacific, AJW Paul Nation, MD for APAC and Overseas Business, Xiamen Airlease Ben Story, CCO, Four Corners Aviation Mark Thompson, Director of Maintenance for Australasia, Texel Air Jon White, Head of Engineering and Airworthiness, Maroomba Airlines 2:50pm
Fireside Chat: From Sky to Supply – Exploring Opportunities in the USM Market
This fireside chat with AerFin’s CEO will explore the evolving dynamics of the asset market, focusing on the surprising trend of tearing down young aircraft, the economic and operational drivers behind this practice, and the critical importance of maintaining a reliable supply of Used Serviceable Material (USM). What is the outlook for the asset market over the next 5-10 years, especially considering fleet transitions and economic pressures? Beyond cost savings, how can the teardown and USM market contribute to broader sustainability goals in aviation?
Moderator: Craig Reid, Director, Jotore Aviation Consulting Daniel Stromski, MD and Owner, DA Aviation
5:00pm Closing Remarks from Aviation Week
Georgia Halliday, Senior Conference Producer, Aviation Week 5:15pm – 7:15pm
Networking Reception
Simon Goodson, CEO, AerFin
mroaustralasia.aviationweek.com | 5
Agenda Day Two | Wednesday, November 11 8:00am
Sponsored by
Registration and Refreshments 9:30am
Opening Remarks from Aviation Week
Georgia Halliday, Conference Producer, Aviation Week Network 9:40am
Airline Keynote 10:10am
Fireside Chat with CASA
The aviation industry is facing a critical shortage of talent including Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAMEs), despite a reported increase in new LAME certifications. This session, led by CASA, will explore the current state of LAME supply, the effectiveness of recent initiatives, and the industry’s perspective on addressing this workforce challenge. What is the timeline for further streamlining the foreign recognition process, and are there plans to expand it to other countries beyond the US and UK? Moderator: Elsa Dalessio, Senior Sales Director for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, GE Aerospace Richard Stocker, National Manager Airworthiness and Engineering Branch, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Sam Palaskonis, Section Manager Specialist Services, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
6 | #MROAA
10:40am Morning Networking Break 11:20am
Panel Discussion: From Shortage to Strength – Technologies Potential to Reshape Aviation Workforce Dynamics In a world where aviation maintenance demands are growing faster than the talent pool, digital tools are emerging as a critical enabler to train, retain, and empower the next generation of talent. How can the industry address the persistent shortage of licensed engineers and technicians, particularly in regions like Australia where labour costs and regulatory hurdles are significant? How can digital tools like AI, VR, and AR be leveraged to make training more efficient e.g. optimize trainer-to-trainee ratios and reduce the time required to upskill technicians? What lessons can be drawn from industries like automotive or manufacturing, where digital tools have been successfully implemented to enhance workforce efficiency? Moderator: Todd Chapman, Principal, Leading Edge Management Consulting Laura Diedrich, Head of Lufthansa Technical Training Operations Asia-Pacific, Lufthansa Technical Training Troy Marshall, MD, ECO MRO Glenn Ryan, CEO, Aviation Australia