Full Agenda
FIRESIDE CHAT - A LEADERSHIP DISCUSSION
Where: Hunt Museum, Limerick
When: Wednesday, 6th November 2019
Time: 19.00-21.00
Invite only
Is the aviation industry prepared as economies begin to slow after 10 years of expansion, and we move into the later stages of the current business cycle? And are Irish aviation companies - lessors as well as service providers, positioned well enough to sustain competition from new market entrants?
2019 has been a dramatic year, sales have gone to negative figures, hundreds of aircraft have been grounded, Brexit is the here and now and our political systems are in a state of upheaval. Positives do exist -fuel prices have not increased as much as forecasts predicted, and the cost of credit has not risen as much as anticipated. As we enter the later stages of this business cycle, the number of parked aircraft has increased dramatically in number- but there are known reasons for this.
For the first time the Shannon International Leasing Conference will hold an aviation leaders fireside chat. The Captains Room venue in the Hunt Museum will host a specific audience of industry participants to parse out the issues facing the industry. This will not be a technical discussion. Panel participants will have expertise in procurement, finance, legal, and the conversation will be of a strategic nature. The audience will be made up of CEO’s or a senior delegate from guest companies and sponsor companies.
Panel discussion moderated by Brian Hayden, Chairman Santos Dumont with panellists:
Christine O Donovan, Partner, Mason Hayes and Curran
Elaine Kirby, Chief Contracts Officer, NAC
Phil Seymour, CEO IBA Group
Jacinta Courtney, PART 147 School, Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd
Patrick Blaney, Chairman of Aircraft Leasing, Finance & Law, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business
Panel will conclude at 20.00 and the museum will be serving wine and canapés for further discussion and networking.
The evening will be opened by Amelia Anderson, co-founder and President of AWAR at 19.15

Shannon International Leasing Conference 2019
Thursday, 7th November 2019 at the Strand Hotel, Limerick
Conference moderator: Matt Cooper, Journalist, Radio and TV presenter

Ben Saunders
World Record-Breaking Polar Explorer and Repeat TED Speaker
“I am an explorer of limits – geographically, physically and mentally. It’s about pure human endeavour, and the way in which I can inspire others to explore their own personal potential.”
Polar explorer Ben Saunders’s incredible feats of endurance challenge conventional wisdom and prove what can be accomplished through ambition, passion, and a refusal to quit. Best known for leading one of the most ambitious polar expeditions in a century, he was the first to successfully complete an epic, 105-day, 1,800-mile trek on foot to the South Pole – equivalent to running 69 marathons back-to-back. Of his expedition he said, “We can all accomplish great feats. If you dream something hard enough, it does indeed come to pass.” In 2017 he became the second person in history to reach both Poles solo and unassisted, after 52 days and 6 alone in Antarctic conditions described as “The worst in 25 years.”
A speaker at the 2005, 2012, and 2014 TED conferences, Ben was labeled a “master story teller” by TED. Believing that “No one else is an authority on your potential” and “Impossible is just someone’s opinion,” Saunders combines the allure and nostalgia of 20th century explorers with the ingenuity of today’s modern adventurers. His presentation takes you to the ends of the Earth and back and showcases spectacular visuals, a commanding stage presence, a winning smile, and funny and relatable stories. He enthralls audiences as he touches on themes including challenging the status quo, pushing past self-imposed limits, the disconnect between ideas and action, communicating with your team, and managing change (the landscapes he travels are in constant flux). He jokes that he makes a living by dragging heavy things in cold places, but his message is one of inspiration, empowerment, and boundless potential. Saunders has also developed innovative methods that allow him to live blog his adventures, and he is known for his incredible pictures and video.
Ben has five North Pole expeditions under his belt and has accomplished some of the world’s most impressive polar expeditions. He is the youngest person to ski solo to the North Pole and holds the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton. He also holds the record for the longest human-powered polar journey in history and is the third in history and the youngest by 10 years to reach the North Pole alone and on foot. Since 2001, he has skied more than 4,300 miles (or 164 marathons) in the Polar Regions. A powerful advocate for the natural world, Saunders has seen first-hand the effects of climate change, and his expeditions are raising awareness for sustainable solutions. He has also climbed in the Nepalese Himalayas, worked as an instructor at the John Ridgway School of Adventure, raced bikes at a national level, and run seven marathons and three ultra-marathons.
Ben was featured in the 2016 New York Times best-seller TED Talks: The Official Guide to Public Speaking, which was published by TED chief Chris Anderson. In the book, Ben is described by Chris as a “powerful storyteller” with a penchant for surprising audiences
Ben was featured in the 2016 New York Times best-seller TED Talks: The Official Guide to Public Speaking, which was published by TED chief Chris Anderson. In the book, Ben is described by Chris as a “powerful storyteller” with a penchant for surprising audiences.
Group 1
Group 2
Speakers
Aidan Reynolds, CTO, Jackson Square
Craig Richardson, MD Singapore, Vortex
Alistair Dibisceglia, Head of Trading and Leasing, VALLAIR
Elaine Kirby, Chief Contracts Officer, NAC
Jacinta Courtney, PART 147 School, Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd
Patrick Blaney, Chairman of Aircraft Leasing, Finance & Law, UCD
Amelia Anderson, Co-founder and President of AWAR