The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has confirmed its governing board executive officers at a recent board meeting in Orlando, Florida. The board serves the diverse needs of business aviation across the globe and is involved in all ICAO forums that impact business aviation worldwide.

MEBAA chairman Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi has been re-elected as chair, for a period of three years (2023 - 2025). Alnaqbi, the first Arab ever to head IBAC, has held the position of chairman since 2020 and earlier served as vice chairman for three years.

“I'm delighted to chair the IBAC for the second time in a row,” he says. “We have reached multiple milestones for the last three years and despite the difficult time caused by the pandemic outbreak, we have succeeded in bringing confidence back to our community by sharing expertise on a global scale. We are working collectively at the council with member associations and ICAO to improve efficiency to mitigate our industry's impact on the environment and its contribution to sustainability. We are on track to reach the goal of net zero emissions by 2050, implementing sustainable aviation fuel for a greener and cleaner future of our industry.”

Alnaqbi has served in the regional business aviation industry for more than 30 years. He founded MEBAA, the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association, in 2006 in Dubai representing the Middle East and north Africa region under the umbrella of IBAC. MEBAA plays an important role in drafting legislation and rules specific to business aviation and represents the entire community to the local aviation authorities. Alnaqbi is instrumental in driving the business aviation industry in the MENA region to new heights. He has been duly lauded by governments in the region for his role and achievements in bringing about safety and efficiency.

EBAA chairman Juergen Wiese will serve a second term as vice chairman, and Lider Aviacao managing operations director Cynthia De Oliveira, a member of the Brazilian Association of General Aviation (ABAG) in São Paulo, Brazil, is the newly elected treasurer. De Oliveira assumes the treasurer role from Sudhir Nayak of the Business Aircraft Operators Association of India.

IBAC director general Kurt Edwards says: “We continue IBAC governance with board executives that represent the global business aviation industry. I appreciate Ali Alnaqbi and Juergen Wiese for continuing their leadership roles of the governing board. Also, many thanks to Sudhir Nayak for his contributions over the last several years and his dedication to business aviation. IBAC welcomes Cynthia De Oliveira as the incoming treasurer and looks forward to working with her and the entire board over the next three year term to meet the needs of a vibrant and growing industry.”

Established in 1981, IBAC serves as an international voice for the business aviation community. IBAC governance is exercised through the governing board with representatives from each of the 15 member associations covering essentially all corners of the globe.