Scientific Committee
The Scientific Council of the Aerospace African Forum holds a central role in the scientific and intellectual organization of the Forum and ensures the coherence of its politics and strategy.
It participates in the definition of the theme chosen for each edition.
Its members are chosen according to their skills and their knowledge of the issues addressed by the Forum.
It helps to identify the themes of debates and conferences
It participates in defining the orientation of the Forum
It recommends the personalities likely to be invited (researchers, decision-makers, etc.)
ADEFUNKE
ADEYEMI
Secretary General AFCAC
ADEFUNKE ADEYEMI
Secretary General AFCAC
Adefunke is a lawyer and advocate, focused on global and regional strategic, policy and developmental, issues. She is also a global air transport and trade facilitation expert, focused on driving value, policy reform, best practices and international standards to air transport and related sectors, businesses and government. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the prestigious University of Cambridge, United Kingdom and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nanyang Business School, Singapore in collaboration with Wharton Business School, Philadelphia and Berkeley Hass Business School, California.
With an international career spanning over 20 years, Adefunke is recognized as one of the 50 Most Inspirational Nigerian Women. She was recently honoured as one of the 200 globally Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in affiliation with the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent. She is also the 2021 Recipient of the Ato Girma Wake Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to African Air Transport and Trade development.
In her current role as Regional Director, External Affairs and Sustainability for Africa at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Adefunke advocates for the sustainability of air transport, trade, tourism and business across the region, highlighting its positive socio-economic impact and value as
strategic enablers and accelerators of development and growth across Africa and beyond.
Adefunke is the IATA focal point for the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and a Private Sector Champion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), two strategic policy initiatives of the African Union designed to promote intra-African connectivity and trade to secure Africa’s integration and prosperity. She is passionate about Leadership, Innovation, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; having been involved in
many leadership and innovative initiatives at national, regional and global level.
She is also an experienced resource person on Policy and Regulation, Advocacy and Gender. She is a visionary catalyst for change, a transformative leader and influencer, combining excellent advocacy and communication skills with a unique ability to motivate and inspire.
She has held several positions of responsibility through her education and career, and positively led or contributed to many key industry, organizational, sectoral or social initiatives at local, regional and global levels.
Adefunke is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Council for Sustainable Tourism, a Policy member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, a member of the African Leadership Network (ALN), an Associate of the worldwide Institute of Directors (IoD), member of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) and an avid supporter of the African Philanthropy Foundation. She is also co-founder of Female Initiatives for Impact (FIFI), a non-for-profit organization focused on impacting the lives of women and children in deprived communities.
She enjoys travelling, running, creative writing and volunteer work. She is a published author and an accomplished public speaker, taking crucial messages across Africa and the world for impact and action.
MAX
ARMANET
President of the Scientific Council of the Aerospace African Forum and Vice President of Africa Air Forum
MAX ARMANET
President of the Scientific Council of the Aerospace African Forum and Vice President of Africa Air Forum
Président de l’agence de presse Forum-Media, il a exercé des fonctions de direction éditoriale pour «Libération», «Nouvel Observateur», «La Vie», « France 2 », «Marianne», «La Tribune», «We Demain». Il a conçu et organisé de nombreux forums internationaux dont le Paris Air Forum depuis 2014, le forum d’ouverture de la COP21 par la Mairie de Paris… Événements traitant aussi bien de la ville numérique que de la chute du mur de Berlin, l’aéronautique et l’espace, le cinéma et la culture…
YANNICK
ASSOUAD
Vice President Thales Avionics, member of COMEX of Thales
YANNICK ASSOUAD
Vice President Thales Avionics, member of COMEX of Thales
Yannick Assouad is a graduate of the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon and the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago (1985).
She joined Thomson-CSF’s Radars & Countermeasures business as an engineer in 1986, and later served as head of its thermal analysis department, then head of its thermal and mechanical engineering department.
From 1998, she was Technical Director and then Chief Executive Officer of SECAN (Société d’Études et de Constructions Aéronavales), the French subsidiary of Honeywell specialising in air conditioning systems for aircraft. She was appointed Chairman of SECAN in 2000 and oversaw the aerospace company’s recovery after the 2001 crisis.
In 2003, she joined Zodiac, initially as head of the services business of its Intertechnique subsidiary. Appointed to Zodiac Aerospace’s Executive Committee in 2007, she created the group-wide Services business segment.
In 2010, Yannick Assouad was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Zodiac’s Aircraft Systems segment, which was facing difficulties, and turned around the business through a policy of offensive innovation, centralised purchasing and lean manufacturing. During this time, she also oversaw the acquisition of the in-flight entertainment business IMS in California. In 2015, she became Chief Executive Officer of Zodiac Cabin and was appointed to the Executive Board of Zodiac.
In November 2016, she became Chief Executive Officer of Latécoère.
ABDERAHMANE
BERTHE
Secretary General African Airlines Association (AFRAA)
ABDERAHMANE BERTHE
Secretary General African Airlines Association (AFRAA)
Mr. Berthe was the Chief Executive Officer of Air Mali SA (1994-2000), SN Air Mali (2007-2013), and Air Burkina (2013-2017). He has 33 years of experience in the air transport sector, including 16 years as Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Berthe has built his career in various airlines and a multicultural environment in France and Africa, notably as an Aircraft Performance Engineer, Director of Quality Maintenance and Operations, Deputy Director of Flight Operations, and Director of Ground Operations.
Mr. Berthe graduated from:
- The National School of Civil Aviation of Toulouse (France) – Engineer (1987)
- The National School of Aeronautic and Space of Toulouse (France) – Master (1988)
- The Institute of Business Administration of Toulouse (France) – Master (DESS 1989)
Mr. BERTHE also obtained a private pilot’s license for single-engine aircraft in 1985.
MOSTAPHA
BOUSMINA
President of the Euromed University of Fez, Chancellor of the Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Techniques, President of the ASRIC of the African Union
MOSTAPHA BOUSMINA
President of the Euromed University of Fez, Chancellor of the Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Techniques, President of the ASRIC of the African Union
Professor Bousmina’s background is in Physics, Physical Chemistry and Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. He got his Engineering diploma from École des Hauts Polymères de Strasbourg, France and MSc. from Louis Pasteur University-France. He then got a Ph.D. from Louis-Pasteur University of Strasburg (France) in collaboration with the University of Illinois in Chicago, USA and then a Post-Doc at École Polytechnique of Montreal.
He is presently:
- Chancellor of the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology, Morocco
- President of the Euromed University of Fes, Morocco
- President of ASRIC (African Science, Research & Innovation Council) of the African Union
- Member of WAAS (World Academy of Art and Science)
- Member of TWAS (The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World)
- Member of AAS (African Academy of Sciences)
- Member at large of Polymer Processing Society (PPS)
- Co-Editor of the Journal of Polymer Engineering (Edited by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, New-York.
- Associate Editor for the Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Edited by American Scientific Publisher. New-York.
- Regional Editor of Recent Patents in Nanotechnology (Bentham Science Publisher ISSN: 1872-2105 (Print).
- Associate Editor-in-Chief: Frontiers in Science and Engineering: Edited by the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology. Morocco
- Member of the Editorial Board of Discovery and Innovation journal: Edited by African Academy of Sciences and TWAS
- Member of the Editorial Board of J. of Polymer Processing, Edited by Hanser, New York.
- Member of the Board of Trustees of PSL University (Paris Sciences et Lettres)
- Honorary member of Mohamed V Foundation for Solidarity
- Member of the Investment board of the Fès-Meknès Region-Morocco
- Member of the Erasmus+ Morocco Board
He was:
- President of NASAC (Network of African Science Academies that gathers 28 Academies across the African continent for 8 years: 2014-2019)
- Senior Canada Research Chair on Polymer Physics and Nanomaterials at Laval University, Canada
- Full Professor at Laval University before that he was assistant professor and then associate professor (1994-2008). He resigned in 2008 from his life time position to go back to his home country
- Director of Polymer Engineering at Laval University, Canada
- Director of Polymer Physics and Nanoscience Lab. It was at that time the largest centre in Northe America
- Director of Graduate Studies, Laval University, Canada
- Co-Founder and Director General of MASciR (Moroccan Advanced Science, Innovation and Research Foundation). (2008-2011).
- Founder & Director General of INANOTECH (Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology) (2008-2011); The largest research centre on Nanotechnology in Africa
- President of Quebec Society of Polymers
- Director of SPE (Society of Plastic Engineers): Quebec-Canada section (2002-2007)
- Vice-President of the Canadian Society of Rheology (2000-2008)
- Member of the Canada Team for Aerospace (which selects the experiments to be done in space in collaboration with the European Space Agency and with NASA: 2006-2008)
- Chair of the Canadian NSERC National evaluation committee for Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering section (2005-2008)
- Chair of the Canadian steering committee for the evaluation of the Arbora-Nano Research Center of Excellence (2008)
- Member of the Advisory Board of I3N Network of Portugal (2009-2014)
- Editor-in-Chief of Editor-in-Chief of Nanotechnology and Nanoscience (2010-2014) Edited by Bioinfo publisher
- President of the International Morand Lambla Award Committee of the International Polymer Processing Society (2007-2015)
- President of the International James. L. White Award Committee of the International Polymer Processing Society (2007-2015)
- International representative for the Polymer Processing Society (2006-2015)
- Official examiner of l’Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec, Canada (IOQ) (1996-2008)
- Official consultant for the Canadian government for the evaluation of research in industry (2004-2008)
- Consultant for Total, Inc (2004-2008); Consultant for IPL (2001-2006); Consultant for Bouch. Mac, Inc (2001-2007); Consultant for (Canadian Plastics Industry Association: CPIA: 1999-2006).
- President of S2M-NANOTECH (Société Marocaine sur les Matériaux et Nanomatériaux),
- Member of the Executive Board of IAP (InterAcademy Partnership), which gathers more than 140 Academies of Sciences across the world and from the five continents
- Member of the PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres) University Board
- Member of the board of the European think tank IDATE DIGIWORLD
CHEICK MODIBO
DIARRA
Former Prime Minister of Mali, former NASA Mars Mission Chief, former Microsoft Africa President
CHEICK MODIBO DIARRA
Former Prime Minister of Mali, former NASA Mars Mission Chief, former Microsoft Africa President
Dr. Cheick Diarra is the Chairman of ALN. Dr Diarra is a Malian engineer, businessman, politician, and was acting Prime Minister of Mali from April to December 2012. He was the chairman of Microsoft Africa from 2006 until 2011. He is a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO and ISESCO and also served as the President of the African Virtual University, based in Kenya, in 2002 – 2003. In 1989, Dr Diarra joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California (a center of excellence of NASA). There, as a navigator, he participated in various missions: Magellan to Venus, Ulysses to the Sun’s poles, Galileo to Jupiter and the Mars Observer and Mars Pathfinder. He later headed NASA’s Mars Outreach Program. He studied mathematics, physics and analytic mechanics at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie. Following these, he completed a Masters in Aerospace Engineering at Howard University in Washington D.C. and completed his PHD in Mechanical Engineering also at Howard University.
In his distinguished career, Dr. Diarra has received various honours and decorations:
• The African Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998;
• The World Bank’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science and the Africa-America Institute Award for Excellence in Science (for inspiring youth worldwide to explore the cosmos);
• Commandeur de l’Ordre de l’Education Nationale in Gabon;
• Commandeur de l’Ordre du Merite du Lion in Senegal;
• Grand Officier de l’Ordre National in Mali;
• Commandeur de l’Ordre du Mérite National in Côte d’Ivoire;
• Commandeur dans l’ordre des Arts, des Lettres, et de la Communication in Burkina Faso;
• He was voted by the African public as one of the 100 Africans of the 20th Century in Jeune Afrique magazine;
• Dr. Diarra also shares the 2008 Lifetime African ICT Achievers Award with former South African president, Thabo Mbeki;
• In 2009, he was awarded the Batisseurs de l’Economie top award and the ITSMF Summit Heritage Award recognizing the thought leaders of the information technology field.
JEAN-PIERRE
ELONG MBASSI
Secretary General of Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG)
JEAN-PIERRE ELONG MBASSI
Secretary General of Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG)
Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi is the Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa). He has been the Chairperson of the Cities Alliance Interim Management Board till April 2016. He is also Co Chair of World Cities Scientific Development Alliance WCSDA, and Deputy Secretary General of the China Africa forum of local governments.
Mr. Mbassi has a rich experience of nearly 40 years in the field of urban development and planning, urban services, local economic development, local governance, housing and of slum upgrading. From 1996 to 1999 he was the first Secretary General of the World Association of Cities and Local Authorities Coordination WACLAC at the same time he held the position of Secretary General of the Municipal Development Partnership, MDP from 1992 to 2006.
Mr. Mbassi began his career in Paris, France where he was responsible for research and project manager at the Agency of Cooperation and Planning (‘Agence Coopération et Aménagement) from 1973 to 1980.
HABIBA
LAKLALECH
Director General of the National Airports Office of Morocco (ONDA), Vice-President Airports Council International ACI Africa
HABIBA LAKLALECH
Director General of the National Airports Office of Morocco (ONDA), Vice-President Airports Council International ACI Africa
Habiba LAKLALECH has been appointed by His Majesty The King of Morocco as CEO of Moroccan Airports Authority (ONDA) since February 2021.
Holding an engineering degrees from the Polytechnic School (Paris – 1993) and the National School of Telecommunications (Paris – 1995), she obtained a Diploma in Applied Studies in optoelectronics and microwaves from the Pierre Marie Curie University (Paris – 1995)
During her 27-year professional career, including 16 years in the air transport sector, Habiba LAKLALECH held several positions of responsibility, including Deputy General Manager of Royal Air Maroc in charge of finance, sales and support.
Before joining Royal Air Maroc, Habiba LAKLALECH started her professional life in multinational industrial and then telecommunications companies, from 1995 to 2006.
Habiba LAKLALECH was decorated, in 2014, with the Wissam of “Knight of the Order of the Throne” by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and, in 1988, she received the Hassan II Prize for Mathematics awarded by the late
His Majesty King Hassan II.
Habiba LAKLALECH is currently Vice-President of the International Airports Council for the Africa Region.
FATHALLAH
SIJILMASSI
Ambassador, Doctor of Economics, Academician
FATHALLAH SIJILMASSI
Ambassador, Doctor of Economics, Academician
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ACTUALITÉS
MAURO
SPONZA
Michelin Aircraft Tyre Vice-President
MAURO SPONZA
Michelin Aircraft Tyre Vice-President
• Mauro Sponza joined Michelin in 1996 after graduation in Engineering (Turin Polytechnic, Italy) and after he served the Army for 15 months as Officer. Since December 2019, he is Michelin Aircraft Tyre President.
• Prior to this position in Michelin Group, Mauro Sponza spent his career within the industrial organization. He was Plant Director of Cuneo/Turin Passenger Car plants (Italy) and member of the board of SAMI (Michelin Italy) from 2016
• From 2012 to 2016 Mauro Sponza was Plant Director of Alessandria Truck Tires plant (Italy)
• From 2008 to end 2011 Mauro Sponza was responsible of the Operations (industry, logistic, quality, supply) for Ariston Thermo Group’s burners business line, based in France, Italy and Germany.
• From 1996 to 2007, Mauro Sponza was in charge of several responsibilities within Michelin Cuneo and Alessandria Plants as workshop manager and production manager.
• In 2004 Mauro Sponza received an MBA (Bologna Business School, Italy)
• Mauro Sponza is a native of Turin City, Italy. He is married and has 1 child.
ALI
TOUNSI
Secretary General of ACI Africa
ALI TOUNSI
Secretary General of ACI Africa
Monsieur Ali TOUNSI est détenteur d’un Diplôme d’Ingénieur Principal en télémécanique de l’Académie de l’air Tunisienne et d’un Master en gestion des aéroports de l’Ecole Nationale d’Aviation Civile (ENAC-Toulouse/France).
Il a commencé sa carrière en aviation civile en 1992, en tant qu’ingénieur d’études dans le domaine de l’exploitation des aéroports à l’Office de l’Aviation Civile et des Aéroports (OACA-Tunisie), impliqué dans les études et projets relatifs à la qualité des services, à la gestion des ressources aéroportuaires, aux futurs projets d’infrastructures et des nouveaux projets d’aérogares passagers.
Durant sa carrière professionnelle, Mr Tounsi a été directeur de plusieurs aéroports en Tunisie, Directeur de l’Exploitation des Aéroports, responsable de plusieurs projets d’extensions d’aérogares passagers, président de la commission de pilotage pour la mise en place du programme de certification des aéroports Tunisiens.
Depuis 2009, Mr Ali TOUNSI est secrétaire général de l’ACI Afrique est aussi membre au comité permanent mondial technique et sécurité représentant la région Afrique.
MARC WATIN
AUGOUARD
Founder and Co-Director of the International Cybersecurity Forum (FIC)
MARC WATIN AUGOUARD
Founder and Co-Director of the International Cybersecurity Forum (FIC)
Expérience liée à la cybersécurité
« Un des 100 Français qui compte dans la cybersécurité »
L’Usine Nouvelle, janvier 2019
– Président (depuis 2020) de l’Institut national de la cybersécurité et de la résilience des territoires (IN.CRT)
– Créateur et responsable de la majeure souveraineté numérique et cybersécurité IHEDN-INHESJ puis IHEDN(depuis 2018)
– Président du Centre Expert Français de la Cybercriminalité – CECYF (depuis 2014)
– Fondateur et Codirecteur du Forum international de la cybersécurité – FIC (depuis 2007)
– Chargé de cours « cybersécurité » :
– Université Panthéon Assas : Master 2 « Stratégies de la sécurité » et Master 2 « sécurité et défense »
– HEIP : Master 2 « Défense et sécurité »
– Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne : Master 2droit public
– Université de Nancy : DU sécurité intérieure
– Rapporteur du groupe de travail du la cybercriminalité sous l’autorité de Thierry Breton (2004-2005)
Carrière au sein de la gendarmerie nationale
– Directeur du Centre de Recherche de l’École des Officiers de la Gendarmerie Nationale (CREOGN) (2012 – 2020)
– Inspecteur général des armées-gendarmerie (2008 – 2012)
– Général d’armée (2008)
– Général de corps d’armée (2007)
– Général de division (2006)
– Commandant la région de gendarmerie du Nord – Pas-de-Calais, commandant la gendarmerie pour la zone de défense Nord (2005 – 2008)
– Conseiller pour la gendarmerie auprès de Dominique de Villepin (2004 – 2005)
– Général de brigade (2003)
– Conseiller pour la sécurité auprès de Nicolas Sarkozy (2002 – 2004)
– Commandant de la légion de gendarmerie départementale de Champagne-Ardenne (2000 – 2002)
– Auditeur, Centre des Hautes Études Militaires (CHEM- 49ème session) et Institut des Hautes Études de Défense Nationale (IDHEN- 52ème session nationale) (1999 – 2000)
– Chef du Service d’information et de relations publiques (SIRPA) de la gendarmerie (1997 – 1999)
– Auditeur, Institut des Hautes Études de la Sécurité Intérieure (IHESI) (1995 – 1997)
– Commandant le groupement de gendarmerie départementale de l’Eure (27) (1994 – 1997) – Colonel (1995).
MARIA
EL FILALI
General Commissioner of the Aerospace African Forum and General Manager of GIMAS
MARIA EL FILALI
General Commissioner of the Aerospace African Forum and General Manager of GIMAS
Maria El Filali is General Director of GIMAS – the Moroccan Aerospace Industries Association, which gathers more than 120 members located and having their operations in the kingdom.
She has been working for 14 years in the company, working on the development of the industry and its strategy in partnership with the government and institutions, and the promotion in international exhibitions and forums. She has been involved in different structural project, IMA – Aerospace Training institute, the Industrial Excellence Program for the Supply Chain, the Aerospace Moroccan Cluster for innovation, with the organization of the Moroccan participation for start-ups in the CES Vegas.
She is the General Commissioner of the Aerospace African Forum, member of the Scientific Council.
She has Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy and Bachelor in Business Administration from Al Akhawayn University, and International Management from Kansai Gaida Uniiversity in Osaka – Japan.
She is married with three kids.
ÉMERIC
D’ARCIMOLES
President of Africa Air Forum
ÉMERIC D’ARCIMOLES
President of Africa Air Forum
Emeric d’Arcimoles, né à Agen en 1948, possède un DEA de thermo aéro-dynamique et MBA en gestion d’entreprises.
De 1974 à 2016 il évolue au sein du groupe SAFRAN En avril 2008, il est nommé Directeur Général Adjoint en charge du Développement International du Groupe SAFRAN.
Président de SIAE (Paris Air Show) de 2013 à 2017 Président de la commission internationale du GIFAS 2010 – 2016
Président de la fondation de l’école d’ingénieurs ESTIA (Biarritz) 2008 2021
Conseiller du Commerce Extérieur pour la France jusqu’en 2015 ACTIVITE ACTUELLE Business Angel auprès de jeunes sociétés.
Président d’Africa Air Forum