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ACI-LAC ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

The 2025 ACI Latin America and Caribbean Annual General Assembly, Conference & Exhibition brings together senior executives of the airport industry from all over the world and features discussion topics that shape the way in which the aviation industry is quickly evolving. The airport community will gather in Trinidad and Tobago, on October 5–7, 2025

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Alberto
Smith
Punta Cana Airport
Andrew
Hoo
Migration Aruba
Anthony
Whittier
ECCAA
Camile
Royes
MBJ Airports Limited
Christopher
Barks
ICAO NACC
Eliseo
Llamazares
KPMG
Evans
Avendaño
ADP
Fernando
Yuss
AENA Brasil
Jaume
Androver
GPA
Juan Jose
Salmon
Lima Airport
Justin
Erbacci
ACI WORLD
Marcelo
Garcia
NACO
Monika
Infante
AERODOM
Natalí
Leal
OPAIN
Nicolas
Claude
Nuevo Pudahuel
Peter
Cerdá
IATA AMERICAS
RAFAEL
ECHEVARNE
ACI-LAC
Shane
Munroe
MBJ Airport Limited
Tiago
Pereira
ANAC Brasil
Ricardo
Hernández
Aeris Costa Rica
Carlos
Placeres
GCG Group
Dona
Regis-Prosper
Caribbean Tourism Organization
Eduardo
Coll
Leadin Aviation
Ezequiel
Barrenechea
Corporación America
Gil
Aguiles
RG Media
Joan
Rojas
ALG
Jorge
Hernández
Aerostar
Jose Luis
Aguilar
CORPAC
Julio
Ribas
VINCI Brasil
Ricardo
Gesse
Zurich Airport Brasil
Sergio
Rodriguez
Flare Aviation
Andres
Malaud
University of Lisbon

PRIME SPONSORS

SPONSORS

EXHIBITORS

Christoper Barks

ICAO NACC

Up to 14 July 2023, Mr. Barks was the Director of Global Strategy and Mission Support in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of International Affairs in Washington, DC. He was responsible for leading the development of a data -informed, agency-wide strategy and measurable business plan targets for FAA global engagement. Prior to this, Mr. Barks was the Manager for ICAO and Global Affairs, leading the team that coordinated U.S. Government positions on ICAO matters and overseeing a Crisis Response Working Group that addressed risk to airlines in conflict zones. In this capacity, he participated in the Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART), contributing to the development of guidance to the aviation industry to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
From 2013 to 2019, Mr. Barks served as the Director of the FAA’s Western Hemisphere region. Based in the U.S. Embassy in Panama, he led FAA Senior Representatives in Miami, Panama, and Brazil and a staff in Washington D.C. to coordinate all FAA international activities with partners in the Americas and the Caribbean.

Prior to joining the Western Hemisphere office, Mr. Barks served from 2008-2011 as the FAA Senior Representative in Brussels, responsible for FAA relationships with EU Institutions and agencies, and with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. From 2005-2008, he was the FAA Senior Representative to Northern Europe, based at the U.S. Embassy in London. Mr. Barks joined the FAA in 1997, holding positions in the Office of International Aviation and in the Flight Standards Service. Mr. Barks received a Master of Arts in German and European Studies from Georgetown University in 1997 and Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations and German Studies from the University of Minnesota in 1993. He is fluent in Spanish (having lived for 17 years in Latin America), German, and has basic knowledge of Portuguese and French. He was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2010

Anthony Whittier

ECCAA

As Director General of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority, I lead transformative efforts to enhance aviation safety, security, and capacity across six member states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. My mission centers on modernizing technical and administrative teams, displacing outdated norms, and driving strategic initiatives to restore FAA Category 1 status while elevating the Effective Implementation of ICAO SARPs into the upper quartile range.
I bring over 23 years of distinguished civil aviation safety oversight experience spanning the Caribbean and the Middle East—including leadership of flight standards, contributions to compliance monitoring systems, roles as an ICAO National Continuous Monitoring Coordinator, and hands-on involvement in airworthiness and regulatory development. Prior to this, I spent nine years in airline engineering, serving as project manager for a government business unit and overseeing quality assurance and direct maintenance engineering experience of L1011, MD83, A321, B737, and B767.
Grounded in a practical, solutions-driven approach, I am a strong advocate for on-the-job training and mentorship; with a personal foundation of 18 months OJT under UKCAA Surveyors instilled a lifelong belief in peer-to-peer learning as the cornerstone of professional excellence.

Peter Cerdá

IATA

Peter Cerdá is the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Regional Vice President for the Americas. Globally, IATA represents some 330 airlines and carrying 80% of the world’s air traffic, supporting many areas of aviation activity and helping to formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues. Based in Miami, Mr. Cerdá oversees 35 countries with 50 member airlines across North and South America, and the Caribbean, driving IATA’s global standards and international perspective to deliver maximum value to the safe, sustainable, and profitable development of aviation across the region. He advocates with Government authorities, safety regulators, airports, and industry stakeholders to create a common approach to utilize aviation as an engine of economic growth and social development, which drove pre- Covid nearly USD$1.29 trillion in GDP and generated 16.4 million jobs in the Americas Region.

Mr. Cerdá is also IATA’s major shareholder for Cargo Network Services (CNS) in the United States, and a member of the Executive Boards of Colombia’s Air Transport Association (ATAC) and Mexico’s National Chamber of Air Transport (CANAERO). He also service as Chairman of Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s Aviation Committee.

Mr. Cerdá possesses a wealth of industry experience acquired over 30 years in aviation. He has worked in various functions for IATA and started his aviation career with Iberia Airlines prior to joining IATA in 1996. Fluent in English and Spanish, Mr. Cerdá was born in Spain and received his master’s degree in Aeronautics and Aviation Management from Embry Riddle University in the United States.

Alberto Smith

Punta Cana Airport

Licenciado en Administración Hotelera y Turística de la Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), con una certificación en Alta Gerencia Hotelera de Cornell University, MBA en Negocios Internacionales y certificado por la Airport Council International (ACI) como International Airport Professional (IAP) a través de su programa de formación AMPAP (primer dominicano en ser certificado), certificado por la Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) como experto en manejo de cadena de frio e inocuidad de alimentos.

En la actualidad es Director de Operaciones Landside & Carga en el Aeropuerto Internacional  de Punta Cana. Con una experiencia de más de 10 años  en esta posición,   su misión es proveer un servicio de calidad mundial a los pasajeros proveyendo un excelente ambiente en las terminales y procesos altamente eficientes en el paso por esta importante terminal aeroportuaria, manteniendo las facilidades en óptimas condiciones. 

Antes de formar parte del equipo del Aeropuerto, el Sr. Smith fue Director de operaciones en Cap Cana. Cabe destacar que posee una experiencia de 20 años en manejo de hoteles en Rep. Dominicana, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos,  Venezuela, y México. 

El Sr. Smith es miembro del Comité Mundial Permanente de Facilitación y Servicios(WFS7S Committee por sus siglas en Ingles) del Concilio Internacional de Aeropuertos (ACI por sus siglas en ingles), además es miembro del Comité de Facilitación y Seguridad del capítulo Latinoamericano de la ACI (ACI-LAC), miembro y coordinador del comité de educacion del Cluster Logístico de la Republica Dominicana (CLRD) y miembro del Committee Adivisory Board (CAB) de SITA la empresa más grande en el mundo de tecnología para aeropuertos. Catedrático universitario en UNIBE para grado, educación continua y post-grado y orgullosamente miembro del Club Rotario Punta Cana-Bávaro

A nivel personal, se define como un apasionado del deporte (Baloncesto y Golf predominantemente) , los viajes y la musica. Y como tarea principal una entrega total al bienestar de mi familia, muy especialmente a mis hijos.

La frase que lo identifica es “La inconsistencia es lo único consistente en el quehacer humano” tanto en lo personal como profesional.

Gil Aguiles

RG Media

Gil is a dynamic, results-driven professional with over 30 years of experience in domestic and international sales, brand marketing, public relations, and corporate communications. He brings a powerful blend of leadership, business development, project management, and deep industry insight. Throughout his career, Gil has designed and executed high-impact sales and marketing campaigns that generate leads, drive growth, and elevate brand visibility.

In January 2020, Gil and his partners launched RG Media, a boutique airport advertising concessionaire and consultancy built on strategic partnerships. RG Media delivers traditional advertising solutions while empowering airports to manage their own programs through tailored sales training, design services, and advertising program audits. Now the largest airport concessionaire in the Caribbean, RG Media serves over 20 airports across the region, as well as in Central and Latin America and the U.S. RG Media also manages advertising in VIP lounges in Cancun and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Recently, RG Media signed a global agreement with the world’s largest cruise port operator to design, market, and manage advertising across cruise terminals in the Caribbean, Europe, and the Mediterranean.

He joined Clear Channel Airports (CCA) in 2015 as Sales Manager for the Latin American and Caribbean markets. Under his leadership, the team surpassed its sales target, achieving 102% of goal, and Gil was honored with CCA’s Rookie of the Year Award. Promoted to Director of Business Development in 2016, he led airport partner retention and acquisition efforts, strengthened regional relationships, and identified new growth opportunities across Latin America and the Caribbean. Gil is known for his strategic market analysis and ability to unlock revenue potential.

Prior to CCA, he held key roles in both public and private sector organizations worldwide and continues to mentor professionals in the U.S. and abroad.

Gil holds an M.A. in Communication Studies from West Virginia University and a dual B.A. in Public Relations and English-Writing from the University of Bridgeport.

Sergio Rodríguez

Flare Aviation

Sergio’s career on aviation strategy consulting spans across top-tier firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, and ALG, where he played a key role in building aviation practices and delivering high-impact projects across infrastructure planning, institutional reform, and financial advisory.

Currently as Flare’s Aviation Director, he leads strategic engagements focused on airport development, business planning, and transaction advisory. With a dual background in aeronautical engineering and business administration—specialized in business valuation—Sergio brings a rare blend of technical and financial expertise, enabling a holistic, long-term approach to complex aviation challenges.

He has delivered projects in more than 20 countries across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia.

Marcelo García

NACO

Chief Aviation Regulation, Policy, and Governance at NACO.

Marcelo has 16 years of legal and international affairs experience. He has advised on a wide array of commercial and regulatory issues such as the enhancement of traffic rights and improvement of doing business provisions in bilateral agreements, the management of airport incentives and termination of partnership agreements, and compliance with the conventions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). During his time at Qatar Airways, Marcelo deployed market access campaigns and various aeropolitical initiatives in Australia, Japan, India, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia. Marcelo earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the McGill Institute of Air & Space Law in Montreal. He also earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Civil Law (B.C.L.) degrees from McGill University.

Julio Ribas

Vinci Airports

Natural do Paraná, Engenheiro Aeronáutico, pelo Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica, e pós graduação na FGV inicialmente atuou como Oficial da Força Aérea, responsável pela manutenção de toda a frota de vários equipamentos da Força Aérea, entre eles os F-5 e Mirage. Seguiu com carreira na área de operações e posteriormente presidência em empresas multinacionais na área de bens de consumo, com passagem pelos Estados Unidos, México, Argentina e Malásia, regressando posteriormente ao setor aeronáutico, tendo presidido a subsidiária brasileira da Swissport e atualmente Diretor Presidente da Concessionária do Aeroporto de Salvador, aeródromo que passou a ser integralmente operado pela empresa VINCI Airports em 2 de janeiro de 2018

JORGE HERNÁNDEZ

Aerostar

Jorge Hernández, has over 25 years of experience in management, financial planning, start-ups, development, M&A and integration of international ventures. He is a Certified Public Accountant and serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Aerostar Airport Holdings, the first successful privatization of a medium- or large-hub airport in the United States under the FAA’s Airport Investment Partnership Program. Prior to that Mr. Hernández served as the entity’s Chief Financial Officer.

Before joining Aerostar, Mr. Hernández served as Managing Director of JASG, Inc, a consulting & advisory firm, in Puerto Rico and Chief Financial Officer for Onelink Communications. Prior to joining Onelink Communications, Mr. Hernandez was Director-Finance for Telefonica Moviles, in Madrid, Spain assisting the transition of acquired assets from BellSouth International and the coordination of the global financial system consolidation. Previously, he was the Director & Regional Controller for Bellsouth International, a subsidiary of BellSouth Corporation (now AT&T), held various positions with another telecommunications company and worked for the public accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP.

Mr. Hernández holds an MBA from Georgetown University, a BBA in Accounting from the University of Puerto Rico, and a Global Management Certificate from INCAE Business School. He has served as a board member for the PR Chamber of Commerce, Commonwealth-Parkville Schools and currently serves as a member of the board of the PR Down Syndrome Foundation, United Way Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Tourism & Business Council and Discover Puerto Rico (DMO).

JAUME ADROVER

GPA

• Más de 10 años de experiencia en consultoría estratégica y de negocios para aeropuertos, organizaciones públicas y privadas en el sector del transporte aéreo y 15 años en gestión de aerolíneas en áreas operativas y de planificación comercial estratégica.
• Desde 2013, imparte clases en el Máster universitario en Logística y Comercio Internacional (Universidad Abat Oliba), concretamente en el módulo de Carga Aérea. En 2020, impartió un módulo de Promoción Aeroportuaria en el marco del “Degree Programme in Aviation Business” de la Haaga-Helia University.
• Como Director de GPA desde 2010, ha desarrollado experiencia en el diseño de estrategias de conectividad y red de rutas para aeropuertos y destinos; ha ejecutado planes de promoción sí como apoyado a sus clientes en la negociación con aerolíneas de todo el mundo.
• Dentro de GPA tiene experiencia importante en el desarrollo de la carga aérea y ha desarrollado una plataforma digital que se está comercializando actualmente. Otros aspectos más técnicos aeroportuarios son estudios de impacto ambiental, desarrollos de ciudades aeroportuarias y en Formación de respuesta a la emergencia.
• Jefe de Proyecto de Recomendaciones estratégicas de la Carga Aérea para AENA 2022-2023” y actualmente como Jefe de Proyecto de “La Estratégica de Carga Aérea para Catalunya” contratado por el Gobierno de Cataluña.
• Antes de unirse a GPA desempeñó la función de Vicepresidente de Estrategia de Red y Planificación de Spanair diseñando el desarrollo de rutas, programas de vuelos, política de precios y derechos de tráfico y slots.
• Principal impulsor del Barcelona Air Freight Community (parte de BCL) que agrupa a todas las terminales de carga del Aeropuerto, Aena y otros 25 agentes logísticos y empresas expedidoras. GPA junto a Portel crea el primer Cargo Community System de España, Air Freight Solution, como plataforma de efreight para la digitalización de los procesos y mejoras operativas. Actualmente están desarrollando la plataforma de Aena Cargo para optimizar los procesos de carga en los aeropuertos de toda España.
• Ex consejero del Consejo de Administración del Barcelona Airport Cargo AIE (junto a AENA, Cimalsa, CZB); y también de la primera UTE GPA, SABA y RACC para la construcción y gestión del Parking de la T1 y T2 del Aeropuerto de Barcelona.

Eduardo Coll

Leadin Aviation

Eduardo brings over 20 years of international experience in the aviation industry, having led airport projects worldwide across the entire infrastructure lifecycle—from planning and design to construction, operations, and maintenance. He is the co-founder of Leadin Aviation Consulting, an emerging group reimagining airport consulting with a strong focus on innovation and specialized expertise in aviation infrastructure planning. Throughout his career, Eduardo has been recognized for his ability to align diverse stakeholders, lead complex projects to success, and anticipate future challenges in aviation. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence continue to shape his work and vision for the industry’s next chapter.”

CArlos PLaceres

GCG Group

Carlos Placeres serves as the Head of Ground Handling Operations at GCG Group, where he leads multi-station operations across Latin America and the Caribbean. With more than a decade of experience spanning both domestic U.S. and international markets, he has delivered results from contract negotiations to operational excellence and service delivery. His leadership bridges commercial strategy and operational execution, aligning regional performance with long-term corporate growth. His career includes a range of leadership roles where he developed a proven track record in strengthening operations, driving financial performance, enhancing customer service, and ensuring safety compliance

Camille Royes

MBJ Airports Limited

Ms. Royes is the Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary for MBJ Airports Limited, the operator of the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica.


As the sole in-house lawyer for the leading gateway to Jamaica and a member of the Executive Leadership team, she actively provides support to the Airport on an extensive range of contractual, commercial, regulatory, financing and other transactional matters. She is committed to fairly and equitably protecting the Airport’s interests and advancing its corporate goals. Ms. Royes is also a founding director of the MBJ Airport Foundation, the Airport’s CSR vehicle.

Prior to joining the Airport, she was engaged in private practice at various boutique law firms in Kingston, Jamaica which provided a solid legal foundation for serving as a generalist in-house counsel.

Her career highlights include:

  • Chairperson of the ACI-LAC Legal Committee since August 2021
  • Recipient of the prestigious IAAE/AAAE Professional Development Grant in 2022
  •   One of 16 candidates worldwide selected by Abertis Airport Group in 2012 for its inaugural Talent Management Program

Ms. Royes was called to the Bar in 2000 and holds a Master of Laws degree with distinction from the University of Westminster in London and a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours from the University of the West Indies. She is a Justice of the Peace and has volunteered in her community by serving on a number of public boards, including the Maxfield Park Children’s Home and the St. James High School in Montego Bay.

Monika Infante

Aerodom

Doctor in Law Summa Cum Laude from Universidad Iberoamericana, Dominican Republic, 1999. Master of Laws from University of Utrecht, the Netherlands in 2000 and in 2003 a Master of Las from The University of Chicago Law School. In 2017 obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Spain the equivalent to a Juris Doctor degree.

Ms. Infante has been a law professor, both at the bachelor and master’s levels, at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra and Universidad Iberoamericana. She is the Director of Public Economic Law master’s degree at Instituto OMG, Dominican Republic.

Ms. Infante was awarded the “Microsoft Award” for Law and Economics Research by the University of California, Berkeley for her paper Economic Analysis on the Right of Property: The leasing regime. She was also awarded the “Robert D. Cooter Award” by the Latin American and Iberian Law & Economics Association (ALACDE).

She was president from 2017 to 2019 of the Board of Directors of the Latin American and Iberian Association of Law and Economy (ALACDE). Three-term member of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM). She currently is the president of the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster, the Franco-Dominican Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a member of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of Airports Council International-Latin America (ACI-LAC).

She was an associate at Steel Hector & Davis Peña Prieto Gamundi and Squire Sanders & Dempsey (now Squire Patton Boggs). From 2009 to 2011 she was Legal Director of Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI, S.A. (AERODOM). Since 2012 holds the position of CEO of the company.

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