Con Barber

Chief Investment Officer, Macquarie Rotorcraft

Con Barber has twenty years’ experience in the aviation sector, filling a wide variety of technical, project management and strategic management roles. Con is currently Chief Investment Officer at Macquarie Rotorcraft, responsible for strategy, pricing, risk, and credit. Prior to joining Macquarie, Con was global head of sales at Waypoint Leasing and previously led Waypoint’s sales effort in Africa/Middle East. Previously Con held roles in Rose Aviation, and the Irish Defence Forces, including secondment to the United Nations, the European Union and the Swedish Air Force, in various aviation leadership roles and overseas deployments. Con holds a primary degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Queen’s University and post graduate qualifications including an MBA and MSc from Smurfit Business School, Dublin, and an MA from the National University of Ireland. Con speaks conversational French and Swedish.

Chris Bradshaw

President & CEO, Bristow Group

President and Chief Executive Officer of Era Group Inc. (NYSE: ERA)

Chris Bradshaw has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Era Group since August 2014, and he also served as Chief Financial Officer from October 2012 to September 2015. Mr. Bradshaw also serves as a director of the Company.

From 2009 until 2012, Mr. Bradshaw served as Managing Partner and Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Capital Advisors LLC, an independent financial advisory firm.

Prior to co-founding U.S. Capital Advisors LLC, Mr. Bradshaw was an energy investment banker at UBS Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co., and PaineWebber Incorporated. Chris and his wife Kristy live in Houston with their three young children. They are involved with several community and charitable organizations, including current board service at Houston Ballet, Hermann Park Conservancy, Dress for Success Houston, and Small Steps Nurturing Center.

Tony Cramp

Vice President Aircraft, Shell Aircraft

Tony was appointed as Shell’s Vice President Aircraft and Managing Director Shell Aircraft in May 2016.

With Shell since in 2003, he has global experience in working with aircraft operators supporting oil and gas operations, undertaking assurance, air accident investigations and providing specialist advice to Shell’s extensive business stakeholder group. Championing initiatives to enable safe and efficient operations in some of the most diverse and challenging environments, he has worked closely with OEMs on aircraft design specifications and represents the Company on several industry and national regulatory bodies, including currently chairing the IOGP Aviation Cttee.

Prior to joining Shell, he served 19yrs in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and instructor, commanded a Naval Air Squadron and a Warship and served as the media spokesman for overseas military operations.

David Crick

Managing Director, DavAir Group

David Crick is an Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA). He serves as the Machinery & Technical Specialties Discipline Governor on the ASA International Board of Governors and is the recent President of the ASA Australian Chapter. He also serves as the Chair on the Finance & Leasing Committee of the Helicopter Association International.

David is the Managing Director of the DavAir Group, an Australian company providing international aviation inspection, appraisal and advisory services.

He has an unparalleled passion for the aviation sector performing appraisals of both fixed wing & rotary aviation assets in Australia, the Asia Pacific Rim, the USA and various countries in Europe & the Middle East.

With over 20 years of specialised valuation and consulting experience to many different sectors, David has considerable knowledge of corporate valuation requirements for financial reporting, mortgage security assessments, insurance & liquidation disposals. He performs appraisals for finance and leasing, aviation sales, mergers and acquisitions, insurance disputes, and expert witness for the legal fraternity.

David has presented at various international forums addressing current issues in aviation assets and appraisal methodologies, including events in the UK, USA, Russia, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. He also lectures at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the USA on Aircraft Appraisal methodology and processes as well as teaching Aircraft Appraisal courses in London, UK.

David was formerly with Lloyds Asset in Australia joined DavAir in August 2016.

Emmanuel Dupuy

President, Aero Asset

Emmanuel began selling fixed and rotary wing aircraft in 2004. In 2009, Emmanuel launched a firm dedicated to helicopter sales, which later merged with a world leading aircraft brokerage in 2013. Emmanuel has completed in excess of 100 aircraft transactions, across the globe. He is fluent in English and French.

Gerard Deterne

CEO & Founder, Pteron Valuations

As an economist by training, Gérard Deterne formed PTERON Valuations in 2021 with the intent to build new valuation services upon many years of experience as a Business Developer in the aerospace industry.

Prior to creating PTERON Valuations, Gérard worked for Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, France, where he developed inhouse appraisal & valuation expertise, put together marketing campaigns towards lessors and lenders, engineered lease-based projects, organized briefings and webinars for the investors community and promoted sales boosters in support of the helicopter lessor’s business and the banking community.

Gérard has also worked in the UAV Business Unit at Airbus Defense & Space where he contributed to the development of the drone and UAV business while managing all aspects of market analysis and UAV asset management strategies.
Gérard has been an Accredited Senior Appraiser – Machinery & Technical Specialties – Helicopters, for some years now. He is also a member of the American Society of Appraisers.

Eddie Gross

Shareholder Vedder Price

Eddie Gross has almost 40 years of experience representing bank-affiliated, captive and independent financing providers and investors, as well as lessees and borrowers. in all aspects of aviation and other equipment finance transactions, including documenting, structuring, negotiating, syndicating and enforcing these transactions.

Eddie is considered an industry leader regarding the leasing and financing of all types of aviation assets, including fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and engine pools. Clients include market-leading aircraft and helicopter financing providers, investors and operating lessors, as well as large publicly or privately held businesses, governmental entities or high-net-worth individual lessees and borrowers. The business aircraft financed in these transactions include jets and turbo-prop aircraft operated primarily for the customer’s business purposes, or for transportation services including chartering, or pursuant to fractional or “pay card” arrangements. The financed helicopters are typically operated in various service capacities (e.g., air ambulances, oil and gas service, fire suppression, hauling, etc.) or for VIP, business or other transportation purposes. These aircraft and helicopter financings vary in structure and include domestic and multi-jurisdictional tax and non-tax leases, operating leases and secured loan financings, involving progress payment, completion and other multi-funding structures. The structures of these transactions typically involve multiple counter-parties, including citizenship and other trusts, management companies, maintenance program providers and affiliated and unaffiliated users of the aircraft and the manufacturer or other seller.
In 2016 through 2022, Eddie was ranked Band 1 in Private Aircraft (Global-wide) in Chambers High Net Worth. The legal ranking recognizes the world’s leading high net worth advisers where one aviation professional described Eddie as “the most knowledgeable aircraft finance lawyer in the US that I’ve worked with, both from a know-how and market perspective.” He was also recognized among the world’s leading aviation attorneys by Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides from 2013 to 2021.

Nigel Leishman

Executive Vice President & Global Head of Marketing, LCI

Nigel Leishman is Executive Vice President & Global Head of Marketing based at LCI’s Singapore representative office, Singapore Commercial Leasing, where he is responsible for developing commercial opportunities in the Asia Pacific region.

Born in Scotland, Nigel has been involved in commercial aviation for over 20 years including several management roles providing broad experience in all aspects of the air transport business.

He joined LCI in April 2008 from aircraft leasing company AWAS where he was Vice President Sales based in Singapore. During his seven years with AWAS he concluded many transactions throughout Asia including China.

Prior to joining AWAS, he was Customer Marketing Director for Airbus for six years, based in Toulouse and latterly Sydney. In this role he was instrumental in several new aircraft deals in Europe and Asia-Pacific region.

Earlier in his career he also worked with DHLWorldwide Express in the Middle East and airline Air Europe based in London-Gatwick.

Nigel holds a Masters degree in Air Transport Management from Cranfield University, where he graduated top of his class, and previously studied at Edinburgh University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Joseph Hawke

Chairman & CEO, Uniflight Global

Joseph A. Hawke is President, CEO and Chairman of Uniflight, LLC, Grand Prairie, Texas, and founder and Chairman of Hawke Aerospace Group, Malvern, Pennsylvania, a private equity firm that is actively pursuing platform company acquisitions in the aerospace industry, with a special focus on the rotorcraft segment of the market.
Prior to forming Hawke Aerospace Group in 2007, Hawke was General Partner of Meridian Venture Partners and MVP II, Radnor, Pennsylvania where he was a Senior Member of the investment team for a firm with $200+ million cumulative capital under management. He began his tenure at MVP II in 2001 (now known as MVP Capital), where he was instrumental in redirecting the investment strategy towards middle market buyouts with deep industry access. Hawke was active on 7 portfolio company Boards, Chairman of 3.

Hawke was responsible for
Innovating the aerospace investment practice at MVP, beginning with Keystone Helicopter Corporation in 2002. He completed a 2nd acquisition Composite Technology Inc. (CTI, based in Grand Prairie, TX) in 2004, then combined Keystone and CTI to prepare for sale. Executed successful stock sale to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in December 2005.
Negotiating the acquisition of Air Evac Lifeteam which closed in July 2004 with a majority equity co-investment from Brockway Moran & Partners. Led to formation of Air Medical Group Holdings in connection with a series of aquisitions of related air medical Part 135 operations (Critical Air Medicine, Southwest Helicopters, Med-Trans, et al). CIBC-led recap in 2006. Bain agreed to acquire AMGH for approximately $1B in August 2010.

Taking the role of acting CEO to lead the turnaround of Boston-based managed care services company MCMC, then recruited new industry veteran CEO. Effected a total of 9 acquisitions including platform investment, and raised over $20 million in senior credit facilities and $9 million of subordinated debt.
From May 1999 – September 2001 Hawke was Partner and Co-Founder, NewSpring Ventures, L.P., Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, a $90+ million venture capital firm.
Hawke began his career as a Commercial Banking Officer at First Fidelity Bank, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Hawke holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree (finance concentration) from Temple University Graduate School of Business and Management, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree (philosophy major) from Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania.

Clark McGinn

Principal, Uplifting Advice

Clark McGinn has been active in the helicopter sector for fifteen years and has closed around USD7Bn in transactions as a financier (managing RBS’s rotary business), as an operator (heading CHC’s Dublin leasing company), and as a lessor (leading Waypoint’s global sales group). He now advises new capital investors on stressed opportunities in the helicopter world through his consultancy, Uplifting Advice.Clark has been active in the mission-critical helicopter sector since 2004, closing over USD 8Bn in transactions. Uniquely, he has held senior roles leading a global bank’s rotary business (at RBS), creating a captive lessor/asset finance hub in Dublin for the largest helicopter operator (CHC), and building out the international network of relationship managers at the biggest independent lessor (Waypoint).
He now acts as a trusted advisor to significant investors across the spectrum of the helicopter industry and is a regular keynote speaker at Helicopter Investor (and other conferences).

Beyond helicopters, Clark is Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Robert Burns Studies in the University of Glasgow, having completed his PhD there on the history of the Burns Supper. Amongst his published books, and academic articles, his popular The Ultimate Burns Supper Book (Luath, £7.99) was first published in 2006 and is now in its Third Edition and is based on his experience having spoken at over two hundred Burns Suppers in twenty countries.

Dan Roberts

Chief Operating Officer, Lobo Leasing

Dan is Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Lobo Leasing.

Dan graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and qualified as an English lawyer with the law firm Allen & Overy LLP. Subsequently, Dan worked with the commercial fixed-wing leasing company ILFC (now AerCap) and then joined Lobo Leasing in 2014.

Steve Robertson

Founder & Principal, Air & Sea Analytics

Steve spent 17 years at an energy-sector research and consulting business in a number of roles including Director and Board member. He led the firm’s oilfield services (OFS) research business unit and initiated coverage in several key OFS areas including offshore helicopters. He also led and contributed to hundreds of bespoke consulting projects including commercial due diligence mandates relating to oilfield services and also helicopter companies such as CHC, NHV, Bond (now Babcock), Weststar and Pathfinder Aviation.

He participated in a management buy-in in 2009 and a subsequent sale of the business to a private equity firm in 2015. In 2019 he formed Air & Sea Analytics to focus solely on offshore aviation. He is a regular speaker at industry events worldwide including Helicopter Investor, Vertical Flight (previously Helitech) and private conferences held by OEMs. He has a degree in Computing and Economics and completed an MBA at Kent Business School.

Tim Rolfe

CEO, Helioffshore

Tim has had an exceptional 30-year career at Bristow Helicopters as a professional helicopter pilot in offshore, SAR, military support and VIP operations; and has extensive experience across the key disciplines of large helicopter operations, pilot training and safety management systems. He rose to Director Safety (EAMEA) and Global Safety Assurance and was a Board Member for six Bristow companies.

Tim was a core founder member of HeliOffshore in 2014, co-leads HeliOffshore’s operational effectiveness workstream and was commended for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to Offshore Helicopter Safety’ at HeliOffshore’s conference in 2018.

As Chief Executive Officer, Tim now leads HeliOffshore’s mission, strategy and delivery to ensure no lives are lost in offshore aviation.

João Paulo Servera

Partner, Veirano Advogatos

João Paulo Servera leads Veirano’s Aviation & Aircraft Finance group and focus his
practice on corporate law, aircraft and engine financing and general aviation matters. JP
advises in a variety of matters, including foreign investment and crossborder
transactions, with significant experience in asset financing transactions, especially
in respect to commercial aircraft and engines, general aviation, offshore helicopters and
spare parts acquisition. JP assists ECAs, banks, financiers and lessors, as well as
borrowers, lessees and operators and holds extensive background in aircraft-related
commercial litigation, mostly involving aircraft repossession, insolvency procedures and
bankruptcy. Important clients also rely in JP for corporate, regulatory and customs matters
support.

Ed Washecka

Chief Executive Officer, RACE Aviation Partners

Ed Washecka has more than 20 years of experience in the helicopter operating and leasing industries. At RACE Aviation Partners, Mr. Washecka is focused on the leasing, repurposing and part out of distressed value helicopter assets.
Mr. Washecka founded Waypoint Leasing and built the company into the 2nd largest helicopter lessor with more than 155 helicopters worth $1.6 billion. Prior to founding Waypoint with more than $400 million in equity commitments, Mr. Washecka was CEO of Era Group Inc. (NYSE: ERA), formerly the helicopter subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings (NYSE: CKH). Over the course of a decade, Mr. Washecka built SEACOR’s small seed investment of $50,000 in a struggling helicopter operator to more than US$700 million in helicopter assets through organic growth and acquisition. Era’s 800+ employees operated and supported more than 175 helicopters in the US, China, Australia, Brazil, India and other major markets. While leading Era’s helicopter operating business, Mr. Washecka pioneered Era Leasing, which grew to encompass 45 medium and heavy helicopters leased to operators in more than a dozen countries worldwide. Era’s leasing operations led other investors into the space and helped develop the sector as a source of equipment for operators.
Mr. Washecka is a graduate of Yale University and Columbia Business School.