Tony is best known as the first marketing director of European low-cost airline easyJet. He joined as its third employee six months prior to the first flight and worked closely with the airline’s founder on developing and launching one of Europe’s best-known travel brands. Tony went on to become marketing director of easyGroup where he helped develop and launch new businesses under the easy brand. He later became retail marketing director of internet bank Egg owned by Prudential. Tony has also held commercial roles at brands including British Airways and Thomas Cook. Since 2017 Tony has been a consultant and advisor to easyGroup and easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and is a lecturer at Imperial College Business School.
Kate is an Executive Coach, author and media contributor with over 15 years experience working with FTSE 100, Fortune 500 and cutting-edge start-ups. In her coaching practice, both one-on-one and in groups, she mixes conventional and unconventional approaches, underpinned by latest in neuroscience. It’s her mission to help the leaders of today, and tomorrow, overcome fear, embrace their humanity and lead and live to their fullest potential. It is Kate and her team's mission to enable all of the leaders and teams we work with, whether one-on-one or in groups, to develop the tools they need to unite and lead their organisation with humanity and purpose. What we know from experience is that when organisations are united behind genuine and purposeful leaders, they are unstoppable, however uncertain the terrain. Alongside her coaching and writing, she is also an advocate and campaigner for change for those growing up, or having grown up, under the shadow of addiction. She is an ambassador for Child Of.
Gary Waterfall retired from The Royal Air Force after 34 years’ service in 2019. As a pilot, he served the majority of his flying career with the Harrier Force, but also flew with The Red Arrows for three seasons. His last flying appointment was in command of Joint Force Harrier Force and Royal Air Force Cottesmore, where he led the iconic aircraft into retirement on 15th December 2010. In higher command, he was the Air Commander of the UK air contribution to Op ELLAMY (UK involvement in the NATO led campaign in Libya), was the deputy commander of Air Security for the 2012 Olympic Games, and was the first Typhoon Force Commander, before promotion to Air Vice Marshal. On promotion, he was selected as Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, responsible for the training, generation and sustainment of the RAF’s Combat Air, ISTAR and Air Command and Control; this included serving as the National Air Defence Commander, responsible for the security and integrity of UK airspace. His last role was as the Chief of Staff (Operations) at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters, responsible for the planning and execution of UK Joint global operations. On leaving the Royal Air Force, he set up and continues to run his own Company, Pegasus Potential Ltd, advising and mentoring across the Aerospace, Defence and Leadership sectors. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant to the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire in March 2020, is President of 2248 (Rutland) Air Training Corps, Chair of The Red Arrows Trust, and an Ambassador for The Royal Air Forces Association.
Chris Gear has worked in the aerospace industry for over 50 years, in innovation with new materials and technologies, applying engineering solutions to products to meet the regulations, and developing processes to manufacture them. At the same time supporting and developing people who are critical to creating innovation needed for solving complex problems. Chris worked at GKN Aerospace for 37 years, most recently as the Chief Technology Officer and the chair of fellows for the Global GKN Group. He was a non-executive on Aerospace Technology Institute’s Board and in 2021-2022 was the Project Director on FlyZero, that developed new liquid hydrogen solutions for large commercial aircraft on behalf of the ATI and UK Government, BEIS. He did his Master’s degree reading Aircraft Design at Cranfield Institute of Aeronautics.
Stuart Witt, founder and owner of S.O. Witt and Associates LLC consulting. The former CEO and General Manager of the Mojave Air & Space Port, where he directed the region’s expansion efforts from April 2002 to Jan 2016. A 52 year aviation professional with extensive experience in operational, research and developmental test flying, engineering and aviation management and Executive leadership. In 2004, Mojave was designated the nation’s first inland spaceport when it played host to the world as Scaled Composites qualified and won the $10M Ansari X PRIZE giving birth to the commercial manned spaceflight industry. Stuart is a co-founding executive member of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. Additionally, Stuart is a past Trustee and board chairman on the Kern Community College Board. Stuart remains active as a member of the Administration’s Space Council/Users Advisory Group as an “Industry Representative of commercial space” and Utility Grade renewable energy development projects as the sole proprietor of a strategic consulting firm.
Gen Zahner served as Deputy Undersecretary of Defence for Intelligence/War Fighting Support and directed critical institutional modernisation initiatives of intelligence & cyber forces and ISR capabilities.
Jay was the U.S. Department of Defense’s first Chief Management Officer, and also the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. Additionally, he has held several other senior roles across various aerospace organisations. Jay’s time as Senior Vice President, Special Mission Aircraft for Beechcraft, with its well-known multi-mission King Air aircraft, is of particular relevance to Airlander’s multiple use cases also the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
