Ninth International Conference on Future of Aviation and Aerospace (FOAA) to be held on 18 April 2026
IIMB, in partnership with TBS Education, France, to convene global sector leaders
16 April, 2026, Bengaluru: IIM Bangalore Executive Education, in partnership with TBS Education, France, will host the ninth edition of the International Conference on Future of Aviation and Aerospace (FOAA) on 18 April 2026, from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm (IST), at Taj Westend, Bangalore. The annual global summit will bring together industry experts, researchers and academic experts to deepen understanding of the current and future state of the sector.
To register for the event, click HERE.
The event agenda is available HERE.
This conference is part of a broader collaboration between IIM Bangalore and TBS Education, under which the two institutions deliver the General Management Programme for Aviation and Aerospace Executives, addressing the growing need for managerial talent in the dynamic sector.
FOAA 2026 will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions led by senior industry leaders and faculty from IIM Bangalore and TBS Education.
Ms. Annett Baessler, Deputy Consul General, German Consulate General in Bengaluru, will deliver the inaugural address, followed by a keynote address by Mr. Luigi Celmi, CEO, Lufthansa Systems India. The welcome address will be delivered by Conference Co-chairs Prof. G Shainesh, faculty in the Marketing area at IIMB, and Prof. S Raghunath, retired faculty in the Strategy area, followed by opening remarks by Prof. Sushanta Kumar Mishra, Chairperson, Research and Publications & Centre for Teaching and Learning, IIMB. The inauguration will conclude with remarks from Mr. Vikas Chaturvedi, Chief Programme Officer, EEP.
The first panel discussion on ‘Market Potential for Aviation & Aerospace in India’ will feature Mr. Belson Coutinho, COO, Akasa Air; Dr. Vasudevan S, Former APAC Head - Aviation, Travel and Tourism, ICF Consulting, and Advisor, AeroInfraStratgix; Mr. Sunil Bhaskaran, Director - Air India Aviation Academy, Air India Limited; with Prof. G Shainesh as the Panel Chair.
Conversations on ‘Make in India - The Achievements of Indian Companies’ will bring together Mr. Amit Pathak, Regional Director – APAC and Middle East – International Defence Sustainment & Sales, Collins Aerospace; Mr. Chandrashekar H.G., Founder & MD, Sasmos HET Technologies; Mr. Jay Harikrishna, Senior General Manager - Aero Operations & New Business, Mahindra Aerospace; and Mr. Biju Nanukuttan, Founder, AeroEdison, with Dr. Kota Harinarayana, Former Programme Director and Chief Designer, Tejas, Light Combat Aircraft, as the moderator.
Dr. Srinivasan Dwarakanath, Director General, Aerospace India Association, will moderate a session on ‘Design and Manufacture in India for Global Aerospace and Aviation Market: Opportunities and Challenges’ featuring Mr. Mukund Santhanam, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer and Head – Investor Relations, Axiscades Technologies Ltd.; Mr. Diwakar N Belavadi, CTO, Sasmos Group; Mr. Ashwani Bhargava, Senior Director and Head of Procurement, Boeing India; and Ms. Divya Manchanda, EVP Business Partnerships & AAM Strategy, The ePlane Company.
The following session on ‘Future of Airports and Aviation Infrastructure’ will include Prof. G. Raghuram, Former Director, IIMB, as the moderator, and Mr. Satyaki Raghunath, Former Chief Operating Officer, Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), and Wing Commander Jitender Singla, Head of Airside Operations, BIAL, as panellists for the session.
The discussion on ‘Future Opportunities and Challenges in Growing Talent’ is set to convene experts Prof. Christophe Benaroya, Director – Global Executive MBA, TBS Education, France; Prof. Cordula Barzantny, Head of the Centre of Excellence in Aeronautics & Space, TBS Education; Ms. Ruchi Dhawan Sharma, Vice President & Head – HR, Indigo; and Suraj Chettri, Founder & CEO, SuChe Business Advisory.
Prof. S Raghunath will chair the concluding session of the day titled, ‘Future of AI & Analytics in Aerospace and Aviation’, bringing together Mr. Vishak Raman, Vice President – Sales, Fortinet; and Mr. Uma Maheshwar, Chief Consulting Engineer, GE Aerospace.
The conference will conclude with a closing address by the Conference Chairs, followed by the GMAE Alumni Networking Event.
Ninth International Conference on Future of Aviation and Aerospace (FOAA) to be held on 18 April 2026
IIMB, in partnership with TBS Education, France, to convene global sector leaders
16 April, 2026, Bengaluru: IIM Bangalore Executive Education, in partnership with TBS Education, France, will host the ninth edition of the International Conference on Future of Aviation and Aerospace (FOAA) on 18 April 2026, from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm (IST), at Taj Westend, Bangalore. The annual global summit will bring together industry experts, researchers and academic experts to deepen understanding of the current and future state of the sector.
To register for the event, click HERE.
The event agenda is available HERE.
This conference is part of a broader collaboration between IIM Bangalore and TBS Education, under which the two institutions deliver the General Management Programme for Aviation and Aerospace Executives, addressing the growing need for managerial talent in the dynamic sector.
FOAA 2026 will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions led by senior industry leaders and faculty from IIM Bangalore and TBS Education.
Ms. Annett Baessler, Deputy Consul General, German Consulate General in Bengaluru, will deliver the inaugural address, followed by a keynote address by Mr. Luigi Celmi, CEO, Lufthansa Systems India. The welcome address will be delivered by Conference Co-chairs Prof. G Shainesh, faculty in the Marketing area at IIMB, and Prof. S Raghunath, retired faculty in the Strategy area, followed by opening remarks by Prof. Sushanta Kumar Mishra, Chairperson, Research and Publications & Centre for Teaching and Learning, IIMB. The inauguration will conclude with remarks from Mr. Vikas Chaturvedi, Chief Programme Officer, EEP.
The first panel discussion on ‘Market Potential for Aviation & Aerospace in India’ will feature Mr. Belson Coutinho, COO, Akasa Air; Dr. Vasudevan S, Former APAC Head - Aviation, Travel and Tourism, ICF Consulting, and Advisor, AeroInfraStratgix; Mr. Sunil Bhaskaran, Director - Air India Aviation Academy, Air India Limited; with Prof. G Shainesh as the Panel Chair.
Conversations on ‘Make in India - The Achievements of Indian Companies’ will bring together Mr. Amit Pathak, Regional Director – APAC and Middle East – International Defence Sustainment & Sales, Collins Aerospace; Mr. Chandrashekar H.G., Founder & MD, Sasmos HET Technologies; Mr. Jay Harikrishna, Senior General Manager - Aero Operations & New Business, Mahindra Aerospace; and Mr. Biju Nanukuttan, Founder, AeroEdison, with Dr. Kota Harinarayana, Former Programme Director and Chief Designer, Tejas, Light Combat Aircraft, as the moderator.
Dr. Srinivasan Dwarakanath, Director General, Aerospace India Association, will moderate a session on ‘Design and Manufacture in India for Global Aerospace and Aviation Market: Opportunities and Challenges’ featuring Mr. Mukund Santhanam, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer and Head – Investor Relations, Axiscades Technologies Ltd.; Mr. Diwakar N Belavadi, CTO, Sasmos Group; Mr. Ashwani Bhargava, Senior Director and Head of Procurement, Boeing India; and Ms. Divya Manchanda, EVP Business Partnerships & AAM Strategy, The ePlane Company.
The following session on ‘Future of Airports and Aviation Infrastructure’ will include Prof. G. Raghuram, Former Director, IIMB, as the moderator, and Mr. Satyaki Raghunath, Former Chief Operating Officer, Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), and Wing Commander Jitender Singla, Head of Airside Operations, BIAL, as panellists for the session.
The discussion on ‘Future Opportunities and Challenges in Growing Talent’ is set to convene experts Prof. Christophe Benaroya, Director – Global Executive MBA, TBS Education, France; Prof. Cordula Barzantny, Head of the Centre of Excellence in Aeronautics & Space, TBS Education; Ms. Ruchi Dhawan Sharma, Vice President & Head – HR, Indigo; and Suraj Chettri, Founder & CEO, SuChe Business Advisory.
Prof. S Raghunath will chair the concluding session of the day titled, ‘Future of AI & Analytics in Aerospace and Aviation’, bringing together Mr. Vishak Raman, Vice President – Sales, Fortinet; and Mr. Uma Maheshwar, Chief Consulting Engineer, GE Aerospace.
The conference will conclude with a closing address by the Conference Chairs, followed by the GMAE Alumni Networking Event.