Board of directors
Christian Huff
Director
Christian, an Embry Riddle graduate, started his career as an engineer working on aircraft, missiles, and boats for NOAA. During his period with NOAA, he worked on evaluating alternative fuels for NOAA's fleet of ships and drones.
His love for aviation drew him into the airline sector where he spent the next 20 years working in marketing, finance, pricing, and airline distribution. During that period, Christian pioneered several industry-firsts in the US airline industry including: uncoupling the pricing model of tickets, re-inventing the distribution industry, and initiating the first airline‘s implementation of a dynamic booking engine. More recently at Sabre, he delivered key innovations with blockchain technology for interline ticketing, airline dynamic pricing, airline/agency contracts and legacy system offload analytics.
In his role as Chief Executive Officer of Charter and Go, Christian is harnessing his deep knowledge of aviation and directing it towards the charter industry. As such Christian is in the early stages of changing how charter operators look at their operation from a cost, process, and operations perspective.
In his personal time, Christian has been looking at alternative energy sources for his house and vehicles. He looks forward to being a part of a new future where the aviation industry is fueled by re-usable energy.
William C. White
Director
William C. White was appointed to San Francisco's BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Police Citizen Review Board in March 2011 representing District 3, by BART’s former Board President Bob Franklin and has been since reappointed by Director Rebecca Saltzman. The BART Stations he represents are Bay Fair, Downtown Berkeley, Hayward, North Berkeley, Rockridge, San Leandro of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
He has served as the Staff Accountant of the Alumnae Association of Mills College, Business Manager for the California Shakespeare Theatre, and Director of Operations for the Berkeley YMCA. He is currently a small business owner in Emeryville California.
Mr. White has served as a City of Berkeley Commissioner on the Cable Television Board, Personnel Board and, from 1996 to 2013, sat on the Police Review Commission (PRC) where he served as Chair for three different terms.
Mr. White has also provided leadership as Board Chair for Building Opportunity for Self Sufficiency (BOSS), as Chair of Berkeley Salvation Army Advisory Board, as Board Member of the South Berkeley YMCA, and as a member of the Berkeley Lions Club. He is Past President of the Alameda Flying Club, holds a Private Pilot's License, and is a Board Member of the Bay Area Black Pilots Association (BABPA).
Mr. White attended Florida A & M University earning a BFA in Fine Arts with a Business Administration Minor.
Kerry Kaplan
Director
Mr. Kaplan is a private business consultant to the health care industry; advising clients on joint ventures, marketing, and sales. In 1985, Mr. Kaplan co-founded HealthCare Connections, Ltd. (MA); with responsibility for all aspects of marketing/sales consulting, staff development, and training. In this role, he has worked with insurance companies, hospitals, physicians, integrated delivery systems, major corporations, and trade associations to access markets, form joint ventures, differentiate products, develop market strategies, and train sales representatives.
Mr. Kaplan’s broad client base has included major integrated delivery systems; such as Providence (Portland, OR), Presbyterian (Albuquerque, NM), and Sentara (Norfolk, VA). Moreover, clients have included nearly all major Health Insurance Companies (Cigna, United, Wellpoint); and industry clients; such as, General Motors, and most recently, the National Restaurant Association. Mr. Kaplan’s vast experience with providers, insurers, and customers makes him uniquely qualified to assist clients in addressing the newest challenges in the medical field.
Kerry Kaplan is a professional Sales Trainer and Executive Coach known nationwide for helping individuals, and the organizations in which they work, determine and articulate their strengths and intrinsic, distinguishing value proposition.
Lawrence Blakeley
Director
Former Head of Powertrain at
Vertical Aerospace Group, Ltd.:
Current COO:
Pioneers and Innovators
of Electric Aviation
Mr. Blakeley's industry responsibilities have covered all electrical, mechanical and fluid systems design from concept through to certification and in-service. Lawrence has previously spent over two decades in systems design and manufacturing, all within highly regulated industries. Within that he has spent over 16 years in aerospace primarily focused on electrical system architecture and installation design. Mr. Blakeley's aerospace experience ranges from leading the electrical installation of the Orbital satellite launching system on a Tri-Star, the complete Airbus A400M wing electrical installation design through to the redesign of the Airbus A350 electrical architecture to enable production, cost and weight targets. Lawrence Blakeley's experience covers all phases of the project life cycle from the conceptual design of a CS-25 and SC-VTOL aircraft through to the certification and continued airworthiness of CS-25 aircraft.
Uwe Kiesewetter
Director
Chief Engineer
Chief Engineer
The Airbus CityAirbus is a multinational project resulting in an electrically-powered VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) personal air vehicle demonstrator. It is intended for the air taxi role, to avoid ground traffic congestion.
A 2015 feasibility study confirmed the design's operating costs and that it could meet safety requirements. Full-scale testing of the ducted propeller drive-train was completed in October 2017 with type certification and commercial introduction planned for 2023.
The Airbus CityAirbus is designed to carry up to four passengers over 80 km(43nmi) at 120 km/h (65Kn) with sound levels below 65dB(A) during fly-over and below 70 dB(A) during landing.
Odys Aviation, based in Long Beach, California, is a sustainable aircraft startup; building vertical take-off and landing aircraft for the world’s busiest routes.
Aurelie Ojel
Director
Aurelie Ojel is a graduate of the University of Queensland; as well as, Skema Business School, and most recently obtained her wings as a Commercial Airline Transport Pilot in Jerez, Spain, from Flight Training Europe (FTE). Beginning in June 2023, Aurelie will be based in Naples, Italy; where she initiates her career as a professional pilot for EasyJet.
Ms Ojel is known among her peers as an enthusiastic professional with outstanding interpersonal, business, aviation, and formidable leadership skills.
Aurelie speaks fluent French, English, and Spanish and is a results-oriented world citizen; excelling at building and fostering synergies among her diverse and interdisciplinary team members. Her cross-cultural and cross-industry skills and background include: project management, brand management, growth strategy, integrated marketing, operations management, and sales.
As an established international business consultant, Ms Ojel specializes in branding, market research, and meaningful benchmark studies; from which she develops achievable, relevant, and measurable goals.
Fred Lu
Director
Fred Lu has worked both in the healthcare and finance industries for over 25 years. A graduate of world-renowned Beijing University, Mr. Lu has a long-standing history of bringing value and direction to a wide variety of successful business entities both here in the United States, where 30 years ago he obtained his Masters Degree in Plastics Engineering, and abroad; in such countries as France, Spain, and Italy.
Fred Lu is currently the CEO of Suzhou AcuVu Medical Technology Co., Ltd.: a medical equipment and technology enterprise based in Jiangsu Province, Suzhou, China.
Suzhou AcuVu is most recently the registrant of two increasingly valuable patents-pending inventions applied for officially and successfully in 2019 at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Maria Fiskerud
Director
Maria Fiskerud is Innovation Ecosystem Lead for Heart Aerospace and former Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) for Braathens Regional Airlines; one of Sweden's largest domestic airlines to date.
Former CEO of the FlyGreenFund and concurrently assisting with the development of Heart Aerospace's 30 passenger ES-30 electric aircraft, Maria is a pioneer in fossil-free aviation, with more than 25 years' experience in the alternative and green energy sector. As Project Manager for the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE) and Project Lead at Nordic Network for Electric Aviation, Ms Fiskerud has participated in the development of a wide range of forward-looking programs and business entities; from those involving established and successful industry leaders to those not so well-known nascent start-ups. Award winning with a proven track record, Maria Fiskerud possesses multidiscipline skills in design, both general management and project management, as well as crisis communication, marketing and business development.
A personal drive for innovation and sustainability, Maria Fiskerud is a passionate futurist. Her demonstrated know-how in multicultural environments and geographically spread teams is a major contribution to the JetPerfect Foundation's goal of building partnerships, encouraging collaboration, and producing results.
James Earl
Director
James Earl is Vertiports Manager at Bayards Vertiport Solutions, a division of Bayards Constructions Group, the industry leader in designing, engineering, manufacturing, constructing and installing helicopter landing platforms.
Mr. Earl is himself an experienced helicopter pilot, a former member of the Royal Air Force, and a graduate of the Royal Air Force College. With experience in the contracted aviation market, autonomous driving technology and innovation in aviation. James has contracted or flown platforms in most countries and in every environment and has a keen focus on ensuring that the output of any project is aligned with the end user's needs.
Mr. Earl comes to the JetPerfect Foundation ready and eager to participate and contribute to a
shared vision of breakthrough technology and environmentally-friendly aviation.
Jimmy Yang
Director
Jimmy Yang is a business accounting graduate of San Jose Sate University and currently works as project manager at OpenE Technology, a global e-commerce and supply chain fulfillment center headquartered in San Jose, California.
Mr. Yang's formal accounting training, numbers and organizational aptitude, and long-standing managerial background have been key to a variety of his job market opportunities at present and in these past ten years.
Jimmy Yang has extensive experience working with visiting youth from various parts of his native China; both in the areas of education and cultural exchange, as well as in the areas of job placement and future long-term career counseling and assistance.
Jimmy Yang brings a valuable perspective to the JetPerfect Foundation; having witnessed the rapid growth of modern China as a teen and the freedoms, initiative, and innovations of the United States now as a young man.
Mr. Yang thrives on detail-oriented work, and embraces and appreciates the importance and necessity of the individual to chart and make new, meaningful, and lasting social change for the good of his or her immediate family and community; as well as, for the progress and positive advancement of the entirety of humanity
Simon Webb
Director
Simon Webb is currently Chief Technology Officer for the University of Warwick WMG; and former Head of Zero Carbon Strategy at FlyZero: a project of the Aerospace Technology Institute.
FlyZero is a unique cross industry study activity exploring the technology and conceptual options to enable zero carbon emissions flight, funded by the UK government and backed by key aerospace and aviation organizations.
Simon Webb’s career history also includes 20 years of experience at jet engine designer and manufacturer Rolls Royce; with leadership positions in strategic technology development, engineering functional management and new product introduction
Dr. Bijan Vasigh
Director
Dr. Vasigh is managing director of Aviation Consulting Group and Finance, Business, and Economics Professor at the world’s largest aeronautics and aerospace university: Florida-based Embry-Riddle.
Dr. Bijan Vasigh has provided consulting support for a variety of airlines, aviation business entities and agencies including but not limited to American Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air Malta, DirectJet of Greensboro, North Carolina, NASA, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Association of Unmanned Aircraft Systems International (AUVSI), and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security.
Dr. Vasigh is the recipient of numerous academic and industry awards including the Joseph R. Martin Distinguished Professor of Aviation Management, the Embry-Riddle Outstanding Faculty Award, and the Sorenson Best Paper Award of the Journal of Air Transportation: a publication of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics headquartered in Reston, Virgina.
Bijan Vasigh and his work have been featured in numerous print and television media outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Steet Journal, CNN, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times..
Dr Vasigh is the author of a wide variety of books and publications including “Engineering Economics for Aviation and Aerospace”, the “Foundation of Airline Finance”, and the “Introduction to Air Transport Economics: From Theory to Application”.
Josef Mouris
Director
Josef Mouris is the Co-Founder and CEO of ELECTRON aviation and ELECTRON aerospace. His love of aviation is reflected in a career spanning over two decades; and most recently, in his relentless commitment to addressing climate change by pioneering on-demand zero emissions air travel which is both accessible and affordable. As a professional Airline Transport Pilot (ATP), Josef has 15 years flying experience at Flybe, the largest regional airline in Europe; along with some 23 years of piloting gliders, designing aerofoils, propellers, and electric aircraft privately, he is well-equipped to lead the charge of implementing EV battery technology into next-generation aircraft design and manufacturing. ELECTRON aerospace, has recently announced it’s first order from FlyOnE (FlyOnE Zero Emissions Aviation). FlyOnE is planning the integration of 28 ELECTRON aerospace manufactured, 5 seater, all-electric aircraft known as the Electron 5 into an on-demand air service for Western Australia. The Electron 5, set to enter service in 2026, has an impressive range of 466 miles utilizing current battery technology.
Dr. Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami
Director
Dr. Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami is currently a "lecturer in electrically powered aircraft and operations" with "Propulsion, Electrification & Superconductivity" group of "Autonomous Systems & Connectivity" division within “James Watt School of Engineering” at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Dr. Yazdani-Asrami holds a PhD in electrical power engineering. He spent the last 12 years on research and development projects related to electrical engineering in a variety of different countries and related universities including Italy, New Zealand, and the UK.
Dr. Yazdani-Asrami leads the research and development activities in the "Propulsion, Electrification & Superconductivity" group of the world-renowned University's forward-looking Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering Department.
Dr. Yazdani-Asrami’s expertise and current fields of interest are hydrogen-powered, electric and more-electric aircraft, cryo-electrification for modern transportation, and applied superconductivity for large-scale power applications, including superconducting propulsion and powertrain systems such as superconducting rotating machines, cables, busbars, and fault current limiters for aircraft applications. He is very much interested in integrating superconductivity and cryogenic technologies together with artificial intelligence into future modern aircraft. In 2021, Mohammad was endorsed by the UK Royal Academy of Engineering as a Global Talent. He is a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College, IEEE (MIEEE), IET (MIET), CIGRE, the British Cryogenic Council, and the Cryogenic Society of America. He is editor of World Journal of Engineering (Emerald Publishing) and Transformers Magazine. He also served as guest editor for several special issues in the "IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity" and "Superconductor Science and Technology" journals.
Rob McKinney
Director
Rob McKinney is CEO of Northern Pacific Airways and Ravn Alaska, subsidiaries of FLOAT Alaska, LLC, where he leads a team of 400 employees and manages a growing fleet of aircraft that fly to destinations statewide. In addition to being a Learjet captain, Rob has over 30 years of airline experience piloting commercial aircraft and managing flight operations. In 2002, as VP and director of operations at Pacific Wings, a Hawaiian-based commuter airline, Rob oversaw exponential customer growth which tripled passenger traffic during his three-year tenure. He thereafter joined Mokulele Airlines in Hawaii as chief operating officer, where he successfully converted the company from a small air-touring service into a fully scheduled commuter airline. Rob returned stateside in 2007 to join SeaPort Airlines, a small start-up based in Portland, Oregon. As chief operations officer, and later chief executive officer, at SeaPort, Rob established a commuter shuttle service between Portland and Seattle. In 2018, Rob co-founded FLOAT (Fly Over All Traffic) Shuttle Inc., a commuter and corporate transportation service in southern California. In April 2020, Rob and the FLOAT Shuttle Inc. team orchestrated the acquisition of Ravn Air Group. Rob received his Bachelor of Science in Technology from Purdue University and has an MBA from Ellis College/NYIT. He hails from the state of Indiana.
Josh Medrano
Director
Joshua Medrano is a native Californian with a history of outstanding and vital service as project coordinator at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Medrano speaks both English and Spanish, is an alumnus of Berkeley City College, and an aspiring Business Administration student at the University of California. Born and raised in Southern California, Joshua coordinates a variety of Facilities Services' projects, is a long-standing proponent of workers' rights, and has been nominated for numerous awards for his positive work ethic, collegial attitude, and vital, day-to-day contributions to the University.
Concurrently with his work at the University of California, Mr. Medrano works at Tabernus Service Construction Company in a number of capacities; most importantly, as project coordinator. His natural entrepreneurial orientation and dedication to excellence allows Mr. Medrano to work seamlessly with the high level and demanding clientele of Tabernus Service Construction.
Due to his growing leadership skills and clear interest in both personal and professional development , Joshua Medrano has completed the UC Berkeley Extension Sponsored Tuition Program, where he has earned a Project Management Certificate, an Advanced Project Management Certificate, and will soon begin his SCRUM Master Certification; resulting in time with Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
Ann-Sofie Hörlin
Director
Ann Sofie Hörlin is Head of Sustainability for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and is a long-time proponent of transportation sustainability throughout Sweden and around the globe.
SAS is comprised of 180 aircraft worldwide and in October of 2022 transported over 2 million passengers throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, and Asia.
Ms Hörlin’s work both in aviation sustainability and private equity finance makes her an ideal contribution to the JetPerfect Foundation effort to research and develop alternative energy for aviation and aerospace; while simultaneously assisting in making our breakthrough technologies a day to day reality in the industry.
Ann Sofie is a graduate of Chalmers University of Technology as well as Stockholm School of Economics. She serves on a variety of industry and organizational Boards and is currently a member of both the Sustainability and Environment Advisory Council (SEAC) and the Sustainability Strategy Team for the Star Alliance airline alliance.
Omer Bar-Yohay
Director
Omer Bar-Yohay is one of the forerunners of the current wave of innovation we are seeing in aviation.
Omer Bar-Yohay Co-founded and was the first CEO of one of the pioneering firms in the electric aviation space, Eviation.
Today Omer continues to be on the crest of the wave as former president of AutoFlight, one of the leading eVTOL developers in the world; and currently as CEO of Data Blanket.
AutoFlight is as close as it gets in the eVTOL world to a global company: founded and headquartered in China, where it has its manufacturing facility, its design and development team and some of its major investors are located in Germany, and its operational testing grounds in California.
In February 2023, AutoFlight’s Prosperity set a new record for a nonstop eVTOL flight, 250km on a single battery charge (beating by 2km the previous record-holder, Joby) and just a few days later it announced a massive 205-strong aircraft order from EVFLY, a firm that intends to launch eVTOL operations in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Africa before the end of this decade.
Data Blanket is a real-time AI-driven firefighting tool and support system designed to analyze via drones fire activity and information while also providing firefighting capabilities.
Omer defines himself first and foremost as a realist, and
there are few people in the aerospace industry with as much direct hands-on experience of the new forms of air mobility that are taking shape.
Dr. Youcef Abdelli
Director
Dr. Abdelli is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Engineer for ZeroAvia and former Chief Engineer for Amazon Prime Air, MagniX, and Liebherr Aerospace.
ZeroAvia is a zero-emission aviation company that specializes in hydrogen-electric propulsion solutions. Through operations in both the US and UK, the company currently holds three experimental certificates for prototype aircraft from both the CAA and the FAA.
Dr. Abdelli earned his PhD from École Polytechnique of Nantes University, France and is a versatile and experienced cross-disciplinary and functional technical leader; with demonstrable capabilities across numerous high-tech industry sectors and applications, including Aerospace, Automotive, and Research Institutions.
Specializing in managing and leading high-tech teams in Agile Methodology environments, Youcef is passionate about the practical and effective application of technologies to develop next generation air travel with the first electric propulsion commercial aircraft.
Soha Lupescu
Director
Soha is an expert practitioner with over three decades of experience in Corporate Finance, predominantly within the commercial airlines (i.e. Emirates Airline), aviation, and maritime industries.
Her passion and commitment to fostering a healthier environment for future generations has led her to collaborate with various conference hosts focusing on Aviation Sustainability, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and Hydrogen-Electric Fuel Cells. She advocates the importance of developing a comprehensive value chain and ecosystem for each solution, whether for short- or long-term planning.
Currently, Soha holds the position of VP-Finance at Solairus Aero in CA and is recognized as a keynote speaker, consultant, and advisory member. She is in the process of earning her doctorate from Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University, guided by some of its most esteemed faculty. Her research is centered on finding the best pathway/s and solutions on Alternative Jet Fuel (AJF), Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and creating a strategy to modify existing private jet engines to accommodate hydrogen fuel by 2050.
Ernest D. Siravo
Founder/CEO
Mr. Siravo has worked in a leadership capacity in the non-profit sector for nearly 50 years. His success in business coupled with his community service history and orientation, domestically and internationally, makes him an ideal representative of the JetPerfect Foundation’s goals, vision, and objectives. As Founder and Chairman of the JetPerfect Foundation, Ernest Siravo is well-equipped to address issues that impact society, locally and as a whole, as he continues to contribute regularly to the development of societal and community programs; consistent with the purpose and overall ethos of the JetPerfect Foundation.
As a professional, Mr. Siravo has worked in the transportation industry for over three decades; during which time he established the California-based JetPerfect, LLC. JetPerfect, LLC specializes in aircraft charter and sales, ground transportation, and international business and development consulting. JetPerfect, LLC is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with affiliates and collaborative relationships spanning the United States, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. JetPerfect, LLC has had and continues to have as clients individuals and organizations from all sectors of society; including, Heads of State, Academy Award Winners, Tony Award Winners, Writers, Scientists, Business Leaders, Athletes, and Academics. Mr. Siravo has worked and lived extensively in China, India, Japan, and Europe and speaks conversational Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and German. Ernest Siravo is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and an alumnus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C..
He has worked both as a volunteer and professional educator and is eager to initiate the JetPerfect Laboratory of Innovation and Technology; designed to research and develop alternative and environmentally-friendly energy for aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace.
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Buddy Burke
A former Air Force and American Airlines commercial pilot, Buddy Burke takes what he’s learned from a long-standing career in public speaking and executive training and applies it to assisting both entrepreneurs and business leaders with honing their communication and organizational abilities all around the globe. Most recently, Buddy has mentored scores of startups and seasoned businesses utilizing his background in both aviation and technology, and has taught presentation skills on behalf of Apple Computer and a wide variety of institutions throughout Europe, South and Latin America, Asia, the United States, and Africa. Buddy hosts a university-level companion audio course readily found at buddyburke.com
Gary Vermaak
Gary Vermaak is an Africa focused renewable energy advisor and consultant focusing on bioenergy as well as developing Air Mobility (Drone Logistics Ecosystem) & eMobility for mining ecosystems. He is a futurist, practical climate warrior, project developer, project manager, speaker, strategic planner, techno-economist and trainer.
He has extensive experience in the mining & energy utilities sector having held senior roles in major international business entities; such as, Eskom, De Beers, Anglo American Platinum, and First Uranium. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer of an AIM listed company namely Minerva Resources PLC (now Kefi Minerals) in London and has held directorships of private companies.
As a Consultant and Project Developer at Harambe, he leads a team providing Energy thru Rehabilitation© and sustainable logistics projects and programmes for the mining industry.
Harambe's DieselLessMining© initiative promotes green transport and power storage.
He has project managed large IT projects at Eskom (Topline 2 Revenue Analysis and Forecasting System – Hyperion Essbase) and at Anglo American Platinum (Project Portfolio Management – SAP xRPM).
Gary co-presented at SAPphire 2007 in Vienna, Austria on “Project Portfolio management as a strategic enabler for growth”. He is the author and co-author of various articles on the new role of the CFO
Dan Raudebaugh
As Executive Director for the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), Dan Raudebaugh has dedicated the last 27 years to fostering environmental and energy sustainability and creating jobs within US emerging technology sectors. He has developed, secured funding for, and managed a varied portfolio of cost-shared research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects exceeding $800 million. Mr. Raudebaugh leads a staff of experienced engineers and project managers who are committed to improving the efficiency and sustainability of US energy and transportation systems. Under his guidance, CTE has successfully partnered with the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Interior, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and Federal Railroad Administration, among others.
No other organization or individual in the country has enjoyed such sustained success in integrating the advancements of small, start-up companies into the global energy and transportation technology mainstream. Through his work at CTE, Mr. Raudebaugh ensures that new and promising technologies have the opportunity to flourish through demonstrations and ultimately deployment into the marketplace–thus reducing US dependence on foreign oil, cleaning the air, and helping create US jobs in the critical technology sector. Mr. Raudebaugh and CTE have a long track record of sustained success. Operating as a non-profit organization, CTE does not answer to stockholders and can remain free to independently explore and evaluate the most cutting-edge US technologies for deployment into the marketplace.
Vidya Sagar Golla
Vidyasagar is an Aeronautical Engineer currently working at Dante Aeronautical of Pozuelo de Alarcon, Spain.
Dante Aeronautical, in conjunction with engine manufacturer, MagniX of Everett, Washington, is designing state of the art, next-generation aircraft utilizing the latest in electric and hydrogen technologies for forward-looking European airlines Volotea and Air Nostrum.
An alumnus of the University of Bologna's Alma Mater Studiorum, Mr. Golla has played and continues to play a critical role in the electrification of the Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian on behalf of Australia-based Sydney Seaplanes; both in terms of energy propulsion, as well as in terms of appropriate aerodynamic design modifications.
Flavio Montrone
Flavio Montrone is an accomplished aerospace Engineer from Bari, Italy with a passion for aviation and a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.
Flavio excels in Aerodynamics and Propulsion and has received his undergraduate degree in Fluid Dynamics and Turbomachinery from Southern Italy’s Politecnico di Bari.
Born in Puglia and having worked with Leonardo Helicopters of Rome, Flavio currently works at Ansys in Florence and
comes to the JetPerfect Foundation with a desire to assist in realizing our world-wide industry goal of bringing sustainable, net-zero aviation to everyday commercial airline and private aviation travel.
As an aerodynamicist, Mr. Montrone has played a critical role in the development of Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology Green Raven Project; where he has applied his growing and relevant knowledge of fluid dynamics to the creation of the unique prototype Green Raven hybrid propulsion electric aircraft: a student-run, student-directed laboratory design project established to integrate academic research, excellence and learning and the rigors of everyday industrial requirements.
Flavio is an avid scuba diver, university student tutor, lover of world cultures and music, and proficient in Italian, English, and conversational Spanish.
Daniel Hernandez
Daniel Hernandez is an aeronautical and mechanical engineer and graduate of both the Aeronautical University and Marista University of Querétaro, Mexico.
Daniel’s profound knowledge of aeronautics in general and aeronautical design in particular make him an important contribution to the JetPerfect Foundation Team of aviation experts.
Mr. Hernandez, in conjunction with other JetPerfect Foundation thought leaders; as well as a vast array of Daniel’s colleagues at the Queretaro Aerocluster Corridor, are poised to make a meaningful difference in the race to decarbonize aviation and bring next generation technology and design to the ever-changing and overall aerospace industry.
Mr. Hernandez speaks English, Spanish, and Italian and currently works as Special Projects Head Engineer, and
Strategic Business Development Manager for Aerospace at AdmanLeku, an aviation and automobile industry composite manufacturer based in El Marqués, Querétaro.
Nigel Pippard
Nigel Pippard is the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at Heart Aerospace, a Swedish electric aircraft manufacturer specializing in the design, production, and sale of sustainable short-haul regional aircraft.
Nigel joined Heart Aerospace after more than 35 years’ experience in the aerospace industry. Concurrently, Nigel is the owner and senior consultant of Professional Aerospace Consulting, providing professional services to the aerospace industry in the form of assistance in business development, programme management, certification, avionics, and electrical engineering. Prior to joining Heart, Nigel has worked for several aircraft manufacturers and tier 1 system suppliers, covering business aircraft, regional aircraft, and helicopter applications. He has worked in both the military and commercial aerospace domains. His experience has been focused on integrated avionics systems, electrical power systems and flight control systems, with a particular emphasis on all weather (low visibility) operations. Formally trained and certified as an Electrical & Avionics Engineer, Nigel Pippard is a key participant in the ever-growing, world-wide aviation NetZero effort to de-carbonize air travel. He brings his long-standing leadership and technical expertise to bear on the creation of the Heart Aerospace engineering, flight test and airworthiness organisations, as they develop their electric regional aircraft. Heart Aerospace Is developing a 30 passenger (ES-30) fully electric airliner planned for certification and commercial operation by 2028. They have a rapidly growing team, world class portfolio of strategic, institutional, and governmental investors, and orders & commitments for more than 500 aircraft. Key customers include United Airlines and their regional partner, Mesa Airlines operating as United Express. You can read more about Heart Aerospace here: https://heartaerospace.com/about/
Dr. Saikat Chaudhuri
Saikat Chaudhuri is the inaugural Faculty Director of the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (M.E.T.) Program, a flagship dual-degree program in engineering and business at the University of California at Berkeley. He is also the inaugural Faculty Director of the Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Hub, a startup incubator that aims to make entrepreneurship accessible and easier for everyone across the campus. He holds the Grimes M.E.T. Chancellor’s Chair at the university, with a joint faculty appointment in the Entrepreneurship & Innovation as well as Management of Organizations groups at the Haas School of Business, along with the department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering.
Prof. Chaudhuri’s research specializes in corporate growth and innovation strategies, particularly high-tech mergers and acquisitions, high-value outsourcing and partnerships, and technological innovation in dynamic environments. His publications span both scholarly and managerial outlets, and his work has been recognized from the field’s leading professional associations including the Academy of Management and Strategic Management Society.
An award-winning educator, Prof. Chaudhuri has not only designed and taught popular undergraduate and MBA courses on corporate strategy, management of technology, and innovation. He has also led and delivered customized executive education programs to a myriad of top firms around the world. He has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards and accolades at all levels across his academic career.
Prof. Chaudhuri’s work has been cited by leading media, and he is often interviewed or quoted by the global press on contemporary business affairs. He is regularly invited to speak at corporate forums, industry events, and academic conferences across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Based on his research and experience, he advises leading global corporations and governments worldwide, including providing expert legal testimony.
Prof. Chaudhuri came to Berkeley in 2021 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he served on the faculty of the Wharton School for over 16 years, holding leadership positions including Executive Director of the Mack Institute for Innovation Management, and Interim Director of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology. His prior professional experience includes corporate development at Mannesmann AG, in addition to stints with Citibank, McKinsey and Company, and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.
Prof. Chaudhuri earned his Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Multinational Management from the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology at the University of Pennsylvania, Master’s degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University, and Doctoral degree in Technology and Operations Management from Harvard University.
Abhijeet Inamdar
Abhijeet Inamdar is the Co-Founder of SiriNoR, a Norwegian/Indian startup, that is creating the future of sustainable aviation using innovative electric propulsion technology.
Abhijeet has spent more than 20 years in the Energy Industry with a variety of roles including corporate venture.
His leadership at Equinor Technology and vast experience in developing and commercializing new products and services make him a major contribution to the vision of carbon-free emissions.
In 2019, Abhijeet was featured by the Hart Energy Journal as 40-under-40 investors in North America, and in 2022 as one of the Most Admired Global Indians by the Passion Vista Journal.
Andrea Bonanno
Andrea Bonanno is from the island of Malta, speaking Maltese, English , German and Italian. He started his journey in aviation as an aircraft maintenance apprentice , gaining his experience in business aviation, where he was involved in a wide range of projects in both Base and Line Maintenance. Following his training, he achieved his EASA Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance License . This was closely followed by his attendance and completion of the Integrated ATPL at FTE Jerez in accordance with EASA Part-FCL . Additionally, he is also undertaking a BSc in Pilot Studies at the Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland. People around Andrea could describe him as an approachable, effective team player, and a dedicated aviation enthusiast who is committed to delivering to the best of his abilities , with a passion to travel in the scope of learning more, making new connections and improving his surroundings.
Mark Hardcastle
Captain Mark Hardcastle spent the last 40 years consuming jet fuel as a professional pilot, first with the United States Air Force, and now with United Airlines. At the pinnacle of his career, Mark currently flies B-737s around the US, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean. A recent convert to the critical nature of “sustainability,” he sees fossil fuels as a limited resource and recognizes that for the world of aviation to thrive indefinitely, other resources must be discovered, developed, and placed into production as soon as possible. With that as a driving perspective, he is happy to contribute to the mission of the JetPerfect Foundation. Captain Hardcastle is a 1982 graduate of the USAF Academy, holds multiple type-ratings in transport-category aircraft, is an inspirational speaker-trainer, and author of The Symphony of Your Life: Restoring Harmony When Your World Is Out of Tune.
Liviu Giurca
Mr. Giurca is a propulsion and integration specialist coming from the research and development sector. Electrification and hybridization have been successfully applied to passenger cars for more than a decade. With the help of these exceptional advances, the aviation industry can follow the same accelerated course. Mr. Giurca wishes to help developers find the dominant technology of the future for VTOL / STOL electric or hybrid aircraft. He has recorded dozens of inventions on the subject, and several of them have already found practical applications such as the thrust augmenter based on propulsion system-airframe interaction. The ideal future VTOL/STOL aircraft must be quiet, resilient, efficient, and cost-effective and some of his solutions match integrally these requirements. Mr. Giurca speaks French, English, Italian and Romanian, and is a results-oriented European citizen.
Chris Fernando
Chris is an experienced researcher, leader, and management consultant with more than 20 years of professional experience in the aviation industry. His primary background is in aviation/airport operations, airspace, and environmental analysis and policy development with a focus on research efforts in the integration of emerging aviation technologies. He is a recognized subject matter expert in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and has led multiple engagements with Federal clients and airports in the U.S. to support integration efforts. He is an adjunct professor at Florida Institute of Technology where he teaches a graduate course on the UAM Ecosystem. He is also the co-host of the No U-Turn Podcast, which is focused on the future of transportation, emerging technologies, and the workforce of the future. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management from Florida Institute of Technology.
Adam Cohen
Adam Cohen is a mobility futures researcher with the Innovative Mobility Research group at the Transportation Sustainability Research Center of the University of California, Berkeley. Since joining the group in 2004, his research has focused on innovative urban mobility solutions, including urban air mobility, shared mobility, urban goods delivery, automation, smart cities, smartphone apps, and other emerging technologies. Cohen recently completed two exploratory studies of the opportunities and challenges of urban air mobility for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and a manufacturer. He has also co-authored numerous articles and reports in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Adam is also a research associate of the Mineta Transportation Institute of San Jose State University and serves as an ambassador for the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP). Previously, Adam worked for the Information Technology and Telecommunications Laboratory (ITTL) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). His academic background is in city and regional planning and international affairs.
John Cooley
Dr. John Cooley has a proven track record of developing and commercializing innovative hardware technology spanning electronics, hardware systems, and increasingly important energy storage products. He is currently serving as Chief of Products at Nanoramic Laboratores; which specializes in technologies and material solutions based on nano-carbons and their relevant advanced battery applications.
In his capacity as both researcher and business leader, John Cooley has been awarded multiple grants and commercial development contracts, and has overseen and directed several major business successes.
Dr. Cooley has completed no less than five (5) separate and distinctly different degrees from the Electrical Engineering and Physics Departments of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and in 2011 earned his Ph.D from MIT following extensive work in power processing electronics as well as sensing and instrumentation electronics. He has spent over a decade in industry leading product development from concept to production, to field service, and ultimately to strategic corporate sponsorship.
As a business leader John Cooley has served in a wide variety of roles including Director of Engineering, CTO, Chief of Products, President, CEO, Board Director, and Board Chairman. Dr. Cooley has front-line experience in circuit and hardware design and qualification for successful products, a well-developed ethos of "what works and what doesn't" in product development processes, and a down-to-earth approach to customer development. Moreover, Dr. Cooley has successfully brought to bear major strategic corporate sponsorships based on the value of the products that he’s overseen. He is a leader in the lean product development model that focuses resources on the highest value-added aspects of product development to minimize required capital while pursuing high value exits.
Under the leadership of John Cooley as President and Chairman of the Board of Nanoramic, Nanoramic Laboratories’ total capitalization balance sheet has grown by a factor of more than 15.
Damian Mc Loughlin
Head of Sustainability, OneWorld Alliance
The OneWorld Airline Alliance was founded in 1999 and includes such airlines as American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and others. As of March 2020, OneWorld Airline Alliance member airlines collectively operate a fleet of 3,296 aircraft, serve about 1,000 airports in as many as 170 countries, carrying over 490 million passengers per year on 13,000 plus daily departures.
A graduate of Waterford Institute of Technology, Damian has championed the cause of meaningfully reducing carbon emissions in aviation beginning with his role as commercial development manager for Neste Corporation of Finland. At Neste, Mr. McLaughlin drove implementation of the Neste go-to-market strategy for Sustainable Aviation Fuel: integrating relationships with airlines, oil companies, airports, NGO’s, and government entities in the sustainable aviation fuel markets of both Europe and Asia.
Sanzhar Taizhan
Sanzhar is former advanced battery engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, WMG, and battery researcher at the Faraday Institute.
He is twice a finalist at Elon Musk's Space X and Boring Company competitions; where he contributed as a result in the development of hyperloop magnetic systems and tunnel boring machines.
Sanzhar is the recipient of the 2019 "Forbes 30 under 30" award and is currently the Founder of Taisan Motors.
Robert Marx
Robert is a graduate in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Technische Universität of Berlin, holder of an MBA from St. Gallen and Imperial College, an experienced financial services and investment analyst, former member of Boeing's Future Aircraft Manufacturing Business Unit; and Founder and President of the recently established Sustainable Aviation Initiative.
The Sustainable Aviation Initiative (SAI) provides an ongoing platform for the ever-expanding conversation relating to carbon-free emissions in aviation, aerospace, and the various inter-disciplinary aspects of industry at large.
Sustainable Aviation´s regular webinars and podcasts feature technology leadership from around the world where guests present cutting-edge insights and developments transforming aerospace and aviation and assist in re-thinking and re-designing both the perception and reality of the global revolution in transportation in general.
Gil Charnes
Gil is a Commercial Pilot by trade, experienced in Business Development, Customer Care, Software Sales, and Aircraft Sales. Mr. Charnes is a member of the business development team of EVTOL designer and manufacturer, AIR: revolutionizing every day travel for every day people.
Daniela Schaff
In December 2022, Daniela Schaff was announced as the new Head of Sustainability by eVTOL aircraft developer Wisk. Before taking this newly created position, she served as Sr. Staff Supply Chain Manager and as the Sustainability Group Lead for the volunteer group she initiated and started in January 2021. Prior to joining Wisk, Schaff worked as a Supply Chain Manager with the start-up's parent company, Kitty Hawk.
Earlier in her career, Schaff spent more than 10 years with the Lufthansa Technik, an aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul, and refurbishment specialist. She worked in B2B customer service roles with increasing responsibilities, eventually being responsible for P&L of a $40M / year service contract with one of their most important customers.
She earned a bachelor's degree in foreign trade from the Außenhandelsakademie der Handelskammer in Hamburg, Germany, and later she finished a bachelor's degree in operations management from Southern New Hampshire University, Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA). She also carries a Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) certificate issued by the International Society for Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), completed a Harvard University Executive Education in Sustainability Leadership certificate, and immersed herself in a week-long intensive Biomimicry workshop.
Dan Sloat
President and Founder, Advanced Air Mobility Institute
Dan wants to leverage his education and operational experience to promote smart tech policy for the common good.
As a pilot, sailor, and horse wrangler, Dan understands the importance of knowing where you are, where you need to go, and how to get there safely and efficiently.
As a lawyer, economist, and entrepreneur, he can translate organizational goals into concrete, actionable plans that account for legal requirements, market trends, and business opportunities.
As an inventor, filmmaker, and teacher, Dan values cultivating creativity to innovative solutions.
As a prior Air Force Captain, he has the leadership skills necessary to craft a vision, build effective teams, and execute a mission on time.
Rani Plaut
Rani is Co-Founder and CEO of AIR, an angel tech investor and executive board member in companies creating or spearheading technology-based disruptions.
In the past, Mr. Plaut was involved as a leader and innovator in Pulsed Power Technology, co-founded, and lead Pulsar Ltd and Bmax of the iPulse group.
Turning an idea into a product and further into a thriving business is at his core, using an "all in” approach: working together on a day-to-day basis, making sure the right decisions and actions are done at the right time.
"At AIR, we are propelling the move to mass usage of personal air-mobility."
Sibylle Barden
Sibylle Barden is an author of three books, board member for a non-profit organization and an advocate for stakeholder capitalism.
Her career is rooted in journalism and public affairs and has evolved to advance stakeholder capitalism; communicating the global transformation across sectors and across industries.
She currently serves as author, commentator in business magazines as well as initiator and host of the German/English apple #1 podcast “Der Große Neustart” for pioneering leaders of the transformation – in support of the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset. She speaks and writes regularly about systemic change, the implementation of stakeholder capitalism, including the embedding of #ESGs and #SDGs.
Sibylle was previously the first non-diplomat Spokesperson and Head of Marketing at the German Embassy in London and Head of PR, Marketing and Branding at the German media company Axel Springer TV Holding.
Sibylle is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Cologne Forum for International Relations and Security Policies.
She attained an MBA from the OU Business School, London (UK) and a diploma in journalism from the Axel Springer Academy (Germany).
Haindhavi Mukhtavaram
Haindhavi is the Co-Founder of next generation aircraft start-up, HydroAvia.
A graduate of India's National Institute of Technology, Ms Mukhtavaram is currently designing, developing, and marketing Hydrogen Fuel-Cell powered Long Range, Zero-Emission, Extra Quite VTOLs (Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft).
Dupeng Liu
Dr. Liu is a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Researcher at the University of California Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; and an MBA candidate at the Haas School of Business.
Paul Zissermann
Paul Zissermann
Paul Zissermann
Paul Zissermann is Director, Sustainability with SkyTeam, one of the world’s leading airline alliances. SkyTeam consists of 19 member airlines, including KLM-Air France, Delta, Korean Air, Aero Mexico and Virgin Atlantic, with nearly 11,000 daily flights to 1,050 destinations in over 166 countries. The alliance was formed 23 years ago and carries over 437m passengers annually. SkyTeam is also the only airline alliance to operate an extensive global cargo alliance called SkyTeam Cargo, which includes 9 of its member airlines.
As Director Sustainability at SkyTeam, Paul oversees the development and implementation of SkyTeam’s sustainability strategy, covering a range of industry-leading initiatives, including The Sustainable Flight Challenge, Sustainability Standards, a CO2 calculator and the RISE program (a senior leadership development program for women in aviation).
Originally an ecologist and environmental engineer, Paul has worked at the forefront of the environment and sustainability movement for over 25 years – the last 15 of these in aviation. Having held leadership positions with Emirates Airline, Airservices Australia and Boeing, he brings a unique perspective to the JetPerfect Foundation – seeing sustainable aviation from the point of view of an airline, an alliance, an air navigation service provider and a manufacturer. Paul has also represented the aviation industry and member states at international forums such as CANSO, ICAO, AACO and COP.
Daniel Kim
Paul Zissermann
Paul Zissermann
Dan is focused on sustainability and decarbonization of industry and transport sectors. Combining industry efforts in advancement of synthetic fuel, electric and hydrogen ecosystems with regulatory
and public policy, he seeks to drive scalable energy transition.
At NXT Clean Fuels, Dan leads integrated sustainability and strategy efforts to drive corporate decision-making process. Prior to NXT Clean Fuels, Dan focused on the development of sustainable alternative energy platforms (synthetic fuel, electric and hydrogen) with the Pilot Company, Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary and one of the largest travel center networks in North America.
Dan was also the former Chief Financial Officer of World Energy, industry leading producer and distributor of sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and biodiesel and one of the first producers of
sustainable aviation fuel in the world. Dan is a First Movers Fellow with Aspen Institute and an advisor/director in various energy transition entities.
Dan has been active in the global energy sector for ~30 years in operating companies and financial institutions, which included ExxonMobil, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, and Mitsubishi UFJ
Financial Group. He has leadership experience in private and public strategy development, operations management, technology implementation, and strategic and financing transaction experiences.
Dan earned an MBA from Yale University and BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.
Ryan Rudolph
Alyssa Norris
Alyssa Norris
Ryan Rudolph has an extensive background in the private aviation space. Recently, Ryan launched the Edgehill Group, Inc. an advisory and consulting service with a focus on the private aviation sector and early stage startups. Some of Edgehill's clients include a blank check company seeking to acquire an FBO/145 Repair Station, a lower middle market private equity firm evaluating multiple acquisitions in the private aviation sector, and a loT remote-controlled device startup looking to enter the the private aviation sector. His knowledge ranges from fuel purchasing to maintenance tracking and has worked with clients in various divisions within aviation.
Formerly the first employee of Fly Louie, Ryan helped launch the private by-the-seat airline alongside the CEO which served Nantucket, New York City, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. He was responsible for the day-to-day operations, customer service, and management of the five airport bases. Ryan worked in conjunction with the CEO and COO of Fly Louie to strategize the go-to-market blueprint for their business pivot as the leading group purchasing organization for Part 135 Charter Operator. The Fly Louie Alliance enrolled over 300 independent Part 135 Charter Operator.s, 75 FBO's, and had numerous partnerships with leading companies in the space. He was instrumental in launching the Fly Louie Fuel Program, a contract fuel program powered by Avfuel, one of the largest fuel suppliers in aviation. He has a vast knowledge of jet fuel, contract fuel, and is an avid supporter of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Ryan is a graduate of the Middlebury College (Vermont, USA) and splits time between New York City and San Francisco.
Alyssa Norris
Alyssa Norris
Alyssa Norris
Alyssa Norris currently serves as the Director of Sustainability at Aether Fuels – a sustainable fuels technology company focused on hard-to-abate sectors, including aviation and ocean shipping. Prior to her role at Aether, Alyssa held positions as a contractor for the Department of Energy, where she contributed to initiatives aimed at advancing clean energy technologies and policies, and at McKinstry, a national engineering firm where she developed renewable energy projects across the United States.
She holds a degree in civil and Environmental Engineering from Washington State University and serves on several boards. She is a member of the Washington Alternative Jet Fuels Work Group and advocates for sustainable aviation fuel use and development.
Alyssa is a long-time aviation enthusiast and grew up on an airstrip in rural Alaska. Her dedication to driving positive environmental change, coupled with her hands-on experience makes her a valuable asset in the pursuit of a more sustainable future. She continues to drive innovation and advocate for sustainable practices in all her endeavors.
Academic Research Board
Dr. Mark Mueller
Mark W. Mueller is an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He leads the High Performance Robotics Laboratory, with a research focus on the dynamics, design, and control of aerial robots. He serves as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems for Fault Tolerant Systems. He joined UC Berkeley in September 2016. Prior to that, he completed his graduate studies at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Dr. Ji Su
Dr. Ji Su is a staff scientist in the Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Su Research Group is actively developing Applied Catalysis Hub: Energy & Environmental (ACHEE), with a particular focus on hydrogen production and storage, NH3 chemistry, as well as CO2, natural gas, plastics and biomass conversion for chemicals, sustainable aviation fuel and polymer productions. Su Group is looking for collaboration with industry partners.
International Board of Student advisors
Erik E. Dahlhaus Broude
Erik E. Dahlhaus Broude
Erik E. Dahlhaus Broude
Erik is a member of the recently formed Department of Aerospace Engineering at UC Berkeley.
His interests include, Robotics, Programing, and Space Technologies; and Mr. Broude regularly participates in a variety of aerospace related organizations; including SpaceForm, Design Build Fly, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Ese Asoro
Erik E. Dahlhaus Broude
Erik E. Dahlhaus Broude
Ese is an aspiring controls engineer having recently received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Nigeria’s Covenant University. He is currently a UC Berkeley graduate student completing his masters degree in robotics.
Ese has an increasing amount of experience in the aviation industry; as well as, in safety critical systems. His internships at Caverton Aviation, Air Peace Limited, Hebron Motorsports, and Argotio’s Powerbike, along with a fascination and interest in autonomy, bring a welcome contribution of insights and perspectives to the JetPerfect Foundation.
Sirjan Uppal
Sirjan is a 3rd year mechanical engineering student at the University of Washington who is passionate about sustainable aviation. In college, she is part of the electric motorcycle club, engages in sustainable materials research, and is a member of the entrepreneurship club. She is interested in the intersection between sustainability, engineering, and start-ups. In her free time, Sirjan enjoys sewing, baking, and reading!