The first wave of speakers has been announced for the next instalment of Sustainable Skies World Summit (SSWS), taking place 17–18 March 2026. The conference-led event organised by Farnborough International returns to bring together the global aviation community and lead the transformation toward a more sustainable industry.
This edition will deliver an informative programme of expert speakers with sessions addressing the most crucial challenges facing aviation today. For 2026, the summit is placing a strong emphasis on practical implementation, immediate regulatory and operational requirements, scaling next-generation technologies, and investment pathways for sustainable aviation.
Among the confirmed speakers for the 2026 summit are:
- Nicholas Cadbury, CFO, IAG
- Eddy Liegeois, Head of Unit, Aviation Policy, European Commission
- Matt Ridley, Director of Sustainability and Innovation, Oneworld Alliance
- Preeti Jain, Head of Net Zero Research and Programs, IATA
- Tim Lederer, VP Regulatory Affairs & Fuel, Global Aviation, DHL
- Nichola Bates, Founder & CEO, Xelerated Fifty
- Mark Bentall, Head of R&T, Airbus
- Marylin Bastin, Head of Aviation Sustainability, EUROCONTROL
- Jonathon Counsell, Chair, Advisory Board, IAG
- Kolin Schunck, Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation and Intelligence, Lufthansa Technik
- James McMicking, Chief Strategy Officer, ZeroAvia
- Jan Petter Steinland, Director, Strategic Analysis and Transformation, CAA Norway
- Laurent Donceel, Director, Transport and Industrial Policy and Sustainability, Hydrogen Europe
- Cesar Pereira, Head of Sustainability, Commercial Aviation, Embraer
- Anna Stukas, VP Strategic Partnerships, 1PointFive
- Simon Meakins, Director, Advanced Air Mobility EAMEA, Bristow Group
- Dr. Mai Bui, Director of Climate Science, Supercritical
- Peter Albin, Carbon Offset Research Lead, Wood Mackenzie
- Maxime Meijers, CEO, Estuaire
- William McClintock, Senior Manager, Markets & Sustainability, IBA
- David Herschell, Senior Specialist Fellow, Deactivation and Disposals, Defence Recycling and Disposals Team (DRDT), RAF
Programme highlights include Busting the Myth: SAF Market Realities in 2026, a fact-led panel examining near-term SAF supply, global market dynamics, and what airlines can realistically procure between 2026 and 2027. Recognising that finance is critical to progress, investment also features prominently, with Overcoming Obstacles to Progress: Building Investable Business Cases for Sustainability bringing together investors, CFOs, and industry leaders to explore how capital can be unlocked through viable, finance-ready pathways, including risk allocation, blended finance structures, and value-stacking models.
Discussing the programme, Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive, Sustainable Aviation, said: “As the industry faces mounting pressure to meet net zero targets, this year’s discussions will assess collective progress since 2021 and issue a clear call to action for the coordinated policy, investment, and system-wide transformation required before 2030. The agenda places a firm emphasis on practical delivery, moving beyond ambition to implementation by addressing regulatory readiness for upcoming mandates, the scalable availability of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and Next Generation Technologies.”
Sustainable Skies World Summit 2026 provides a platform for collaboration, innovation, and concrete action toward achieving the industry’s NetZero goals. Industry stakeholders, policymakers, and sustainability advocates will convene for two days at the award-winning Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in the UK to engage in important discussions and establish the direction for the next decade of aviation transformation.
