Agustoni, Mario
Swiss Air-Rescue Rega
Zurich, Switzerland
Mario Agustoni is Nominated Person Flight Operation Helicopter with Swiss Air-Rescue Rega and is responsible for the Helicopter Procedures and Training division. He is also a flight instructor and validation pilot for instrument flight procedures with flight experience of more than 8,000 hours. In addition to his duties as NPFO and member of the Rega Executive Board, he is involved in the development and introduction of helicopter specific IFR procedures (PinS/Helicopter RNP AR) in Switzerland, as well as in the introduction of the latest available technology for rescue flights. He obtains the flight validation pilot license on 2018 and plays an important role in the introduction of LFN routes and PinS procedures, certifying, and describing procedures in the operations manual and in the preparation of training courses. Since 2018, he has carried out several Flight Validations in Sweden and Germany and brought Swiss experience in introducing PBN procedures to several seminars in Europe.
Almenning Flaa, Tine
The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation
Oslo, Norway
PhD Tine Almenning Flaa is a researcher at the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, affiliated with the University of Bergen and Sørlandet Hospital Kristiansand. She has a MSc in psychology and a PhD on sleep and sleepiness among air ambulance shift workers. Her research focuses on sleep, fatigue, recovery, workload, performance, and safety in demanding work environments, particularly HEMS. She also contributes to the Norwegian Air Ambulance’s FRMS work, translating sleep and shift work research into practice.
Aufdenblatten, Daniel
Air Zermatt
Zermatt, Switzerland
CEO / Pilot Air Zermatt Switzerland, 30 years experience in aviation, 23 years flying helicopters B429, A109, H125, H135 HEMS/CAT/IFR/HESLO, 10 years flying Business Jets Falcon 900/ Falcon 8X
Avi, Eleonora
University Of Verona
Verona, Italy
Eleonora Avi is an aviation psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the helicopter sector, specialising in Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Human Factors training and assessment. She works with HEMS operators and other high-risk domains, focusing on non-technical skills (NOTECHS), safety, and team performance.
She is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology at the University of Verona, focusing on emotional competencies (emotion regulation and empathy) in prehospital emergency settings, including HEMS and mountain rescue. As part of her doctoral programme, she is completing a visiting research period at the UMIT – Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology in Hall in Tirol – Austria.
Her current research includes the development of a brief, operationally oriented questionnaire to assess emotional competencies in emergency contexts, and the investigation of their impact on non-technical skills and, ultimately, on safety.
She is co-author of the NOTECHS+ scale and is actively involved in training design, pilot assessment, and human factors consultancy in aviation, healthcare, mountain rescue and railway traffic management
Bestle, Stefan
Airbus Helicopters
Donauwoerth, Germany
Stefan Bestle is the Key Segment Manager HEMS at Airbus Helicopters , with 24 years of experience at the company and over 20 years of international expertise in the HEMS sector. Holding an engineering degree , his background includes Dornier and the Air Force SAR Squadron. He is active in European HEMS committees (CEN, DIN, EHA, EHAC) and served 15 years as a voluntary firefighter.
Bäumel, Hans
Heliport Vertiport Consulting
Calden, Germany
Hans Baeuml is an independent expert and consultant in heliport and vertiport design, including supporting hospitals and authorities in Germany as manager of Heliport Vertiport Consulting GmbH. He serves as a member of the ICAO Vertical Flight Infrastructures Working Group on behalf of the German Ministry of Transport and has contributed to the ICAO Heliport Design Working Group since 2010. He also prepared the German edition of ICAO Annex 14 Volume II for publication as an administrative regulation. Earlier, he served as Heliport Officer within the German Federal Police Aviation Service and holds extensive operational experience as a helicopter pilot on types including the AS332 L1 Super Puma, SA 330 J Puma, Bell UH 1D, MBB BO 105, and SA 318 C Alouette II.
Baumgartner, Thomas
Airbus Helicopters
Donauwörth, Germany
Educational background MBA / Dipl.-Ing. Mechanical Engineering Professional experience Erhard Armaturen GmbH 1997 – 2000 Airbus Helicopters – since 2002 Airbus Helicopters experience 5y Industrial Cooperations / Offset 6y H145 Cooperation Manager (Kawasaki, Kazakhstan) 4y Head of Industrial Engineering Mechanical Parts 7y H145 Core Program Management 1y Head of Core Program H145
Bausek, David
Volocopter Technologies
Bruchsal, Germany
David Bausek is Head of the Production Organization at Diamond Aircraft and CTO at Volocopter. He has 20+ years in general aviation design & certification. David began at Diamond Aircraft as a manufacturing engineer, led design work (including DA50), was Technical Project Lead for the DA62, managed Austrian production (>600 staff), built up plants in China, and now leads Volocopter to its first Type Certification.
Becker, Stefan
Swiss Air-Rescue Rega
Zurich, Switzerland
Stefan Becker is a senior executive with a multidisciplinary university background uniting economics, medicine, aviation, and regulatory affairs. As a Member of Management and Head of Corporate Development at Swiss Air‑Rescue Rega, he leads strategic initiatives and represents the organisation within international institutions. He also holds leadership roles within the European HEMS & Air Ambulance Committee (EHAC), the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the EASA Rotorcraft Community, the Swiss aviation association AEROSUISSE, where he contributes to the development and advancement of global, European, and Swiss aeromedical and aviation standards. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Stefan is the founder of a consultancy, a former lecturer, and a frequent international speaker and author. Beyond his professional commitments, he is an avid sportsman who enjoys running, cycling, sailing, scuba diving, and tennis — pursuits that reflect his resilience, endurance, and commitment to teamwork.
Benton, Michael
VyClimb Consulting Highlands Ranch, USA
President and CEO of VyClimb Consulting, specializing in HEMS/HAA operations, safety, and leadership. CAMTS and NEMSPA board member with thirty years in helicopter operations and former NTSB investigation party member. Holds an MBA and Master of Aeronautical Science; adjunct faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Berry, Andrew
Nets
Bankstown, Australia
Dr Andrew Berry AM FRACP MB BS Founder and long-time lead for NETS (neonatal and paediatric transport services) in NSW, Australia. Graduate of University of Adelaide (1975) Trained in Sydney in paediatrics and neonatology. 1985-1995 Head, Neonatology. Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children. 1995 – present. State Director. NETS, largest neonatal+paediatric transport program in Australia. Fixed wing and Rotary wing private pilot.
Böttcher, Simon
Vincorion Advanced Systems
Wedel, Germany
Simon Böttcher (37), Director Segment Aviation at VINCORION, working at VINCORION since 18 years in project, product and program management roles within the aviation business of VINCORION
Braithwaite, Ian
Embrace
Barnsley, UK
Bridel, Christophe
Swiss Air-Rescue Rega
Lausanne, Switzerland
Christophe Bridel is a Swiss certified paramedic and HEMS crew member with Swiss Air-Rescue Rega. In addition to his operational roles as HCM and WOP, he is a member of the EHAC Working Group as CRM instructor responsible for helicopter operations at Rega, with a focus on human factors, crew coordination, training and operational safety.
Bowles, Aaron
Airmed International
Birmingham, USA
Name: Aaron Bowles Title: Intelligence, Strategy, & Project Analyst Organization: AirMed International. I am also the dispatch subject matter expert and Treasurer for the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS and CAMTS Global). My Background: I have over 25 years of experience in air ambulance dispatch, for both rotor and fixed wing services. I have a bachelor’s degree in Biology and an MBA from the Collat School of Business. I have served on the board of directors for the International Association of Medical Transport Communications Specialists (IAMTCS) where I served as a board member, then the Treasurer, and finally as the President of the organization. I am now a board member for CAMTS as their dispatch subject matter expert and current Treasurer. In this role I also serve as the CAMTS Global Treasurer. I have worked at AirMed International since 2007, where I started as a communications Specialists (dispatcher), became a Supervisor, and then the Manager of the Global Operations Center. I am currently a Strategic Analyst for AirMed International.
Camus, Jean-Louis
Saf Aerogroup
Tournon, France
14 years as French Army Officer, Pilote on Cougar Helicopter, leading overseas military, humanitarian and rescue missions. 17 years in Aerospace industry, leading strategic programs as Tiger & NH90 helicopters, Airbus Military Transport Aircraft A400M and civil & military Earth observation Space Systems. SAF Aerogroup since 2022 as COO, and since 2 years as Co-CEO with Thibault Nicodeme, leading commercial and operations. Specialised in strategic and complex development, by leveraging the strength of the group
Chemnitz, Dominik
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland
Donauwörth, Germany
He is an experienced helicopter pilot and flight instructor with over 21 years of background in military, utility, and air medical operations. His flight profile includes VFR, SPIFR, and NVG operations in single- and multi-engine helicopters. His practical HEMS/HAA experience includes conducting MEDEVAC missions in Western Canada as well as operational flying within major US air medical networks, including GMR’s REACH Air Medical Services and Air Evac Lifeteam. Today, as Manager for Operational Marketing at Airbus Helicopters, he promotes HEMS solutions, aerial work, and firefighting across the company’s full helicopter portfolio. He holds a Dipl.-Ing. (FH) in Mechanical Engineering from the Universität der Bundeswehr, München and multiple pilot licenses (EASA, FAA, Transport Canada). In this role, he combines a technical engineering foundation with his operational experience in international aviation and pilot training.
Choi, Joseph
Redstar Aviation
Istanbul, Turkey
I am a medical doctor with postgraduate training in aeromedical retrieval and acute medicine, with extensive experience in both clinical operations and medical management within the air ambulance sector. Between 2010-2015, I held managerial roles at a medical and travel assistance company, gaining experience in international patient coordination, medical cost-containment, operational leadership, and medical assistance services. Since 2015, I have served as the Medical Director of Redstar Aviation, while also actively flying as a flight physician with more than 5,000 hours of aeromedical flight experience. My responsibilities include fit-to-fly evaluations, risk assessment, and clinical governance activities. Based in Istanbul, Redstar Aviation operates a fleet of nine fixed-wing and one rotary-wing air ambulance aircraft, serving close to 2,000 patients annually.
Corti, Mattiia
Swiss Air-rescue Rega
Zurich, Switzerland
I hold a degree in Electronic Engineering, focusing on Robotics, and I have a strong passion for technology, innovation and problem solving. Outside of work, I am a dedicated mountaineer and a former Swiss Alpine rescue dog handler. At Rega, I have had the opportunity to combine my passion for mountain rescue and emergency response with my interest in emerging technologies and innovation. I lead the team on search missions for missing persons, applying operational expertise and advanced technological solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of search and rescue operations.
Coz, Solenn
TCS
Vernier, Switzerland
SOLENN COZ, MD Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine Senior Medical Officer – Touring Club Suisse (TCS) ✈️ PROFILE Intensive care physician with extensive experience in adult, pediatric, and neonatal critical care, Medevac, and international repatriation. Strong leadership in high acuity environments, with a structured, calm, and patient centered approach. Skilled in coordinating complex medical transports and supervising multidisciplinary teams. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE ✈️ Senior Medical Officer – Touring Club Suisse (TCS) April 2026 – Present • Medical leadership for international assistance and repatriation • Benefit/risk evaluation and strategic decision making ✈️ Chief Medical Officer & Flight Physician – Airlec Air Ambulance 2017 – 2026 • International transport of critical adult & pediatric patients • Medevac coordination/Senior Medical Officer (from 2020) • Chief Medical Officer (from 2023): supervision, quality assurance, training • In flight stabilization, risk assessment, advanced critical care 🏥Physician – Pediatric & Neonatal ICU, CHU Poitiers 2021 – 2026 • Management of critically ill neonatal & pediatric patients • Rapid response team for in and out of hospital emergencies 🏥Physician – Adult ICU, CH Périgueux 2017 – 2021 • Medical & surgical ICU care • Adult & pediatric emergency response 🏥Physician – Cardio Surgical ICU, CHU Bordeaux 2016 – 2017 • ECMO, heart transplantation, post operative cardiac care • Echocardiography (TTE/TOE), Swan Ganz monitoring 🏥Additional ICU & Anesthesia Experience (2010–2016) CHUV Lausanne • Institut Curie Paris • CHU Caen • CHU Bordeaux • Adult, pediatric, neuro, burn & oncologic ICU • Advanced anesthesia, PICC lines, ports 🌍REMOTE EXPERIENCE Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon • Wallis-et-Futuna • Martinique • Guadeloupe • New-Caledonia Critical care in resource limited settings • Long distance evacuations & complex repatriations • Adaptation to logistical & cultural constraints 📑EDUCATION Doctor in anesthesiology and intensive care medicine, University Bordeaux Internship at University Hospital of Bordeaux Medicine school Rennes University 📑SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Coz S., Tran Van D., et al. Aeromedical Transport With Combined Extracorporeal Circulatory and Renal Support Bridging a Critically Ill Patient to Heart Transplantation. ASAIO Journal, 2026 • Clouzeau B., Bui HN., Guilhon E., et al., including Coz S. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy under noninvasive ventilation and propofol target controlled infusion in hypoxemic patients. Intensive Care Medicine, 2011 • Coz S., Merson L., Morel N., Dabadie P. Traumatic rupture of the abdominal aorta after spinal fracture from low fall. Annales Françaises d’Anesthésie et de Réanimation, 2010 • Guérin C., Reignier J., Richard JC., et al. (PROSEVA Study Group) Prone positioning in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine, 2013 CORE SKILLS • ICU (adult/pediatric/neonatal) • ECMO & cardiopulmonary support • Medevac & transport • Risk assessment • Echocardiography • Leadership & crisis management LANGUAGES French (native) English (daily) German Spanish INTERESTS Windsurfing • Kiteboarding • Sailing • Travel
Cynober, Mathieu
Laboratoire interdisciplinaire de recherche en sciences de l’action
Paris, France
Mathieu Cynober is Director of Public Health and Population Support at a French departmental council with extensive experience in emergency response, public policies and healthcare services management. He is also a reserve officer with the French Armed Forces Health Service Command, working on civil-military cooperation. He is currently involved in a research on decision-making under uncertainty, with a focus on primary medical evacuations dispatch. His operational insights are grounded in 15+ years of experience at the frontier of fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, healthcare providers and security/military stakeholders across the EMEA region. Mathieu holds three master’s covering the fields of biomedical engineering, innovation management and industrial engineering.
Davies, Gareth
Manx Care
Braddan, Isle of Man
Dr Gareth Davies Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Prehospital Care, Isle of Man Chief Medical Officer Isle of Man TT Races Gareth has worked in Emergency Medicine & Prehospital Care for over 30 years with the majority of his career working at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel and London’s Helicopter Air Ambulance as Medical Director. His specialist interests lie in the prehospital phase of injury, traumatic and medical cardiac arrest, mechanism of injury, and major incident management. He has authored over 60 papers in peer reviewed journals and chapters in seminal trauma and prehospital care texts. He regularly contributes to on-line learning initiatives. Services led by Gareth have a reputation for strong clinical governance and innovative techniques & processes in prehospital practice, ranging from prehospital thoracotomy, to endovascular resuscitation and prehospital ECMO. Gareth has led the teams that attended many of London’s major incidents over the last two decades. Gareth also has an interest in motorsport and is Chief Medical Officer for the TT Motorcycle Races in the Isle of Man. Utilising 3 medical helicopters, the medical services give a unique in-sight into the hyper-acute phase of head injury and impact brain apnoea in humans.
Eichel, Jan
Commision On Accreditation Of Medical Transport Systems
Anderson, USA
Jan Eichel, MBA, RN, CFRN, CMTE, FAASTN Jan Eichel is the Executive Director of CAMTS, the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems, following 7 years as Associate Executive Director. With 30+ years as a flight nurse, Clinical Director, and educator, she has served on the CAMTS Board of Directors and as a site surveyor since 2005. A published transport medicine author, she was inducted as an Academy of Air & Surface Transport Nurses Fellow in 2023
Eifinger, Frank
Department of Pediatrics
Cologne, Germany
Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Appointed Adjunct Professor, Head of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Division, Cologne Fire Brigade and Rescue Service, Emergency Physician, ADAC Air Rescue – “Christoph Rheinland” Medical Helicopter, Emergency Physician, 54yr.old, married, 3 children
Elliott, Pete
LifeFlight
Brisbane, Australia
Pete Elliott is a senior aviation and aeromedical executive with over sixteen years of leadership experience across Queensland’s most demanding emergency services environments. Currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at LifeFlight Australia, Pete brings deep operational expertise spanning aeromedical coordination, aviation engineering, logistics, and disaster management. Pete’s career reflects a consistent record of executive leadership in high-stakes settings. Prior to his current role, he served as Executive General Manager – Aviation, Engineering & Logistics at the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland), where he led fleet strategy and oversaw the development of a new training academy. Before that, he held multiple senior roles at LifeFlight Australia, including Head of Medical Services & Major Contracts and Director of the LifeFlight Training Academy — building community safety programs and driving compliance across flight crew training nationally. Across all roles, Pete has demonstrated an ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex contracts and stakeholder relationships, and deliver operational outcomes in environments where performance is mission critical. He is known for building cultures of accountability, driving innovation, and working closely with executive leadership to achieve strategic objectives.
Erd, Aaron
ADAC Luftrettung
Weßling, Germany
Aaron Erd studied social economics and non-profit management. He gained practical experience in emergency medical services as a paramedic. Employed at ADAC Luftrettung since 2009. From 2014 to 2021, he headed the “Revenues and Tenders” department. Since 2021, he serves as Deputy Head of the “Strategy and Projects” unit. Since 2017, he plays a key role in establishing the “Multicopter” innovation project. Aaron Erd holds a lecturer position in health management.
Erdélyi, László Sándor
Hungarian Air Ambulance
Budaörs, Hungary
László Sándor Erdélyi (MD, PhD) obtained his molecular and cellular physiology PhD in 2015 and completed his specialist training in anaesthesiology and intensive therapy in 2020. He also earned the European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EDAIC) in the same year. He is currently a consultant at the Adult Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit of the Gottsegen György National Cardiovascular Institute, and an external lecturer at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Semmelweis University. He has been serving as an emergency physician with the Hungarian Air Ambulance since 2013 and has several years of experience with the National Ambulance Service. His main professional interests include cardiovascular intensive care, anaesthesia for high-risk patients, airway management, and medical education.
Felker, Timo
Berufsfeuerwehr Kiel
Kiel, Germany
Timo Felker is Head of the Coordination Center for Air Ambulance Services and Physician-Escorted Inter-Hospital Transfers in Schleswig-Holstein. He also works as a dispatcher and scenario-based training instructor at the Integrated Regional Dispatch Center Mitte in Kiel.
Fleischhacker, Arne
ADAC Luftrettung
Weßling, Germany
Dr. Arne Fleischhacker is a board-certified consultant in Anaesthesiology with subspecialty qualifications in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. After completing his medical degree at the University of Würzburg, he underwent specialist training at the University Medical Center Hamburg‑Eppendorf (UKE), where he later served as senior consultant anaesthesiologist with a strong focus on intensive care, trauma management, and prehospital emergency medicine. Since 2020, Dr. Fleischhacker has been working as Regional Medical Director at ADAC Air Rescue, where he is responsible for the medical quality and standards of air rescue operations across seven German federal states. His role includes oversight of medical protocols, training, quality assurance, and continuous improvement in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). In addition to his leadership role, he continues to work actively as an emergency physician, regularly flying on rescue and intensive care helicopters at multiple bases, thereby maintaining hands‑on clinical expertise in prehospital critical care and air rescue operations.
Fries, Dietmar
Hospital Zams
Innsbruck, Austria
Director of the department for Anasesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, St. Vinzenz Hospital Zams. Intensive Care Medicine coordinator Tyrolean state health council since March 2020. Former Deputy director of the Department for General and Surgical Critical Care Unit, Innsbruck Medical University since 2017 until resolution. Former head of the Intensive Care Unit for Traumatology, Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, between 2018 and 2026. Head of a research group and HEMS doctor at the Christophorus 1.5 PhD students and 10 graduate students.
Froh, John
STARS
Calgary, Canada
Dr. John Froh — President and CEO, STARS Dr. John Froh has spent his career in emergency and transport medicine, first joining STARS in 2012 before becoming Chief Medical Officer and ultimately President and CEO in 2024. A practicing emergency and trauma physician, he holds an MBA from Queen’s and Cornell Universities and is passionate about building the next generation of critical care delivery through innovation in AI, aviation, and technology.
Furlan, Edi
Elifriulia S.p.a.
Ronchi Dei Legionari, Italy
Edi Furlan is CCO at Eliance Helicopter Global Services and Commercial Director of Elifriulia in Italy. With 17 years in the helicopter industry, he drives international sales, HEMS contracts, fleet and service growth, and cross-border partnerships, leveraging strong technical and managerial expertise across Europe. He drives strategic initiatives and supports innovation in critical missions.
Gandras, Finn
German Aerospace Center
Braunschweig, Germany
Aerospace Engineer at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Flight Guidance, Department Pilot Assistance. Mainly focused on helicopter pilot assistance systems, including air-ground cooperation and use cases of spatial audio.
Garrote, Jose
Eliance
Madrid, Spain
Emergency and HEMS physician since 2002, PhD in Medicine, with expertise in critical care transport, airway management, ventilation, CRM and clinical simulation. Training and R&D coordinator at Eliance, advisor in European and medical technology projects, author/editor of reference manuals and speaker at national and international congresses.
Gasser, Lukas
Schweizerische Rettungsflugwacht Rega
Zürich, Switzerland
Gehri, Jérôme
DRF Stiftung Luftrettung
Filderstadt, Germany
Jérôme Gehri started his aviation career in 1997 with the Navy. After extensive SAR and instructor experience, he joined DRF Luftrettung in 2010, held multiple leadership roles before becoming Nominated Person Flight Operations in 2019 and Managing Director since August 2025.
Germann, Romano
Ani Services
Zug, Switzerland
Romano Germann brings over 25 years of expertise in flight procedure design. Until 2015, he worked in the Instrument Flight Procedure (IFP) design office of the Swiss air navigation service provider Skyguide. During this time, he served as the primary point of contact for instrument flight procedure matters at Zurich Airport (LSZH) and played a key role in the implementation of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) across Switzerland. Since 2016, Romano has been working as a freelance flight procedure designer, collaborating with various flight procedure design service providers worldwide. In his role as Chief Flight Procedure Designer at ANI Services, he has spent the past ten years developing a wide range of helicopter procedures in Switzerland and the Netherlands. He was involved in the development of the Swiss Low Flight Network for helicopters. In collaboration with the Swiss HEMS operator Rega, he is currently working on new flight procedure design criteria for RNP AR CAT H, as well as departure criteria enabling IFR operations from the Take-off Decision Point (TDP). In addition, Romano contributes to flight procedure design training as part of the instruction team at the Air Navigation Institute (ANI) and serves as a PANS-OPS course instructor at Airsight in Berlin. He is participating in several international expert groups such as the Eurocontrol PBN Implementation Support Group, the ICAO PBN Consolidation Task Force and the FLAG Helicopter IFR Operations Group.
Goyette, Jeremiah
DHART/Dartmouth Health
Lebanon, NH, USA
Jeremiah Goyette is a HEMS Paramedic with the DHART air ambulance in the United States. Drawing on nearly two decades in CCT and HEMS, as well as experience as an instrument-rated pilot, his work focuses on the intersection of aviation and medicine, especially CRM, single-pilot resource management, aviation survival, and safe performance in high-hazard environments.
Guyette, Francis
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, USA
Dr. Guyette is the Medical Director of STAT MedEvac, the critical care transport arm of UPMC. He is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and the ERMI endowed chair of patient safety at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His academic interests include prehospital resuscitation, critical care transport, and retrieval medicine.
Haas, Robert
Airbus Helicopters Donauwörth, Germany
Robert Haas is a highly experienced Graduate Engineer in Aeronautics with more than 25 years in the helicopter industry. He possesses extensive and long-standing expertise in helicopter certification and the management of operational regulations, including involvement in the rulemaking process. He also has significant experience specifically with HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) operations. More recently, with the introduction of Operational Suitability Data (OSD) in Part 21, he took a leading role in implementing the necessary OSD management processes within his design organization. He is currently deeply involved in key OSD constituents, namely the Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) and Flight Crew Data.
Haller, Frank
ADAC Luftrettung
Weßling, Germany
Hofer, Stefan
Westpfalz-Klinikum
Kaiserslautern, Germany
Head of Deprtment Anesthesiology; ICU and Emergency Medicin
Hooper, Jeff
Lifeflight
Brisbane, Australia
Medical Director LifeFlight Medical Services Queensland Australia. Retrieval Physician. Emergency Physician at Gold Coast University Hospital. Background as an Emergency physician and 20 year experience in Prehospital Care and Retrieval in Australia and UK services.
Hopfgartner, Frank
Universität Koblenz
Koblenz, Germany
Professor for Data Science at Universität Koblenz. My main research interest is in the intersection of human-centred and responsible artificial intelligence and data science. In particular, I am interested in understanding and modelling how data-driven systems (e.g., information retrieval and recommender systems) shape and influence people and society.
Hossfeld, Björn
Armed Forces Hospital Ulm
Ulm, Germany
Prof. Hossfeld worked as EMS-physician since 1999 ground based and since 2006 as HEMS-physician at CHRISTOPH 22, which in a special civilian-military cooperation is addicted to the Ulm military hospital. Today he is the vice director at the Dept. for Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Pain Medicine at the Military Hospital Ulm. He did several military deployments in missions abroad in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Congo, Niger, Mali and Lebanon.
Houser, James
UPMC Center For Emergency Medicine | STAT MedEvac
Pittsburgh, USA
James Houser serves as President and CEO of Pittsburgh-based UPMC’s Center for Emergency Medicine. The center is responsible for emergency medicine education, research, and specialized treatment and transport. STAT MedEvac, the transport arm of the center, operates two critical care ground units and 18 helicopter bases across Pennsylvania and surrounding states and the District of Columbia. Jim got his start as a volunteer firefighter. Finding a passion for EMS, he quickly became an EMT with aspirations to work as a flight paramedic. From EMT, dispatcher, paramedic, nurse, nurse practitioner, executive, and leader, he has since held many roles in our industry. Jim is active within the larger transport community. He currently serves as Chairman of the Association of Air Medical Services board and past secretary and treasurer. He is also the co-chair of the newly formed AAMS Data and Technology Committee. He is the past co-chair of the Pennsylvania Critical Care Task Force and supports the Pennsylvania Emergency Medicine Foundation as a board member. In addition to overseeing the Center for Emergency Medicine, Jim also serves as a lead CAMTS surveyor and occasionally covers shifts in a community hospital emergency department as a nurse practitioner. Jim, a travel enthusiast, photographer, and fan of The Ohio State University football, also enjoys running (when not injured). He and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Madison, a critical care nurse at UPMC, and Marshal, a freshman studying Astronomy, Physics, and pre-medicine at The Ohio State University. His grandson Jameson, on the other hand, simply enjoys hanging out and being adorable.
Huettner, Markus
ADAC HEMS Academy Weßling, Germany
Markus Huettner currently serves as the Head of Operational Training with ADAC HEMS Academy GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of ADAC Luftrettung gGmbH. Trained as a commercial helicopter pilot and Certfied Flight Instructor (CFII) in 2003, Markus has gained experience in flight instruction, offshore support, VIP & charter flights and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) both in the United States and Europe. As Head of Operational Training he manages a portfolio of topics that revolve around safety and operational aspects of flying HEMS, such as in particular Crew Resource Management (CRM), Helicopter Hoist Operator (HHO) training, landing site safety, emergency egress training, and firefighting.
Hughes, Maura
Boston MedFlight
Bedford, USA
Maura Hughes, CPA, MBA is a non-profit executive with over 35 years’ experience in non-profit and healthcare industries. She has been in senior leadership at Boston MedFlight for over 28 years, including CEO for the past 10 years. She serves as the Chair of the Association of Critical Care Transport (ACCT), board member of the Air Medical Operators Association, and serves on several other non-profits boards and committees.
Hyun Lee, Kang Hyun
Yonsei University Wonju College Of Medicine
Wonju, South Korea
Dr. Kang Hyun Lee is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine, and also serves as a flight physician. Dr. Lee has held numerous distinguished leadership positions, including Past President of the Korean Society of Disaster Medicine, the Korean Auto-Vehicle Safety Association, and the Korean Society of Traumatology. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine. In addition, he was a Past Asia Representative Board Member of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM). He chaired the Organizing Committee of the 2019 International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM). Dr. Lee was born in the Republic of Korea on June 15, 1963. He graduated from Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine in 1989, obtained board certification in Emergency Medicine in 1997, and in Intensive Care Medicine in 2009. He has authored approximately 200 peer-reviewed publications and 14 books, and has delivered numerous invited lectures on helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), traumatology, and emergency medicine at international scientific conferences.
Kellner, Joseph
Lifeflight Of Maine
Bangor, USA
Joe Kellner, FACHE, EMT-P, is Chief Executive Officer of LifeFlight of Maine and oversees both the nonprofit critical care transport program and its FAA Part 135 air carrier. With more than 20 years in EMS leadership, he is a passionate advocate for high-performing systems, safety, and expanding access to critical care while helping shape state and federal EMS policy.
Klitzschmüller, Sven
DRF Stiftung Luftrettung Filderstadt, Germany
Sven Klitzschmüller is Head of HR and Travel Management at DRF Luftrettung, leading a 27-person team with responsibility for HR transformation, people strategy, and operations. With a background at Lufthansa Technik he brings extensive experience in leadership, organizational development & safety-critical aviation environments, bridging operational excellence with people-focused decision-making.
Kolbet, Kolby
Life Link III
Mahtomedi, USA
Kolby L. Kolbet, MSN, RN, CFRN is Chief Innovation Officer at Life Link III and Past Chair of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). A flight nurse and healthcare executive, he leads AI, innovation, and clinical transformation initiatives. He is an international speaker on ambient documentation, AI governance, and the future of air medical care.
Kroes, Bastiaan
Anwb Medical Air Assistance
Lelystad, The Netherlands
Bastiaan Kroes is a versatile and experienced professional with an impressive career spanning both aviation and public safety. He began his professional journey as an officer in the Royal Netherlands Navy, where he served as an airborne observer and participated in several NATO operations, search and rescue and counter drugs operations. This formative experience laid the foundation for his commitment to safety, precision, and teamwork under pressure. Following his military service, Bastiaan transitioned into the civil aviation sector, working for KLM and later at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. In these roles, he held various positions, gaining extensive experience in operational management, aviation safety, crisis management and strategic business operations. His current role as Director and Accountable Manager at ANWB Medical Air Assistance is a natural progression in his career. With his operational background, leadership experience, and strong sense of public service, Bastiaan is exceptionally well-suited to lead a mission-driven organization focused on medical aviation. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Bastiaan is an active volunteer firefighter, further demonstrating his dedication to serving the community. He is married and a proud father of three children. His personal and professional life are marked by integrity, commitment, and a deep sense of responsibility.
Krüger Brand, Angela
Same Aéreo Hems Buenos Aires, Argentina
Physician with advanced training in Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, Aeronautical Medicine, and Aeromedical Evacuation. Professor and Chair of Anatomy, Coordinator of the Mobile Intensive Care Units of Buenos Aires City, HEMS physician at SAME CABA, CRM and Human Factors facilitator, and Medical Director of AeroCare Air Medical Services in complex international aeromedical transport operations.
Kulcsar, Edina Linda
Nord Pest Central Hospital - Military Hospital
Budapest, Hungary
Dr. Edina Linda Kulcsár is an anaesthesiologist, intensive care physician, and aviation medicine specialist with a particular interest in the interface between critical care, aerospace medicine, and human performance. Based at the Central Hospital of Northern Pest – Military Hospital in Budapest, Hungary, she is currently undertaking doctoral research in Military Engineering at the University of Public Service. Her research encompasses strategic aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC), aviation physiology, human factors, pilot incapacitation, physiological monitoring, and the application of immersive technologies to optimise patient safety and clinical decision-making in aeromedical operations. She has presented her work at several international conferences and continues to contribute to the development of aeromedical practice through clinical research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Lai, Kuan-Cheng
Taichung Veteran General Hospital
Chia-yi, Taiwan
Deputy Director of National Aeromedical Approval Center, Taiwan: Offer consultations and review cases of air ambulance transfers for medical services in Taiwan; Director of Emergency Medicine, Chia-yi branch, Taichung Veteran General hospital, Taiwan
Landert, Daniel
Rega Swiss Air-ambulance
Zurich, Switzerland
Daniel Landert is in charge of the Jet Operations division. This is responsible for advising patients abroad, as well as organising and carrying out repatriations back to Switzerland. The staff of the Jet Operations division run the round-the-clock Jet Operations Center together with the Medical Advisory Service. Curriculum vitae, Daniel Landert Daniel Landert was born on 19 July 1972 in Adliswil (Canton Zurich). After an apprenticeship as a structural draughtsman and completing vocational secondary school, he graduated as an architect from the University of Applied Sciences in Winterthur. Subsequently, he trained as an airline pilot and completed further studies in management, including at the International Institute for Management Development IMD in Lausanne. From 1999 to 2002, Daniel Landert worked as an airline pilot with Swissair. He then spent five years at Edelweiss Air and 10 years at Swiss International Air Lines as pilot on the Airbus A320, A330, A340 and A220. In addition, he worked as a simulator instructor and was in charge of human factor training at Swiss. In 2013, Daniel Landert changed to flight operations at Swiss International Air Lines as Deputy Head of Flight Operations. Subsequently, at Swiss Global Air Lines, he was appointed initially as Deputy and then as Nominated Person Flight Operation. In 2018, Daniel Landert joined the Management Board at Edelweiss Air as Chief Operating Officer. As Accountable Manager, he was responsible for the entire flight operations, while at the same time working part-time as airline commander on the Airbus A320. In May 2022, he moved to Rega as designated Head of Jet Operations and commander on the Challenger 650. Since 1 June 2023, Daniel Landert has been a member of the Management Board and Head of Jet Operations at Rega. He is married and has three children.
Lang, Bernd
Christophorus Flugrettungsverein
Vienna, Austria
Bernd Lang has a degree in Health Management and Health Science. During these studies he specialized in human factors and learning processes as well as on organizational behavior and management systems. Bernd joined ÖAMTC Air Rescue in 2005 and currently acts there as Training Director, focusing on the areas Training & Learning as well as Assessment. He is an Aeromedical Crew Resource Management (ACRM) trainer and chairman of the EHAC ACRM working group.
Lauretta, Paolo
Integrity Health Solutions,
Palermo, Argentina
Paolo Lauretta de Santis, MD, is a physician who graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. He is currently pursuing an Executive Master in Business Administration in Health at IAE Business School and is a PhD student in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. His professional background integrates clinical practice, emergency medicine, health management, data systems, and technological innovation applied to healthcare. In the clinical and operational field, he serves as a physician within the Helicopter MEDEVAC System of SAME, the Emergency Medical Services System of the City of Buenos Aires, and as Team Leader of the Emergency Communication Team. In this role, his responsibilities focus on data management, operational coordination, and technology-driven innovation in emergency medical systems. In parallel, he has developed a strong professional focus on artificial intelligence and digital transformation in healthcare. He currently serves as Director of the Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Program at the Ibero-American Foundation of Public Health and as an AI Physician Consultant. His complementary training includes Artificial Intelligence in Health Care at MIT Sloan School of Management, Generative AI Foundations by Amazon Web Services, and Data Science for Developing Scholars in Down Syndrome Research.
Lazarovici, Marc
Institut Für Notfallmedizin
Munich, Germany
Dr. Marc Lazarovici, Head of Simulation and Research Center HSC LMU University Hospital Marc Lazarovici is a medical doctor (internal medicine), human factor trainer and computer scientist. He has been a member of the board of SESAM, the European Simulation Society, between 2016 and 2023. His research interests and activities focus mainly on further developing learning opportunities through simulation.
Lelo, Joseph
Amref Flying Doctors
Nairobi, Kenya
Anaesthesiologist, Medical Director at AMREF Flying Doctors with interest in health economics and physiology. Has performed over 500 complex medical evacuations within Africa and across multiple continents
Lischke, Volker
Drk E.v. Generalsekretariat
Berlin, Germany
Retired medical director and head of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department with more than 40 years of experience in various areas of clinical and preclinical emergency medicine, anesthesiology, and intensive care. Over 30 years of experience in alpine terrestrial and helicopter supported mountain rescue, as well as helicopter emergency doctor. More than 55 years as a volunteer member of the mountain rescue service in the German Red Cross, in various functions. Medical director of the mountain rescue service in the German Red Cross.
López Remondes, David
TÜV Hessen
Darmstadt, Germany
David López Remondes M.Sc. B.Eng. is a Safety Engineer and Head of Certification Body at TÜV Hessen, a German accredited certification body. Prior to this position, he served as a Technical Director and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Technical Crew Member (HEMS-TC) on air rescue helicopters and participated in international medical repatriation missions aboard fixed-wing air ambulance aircraft. He also serves as a Lecturer in Rescue Engineering at several Universities of Applied Sciences. His professional expertise encompasses safety, crew resource, quality, and business continuity management within air rescue organizations.
Lossius, Hans Morten
Norwegian Air Ambulance
Oslo, Norway
Professor Hans Morten Lossius MD PhD, is a specialist in anaesthesiology and intensive care and has extensive clinical practice within prehospital critical care and air ambulance medicine. He is the past Secretary General of the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, professor of prehospital critical care at the University of Stavanger, Norway, and adjunct professor of prehospital critical care at the University of Aalborg, Denmark. Professor Lossius was from 2006 till 2015 responsible for building up the research and development activity I The Norwegian Air Ambulance, which today compass on average 25 Phd- students and 35 post-doc, senior researcher and academic positions. From 2015 to 2018 he held a Visiting Professorship of Emergency Medicine at Karolinska Institute, Sweden. In 2020 he received, as the first non-UK resident, an Honorary Fellowship in Immediate Medical Care at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Professor Lossius main research areas are acute trauma care, pre-hospital advanced airway management, pre-hospital stroke treatment, pre-hospital ultrasound diagnostics, and research method development in pre-hospital critical care. He has been and is involved in several international projects and conferences within this field.
Lynch, Shane
GCH Aviation
Christchurch, New Zealand
Shane Lynch is a Critical Care Flight Paramedic and Hoist Operator with GCH Aviation, delivering advanced pre hospital care and winch rescues across New Zealand’s South Island. An avid hunter, he values time outdoors with his family. His attendance at AirMed World Congress 2026 is supported by Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust, the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust and GCH Aviation.
Maibach, Malte-Jörn
DLR e.V.
Braunschweig, Germany
After finishing his studies as M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering at the TU Braunschweig in 2016, Malte-Jörn Maibach started his career as a project manager in the helicopter training simulation industry. For six years he is now working at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) as a researcher and group leader for the flight mechanics and handling qualities group in the helicopter department at the Institute of flight systems. He is currently researching the use of physiological measurement devices in helicopters to gain precise insights into pilots’ mental states and improve the accuracy of flight handling qualities information. Furthermore, he is conducting research on the utilization of commercial AR devices as visual assistance systems and is investigating the simulator fidelity requirements for offshore helicopter mission training.
May, Maximilian
ADAC Luftrettung
Weßling, Germany
Maximilian May is a project manager at ADAC Luftrettung in the strategy and project department. Within the innovative multicopter project, he is responsible for organizing VEMS trials and further operational issues. Mr. May has 20 years of project management experience and holds international certifications in project management and several academic degrees. He combines managerial, theoretical and in-field EMS experience as paramedic and incident commander.
Mattingsdal, Håvard
Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation
Oslo, Norway
Håvard Mattingsdal is a HEMS Technical Crew Member and PhD candidate at the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation. He is a registered nurse and EMT, with a Master’s degree in Risk and Safety Management and the Diploma in Mountain Medicine. His research focuses on workload and risk in helicopter rescue operations. He is also a volunteer rescue climber with the Norwegian Alpine Rescue Groups.
Matyja, Konrad
Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe
Warszawa, Poland
Doctor, specialist in Emergency Medicine. Polish Air Ambulance / Polish Medical Air Rescue – HEMS and FWAA doctor, coordinating doctor in Clinical Governance Dept., instructor in Akademia LPR (PERT, emergency obstertic and gynecology cases, NLS). Multiple chapters in prehospital medicine books (air transport, pediatric patient, emergency cases, severe burns, etc.). Doctor in pediatric trauma center. Privately – pilot and martial artist.
Meyer, Christian
Lft Airborne
Markdorf, Germany
Christian Meyer is CEO of LAKE FUSION Technologies and responsible for the entire operational business of the LFT Group. With over 25 years of experience as a senior program manager, Christian brings unparalleled expertise in safety-critical systems. His extensive career includes decades of work in global markets, specializing in LiDAR-based sensors and sensor data fusion solutions.
Miller, Andrew
DHART, Dartmouth Health Lebanon NH, USA
Andy is a Critical Care Flight Paramedic and Safety Manager with DHART Air Ambulance in the USA, with over 3000 missions during an 18-year career. With a long background in expeditions and remote patient care he focuses on HEMS survival training and aviation safety. He is an active ski patroller in NH and a faculty member of World Extreme Medicine, directing winter medicine courses.
Motomura, Tomokazu
Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital
Inzai, Japan
Tomokazu MOTOMURA, MD, PhD Tomokazu Motomura, MD, PhD, is a Lecturer in Emergency Medicine at Nippon Medical School/Chiba Hokusoh Hospital and Visiting Associate Professor at Chiba University’s Disaster Medicine Institute (2026–). A flight doctor specializing in trauma, disaster, and prehospital care, he leads the Chiba DMAT Section and develops D-Call Net, an automated physician-dispatch system for traffic accidents.
Nalwad, Shalini
Icatt Air Ambulance Services
Bangalore, India
Dr. Shalini Nalwad’s HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) work spans clinical practice, institutional leadership, and national policy influence, positioning her as one of India’s foremost authorities in the field. **Clinical Firsts and Deployments** Under ICATT Air Ambulance Services, which she founded in 2017, Dr. Nalwad led the deployment of India’s first HEMS helicopter during the Kerala Floods in April 2018 — a landmark moment for organized aeromedical rescue in the country. She also organized India’s first-ever HEMS drill, held in November 2016, laying early groundwork for standardized rotary-wing emergency response protocols. ICATT’s HEMS capabilities have since been deployed across a range of high-profile national contexts. This includes providing dedicated coverage for Formula 1 MotoGP events in Noida, and delivering HEMS support during the Election Commission of India’s Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections and General Elections, where fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets airlifted injured Army and security personnel from Jagdalpur and Raipur. She has also led aeromedical emergency coverage under the Government of Madhya Pradesh’s PMSHRI Air Ambulance Seva programme. **Institutional and Advisory Leadership** Dr. Nalwad chairs the HEMS Committee at the Rotary Wing Society of India, where she also serves as Advisor for Aviation Medicine — a role that places her at the center of national conversations on rotary-wing emergency medical policy and standards. **Training and Capacity Building** As Founder Director of FAM Education (Fellowship in Aviation Medicine), she created the world’s first structured programme to train “Aeromedical Commandos,” developed in collaboration with UK Helicopter Emergency Services. The four-module curriculum — three modules delivered in India and one in the UK — covers primary pre-hospital emergency medicine, retrieval techniques, inter-facility secondary transfers, and advanced procedures such as clamshell thoracotomy and perimortem caesarean section. To date, the programme has certified 12 doctors and 16 paramedics as Aeromedical Commandos, building a specialized cadre of HEMS-capable clinicians for India. **International Conference Contributions** Her HEMS expertise has been recognized on international platforms, including a speaking engagement on “HEMS for Developing Countries” in Singapore, where she addressed the specific operational and infrastructure challenges of building helicopter emergency medical response capacity in resource-constrained healthcare systems. Together, this body of work reflects a rare combination of hands-on clinical HEMS practice, program-building (training the next generation of aeromedical responders), and policy-level advocacy — establishing Dr. Nalwad as a pioneering figure in shaping India’s HEMS ecosystem from the ground up.
Nieuwkamp, Nadine
Rega Swiss Air Ambulance Kloten, Switzerland
Dr. Nadine Nieuwkamp is a Swiss senior physician in international fixed-wing air ambulance operations at Rega. Her background includes anaesthesiology, emergency medicine and aeromedical retrieval, with expertise in operational leadership, international patient repatriation and complex aeromedical transport systems.
Nurmi, Jouni
Helsinki University Hospital
Vantaa, Finland
HEMS physician and researcher in Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. The special interests include prehospital emergency anaesthesia and neuroprotection.
Ogino, Ryukoh
Mizushima Kyodo Hospital
Kurashiki, Japan
As one of the pioneers of the Doctor-Heli system in Japan, I served as a flight physician for more than 25 years beginning in 2001. During this time, I participated in the evolution of Doctor-Heli while helping train and mentor numerous flight physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel through the educational programs of the Japanese Society for Aeromedical Services (JSAS). My clinical and academic interests include trauma care, critical care medicine, HEMS, disaster medicine, motorsports, and traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, I have focused particularly on strengthening international collaboration in HEMS throughout Asia. As Chair of the International Committee of JSAS, I have been actively promoting academic exchange among Asian countries. In 2024, I co-organized the HEMS in Asia Workshop at the International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) in Taiwan. I am currently serving as Course Co-Director of the preconference workshop “HEMS in Asia” at AIRMED 2026 in Munich, where experts from several Asian countries will share their experiences and discuss future collaboration. I firmly believe that sharing knowledge and building international partnerships are essential for improving prehospital emergency care worldwide. I look forward to working with colleagues across the globe to advance HEMS, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to the future of emergency medicine.
Omori, Kazuhiko
Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital
Shizuoka, Japan
Kazuhiko Omori, MD, PhD, is Director of the Emergency Medical Center, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Japan, and Board Member of the Japan Association for Aeromedical Services (JAAS), chairing its Training and Medical Safety Committees. With 2,500+ HEMS missions and experience in Germany, Denmark, and London, his 100+ publications span prehospital trauma and HEMS education.
Pangma, Atchariy
Independent Consultant
Klongluang, Thailand
Flt.Lt.Dr.Atchariya Pangma is a former Secretary-General of the National Institute for Emergency Medicine, Thailand, and an expert in aviation medicine and prehospital emergency medicine. He was one of the founding members of the Thai Sky Doctor service, Thailand’s public aeromedical transport service. His contributions to the Thai Sky Doctor Service over more than 15 years led to its successful development nationwide. He completed his eight-year term as Secretary-General in 2025 and now serves as a consultant to universities, local administrative organizations, and the Thai Red Cross Society, continuing his contributions to HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services).
Pietsch, Urs
Kantonsspital St Gallen & Rega
St Gallen, Switzerland
Urs is a board-certified anesthesiologist and intensivist with extensive experience in Swiss air rescue, serving as both a prehospital and intensive care physician. He currently holds the position of Deputy Head of Intensive Care Medicine at the Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland. Alongside his clinical work, Urs has pursued an academic career with a research focus on prehospital airway management, alpine air rescue, simulation in emergency medical services (EMS), and critical care. He is deeply committed to patient safety and to advancing high-quality prehospital care in extreme environments—both through his research and his clinical practice.
Plaum, Johannes
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland
Donauwörth, Germany
Johannes Plaum has been leading the Research & Technology program at Airbus Helicopters in Germany since 2017, where he and his team develop next-generation helicopter technologies. An aerospace engineer by trade, he brings nearly three decades of professional experience in helicopter development to the table. His career began in 1998 at Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) in the flight test department. This was followed by more than ten years of technical project management in military and civil helicopter programs, including a role as the Chief Engineer responsible for the H135 model.
Pracz, Krystian
DRF Stiftung Luftrettung
Filderstadt, Germany
Dr. Krystian Pracz is a renowned leader in international management, corporate strategy, and air rescue, with over 30 years of experience in healthcare, academia, and consulting. He began as a paramedic with the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V., later earning a doctorate in physics from the University of Cologne, where he also teaches. Following his academic achievements, Dr. Pracz moved into management and technology consulting, later advancing to top executive roles in prominent international companies, including Capgemini, Volkswagen, Deutsche Telekom, and Ernst & Young. His core expertise includes corporate development and strategy, people and organization, as well as market and portfolio development. He has served as CEO, managing director, and managing partner throughout his executive career. He started at DRF Luftrettung in 2017 as Chairman of the Executive Board. Under his leadership, the organization has prioritized digitalization, further improved its high-quality standards, modernized the fleet to state of the art, expanded the range of services and driven innovation in the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) sector.
Prückner, Stephan
Inm Institut Für Notfallmedizin uund Medizinmanagement
Munich, Germany
Queen, Stephanie
Air Methods, Llc
Greenwood Village, USA
Dr. Stephanie Queen serves as Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Services at Air Methods Corporation, the nation’s largest air medical transport company operating more than 300 bases across 48 states. With 25 years of healthcare experience and 16 years in executive leadership, Dr. Queen brings a rare combination of deep clinical expertise, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to the people who deliver care in the most critical moments. Her clinical foundation spans pediatric critical care, emergency medical services, and air medical critical care giving her a breadth of perspective that informs every dimension of her leadership. Dr. Queen holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University, and her BSN from Ohio University. Dr. Queen is perhaps best known for her pioneering work in clinician mental health and workforce resilience. She founded the SIREN program at Air Methods a peer-to-peer support initiative designed to address the emotional and psychological demands carried by frontline crews and healthcare employees. Her work in this space has been published nationally and presented at conferences across the country, positioning her as a recognized voice in the movement to prioritize the mental health of those who serve on the front lines of care. At the intersection of clinical excellence, operational leadership, and human-centered culture, Dr. Queen leads with both conviction and compassion driven by the belief that when you take care of the people delivering care, they can take care of everyone else.
Quisling, Jason
Air Methods, Llc
Aurora, USA
Jason Quisling has been flying commercially for more than 35 years in both fixed-wing and rotorcraft. For the last 2 decades he has been working in the Helicopter Air Ambulance field, and currently serves as the Senior Vice President for Air Methods, LLC; overseeing all flight operations, the Operational Control Center, the communications center (AirCom), over 1200 pilots, and a fleet of 400 aircraft. Passionate about safety, he is an NTSB trained accident investigator, has been a frequent lecturer on aviation human factors and crew resource management (CRM), participated on Aviation Rule-making Committee work groups, and has provided testimony as an expert witness. Quisling also volunteers as an active member of the US Helicopter Safety Team Steering Committee, is an executive committee member on the Air Medical Operators Association Board and participates on other industry safety committees.
Redetzky, Jörg
Drf Stiftung Luftrettung
Filderstadt, Germany
Reese, Erin
CAMTS
Sandy Springs, USA
Erin Reese, MBA, RN, CACO, CMTE, is Associate Executive Director of CAMTS, the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. She has more than 20 years of experience in air and ground medical transport, having served as a flight nurse, clinical manager, program director, and CEO of a nonprofit air medical program.
Reifferscheid, Florian
Drf Stiftung Luftrettung
Filderstadt, Germany
Dr Florian Reifferscheid is a specialist in anaesthesia and an emergency physician. He is Head of Medical Operations at DRF Stiftung Luftrettung gGmbH. He also works as a senior registrar in pre-hospital emergency medicine at the University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus. He is also Chairman of the Federal Association of German Emergency Doctors’ Working Groups and a member of the editorial board of the specialist journal NOTARZT.
Reis Miranda, Dinis
Erasmus University Medical Center
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Dinis is a critical care anesthesiologist working at the CardioThoracic ICU in the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He is ECMO director of the Adult ICU. He divides his time at the ICU with his work as a physician at the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), also based in Rotterdam. He is involved in ECMO since 2006 and introduced mobilization of vvECMO and vaECMO. In the ErasmusMC he trained cardiothoracic intensivists to perform ECPR, resulting in an in-house ECPR team 24/7. He also trained the HEMS teams (consisting of anesthesiologists and trauma surgeons) in the Netherlands to perform prehospital ECPR, covering now the entire nation. This is now known as the On-Scene trial. Outside of work, he does triathlons and loves to go sailing.
Rognås, Leif
Danish Air Ambulance Aarhus, Denmark
Leif is a consultant anaesthesiologist at Aarhus University Hospital and a HEMS Consultant and Base Clinical Lead with the Danish Air Ambulance where he also serves as Head of Medical Development. He holds a PhD in pre-hospital advanced airway management, has published more than 40 papers on different aspects of pre-hospital care and for more than 15 years he has been heavily involved in pre-hospital simulation-based education and training. Leif leads the group of HEMS consultants organising the monthly online “Coffee and Cases” meatings with the Danish Air Ambulance and he his currently working with European colleagues in the “European Governance Alliance in HEMS” to develop a European forum for case disscusions and joint learning. Together with HEMS psychologist Karina Damsgaard he is also working on developing “The Compassionate Debrief”.
Schild, Alexander
Polizeifliegerstaffel Hessen Egelsbach, Germany
Head of Flight OPS of the Police Air Support Unit Hessen since 2012 Police Helicopter Pilot since 2003, current lizenz & rating ATPL (H) EC 145 Police Officer since 1997
Schroth, Michael
Cnopfsche Kinderklinik
Nuernberg, Germany
Professor, MD, born in 1968; specialist in Pediatrics, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine. Studied at Heidelberg University (Heidelberg/Mannheim campus) and in Paris at the Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre. Chief Physician and Medical Director of the Cnopf Children’s Hospital in Nuremberg, Germany. Emergency physician, pediatric emergency physician and former chief emergency physician; senior pediatric physician for the ADAC Ambulance Service; former spokesperson for the DIVI section “Neonatal Emergency Medicine.”
Schwarzenberger, Klaus
ÖAMTC Air Rescue
Vienna, Austria
Klaus is Chief Operating Officer and Accountable Manager of ÖAMTC Air Rescue. He is a seasoned Flight Paramedic and brings an Entrepreneurial Background to his position at ÖAMTC. He has a background in Software Engineering and Management and served as CTO of a multi-national Software Company before his current position.
Schwietring, Jens
ADAC Luftrettung - Medical Department
Weßling, Germany
specialist in anaesthesiology, intensive care medicine, emergency medicine, palliative care; LTCol on reserve; long contribution in the field of prehospital emergency medicine, disaster management
Shimanski, Charley
Flight For Life
Evergreen, USA
Charley Shimanski is a 35-year veteran of Alpine Rescue Team, Past President of the ICAR Air Rescue Commission, Mountain Rescue Program Coordinator for Flight for Life Colorado and former Director of Training for Air Rescue Systems. A recognized helicopter rescue educator, Charley is the author of all of the USA Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) Helicopter rescue training guidebooks.
Smiddy, Declan
Wingspan Aviation Christchurch, New Zealand
Declan Smiddy – Bio for AirMed World Congress 2026 Declan Smiddy is a senior aviation and emergency medical services leader with more than 35 years’ experience across aero‑medical operations, engineering & maintenance and complex, safety‑critical environments. Based in New Zealand, he most recently led national operations for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services, fixed‑wing medivac, and the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service, overseeing a workforce of more than 150 specialists delivering time‑critical rescue and retrieval missions across New Zealand and the Pacific. Declan has held executive responsibility for rotary and fixed‑wing air ambulance operations, fleet modernisation, clinical transport capability, and aviation regulatory compliance. He recently led the introduction of a new HEMS fleet of Airbus H145 helicopters and an H145 flight simulator, driving significant advances in pilot training, engineering capability, and mission readiness. As CEO of GCH Aviation Engineering, he held legal accountability under New Zealand Civil Aviation Rules for airworthiness, safety management, and maintenance standards, working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority, Health New Zealand, and multiple emergency service agencies. His leadership has strengthened national aero‑medical capability through enhanced safety systems, multi‑agency coordination, and operational excellence frameworks. Declan’s international career includes senior technical and fleet management roles with Qatar Airways, Qatar Executive, Emirates, Jetstar, and British Airways, where he supported global operations. He has also served as Manager Aeronautical Services at the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, representing the country at ICAO and contributing to national airspace modernisation initiatives. A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, Declan brings deep expertise in aviation governance, emergency response, and the integration of clinical and aviation systems to improve patient outcomes. He severed on Health New Zealand’s Clinical Technical Advisory Group, providing aviation insight to national emergency medical transport strategy and service design.
Sobczyk, Michal
Polish Medical Air Rescue Warszawa, Poland
I’m an emergency physitian working for Polish Medical Air Rescue as HEMS & Air Ambulance doctor. As an ACRM trainer I proudly represent my National Operator in the EHAC Working Group. As aeromedical examiner I belong to Austrian Aeromedical Society. I’m also researcher and academic teacher on Warsaw Medical University. In the spare time I’m a sailplane pilot and aviation enthusiast.
Sohl, Maik
ERC-System GmbH
Ottobrunn, Germany
Maik Sohl is Vice President Business Development, Partnerships & Sales at ERC System, an aerospace startup that develops electrified VTOL aircraft for medical and passenger transport as well as logistics applications. In the past, Maik has led several business development and market launch projects at Volocopter, where he delivered a first eVTOL to Saudi-Arabia and advanced the implementation of multicopters in the German HEMS environment.
Soliz, Steve
Bell Textron
Fort Worth, USA
Steve Soliz MBA, RN, BSN serves as the EMS Segment Manager for Bell and has worked in the air evacuation industry since 1988. Steve plays an integral role in supporting Bell’s sales team as a subject matter expert in air ambulance operations and has both line and leadership experience as a civilian and military flight nurse to bridge the gap between customer needs and Bell solutions. Steve started his aviation career in the late-1980s serving in the U.S. Air Force as a flight medic, eventually becoming a flight nurse. Through the years, he has worked as a flight nurse instructor, examiner, Chief Nurse, Director of Operations and Squadron Commander. He worked as a pediatric transport nurse and was an essential part of exponential growth of a Texas Bell 206 EMS program in the early 2000’s. He has helped develop military and civilian doctrine and served for six years as the President of the Texas Association of Air Medical Services. Steve was appointed to the Texas Governor’s EMS and Trauma Council Air Medical Committee and the Disaster and Emergency Planning Committee. Steve earned his BS in Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1992 and his MBA in Leadership at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2008. He currently serves as a Board member of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), Vertical Aviation International (VAI) Air Ambulance Industry Advisory Council member and European Helicopter Association (EHA) Helicopter EMS Working Group member.
Sollid, Stephen
Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation
Oslo, Norway
Stephen J. M. Sollid, PhD, is Secretary General of the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation and Professor of Prehospital Critical Care at the University of Stavanger. He is a consultant anaesthesiologist with extensive experience in HEMS operations, patient safety, major incidents, research, and simulation-based training.
Stanberry, Mike
Metro Aviation
Shreveport, USA
Mike Stanberry is the Founder of Metro Aviation and Outerlink. He has served as Metro’s President and CEO since the company’s inception in 1982. Mike has remained committed to a simple, involved management style beginning with Metro’s first customer. This basic business practice has been the key to Metro’s success as an international leader in the air medical industry. Mike’s undying persistence with regard to safety is personified in his mantra: “For safety to exist, it must be a way of life.” His dedication to safety was recognized by industry leaders as the recipient of the JIM CHARLSON AWARD. Mike was honored with this award, which recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the overall enhancement, development or promotion of aviation and aviation safety within the air medical transport community, at the Air Medical Transport Conference in October 2009. Mike Stanberry is not only committed to safety within Metro Aviation, but throughout the aviation industry. As the previous Chairman of the Board for the Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), he continues to work with a diverse group of aviation operators to set the industry standard for safe air medical transportation. AMOA is committed to providing the highest level of safety in the air medical industry by implementing technology, procedures and operating systems that will help ensure the continued safe and effective operation of air medical services. Mike is a graduate of Louisiana State University and has held a private pilot’s license since 1973
Stephens, Christopher
UTHealth McGovern Medical School
Houston, USA
LTC Christopher T. Stephens, MD, FAEMS After serving as a paramedic for several years in Houston, Texas, Dr. Stephens graduated from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Medicine. Upon finishing his Anesthesiology residency at UTMB, he completed a Trauma Anesthesiology Fellowship at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he later joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology. Dr. Stephens was the director of advanced airway training for the Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper Flight Paramedics and served as a flight physician with oversight of their airway program. He then moved back to his home state of Texas to join the faculty at UT Houston McGovern Medical School as an Associate Professor, where he was appointed director of Memorial Hermann Life Flight airway training for air crew members. While at UT Houston McGovern, he completed an Emergency Medical Services Fellowship in the Department of Emergency Medicine and is the medical director for Houston area fire departments. Dr. Stephens is currently a Professor of Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine at UT Houston, Chief of Trauma Anesthesiology, Fellowship Program Director, and board certified in Anesthesiology and Emergency Medical Services. Furthermore, he serves as an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. and is the Flight Surgeon for the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade. LTC (Dr.) Stephens has multiple combat deployments serving as the Flight Surgeon for U.S. Army MEDEVAC helicopter units and has flown on multiple combat aviation missions. He continues to train the critical care flight paramedics for both stateside and overseas missions. Dr. Stephens is a national trauma resuscitation and airway management expert, with over 30 years of pre-hospital and trauma experience. He is also a Professor of Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine, with numerous publications regarding airway and resuscitation medicine. Dr. Stephens was inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Emergency Medical Services in 2021.
Stolz, Tarek
Institute Ai Safty & Security
Sankt Augustin, Germany
I am a research associate at the Institute for AI Safety & Security at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). My research focuses on securing AI systems against attacks on transportation systems, with a particular emphasis on image and video transmission. In addition, I hold a degree in computer science from RWTH Aachen University and co-founded one of the fastest-growing legal tech AI startups.
Stuever, Mary
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
Landstuhl, Germany
Colonel, Chief Medical Officer, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Trauma Surgeon and Surgical Critical Care, Active Duty Air Force
Stuhr, Markus
Bg Klinikum Hamburg Hamburg, Germany
Deputy Chief; Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine; BG Klinikum Hamburg Specialist in Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2024 Habilitation Universität zu Lübeck
Šverko Zinaić, Petra
Institute Of Emergency Medicine Primorje Gorski Kotar County
Rijeka, Croatia
Specialist in Emergency Medicine with 12 years of experience at the Emergency Department, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, with a focus on critically ill and trauma patients. Currently working in prehospital emergency medical services and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in Croatia. Since 2015, I worked as a Teaching Assistant at the Department of Anesthesiology, Reanimatology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, participating in teaching within the course “Clinical Skills Simulation.” Since 2014, I have been an Instructor in Advanced Life Support (ALS) and an Instructor of the European Trauma Course (ETC).
Tal-Or, Eran
Zefat Academic College Zefat, Israel
Dr. Eran Tal-Or is a Specialist in Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine with a Master’s Degree in Health Administration. Dr. Eran Tal-Or is the director of the Helmsley Institute for Simulation at Zefad Academic College Dr. Tal-Or is a member of the Disaster Preparedness Committee of the Israeli Ministry of Health, which is responsible on the national level for preparing hospitals for mass-casualty events using an all-hazards approach. This includes writing and implementing standardized protocols for potential CBERNE events throughout Israel. Dr. Tal-Or is a member of the committee that is responsible for preparing the health system to earthquakes Dr. Tal-Or was the Director of the Emergency Department at Pade-Poria Medical Center in Israel until the end of March 2023. He also serves as the Director of Hospital Disaster Preparedness. Dr. Tal-Or was the chairman of the Israeli Emergency Medicine Association for four years Dr. Tal-Or is a Lecturer at Bar-Ilan University in the Faculty of Medicine in Safed and is responsible for teaching emergency and trauma medicine. Dr. Tal-Or started his career as a paramedic and continued for 28 years as a physician in the elite helicopter search-and-rescue unit of the Israeli Air Force, known as 669. He participated in numerous missions, including rescues from foreign countries. In addition, he participated in aid expeditions to disaster areas such as those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and India, as well as the Naples earthquake. He also served as the Director of Hospital Triage during the Israeli Field Hospital mission to the earthquake in Nepal in 2015. Dr. Tal-Or served on the steering committee for establishing the simulation center at Sheba Medical Center. He has been involved in medical simulation over the years. Eran lives in the north of Israel, is the father of four children and one grandson. Dr. Tal-Or was part of the organizing committee of IPRED starting with the first conference until today.
Tancabel Macinkovic, Ana
Institute For Emergency Medicine Of The Primorje-gorski Kotar County
Rijeka, Croatia
Dr. Ana Tancabel Mačinković is an Emergency Medicine Specialist and HEMS physician at the Rijeka Base, Croatia, with 15 years of clinical experience in both hospital and prehospital emergency medicine. She has been part of the national HEMS programme since its launch in 2024. Alongside her operational work, she serves as Head of the Education Centre at the Institute of Emergency Medicine of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Rijeka School of Medicine. Her professional interests include prehospital critical care, aeromedical medicine, simulation-based education, and the development of emergency medical systems.
Thimm, Stefan
Bundesverband Windenergie Offshore
Berlin, Germany
Stefan Thimm has been Managing Director of the Bundesverband der Windenergie Offshore e.V. since 1 January 2020. (BWO). Before joining the Association of German Offshore Wind Farm Operators, Stefan Thimm had been with the German Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) since 2002 – since 2009 as head of the ‘Renewable Energies’ department. Stefan Thimm studied political science and history at the University of Bonn.
Treadwell, Denise
AirMed International
Birmingham, USA
Denise serves as President of AirMed International, leading global air medical transport operations within the Global Medical Response family. With more than 25 years at AirMed and over three decades in healthcare, she is recognized for her expertise in complex international operations and patient-centered transport solutions.ernational, LLC
Tungesvik, Vegard
Norwegian Air Ambulance
Nordbyhagen, Norway
I am a helicopter pilot and Aviation Crew Resource Management instructor with the Norwegian Air Ambulance. I hold an Executive MBA and my professional background includes military aviation, operational flying, safety, human factors, and crew cooperation.
Turi, Péter
Trustair Aviation
Budapest, Hungary
Medical Aviation Expert, International Air Ambulance & HEMS Strategist // 30 years in Medical Aviation. Former Managing Director of the newly developed Hungarian HEMS company, founder and CEO of TrustAir Aviation, a truly European fixed wing air ambulance provider. Consultant and advisor in several international medical aviation projects. Publisher of medical textbooks, innovator and entrepreneur in the field of strategy, operations & transformation.
Tye, Simon
Avincis Aviation Group Loures, Portugal
Simon Tye Group Chief Commercial Officer, Avincis Group Simon Tye is the Group Chief Commercial Officer at Avincis Group, offering more than 15 years of international senior leadership experience in aviation and emergency medical services globally. His reputation for rapid revenue growth in complex, business critical environments is strengthened by his strategic, customer-centric delivery. Simon’s extensive career as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, spanning almost three decades, as well as holding chief pilot and global flight operations and SAR Standards positions, reinforces his C-Suite executive position at the leading and largest provider of emergency aerial services in Europe. Prior to this, Simon developed and executed the market growth, contract win and project implementation strategy for the Bristow Group Government SAR business, delivering more than $6bn worth of contracts through incremental and retention contract wins. His global experience and unique, multi-disciplinary background across flight operations, business development and commercial, reinforces Simon’s strong business analytic and financial acumen. Underpinned by his BSc in Mathematics and Computing Science from the University of Glasgow. Simon is passionate about driving strategic growth through developing high-performing teams and proactively establishing and strengthening relationships.
Vadera, Bettina
AMREF Flying Doctors
Nairobi, Kenya
Chief Medical Advisor, AMREF Flying Doctors. Board Member and Auditor, European Aeromedical Institute (EURAMI). With a specialization in emergency/ rescue medicine and a diploma in tropical medicine from Germany, Bettina served AMREF Flying Doctors in Nairobi, Kenya, for over 20 years as a Flight Physician, Medical Director, and from 2011 to 2019 as Chief Executive Officer. Her work involved strategic, operational, logistical, and safety considerations, including the challenges of cross-border operations, remote evacuations, and long-distance patient repatriation. As a result, she gained extensive aeromedical patient transport experience in resource-constrained and high-risk environments across Africa. Under her executive leadership, AMREF Flying Doctors transitioned from turboprop to jet operations, including the acquisition of its first jet aircraft, thereby enabling long-range, intercontinental intensive care air ambulance capability. AMREF Flying Doctors evolved from a medical outreach program of the humanitarian organization Amref Health Africa, into an award-winning, EURAMI-accredited air ambulance provider with local and intercontinental intensive-care patient transport capabilities over the course of her tenure. Bettina continues to support AMREF Flying Doctors in an advisory capacity and serves the European Aeromedical Institute (EURAMI) as an auditor and board member.
Veldman, Alex
Unicair
Wiesbaden, Germany
Alex is a paediatrician, neonatologist and paediatric cardiologist. He serves as Medical Director of Unicair, one of Europe’s main international fixed wing aeromedical services, overseeing more than 1000 air ambulance missions per annum. Additionally, Alex is holding academic teaching and research appointments at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia and J.Liebig University, Gießen, Germany.
Voelckel, Wolfgang
Oeamtc Air Rescue
Wien, Austria
Prof. Wolfgang Voelckel, M.D., M.Sc., D.E.A.A. Anesthesiologist & intensivist, senior lecturer emergency medicine Medical Director OEAMTC Air Rescue Austria (2000-current) Medical Director and Head Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine AUVA Trauma Center Salzburg (2009-current) Spokesman Trauma Network Salzburg (2014-26) Affiliations: Assoc Professor University of Stavanger, Norway Research interests: emergency medicine, trauma
Volkert, Andreas
DLR e.V.
Braunschweig, Germany
Wakler, Eoin
Airbus Helicopters
Donauwörth, Germany
Advanced Paramedic Practitioner with over 20 years in pre-hospital emergency care, including 10 years as a flight paramedic on London’s Air Ambulance. Now employee at AH in Germany
Waters, Davd
Health Standards Aotearoa Wellington, New Zealand
Current Role David is the CEO of Health Standards Aotearoa New Zealand which is a national body responsible for the design, development, and continuous review of health service standards across Aotearoa. Our purpose is to enhance equity, quality, and safety in the delivery of health services through a cohesive and forward-looking standards framework that reflects the unique needs of Aotearoa’s NZ people. David is also a Director of the DAA Group and leads a number of key health standard projects in his role as Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Chair of the Australian Capital Territories (ACT) rescue helicopter service (ACT & SE NSW Aero medical Service Ltd). Previous Roles Chief Executive Council of Ambulance Authorities – Adelaide, Australia Chief Executive Ambulance New Zealand – Wellington, New Zealand President Aeromedical Society of Australasia – Sydney, Australia Board Member Global Resuscitation Alliance – Global Leadership HSANZ started with a vision to transform the healthcare system by designing and developing innovative health service standards. With over three decades of experience in shaping policy, quality frameworks, and system-wide health care reforms, our team is committed to making a positive impact on the health sector. We have a track record of success in working with key clients and publishing standards that have improved the quality and safety of health care services in New Zealand. David Waters established HSANZ in 2024. David has extensive experience developing health care related standards over several decades, having worked with Standards New Zealand and Standards Australia in a variety of project management roles and expert committee functions.
Weber, Wibke
ADAC Luftrettung gGmbH
Weßling, Germany
CIO of ADAC Luftrettung gGmbH
Wenzel, Volker
Friedrichshafen Regional Medical Center
Friedrichshafen, Germany
Medical School in Hannover, Germany and Gainesville, Florida Residency in Ulm, Germany and Innsbruck, Austria Vice Chairman of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Innsbruck Medical University for 8 years Chairman of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Friedrichshafen Regional Medical Center, Germany since 9 years Author / Co-author of 355 Medline publications (11,953 citations, h-index 54), 5 books edited Successful mentoring of 46 M.D., and 10 Ph.D. thesis projects
Wilson, Keith
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance
Southampton, UK
Keith Wilson Director of Income and Engagement, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Keith Wilson is Director of Income and Engagement at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, where he leads the charity’s marketing, development and supporter engagement activity. Since joining in 2021, he has played a key role in strengthening income generation and shaping a collaborative, values-driven approach to engaging supporters. With over 20 years’ experience in the charity and not-for-profit sector, Keith has worked across a diverse range of organisations, including in crime reduction, economic development, the arts, and children’s hospice care. His career has focused on building meaningful connections with supporters and developing innovative approaches to fundraising and engagement. Keith is a regular speaker within the sector and is particularly interested in how strong organisational culture can unlock performance, collaboration and long-term impact.
Wittmann, Gerhard
ADAC HEMS Academy
Weßling, Germany
Gerhard Wittmann is a former Head of Flight Operations at ADAC Air Rescue with almost four decades of experience in helicopter operations, HEMS and aviation safety. After serving as a helicopter pilot with the Bavarian Police Air Support Unit (1987–1992), he joined ADAC Air Rescue, where he spent more than 30 years in operational and leadership roles. Appointed Head of Flight Operations in 2009, he was responsible for the operational management of one of Europe’s leading HEMS organisations, overseeing flight operations, safety management and operational standards. Today, Gerhard supports the ADAC HEMS Academy and contributes to the development of AirMed, fostering international collaboration and professional exchange among HEMS operators, regulators, manufacturers and medical experts. He is recognised for his long-standing commitment to aviation safety and was awarded the Bergwacht Edelweiß in 2024 for his contribution to cooperation between mountain rescue and air rescue.
Ziehr, Sabrina
DRF Stiftung Luftrettung
Filderstadt, Germany
Dr. Sabrina Ziehr is a senior social scientist in the field of personal development, human factors and resilience with the focus on threat prevention and crisis management. She works as head of project in resilience at the DRF Luftrettung and as a lecturer and project manager at the Department of Disaster Prevention & Crisis Management (BZGK) at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences.
Zierke, Oliver
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
Hamburg, Germany
Research associate at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Department of Aerospace Psychology in Hamburg Since 1998 Personnel selection for aviation professions Research interests: Psychological diagnostics, computer based testing, engineering psychology