Executive Board

Governance and Strategic Oversight

The Executive Board sets IFALPA’s strategic direction and leads its global advocacy, ensuring the pilot perspective is represented at the highest levels of international aviation.

In close collaboration with Member Associations, the Board drives policy engagement, fosters international cooperation, and oversees initiatives that advance safety, security, and labour standards across the industry. It also provides strategic oversight of the Technical, Professional, and Government Affairs Committees, ensuring alignment with IFALPA’s priorities.

Acting collectively, the Board oversees financial performance, budgeting, and risk management, while establishing governance frameworks and ensuring compliance with the Association’s by-laws, resolutions, and applicable regulations.

The Board is composed of ten representatives from each of IFALPA’s five regions, all serving in a voluntary capacity while maintaining active careers as professional pilots. This direct operational experience ensures the Board’s work remains grounded, practical, and relevant.

Meet the Board

Capt. Ron Hay

President

Captain Hay flies the A350 for Delta Air Lines, based in Los Angeles. He has been an instructor and line pilot for over 35 years with four different airlines. He has served IFALPA as EVP AMF, RVP US/CEP, and as Negotiations Seminar instructor. At ALPA-I, Captain Hay negotiated several pilot contracts to include the merger of Northwest and Delta Air Lines. He has also served as a local council representative, as well as on multiple committees including Merger, Grievance, Strategic Planning, and Government Affairs.

Capt. Akseli Meskanen

Deputy President

Akseli Meskanen has been a Finnair pilot since 2006 and is currently an A350 Captain. He served as President of the Finnish Pilots’ Association (2019–2024) and chaired IFALPA’s Professional and Government Affairs Committee. At the Finnair Pilots’ Association, he was a Council Member for 10 years and Board Member for International Affairs for 6. He also led the Oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition as Chair.

Capt. Omar Gabriel Garcia Vázquez

Executive Vice-President Administration, Membership, and Finance (EVP AMF)

Captain Omar Gabriel García Vázquez has been a pilot with Grupo Aeromexico since 2006 and is currently a B737 Captain. Within ASPA, he has served as Vice President and President of the Savings Trust, as well as Secretary of Minutes and Agreements as the association’s notary. In the Colegio de Pilotos Aviadores de México, he held the roles of Director of Operations and Technical Director.

Capt. Stacey Jackson

Executive Vice-President Technical & Safety Standards (EVP TSS)

Captain Jackson flies B737s NG/MAX for WestJet, based in Toronto, Canada. She is an IFALPA-Accredited Accident Investigator, an Accident Investigation course Instructor and a member of the Accident Investigation Board (AIB) for ALPA International. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the Accident Investigation and Response Committee for the WestJet ALPA MEC. She is a Subject Matter Expert in Human Factors and is completing a PhD in Aerospace with a focus in emergency egress and cabin safety centered design.

Capt. Kevin Judkins

Executive Vice-President Professional & Government Affairs (EVP PGA)

Captain Judkins flies the B777 for British Airways. Active in international pilot affairs since 2006 when he became a Union Representative for BALPA, Kevin served as Vice-Chair of the British Airways Company Council (BACC) between 2006-2012 and Chairman between 2012-16. He served as chair of the OCCC between 2018-2021.

Capt. Rola Hoteit

Executive Vice-President Africa & Middle East (AFI/MID)

Captain Rola Hoteit has been flying the A330 and A320 for Middle East Airlines, the Lebanese national carrier, for nearly 25 years. Based in Beirut, Captain Hoteit served as IFALPA Regional Vice President MID/East for 12 years. She is a prominent advocate for gender equality in aviation in the region, actively promoting women’s rights through public speaking as an ambassador for several national and international NGOs.

Capt. Jaffar Hassan

Executive Vice-President Asia & Pacific (APAC)

Captain Hassan has flown the B747, B777, A310, A330, A350, and is currently flying the A380. He is a member of The Airline Pilots’ Association Singapore (ALPA-S) and is also an Instructor Pilot on the Airbus A380 at Singapore Airlines.

Capt. Gregg Hurley

Executive Vice-President Caribbean & North America (CAR/NAM)

Captain Hurley has 29 years of service with Delta Air Lines and is currently a Boeing 764 Captain. He formerly served as LEC Representative and two-term Delta MEC Executive Administrator. He is currently the International Affairs Coordinator for ALPA-I and has contributed 31 years to the Professional Standards program.

Capt. Paul Reuter

Executive Vice-President Europe (EUR)

An airline pilot for nearly three decades, Paul Reuter is currently Captain on the B737 and B738 for Luxair. He has served as president of ALPL, and on the Board of Directors at Luxair. Capt. Reuter is also VP at the European Cockpit Association, Chair of EPPSI (the European Pilot Peer Support Initiative), and an IFALPA Accredited Accident Investigator. Paul was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 2021.

Capt. Daniel Bianco

Executive Vice-President South America (SAM)

Captain Bianco has been working for Aerolineas Argentinas for over 20 years. He is currently Captain on the A330 fleet and has been a flight instructor for both pilots and cabin crews. Captain Bianco is the FESPLA´s General Coordinator and a member of the ITF Pilot Committee.