Expert at AVSEC symposium: Need to rethink security approaches

DUBAI: The Covid-19 pandemic has presented an opportunity to rethink approaches to aviation security and update the strategies, a top global aviation expert said.
Juan Salazar, General of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), said there was a need to stay flexible and responsive as international air transport recovers to redefine itself while threats continue to evolve.
Salazar was speaking at the 5th edition of the AVSEC Global Symposium, which started on Sunday and brought together globally recognized security experts, local and international government officials, policymakers and high-caliber professionals from across the aviation security industry.
The three-day Symposium, opened by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group, will host 35 speakers and over 700 delegates from more than 50 countries.
Salazar said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges, and taught us new lessons, driving us to adapt and evolve to maintain secure operations under very demanding circumstances.”
This edition of AVSEC highlights ICAO’s ‘Year of Security Culture’, which seeks to holistically promote security across all aspects of aviation operations as the industry recovers.
AVSEC 2021 is hosting 38 engaging sessions and workshops that will highlight current topics in aviation security, such as environmental security, managing fraud risk, wildlife trafficking, cargo and K9 security, innovation in law enforcement, and more.
Robert Courts, United Kingdom Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the Department of Transport, said, “Out of adversity was the opportunity to work together, and that international cooperation was vital to maintain safety in the skies.”
He said “security culture’ has remained a common theme this year, and “it amplifies and complements existing security measures and underpins everything we do”.
Dr Abdullah Al Hashimi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates Group Security (EGS), said the AVSEC Global Symposium organized by EGS has become synonymous with knowledge sharing, inspiring new ideas and connecting minds across the industry.
“This year, by partnering with Dubai Expo 2020 and other leading aviation organizations, we have ensured that even with the current challenges the world faces, our event remains relevant and impactful,” he said.
The event’s gala dinner will include the Excellence Awards, which recognize individuals who have demonstrated outstanding performance in their roles, and organizations for significant advancements and contributions to the global aviation security industry.
Also, 12 diverse workshops ranging from cybersecurity, future of AI, to modeling risk management will be held for the attendees during the last day of the Symposium, wrapping up an action-packed event. Delegates will also be able to visit Expo 2020 Dubai during the event, to round off their Dubai experience.
Organized by Emirates Group Security, AVSEC Global 2021 is being held from 3-5 October in Dubai. Held since 2013, the AVSEC Global Symposium is one of the most significant aviation security events in the region and one of the biggest globally.
Past editions of the event have helped bolster discussions around sensitive but essential topics like human trafficking, cybersecurity threats in aviation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), integrating blockchain technology in the aviation supply chain, challenging and shifting the way the industry approaches these issues.