Alcinda Pereira becomes first woman to lead AFBAA

Alcinda Pereira, co-founder of Angola’s successful Bestfly, has been named as Chair –  becoming the first female to take that role in the association’s history.

Execujet’s  Gavin Kiggen, becomes vice-chair and treasurer.  

Outgoing chair, Nick Fadugba said he was pleased to handover to a strong leadership team “which should drive the Association to greater heights,” he said.

Outgoing vice-chair and treasurer J P Fourie said the organisation was now in a stronger financial position and  AfBAA had been restructured for future growth. “Key focus areas have been to build relationships with African and international Civil Aviation Authorities; grow AfBAA’s membership and improve aviation safety in Africa’s business and general aviation industry. “In this regard, establishing closer links with the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) which promotes the IS-BAH and IS-BAO air safety programmes, has been a major goal,” he said.

Pereira brings with her extensive experience as a co-Founder of BestFly Angola, a business aviation operator and ground handling service, together with her international experience from NetJets Europe and EXXON where she worked as chief of department.

Kiggen is a highly experienced industry professional with over 34 years’ experience in all facets of aviation. After completing his military service, he started his aviation career at South African Airways in1989 where he studied as an aircraft engineer. He flew for many of South Africa’s major commercial airlines such as British Airways/Comair, Safair and Nationwide Airlines between 1999 and 2008. In 2008, he joined ExecuJet’s flight operations department as aviation services manager and in 2009 became flight operations manager.

In 2014, he was promoted to flight operations director - Africa , then director of aviation for Africa and in November, 2017, to his current role of  vice president, Africa.