PEOPLE
Our Team
LEI Zheng

Dr Zheng Lei
President

Dr Zheng Lei is the founder and the President of the Institute for Aviation Research. He earned his PhD in Air Transport and Tourism Management from the University of Surrey in 2006. Zheng has research expertise in such areas as airline business models, air transport market analysis, air transport regulation and policy analysis, as well as airport, tourism and regional competitiveness. Zheng has published a number of papers in leading academic journals. A distinctive feature of his research is its real-world and industry focus. Zheng is frequently invited to give keynote speeches to policymakers, industry conferences and seminars. He advises airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, aviation service providers, and civil aviation authorities around the world on strategic issues through research, consultancy and executive training courses.

Zheng also serves as Professor of Aviation and Department Chair for Department of Aviation at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia.  He is the Visiting Professor to Civil Aviation University of China. Previously, he was Director of Centre for Aviation Research at the University of Surrey and founder of Surrey’s successful MSc in Air Transport Management programme. Prior to that, Zheng worked in the Department of Air Transport at Cranfield University, where he was responsible for Cranfield’s renowned Executive MSc in Air Transport Management programme.

Email:z.lei@aviationresearch.org.uk
CK Law Photo 26092016 Dr[1]. LAW Cheung-kwok (1)

Dr Cheung-Kwok Law
Senior Advisor


Dr Cheung-Kwok Law is Senior Advisor to the President of the Institute for Aviation Research. He also serves as Director of Policy in the Aviation Policy and Research Center and Director of Economic Policy Programme in Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, at Chinese University of Hong Kong.  He is also Senior Researcher of Fung Global Institute.

Dr Law is a prominent economist in Hong Kong and a well recognized expert on aviation policies. He has been active in public affairs. Previously, he served as a member of Hong Kong Legislative Council, Provisional Legislative Council of HKSAR Government, Sai Kung District Council, Consumer Council, Travel Industry Council, Legal Aid Services Council, and a national member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference as well.

Dr Law has a PhD in Economics from the University of California (Los Angeles). He has published extensively on economics and policy-related topics. His recent publications include “Hong Kong New Industrial Policy: Theory and Practice” (2014); “The Exposition of Hong Kong Competition Ordinance and Policy Recommendations” (2012); “Aviation Policy and Development in Greater China” (2010); and “Structure and Development Policy of Hong Kong’s Financial Sector” (2008).

xiaowen fu

Dr Xiaowen Fu
VP Research

Dr Xiaowen Fu is VP Research at the Institute for Aviation Research. He obtained his PhD from the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia in Canada in 2006. Dr Fu’s main research area is transport economics which covers issues such as competition policy and government regulation, efficiency benchmarking, transport demand modelling and industrial organization. He has been the principal investigator of a number of research grants, and published more than 30 journal articles. Dr Fu has provided advisory and economic modelling services to organizations such as Boeing Commercial Aircraft, New Zealand Commerce Commission, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, , Government of British Columbia in Canada, Australian Competition Tribunal, Hong Kong Central Policy Unit, Japan Rail (East), Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, and OECD.

Dr Fu is an elected VP Research of Air Transport Research Society.  He also serves as a Professor of Engineering Management in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Frankie OConnell

Frankie O'Connell
Director of Learning

Frankie O’Connell is Director of Learning at the Institute for Aviation Research. He completed an MSc in Air Transport Management from Cranfield University and an MBA (Aviation) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, later returning to Cranfield to complete a PhD in Airline Strategy. He also holds a pilot’s licence. Frankie specialises in airline strategy and also covers areas such as deregulation, ancillary revenues, emerging aviation markets with a particular focus on Arabian Gulf region. He has produced over 30 academic journal papers as well as a popular book entitled ‘Air Transport in the 21st Century’.

Previously, Frankie worked for the Boeing commercial aircraft company as an analyst for a number of years and then for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (extended campus in California) and Cranfield University. While at Embry-Riddle, he regularly lectured at the NASA Ames research facility at Moffett Field. He is also a regular speaker on the BBC and Irish radio stations and at international commercial conferences discussing the ongoing trending events in the airline industry.

Industry Advisory Committee
Ricky Mack

Ricky Mack
Boeing Director of Strategy

tony fernandes_2

Tony Fernandes
AirAsia Group Founder & CEO

1523260509

Carlos Kaduoka
SITA VP Portfolio Relevance

Moumouni Dieguimde

Moumouni Dieguimde
ICAO West African Representative to ICAO

Jesus Rubio

Jesus Rubio
Intelavia Founder&CEO

1523260588

Geoffrey Weston
Bain & Company Partner

PX12

Zhao Dong
Xiamen Airlines President

4 Li Dianchun

Dianchun Li
Hong Kong Airlines VP

Guy Stephenson

Guy Stephenson
Gatwick Airport Chief Commercial Officer

IMG_4503

Kui Zhang
IAR President Asia Pacific

Academic Advisory Committee
Anne Graham

Anne Graham
Westminster University UK Professor

Peter Morrell

Peter Morrell
Cranfield University UK Professor

1523260747

Hans-Martin Niemeier
Applied University of Bremen Germany Professor

1523260765

Tae Hoon Oum
University of British Columbia Canada Professor

LI Yanhua

Li Yanhua
Civil Aviation University of China Professor

TX03
1523260881

Paul Clark
Through The Looking Glass Managing Director

Jeremy Robinson

Jeremy Robinson
Watson Farley & Williams Partner

1523260919

Volodymyr Bilotkach
University of Newcastle Senior Lecturer