ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2024 - 15

I also want to spend more time with my family. Some years, I spent over 200 days
traveling. This is a job where you constantly have to be out there. Once I step down,
I'm going to do a number of personal projects. I will also stay on as a non-executive
director of the company.
Jetrader: What has your level of involvement been with ISTAT over the years,
and what does winning the ISTAT Award mean to you?
RM: BOC Aviation has been a great advocate of ISTAT since our first joining.
We've supported financially with sponsorships, but that's not enough. We've also
I'm very honored to receive [the ISTAT Award].
I hope one of the things that helps is the example of my
own career in aviation. It highlights the benefits of being
involved in ISTAT. This is a great business to be in.
sponsored with our people. I worked closely with Steven Townend to prepare for
him to bid to be a board director, and he ended up being on the board for eight
years. Peter Negline, as well, who has done a great job. I've spoken at many ISTAT
conferences globally over the last 26 years.
I support the activities of Airlink in Asia, particularly when disasters happen,
working with Steve Smith and Claire Leow on ensuring rapid reaction to terrible
disasters. I have also recently joined Nils Hallerstrom and Dick Forsberg on the
ISTAT Professional Development Program in Asia. Now that I will have more free
time after I step down as CEO, I look forward to getting more involved. I think it's a
great organization, and particularly with my understanding of Asian markets, I have
a lot more to offer.
When I learned I was receiving the
award, I was very surprised. I have
always associated the ISTAT Award
with industry legends like Adam Pilarski
and Klaus Heinemann, and I never
put myself in that category. I'm very
honored to receive it. I hope one of the
things that helps is the example of my
own career in aviation. It highlights the
benefits of being involved in ISTAT. I
hope we can use it to attract more talent to the industry in the long term. This is
a great business to be in.
to look at the industry from different
perspectives. In particular, find
opportunities to build cultural
awareness and interactions. Don't
just think about your career in terms
of job functions, but also think of it in
terms of moving to different parts of
the world if that's available, or even
moving to different parts of the same
country. One thing I recommend to
the new people who come into BOC
Aviation is to set yourselves a career
plan and, very importantly, keep
updating it. What do you want to do in
five years? 10 years? Do you want to
be a specialist, or do you want to aim
to go into senior management? The
two career paths are different. Looking
forward is very important, and I think
it's very important for people to have
clear targets for their jobs. This enables
them to have a more sensible dialogue
with whomever they work for and
allows them to work to overachieve.
Jetrader: Any final words of wisdom?
RM: I am very grateful to those who
have worked with me during my career
and those who mentored me. The
learning experience never stops. As
I look back, I have built many close
friendships during my career. I love
brainstorming with them about the
Don't just think about your career in terms of
job functions, but also think of it in terms of moving to
different parts of the world if that's available.
Jetrader: For young people considering going into aviation, what thoughts or
advice would you give them for how to approach their careers?
RM: First, do your research ahead of any job application. Second, build your
group of mentors and network extensively. That's where ISTAT comes in. There
are no better networking events than ISTAT conferences. It's got to be the
premier networking event in the world. Third, be curious, and find opportunities
future and what could happen next.
That is what makes me bounce out
of bed and want to go to work every
day. I thank all of you for that. I never
regret the past but have learned a lot
from it. You can't change the past, but
you can change the future, and that's
what I like doing best and will be doing
going forward.
* SPR I NG 2024 * 15
ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2024

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