World Innovation Summit | 13–15 May 2025 | Pittsburgh

Speakers

Sean Doyle

Sean Doyle

Chairman & CEO

British Airways

Bernadette Berger

Bernadette Berger

Director of Innovation

Alaska Airlines

John Thornton

John Thornton

CEO and Co-Founder

Astrobotic Technology

Martin Kamlah

Martin Kamlah

VP Corporate Development & Operations

Munich Airport International

Paul Hoback

Paul Hoback

Chief Development Officer

Allegheny County Airport Authority

John Thomas

John Thomas

CEO

Connect Airlines

Claus Grunow

Claus Grunow

Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Digitalization

Fraport

Dimitris Bountolos

Dimitris Bountolos

Chief Information & Innovation Officer

Ferrovial

Deepak Nayyar

Deepak Nayyar

EVP – CIO

Allegheny County Airport Authority

Matt Breed

Matt Breed

CIO

Port of Seattle

Kurtulus Ozturk

Kurtulus Ozturk

Director of Technology, Operational & Enterprise Solutions

Pegasus Airlines

Zahra Merchant

Zahra Merchant

Chapter Lead Robotics

Royal Schiphol Group

Gus Naughton

Gus Naughton

Senior Software Engineer, Emerging Technologies

Alaska Airlines

Andrew Wang

Andrew Wang

Director of Enterprise Sales

Boston Dynamics

Marion N. Chivot-Legris

Marion N. Chivot-Legris

Director, ESG & Sustainability Strategy

Edmonton International Airport

Jim Jen

Jim Jen

Director, Corporate Startup Lab

Carnegie Mellon University

Darin Juby

Darin Juby

Head of Transformation

Future Travel Experience

Nick Woods

Nick Woods

CIO

Manchester Airports Group

Nicole Hodges Austin

Nicole Hodges Austin

Manager of Airport Innovation & Standards

Frontier Airlines

Bryan Dietz

Bryan Dietz

SVP Air Service and Commercial Development

Allegheny County Airport Authority

Ryan Ghee

Ryan Ghee

Chief Operating Officer

Future Travel Experience

Raj Rajkumar

Raj Rajkumar

George Westinghouse Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University

Cole Wolfson

Cole Wolfson

Director, xBridge

Pittsburgh International Airport

Theresa Blackwell-Frank

Theresa Blackwell-Frank

Chief Information Security Officer, Virtuo Group Corporation & V-CISO

Pittsburgh International Airport

Dr. Lorrie Faith Cranor

Dr. Lorrie Faith Cranor

Director and Bosch Distinguished Professor in Security and Privacy Technologies, CyLab

Carnegie Mellon University

Rusty Hottenfeller

Rusty Hottenfeller

Director of Facilities and Airline Services

Allegheny County Airport Authority

Daniel Coleman

Daniel Coleman

Founder & CEO

Future Travel Experience

Chad Willis

Chad Willis

Director, Planning, Environmental, & Sustainability

Allegheny County Airport Authority

Mary Kirby

Mary Kirby

Founder, Editor and Publisher

Runway Girl Network

Costa Samaras

Costa Samaras

Director, Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation; Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University

Carolyn Sponza

Carolyn Sponza

Principal

Gensler

Afrin Shaikh

Afrin Shaikh

Head of Digital

Noida International Airport

Steve Armitage

Steve Armitage

Head of Innovation

Heathrow

Christina Cassotis

Christina Cassotis

CEO

Pittsburgh International Airport

Farnham Jahanian

Farnham Jahanian

President

Carnegie Mellon University



“I believe innovation is a mindset, and the primary goal of this Summit is to co-create new approaches and highlight how first-movers and pioneers are already leading the charge when it comes to new technology adoption, and energy and sustainability innovation. It will also provide the perfect showcase for our transformational new terminal program, with multiple conference sessions and dedicated tours of the new terminal - opening in 2025 - sure to be among the many event highlights.”

Christina Cassotis, Chief Executive Officer, Pittsburgh International Airport

Read the full letter

Why attend FTE World Innovation Summit 2025?


“This event is the highlight of my year and the conversations, ideas, and collaborations that come out will have a lasting impact on this industry. I think the format (day 1 demos, day 2 lectures and tours, day 3 workshop) allows professionals to get inspired and really drive meaningful conversations.”

Nicole Hodges-Austin, Manager of Airport Innovation & Standards, Frontier Airlines

“Absolutely wonderful. It was very well coordinated, the speakers were phenomenal, the events were engaging, and the attendees were friendly and hospitable. Wonderful job!”

Brian Burdette, Senior Innovation Consultant, DFW International Airport

“The Summit served as a thought-provoking platform for Alaska Airlines. It was two days filled with engaging interactions with core engineers and product demonstrations by innovators in Pittsburgh. The experience of exploring potential applications of these technologies across various facets of our industry was intellectually stimulating, competitively thrilling, and enlightening.”

Gus Naughton, Senior Software Engineer, Emerging Technologies, Alaska Airlines

“The Summit brings together forward-thinking individuals from across the industry in one of the most innovative cities in America. It’s an incredible opportunity to think outside the box and envision the possibilities that lie before us in the future of aviation.”

Kristen Berndt, Senior Manager, Baggage Strategy & Innovation, United Airlines

“The Summit is the only event I’ve participated in – in any industry – that proactively works to develop new partnerships, technologies, and companies to address aviation’s most critical needs. By dedicating significant time to workshops focused on building multi-disciplinary groups of aviation professionals alongside technologists, roboticists, researchers and entrepreneurs, the Summit has created a unique environment than can actually lead to real advances for the industry.”

Cole Wolfson, Director xBridge, Pittsburgh International Airport

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