Mr. Patrick Ky is the Chief Executive Officer of the International Centre for Aviation Innovation (ICAI), based in Singapore. ICAI functions as an international hub to unite governments, industry stakeholders, and research institutions in addressing key aviation challenges and co-developing innovative solutions for the future of air travel. Before taking the helm at ICAI, Mr. Ky served for a decade as Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), where he expanded the agency’s global influence and led major initiatives to enhance aviation safety standards. Under his leadership, EASA established tougher certification requirements for the Boeing 777X, oversaw the safe ungrounding of the 737 MAX, and mandated critical fire protection improvements for the Airbus A321XLR. He also spearheaded global regulatory efforts for the emerging advanced air mobility sector and artificial intelligence. Beyond regulatory advancements, Mr. Ky guided EASA through five major aviation crises - the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the Germanwings crash, the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war, ensuring the agency adapted swiftly to new realities with flexible policies and strengthened safety measures. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ky led Europe’s air traffic management modernisation as head of the SESAR programme. His contributions to aviation have earned him numerous accolades, including The Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award in 2013 and the title of “Industry Leader of the Year” by Germany’s Fliegermagazin in 2015. In 2025, Mr. Ky was honoured with the Philip J. Klass Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contributions to aviation safety. Mr. Ky is a graduate of École Polytechnique and the Civil Aviation Engineering School in France. He also holds degrees in economics from the University of Toulouse and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology