Almaty, Kazakhstan 5 to 6 November 2025

ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Workshop on Aviation Training and Workforce Planning in Kazakhstan

12 November 2025

The aviation industry stands at a pivotal moment. Rapid technological evolution, shifting workforce dynamics, and post-pandemic recovery have heightened the need for smarter, more connected approaches to training. At the 2nd ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Workshop on Aviation Training and Workforce Planning in Almaty, industry leaders, regulators, educators and young aviation voices gathered with a shared mission: to ensure aviation training evolves in step with the sector it serves.

Hosted by Kazaeronavigatsia and the Republic of Kazakhstan, the workshop proved to be more than a dialogue on workforce planning - it became a symbol of partnership, progress and collective responsibility towards the professionals who will define aviation’s future.

Setting the Vision: Day One

The workshop opened with strong institutional alignment from key decision-makers: Talgat Lastayev, Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan; Saltanat Tompiyeva, Chairperson of the Civil Aviation Committee; and Nicolas Rallo, ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Director. Their shared message emphasised three priorities - workforce readiness, youth engagement, and international cooperation.

Panel 1: Training for Industry Readiness Moderated by Paula V. de Almeida (CEO of JAA Training Organisation), the panel gathered diverse perspectives from Air Astana, ACI World, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, GATE Aviation Training, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and CANI. The central question was clear: How can training mirror the realities of modern aviation?

The answers pointed to tighter alignment between training and real-world operations, stronger industry-academia collaboration, and curricula designed not just for today’s challenges, but tomorrow’s demands.

A second and third panel - From Data to Decisions: Building a Regional Skills Monitoring Framework and NGAP in Action: Case Studies - further reinforced the necessity of data-driven workforce forecasting, adaptability, and intentional action to support gender balance, mentorship, scholarships and cross-sector cooperation.

By the end of day one, one conclusion resonated across the room: Aviation training must be proactive, not reactive.

Paula V. de Almeida (JAA TO CEO) opening the training workshop panel discussions.

Day Two: Putting People at the Centre

Panel 1: Future Aviation VoicesModerated by Nicolas Cazalis (ENAC), this session placed young professionals and students centre stage. Their insights into aspirations, barriers, and motivation reminded delegates that engagement starts with listening- and empowerment starts with access.

Panel 2: Building BridgesLed by Milena Bowman (EUROCONTROL), leaders examined cooperation across organisations to prepare for megatrends such as sustainability, digital transformation, resilience and artificial intelligence.

Panel 3: Lifelong Learning as a Cultural CommitmentModerated by Ana Vieira da Mata (ANAC Portugal), the discussion focused on how organisations can foster environments where upskilling and reskilling are not periodic events, but ingrained pillars of professional life.

Panel 4: From Insights to ActionFinal reflections were led by Bryan DeCouto (ICAO EUR/NAT) alongside workshop moderators and partners including Paula V. de Almeida (JAA TO), Latifa Hadbi (ICAO NGAP), Nicolas Cazalis (ENAC), Milena Bowman (EUROCONTROL) and Ana Mata (ANAC Portugal). The collective message was straightforward and unifying:

Progress in aviation workforce development demands continuous collaboration, shared accountability and deliberate action.

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Industry Readiness Requires Industry Alignment

One of the most powerful moments of the workshop came during the panel Training for Industry Readiness, which brought together expertise from across airlines, airports, regulators, ANSPs and training organisations. Speakers Issa Castro, Tiang Guan Tay, Aslan Satzhanov, Slavomír Novotný, Almaz Tokbakbayev, and Dirch Jans each provided essential pieces of a wider solution - proving that workforce readiness is not held by one stakeholder, but built by all of them.Together, they demonstrated:

Scalable and forward-thinking training systems
Regional cooperation and global alignment
Empowered youth and supported professionals
A culture of lifelong learning and innovation

JAA Training Organisation is honoured to have contributed to these conversations and remains committed to driving training excellence that responds to real-world needs with vision and purpose.

With collaboration as the foundation, aviation is not only preparing for the future - it is actively shaping it.

Paula V. de Almeida (JAA TO CEO) and Tay Tiang Guang (Dean SAA Singapore)

About JAA TO ✈️

The JAA Training Organisation (JAA TO) is a Dutch non-profit, self-financing organisation and the Associated Body of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC). JAA TO has a history of 50+ years training the aviation industry and national authorities on regulation in the air transport sector. JAA TO is the only Platinum Training Centre of Excellence (TCE) in Europe recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). JAA TO is an IATA Dangerous Goods CBTA Centre of Excellence, an ACI World Accredited Training Partner, recognized Dutch National Aviation Security Training Centre and a leading member of the EASA Virtual Academy (EVA).

JAA TO schedules more than 300 training courses annually on topics such as safety, security, drones and management. Within the aviation community, JAA TO offers a platform to learn and exchange views on latest regulatory developments. In addition, JAA TO provides advisory services, knowledge solutions, training consultancy and assistance with capacity building for (aviation) training departments.

VISIT JAA TO WEBSITE

Dorothy Uslu

Corporate Communications Representative at JAA Training Organisation

JAA TO press contact: Karl Schreiber
Marketing & Communications Manager
Email: kschreiber@jaato.com
Tel: +31 (0) 23 56 79 721