JAA TO welcomes two new Members to its Foundation Board
    JAA TO welcomes two new Members to its Foundation Board
    News

    JAA TO welcomes two new Members to its Foundation Board

    09 July 2026

    The JAA Training Organisation is excited to announce the appointment of two new Members to its Foundation Board: Mr. Ivan Šćekić, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro, and Mr. Maksim Et’hemaj, Executive Director of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority.  

    The official announcement follows the nomination of candidates during the previous 166th Meeting of Directors General of Civil Aviation of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) held on 19 May 2026 in Marseille, France. After concluding the statutory and legal application with JAA TO and the Dutch entities, Mr Šćekić and Mr Et’hemaj have officially become Board Members, joining Foundation Board Chair Mr Charles Pace (Director General Civil Aviation Transport Malta) and Board Member Ms Ana V. da Mata (Member of the Board of the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC)). 
    The latest appointments further strengthen the JAA TO Board with extensive leadership experience in civil aviation oversight, air navigation services, aviation safety, regulation, international cooperation, and human capacity development. 
    Mr. Ivan Šćekić brings more than 15 years of professional experience in aviation. He has built his career at the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro, the independent regulator and oversight authority for the aviation industry in Montenegro. In 2024, he was appointed Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro. He is also a member of the National Civil Aviation Safety Board and the National Search and Rescue Board and has participated in the work of the National Airspace Management Committee. He is particularly committed to the professional development of aviation professionals and to strengthening human capacity within the civil aviation sector.
    Mr. Ivan Šćekić, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro

    Mr. Ivan Šćekić, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro

    Mr. Maksim Et’hemaj joins the JAA TO Foundation Board with over three decades of distinguished experience in air traffic management, aviation regulation, and international cooperation. Since December 2021, he has served as Executive Director of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority, leading the strategic transformation of the organisation and supporting significant progress in Albania’s aviation oversight system. Mr. Et’hemaj has also held international leadership positions, including Vice-Chair of the NewPENS Governance Group at EUROCONTROL from 2018 to 2021 and President of the Albanian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association, representing Albania in IFATCA. He is a committed advocate for performance-based navigation, cross-border collaboration, and safety oversight reform. 
    Mr. Maksim Et’hemaj, Executive Director of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority

    Mr. Maksim Et’hemaj, Executive Director of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority

    JAA TO CEO Mrs. Paula V. de Almeida, LL.M., M.Ed., welcomes the new Board Members: 

    We are honoured to welcome Ivan Šćekić and Maksim Et’hemaj to the JAA TO Foundation Board. Their extensive experience, leadership, and strong commitment to aviation safety, capacity building, and international cooperation are of great value to our organisation. Their fresh perspectives and progressive business acumen have already proven successful in their respective CAAs and countries. Together, we can continue this prosperous future under the principles of collaboration, dialogue, and trust. As JAA TO continues to support aviation professionals, authorities, and organisations worldwide, their expertise will further contribute to our mission and strategic development.

    Pictured from left to right: Marlene Mellema, JAA TO HR Manager / Executive Support; Murat Yalcin, Director of Sales, Marketing & Operations at JAA TO; Ivan Šćekić, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro; Paula Vieira de Almeida, Chief Executive Officer of JAA TO; Maksim Et’hemaj, Executive Director of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority; Eric Schoonderwoerd, JAA TO Director of Learning Solutions & Strategic Partnerships; and John Yeardley, JAA TO Head of Finance and Accounting.

    Pictured from left to right: Marlene Mellema, JAA TO HR Manager / Executive Support; Murat Yalcin, Director of Sales, Marketing & Operations at JAA TO; Ivan Šćekić, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro; Paula Vieira de Almeida, Chief Executive Officer of JAA TO; Maksim Et’hemaj, Executive Director of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority; Eric Schoonderwoerd, JAA TO Director of Learning Solutions & Strategic Partnerships; and John Yeardley, JAA TO Head of Finance and Accounting.

    The JAA TO Foundation Board is charged with the management of the organisation. Per statutes, JAA TO must operate with a minimum of three Board Members who are appointed by the ECAC Coordinating Committee (CC) and are nominated from amongst the Directors General of ECAC Member States. 

    About JAA TO

    The JAA Training Organisation is a Dutch non-profit organisation and an Associated Body of the European Civil Aviation Conference. JAA TO has a history of more than 50 years of training the aviation industry and national authorities worldwide on regulations in the air transport sector. JAA TO is the only European Training Centre of Excellence recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization and a leading member of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency Virtual Academy.

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

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