Who We Are
International Foundation for Aviation and Development (IFFAAD), Canada
was founded for non-profit purposes in 2005 and is incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act as a 'not-for-profit' entity. It is also registered with the Government of the Province of Quebec.
IFFAAD has as its objective to promote ideas relating to aviation and development, in particular focusing on the role of aviation as driver and catalyst of economic development worldwide. It has its seat in Montreal, the host city of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airports Council International (ACI), and several other global aviation organizations. Montreal has been the world capital of international aviation for more than seventy-five years.
IFFAAD Canada is a sister foundation of IFFAAD India established in 2007 which pursues similar objectives. The initiative for the Foundation originated from the then Representative of India on the Council of ICAO, Dr. Sanat Kaul, who became its first Chairman and is currently Chairman of IFFAAD India headquartered in New Delhi. IFFAAD is proud to have the late Dr. Assad Kotaite, former President of the ICAO Council, as its Governor Emeritus, and the late Dr. Charles Bédard, former Representative of Canada on the ICAO Council, as its co-founder.
Our Board
Ludwig Weber
Chairman of the Board 2015 – present
Senior Consultant and Certified Instructor, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); Adjunct Professor, McGill University, Montreal.
Received his legal education at the Universities of Heidelberg (BCL,1975, and Dr. iur., 1980) and McGill University (LL.M. 1976); German Bar qualifications (Assessor) Stuttgart 1980.
Legal Counsel of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Geneva/Montreal, 1982 - 1995, Director of the Legal Bureau of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Montreal 1995 - 2004 responsible, inter alia, for the modernization of the Warsaw Convention System on air carrier liability resulting in the adoption of the Montreal Convention of 1999, as well as the development of the Cape Town Convention and Protocol of 2001 on international interests in aircraft equipment for the purpose of aircraft financing and leasing. Expert Consultant to ICAO on international ICAO programs and projects 2004 to 2017. Senior Legal Adviser to the Delegation of the United Arab Emirates to ICAO, 2017 to 2019. Senior Legal Adviser to ICAO 2019 - 2022, advising in particular the ICAO Secretary General.
Member of the Board, Institute of Air and Space Law Centre for Research, McGill University; has lectured and published widely and is a member of numerous professional associations.
Artur Eberg
Board member 2021 - present
Artur is the legacy managing partner of the Law firm Eberg, Stepanov and Partners. For 20 years, he practiced law in Eastern Europe. His expertise lies in hands-on project management regarding the privatization of aircraft manufacturers and airports, consultancy services to airlines, and the provision of advice on a wide range of international trade and financing. From 2012, Mr. Eberg has been an air law and policy consultant, domiciled in Montreal.
He has both a legal and aviation background. Before starting his career in law, he worked as an air traffic controller and has experience as a helicopter pilot. In 2014, he was assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a contracts expert for a project facilitating the international delivery of aeronautical equipment. In 2017, Mr. Eberg was qualified by ICAO as a senior instructor in international air law.
Manfred Krull
Board member 2022 - present
Manfred worked as Air Traffic Controller for the German Civil Aviation Authority at Cologne and Munich airports with still current experience as private pilot, until 1968. He then joined Eurocontrol to assist in the development of the Maastricht and Karlsruhe Air Traffic Control Centres in the data processing field from 1968 till 1979, last as Deputy Team Leader of the Karlsruhe Software Team.
Thereafter he worked for the International Civil Aviation Organization in technical and managerial capacities for 21 years in the Regional Offices Dakar and Paris as Technical Officer and Deputy Director, respectively, and, from 1992 to 2000, as Deputy Director in both the Air Navigation Bureau and Technical Assistance Bureau at ICAO Headquarters in Montreal.
After his retirement, he worked until some years ago as consultant for ICAO on different assignments, as well as for the German “DFS Aviation Services” and the European Union as Radar Instructor in Khartoum, Sudan and Paramaribo, Surinam, respectively.
Sanat Kaul
Board member 2006 - present
Education: Ph.D. (University of London), M.Sc. (London School of Economics) and Certificate course in Air & Space from McGill University, Canada.
Dr. Sanat Kaul was a member of the Indian Administrative Service. Besides a lifelong career in the government of India, he was 1999-2002 Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. During this period, he was in charge of airports and member Airport Authority of India. He looked after the strategy of the development of existing and future airports including greenfield and private airports. He was also on the Board of Air India and in charge of India’s bilateral air service treaties. This involved a large number of negotiations of air service agreements with various countries.
2002-2005: India’s Permanent Representative to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Post Retirement:
He has been the Chairman of the International Foundation for Aviation, Aerospace and Drones (IFFAAD), a think tank based in India on Aviation & Space. This society, registered in 2007, does seminars, conferences, and consultancy work and is a sister organisation of IFFAAD (Canada).
Has written a large number of articles on Aviation and Space in newspapers, journals and presented papers in international conferences.
Silverio Espinola, K.G.C.H.S.
Board member 2025 -
present
Legal Consultant in the Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau and Certified Instructor of International Air Law, of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Holds an I.LL.M. from Lisbon University and a Diploma in Air and Space Law from McGill University.
Is a Retired Member of the Portuguese Bar.
Has 55 years of career in civil aviation, including 2 years with an airline, 24 years with the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and 29 years with ICAO.
Was Director of the Air Transport Department of CAA and Deputy Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau of ICAO.
Membership Liason Officer
Nigah Awj
Nigah Awj is a member of the Barreau du Québec, founder of ASHA Legal, and consulting General Counsel to a mid-sized mining company with projects in Nunavik. She earned a B.Sc. and a J.D./B.C.L./LL.B. from McGill University, then spent five years practising in a national Big Law firm, advising clients on maritime, trucking, aviation, freight claims, trade/finance, and insurance matters. Nigah has also completed an LL.M. in Air & Space Law at McGill University and is now pursuing a DCL in Air & Space Law, with interests at the intersection of regulation, innovation, and emerging technologies. In the course of her academic research, she completed a legal internship with Airbus in Toulouse focused on regulatory compliance for new-edge aircraft technology and sustainability.
Nigah remains actively engaged in the profession through International Aerospace Womens Association (IAWA) and the Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA), where she serves as Chair of the Admiralty & Maritime Transportation Committee, and regularly contributes to industry discussions on evolving legal issues affecting aviation and transportation.