Japan’s Aviation Leaders Appointed as ICAO Global Ambassadors

The future of the global aviation industry is taking flight from Tokyo as two of Japan’s most prominent female executives step into high-profile international roles. Japan Airlines (JAL) and ANA HOLDINGS (ANA HD) have officially announced the appointment of Ms. Kumiko Miyasaka and Ms. Tomoko Hoya as the first ICAO Global Ambassadors in Japan. This appointment, made by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), marks a significant step in Japan’s commitment to shaping the global aviation workforce of tomorrow.

The future of the global aviation industry is taking flight from Tokyo as two of Japan’s most prominent female executives step into high-profile international roles. Japan Airlines (JAL) and ANA HOLDINGS (ANA HD) have officially announced the appointment of Ms. Kumiko Miyasaka and Ms. Tomoko Hoya as the first ICAO Global Ambassadors in Japan. This appointment, made by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) following a recommendation from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, marks a significant step in Japan’s commitment to shaping the global aviation workforce of tomorrow.

The newly launched ICAO Global Ambassadors Programme is a worldwide outreach initiative designed to utilise the expertise of industry role models to inspire the next generation of professionals. By showcasing diverse and rewarding career paths, the programme aims to foster widespread participation in the industry, specifically targeting youth and women.

This initiative is closely aligned with the ICAO Strategic Plan 2026-2050, which seeks to address critical goals such as achieving zero fatalities and net-zero carbon emissions. As ambassadors, Ms. Hoya (Executive Vice President and CSO at ANA HD) and Ms. Miyasaka (Managing Executive Officer at JAL) will engage in extensive outreach through educational institutions and international conferences. By drawing on their professional journeys, they aim to encourage young people to pursue careers in an industry that serves as a vital pillar for global transport and economic development

The newly launched ICAO Global Ambassadors Programme is a worldwide outreach initiative designed to utilise the expertise of industry role models to inspire the next generation of professionals. By showcasing diverse and rewarding career paths, the programme aims to foster widespread participation in the industry, specifically targeting youth and women.

A Strategic Vision for 2050

This initiative is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is closely aligned with the ICAO Strategic Plan 2026-2050. As the industry moves towards ambitious goals—including zero fatalities and net-zero carbon emissions—the need for fresh talent and diverse perspectives has never been more critical.

Following a recommendation from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, ICAO designated the following leaders for the role:

• Tomoko Hoya: Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at ANA HOLDINGS INC.
• Kumiko Miyasaka: Managing Executive Officer and Senior Vice President at Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

Moving forward, these ambassadors will engage in extensive outreach through educational institutions and international conferences. Their mission is to draw on their professional journeys to encourage young people to pursue “dreams in the sky” and to promote aviation as a vital pillar of global economic development.

Voices of Leadership

The appointments have been met with enthusiasm from both carriers, reflecting a unified front in Japanese aviation. Kumiko Miyasaka of JAL noted the unique power of aviation to bridge the globe and overcome physical barriers to foster human connection. “I hope to help more people understand the value of our industry and encourage them to pursue their dreams,” she commented.

Echoing this sentiment, Tomoko Hoya of ANA HD emphasised the importance of helping individuals realise their potential. As a Chief Sustainability Officer, her role as an ambassador will likely highlight the industry’s transition towards a greener, more inclusive future, providing a modern blueprint for aspiring professionals.

Driving Diversity and Sustainability

The ICAO works with 193 Member States to develop standards and policies that underpin international air transport. By appointing ambassadors from Japan’s two largest airlines, ICAO is tapping into a wealth of operational excellence and cultural insight.

The programme is expected to advance collaboration among stakeholders both in Japan and overseas, contributing to the sustainable development of the industry. For youth and women in Japan, seeing leaders from JAL and ANA on the global stage serves as a powerful reminder that the sky is no longer a limit, but a career destination.

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Saudia Group Hits Major Milestone with Over 1,000 Aviation Graduates

The skyline of Jeddah served as the backdrop for a historic moment in regional aviation this week. In what is being hailed as one of the largest talent injections in the history of the Saudi aviation sector, Saudia Group has successfully graduated and integrated more than 1,000 trainees into its professional workforce in a single year.

This massive cohort represents more than just a graduation ceremony; it is a live-action demonstration of the Kingdom’s “Vision 2030” in motion. By absorbing these professionals across its diverse subsidiaries, Saudia Group is not just filling seats—it is building a self-sustaining ecosystem designed to propel Saudi Arabia into its next era as a global logistics and tourism hub.

A Multidisciplinary Influx of Talent

The graduation, held under the patronage of His Excellency Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, showcased a remarkably broad spectrum of expertise. These 1,000 graduates did not all follow the same path; instead, they completed eight highly specialised programmes tailored to the specific needs of the Group’s various branches.

The new professionals have been dispersed into operational roles across the entire aviation value chain:

• Flight Operations & Ground Services: Ensuring the front-line efficiency of the national carrier and Saudi Ground Services (SGS).
• Engineering & Maintenance: Bolstering the technical capabilities of Saudia Technic.
• Logistics & Catering: Strengthening SAL Saudi Logistics Services and CATRION.
• Low-Cost Growth: Supporting the rapid expansion of flyadeal.

By training and hiring within these diverse silos, Saudia Group ensures that every touchpoint of the passenger and cargo journey—from the hangar to the high-altitude cabin—is managed by a homegrown workforce trained to international standards.

Exceeding Expectations in Localisation

One of the most striking revelations from the ceremony came from His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group. He noted that the Group has not only met its performance indicators for localising critical aviation roles but has surpassed them by staggering margins of between 43% and 230%.

This isn’t happening by accident. The Group has adopted a “Knowledge Transfer” strategy, embedding strict requirements into its contracts with global manufacturers. This ensures that when the Kingdom buys new aircraft or technology from international giants, the deal includes the transfer of technical “know-how” to Saudi nationals. This proactive approach transforms the Kingdom from a consumer of global aviation technology into a hub of domestic expertise.

Human Capital as the Ultimate Infrastructure

While new fleets and sparkling airport terminals often grab the headlines, Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser was quick to remind attendees that “human capital remains our most important investment.”

In the context of the National Aviation Strategy, this cohort is the “software” that runs the “hardware” of the Kingdom’s transport sector. As Saudi Arabia seeks to triple its annual passenger traffic and expand its air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tonnes by the end of the decade, the demand for skilled pilots, engineers, and logistics experts is insatiable.

For the graduates, this represents a career in a sector that is currently at the very heart of the country’s economic transformation. For the Group, it represents a “talent pipeline” that reduces reliance on external recruitment and fosters a corporate culture rooted in the Kingdom’s unique hospitality values.

The Global Competitive Edge

The timing of this graduation is no coincidence. As Saudia Group enters a transformative phase—characterised by a massive fleet expansion and a total overhaul of the guest experience—the need for a motivated, highly trained workforce is paramount.

Investment in national talent serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it supports the social goals of the Kingdom by creating high-value jobs for its youth. Secondly, it provides a competitive edge on the global stage. A workforce that is technically proficient and culturally aligned with the “Saudia” brand is a powerful tool in attracting international tourists and pilgrims.

As these 1,000 professionals take their places in hangars, cockpits, and control rooms, they carry with them the ambitions of a nation. They are the faces of a modern Saudi Arabia that is no longer just a destination on a map, but a global leader in how the world moves.

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For the first time in his NBA career, Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey finished a game with a “DNP — coach’s decision” next to his name in the box score.

The guard did not play in Thursday’s 110-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors at the United Center despite not being listed on the injury report. Acting coach Wes Unseld Jr. said Ivey’s absence was purely a basketball decision, but the guard alluded to lingering knee soreness as a partial cause for the healthy scratch. Ivey said he is still practicing fully despite the injury and believes he is fully available to play.

“I’m sure people can call it out that I’m not the same player as I used to be,” Ivey, 24, said. “That’s why. I’m not the JI I used to be. But the old JI is dead. I’m alive in Christ. … No matter how many DNP’s I don’t get to play or no matter how many points I score, those things are a temporary thing.”

Photos: Toronto Raptors 110, Chicago Bulls 101

This could be a new status quo for the Bulls, whose roster includes six guards. Unseld spoke with the team at shootaround Thursday morning to address the reality that players might see a reduction in their minutes as the team attempts to figure out healthy rotations. The decision was made in conjunction with coach Billy Donovan, who was not with the team following the death of his father.

But Ivey said he was not informed heading into the game that he would not play at all against the Raptors.

“Obviously going into it you’ve got to look at who’s on the roster,” Ivey said. “This team has a lot of guards, so going into it I’m kind of just thrown in. I do my job to the glory of God so I’m ready for whenever my name is called. Whenever (the) coach needs me, calls my name, I’ll be out there to play. Getting traded, that’s what happens in the NBA. You get traded, the organization figures out what the team needs and they make their adjustments.”

Sixteen days ago, Ivey was logging 16.8 minutes per game for the best team in the East. The Bulls traded for him with the intention of investing in his future as a young playmaker. And Ivey had been decently productive in his first four games with the Bulls, averaging 11.5 points and four assists. He joked about his hefty workload after playing 33 minutes in his debut against the Raptors on Feb. 5 and averaged 28.8 minutes for the Bulls before the All-Star break.

As a restricted free agent this summer, Ivey is not guaranteed to return to Chicago for the 2026-27 season. But the Bulls have been publicly insistent that they plan to test out every player they acquired at the deadline as a potential option to be re-signed in the offseason.

Ivey shied away from expressing how Thursday’s game — or further lack of playing time — could affect his feelings toward the Bulls in free agency, repeatedly turning to his faith as a guiding post among uncertainty on the court.

“I don’t really trust the NBA setting,” Ivey said. “I trust the Lord. That’s the main thing. He places me where I need to be. … When moves are made behind the scenes of trades and stuff, I don’t trust that part. You can’t trust it, because it’s not in your hands. It’s not in my hands to make moves or trade myself or put myself in a certain position. I leave that up to the Lord.”

Who are the 7 new Chicago Bulls? Meet Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons and the rest of the deadline additions.

Thursday marked a season-high-tying seventh consecutive loss in their first game back from the All-Star break. Despite forcing a clutch finish with a 7-0 run in the final stretch of the fourth quarter, the Bulls couldn’t fend off a 31-point game from Brandon Ingram, who knocked down a dagger 3-pointer with 35.5 seconds remaining.

The Bulls have lost 10 of their last 11 games, a result directly tied to their decision to dump the majority of their players on expiring contracts at the trade deadline. And the schedule will only get harder this weekend when the Bulls host a home back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks.

Here are three more takeaways from the loss.

1. Unseld fills in.

Unseld helmed the Bulls for the game in the stead of coach Billy Donovan, who was away from the team to spend time with his family after the death of his father, Bill Donovan Sr.

The elder Donovan died Saturday at age 85. He was a member of the Boston College Hall of Fame after captaining the team and graduating in 1962 as the program’s third-leading scorer.

Donovan Jr. is expected to return Friday to Chicago and could resume his coaching duties for this weekend’s back-to-back.

2. Josh Giddey and Tre Jones return.

The Bulls returned to a vague semblance of their former selves with guards Giddey and Jones back on the court. The pair had been sidelined for a considerable stretch of the season (19 games for Giddey, 11 for Jones) before the All-Star break with hamstring injuries.

Jalen Smith also returned to the lineup after missing five of the last seven games before the break with a calf injury. Although his absence was less extensive, it had a bigger impact because of his status as the only remaining center on the roster from before the trade deadline.

Unseld was cagey about the playing-time restrictions for all three players, declining to share details about any of their medical limits during his pregame news conference. Giddey played 21 minutes, 25 seconds and Jones 21:51 while Smith logged 24:20.

Both guards failed to score in the first half. Jones warmed into his offense in the third quarter and finished with 12 points, but Smith and Giddey struggled to connect on their shots. Smith finished with nine points on 2-for-6 shooting while Giddey scored five points on 1-for-7 shooting. Giddey added five assists while committing four turnovers.

3. Deadline awkwardness persists.

The Bulls still aren’t playing cohesive basketball. In fact, it’s unclear whether they’ll be able to accomplish that feat — piecing together a collective identity out of a haphazard puzzle of misfit deadline acquisitions — before the regular season ends.

Against the Raptors, that translated into sloppy basketball. The first quarter took 35 minutes to be completed as both teams combined for nine fouls and 13 turnovers. Collin Sexton turned the ball over three times in that span, including an eight-second violation when he failed to advance the ball past half-court. The Bulls gave up 28 points off 20 turnovers for the game.

Matas Buzelis once again receded in a loss, scoring only four points in nearly 31:20 before getting pulled from the closing lineup. Anfernee Simons (20 points) and Isaac Okoro (16) combined for nearly one-third of the team’s scoring, but neither player looked comfortable in their respective rotations.