April 2022 Session: YVR's 2022-2024 Strategic Plan

The pandemic had an unprecedented impact on aviation. While 2019 was YVR’s busiest year on record, in 2020 and 2021 the Airport Authority experienced the lowest levels of passenger traffic since its inception. At the same time, the airport provided a critical community lifeline supporting the flow of vaccines and air cargo during the pandemic, while also enabling supply chain continuity during the flooding that devastated BC’s land-based transportation infrastructure in late 2022.

This in-person breakfast session will focus on YVR’s 2022-2024 Strategic Plan, which sets out the Airport Authority’s path to resilience and recovery. The plan includes renewed emphasis on “strengthening the core”, including asset management, infrastructure optimization and climate change adaptation. The plan’s “revenue sustainability” and “gateway to the new economy” drivers necessitate new ways of thinking about the airport’s role in serving the community and the economy that supports it, including the vital role of air cargo, future use of airport land assets and YVR’s transition to a multi-modal hub. Combined with the Airport Authority’s climate and reconciliation commitments, the plan builds on the potential of technology and innovation and the benefits to be realized from a digital twin, Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications.

We're excited to be able to see everyone in-person again. Register today!

Meet our panelists:

Peta Wolmarans, Director – Planning at Vancouver International Airport. Peta is a professional planner and champion of data-driven decision-making. She holds a Masters degree from the University of Cape Town.  She has worked at YVR since 2018, as the Airport Authority has navigated through both the busiest and quietest traffic years since its inception.  Peta leads the team responsible for long range airport planning, aligning infrastructure investment priorities to the YVR Strategic Plan. Her areas of responsibility include airside, terminal, groundside access and land use planning. Prior to joining the Airport Authority Peta worked as a consultant supporting infrastructure projects across the globe, including airports, high-speed rail, ports, freight and logistics, energy, transit and land development. Please visit Peta's LinkedIn profile to learn more about her.

Christoph Rufenacht, Vice President, Airport Development & Asset Optimization. Christoph is the Vice President, Airport Development and Asset Optimization at Vancouver Airport Authority, the financially-independent organization that operates Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The airport plays a vital role in the region, enabling trade, travel and the exchange of knowledge, in service of the community and the economy that supports it. YVR was voted the best airport in North America for the twelfth consecutive year.

As a key member of the YVR Executive Team, Christoph is involved in all facets of the Airport Authority’s business and is responsible for ensuring the realization of long-term value from all assets and infrastructure through effective planning, project delivery and maintenance. An innovative leader and driver of change, Christoph is dedicated to efficient project outcome delivery and maintaining assets in a state of good repair, emphasizing asset optimization and continuous improvement. Christoph is an Engineer, holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Christoph joined the Airport Authority in 2001 and has held various positions since then. Please visit Christoph's LinkedIn profile to learn more about him.

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