International Airport Summit 2024

Speakers

#IARSummit
The Steigenberger Airport Hotel Amsterdam

13th — 14th November 2024

Sarah Marquez

Sarah Marquez

Senior Vice President of Operations

Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport logo

Sarah Marquez serves as the Senior Vice President of Airport Operations at Denver International Airport (DEN), bringing over a decade of experience in leading multifaceted teams as an Airport Operator. Throughout her career, Sarah has been recognized for her effective leadership and success in driving performance and fostering collaboration with stakeholders.

In her role at DEN, Sarah’s responsibilities span a comprehensive range of areas including Airfield Operations, Terminal Operations, Ramp Tower Control, Emergency Management & Preparedness, Communications Center, Airport Security, and Airport Operations Services. The latter oversees more than 35 Operations & Maintenance (O&M) contracts, encompassing Janitorial services, Baggage Handling, Conveyances, and the Automated People Mover. A significant focus of her strategic efforts is to prepare the airport to accommodate 100 million annual passengers in the next several years. She currently manages an annual budget of $151 million.

Before joining DEN, Sarah led the Operations and Security Divisions at Key West International and Marathon Airports in the Florida Keys. There, she played a pivotal role in shaping the Operations & Security departments and expanding air service to serve one million passengers annually. Her tenure included overseeing several large-scale construction projects, including airfield and terminal expansions, and an expanded Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility.

Sarah began her career in Airport Operations at Burlington International Airport in Burlington, Vermont, and briefly worked as an FAA Air Traffic Controller. She holds a Bachelor of Aviation Science from Daniel Webster College and various professional certifications, to include Airports Council International’s International Airport Professional Degree (IAP). Beyond her professional achievements, she is a licensed pilot, which marks the beginning of her deep-rooted passion for aviation.

Sponsored by
Fireside Chat

9.50 am

Doubling the size of the industry by 2041? How?

The rise in passengers is outpacing the capacity of airports. Airports globally have had to expand terminals because they’re at capacity, but not all airports are that lucky, and must work on efficiency and investment in new technologies and digitalisation. Find out how to safely and affordably expand the industry to accommodate growth of the world’s population and airport capacity. Join this session to hear airports discuss:

  • Strategies you can adopt to keep up with increasing passenger numbers
  • Building with bytes, not bricks, in order to sweat existing assets
  • The future plans of a leading airport with a big growth trajectory
Sarah Marquez with Denver International Airport logo
Sarah Marquez

Senior Vice President of Operations
Denver International Airport

Borry Vrieling with eezeetags logo
Borry Vrieling

Founder
eezeetags b.v.

Martins Tamovics with AviAlliance logo
Moderator: Martins Tamovics

Senior Manager, Airport Operations and Development
AviAlliance GmbH

Panel Discussion

10.10 am

Future workforce:

Attracting and retaining staff to build a strong pipeline of talent

The industry has become less attractive to candidates – with a reputation for poor pay and ‘polluting the planet’. With this in mind, how are airport leaders finding ways to attract, train and retain, the next generation and build the skills needed in the future? By addressing the key challenges and opportunities in skill development and workforce planning, stakeholders can collaborate to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of airports in an evolving landscape. Join this session to hear airports discuss:

  • The tech reshaping roles and responsibilities within airport operations
  • Initiatives bridging the gap between academic programmes and industry demand
  • How airports can invest in upskilling and reskilling initiatives to prepare their workforce for the integration of automation and robotics technologies?
Fred Lam with Hong Kong International Airport logo
Fred Lam

Chairman
Hong Kong International Airport

Luis Soto with El Dorado International Airport logo
Luis Soto

Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Technology Officer
El Dorado International Airport

Vernon Taylor
Vernon Taylor

Director of People Operations
JFKIAT

Sarah Marquez with Denver International Airport logo
Moderator: Sarah Marquez

Senior Vice President of Operations
Denver International Airport