Charles Pace accumulated more than 40+ years of aviation experience starting out as cabin crew member, before moving into Ground Operations and eventually obtaining his CPL and ATPL in Scotland & the UK. Mr Pace started out flying 737s as a first officer and was promoted to captain a few years later. He was a TRI/TRE on the fleet and went on to become chief pilot Boeing 737 at the national airline. He has held posts as Air Malta's Safety and Compliance Manager where he was also involved in training and development of staff.

In 2013, Mr Pace was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Transport Authority in Malta and later became its Director General for Civil Aviation. Charles Pace is part of the National Security Committee, the Sanctions Monitoring Board and the National Aerospace Board.

Appointed as Chairman of the JAA TO Foundation Board in December 2023.

Ana Mata is a Member of the Board of the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) since November 2021. Her main activities relate to airport and air transport economic regulation, namely airport charges, air navigation economic performance, air services bilateral agreements, human resources, financial resources and procurement. Working in ANAC since 2000 she has performed several duties in the Authority, namely coordinating the Management Control and Studies Bureau from 2008 until 2020 and managing the Economic Regulation Directorate from 2014 until November 2021, accumulating both duties.

She is the Chair of ECAC’s Network of Chief Economists, since 2016.

Ms. Mata has a postgraduate in I&T – business engineering, a Master's Degree in Management and Strategy from the Lisbon School of Economics & Management, and a Degree in Business Management from the University Institute of Lisbon.

Appointed as Member of the JAA TO Foundation Board in January 2023. 

Ivan Šćekić holds an MSc in Air Transport and Traffic Engineering and has more than 15 years of professional experience in aviation.

Mr. Šćekić has built his career at the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro, the independent regulator and oversight authority for the aviation industry in Montenegro. Based on his professional qualifications and numerous specialised trainings, he progressed steadily through the organisation, advancing from trainee to Supervisor, Air Traffic Inspector, and Director of the Air Navigation Safety Division.

In the first half of 2024, Mr. Šćekić was appointed Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro. He is a member of the National Civil Aviation Safety Board and the National Search and Rescue Board, and has also participated in the work of the National Airspace Management Committee.

Mr. Šćekić is dedicated to preserving and continuously improving aviation safety and security. He is particularly committed to the professional development of employees and to strengthening human capacity within the civil aviation sector.

Appointed as a Member of the JAA TO Foundation Board in May 2026.

Maksim Et’hemaj is the Executive Director of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority and has more than three decades of experience in air traffic management, aviation regulation, and international cooperation.

Since December 2021, Mr. Et’hemaj has led the strategic transformation of the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority, supporting the continued development of aviation oversight, international cooperation, and institutional capacity after which Albania's EI score rose from 46% to 89% through the ICAO-CMA process. The improvement also saw Albania CAA’s recognition by NATO in airworthiness oversight.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Et’hemaj served as Chief Technology Officer at Albcontrol, the Albanian Air Navigation Service Provider, where he led key modernisation projects, including the National Airspace Modernisation Programme, advanced radar implementation, and enhanced meteorological data visualisation. His operational background includes roles as Director of Operations, ACC Watch Supervisor, ATS Inspector, and licensed Air Traffic Controller.

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 holds an engineering degree in chemistry, an Associate Project Management Professional qualification from George Washington University, and completed executive training in cutting-edge economics at Harvard University. He has also received extensive technical and management training across Europe, including at EUROCONTROL and in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Et’hemaj is a committed advocate for performance-based navigation, cross-border collaboration, and safety oversight reform, and continues to contribute to Albania’s integration into the European and global aviation system.

Appointed as a Member of the JAA TO Foundation Board in May 2026.