Chairman’s Open Letter to AsBAA Members

Paul Desgrosseilliers
Chairman
Asian Business Aviation Association
 

I am delighted to write to you today as the newly elected Chairman of AsBAA, on behalf of the Board of Directors. Going forward, I intend to share these open letters with you on a quarterly basis throughout our term. Strengthening communication and deepening engagement with our membership will be among our highest priorities as we continue to grow the Association and amplify our collective voice in the years ahead.

First and foremost, I would like to recognize the outstanding leadership that has brought us to where we are today. I am deeply grateful to Wu Zhendong, Jenny Lau, and Phil Balmer, our previous Chairmen and Chairwoman that I served with on the board, whose dedication, commitment, and vision have been instrumental in building AsBAA’s success and establishing its growing stature within the industry. 

We have now held our first Board meeting, and I am pleased to announce and congratulate Phil Balmer and Chris Barrow, who have assumed the respective roles of Secretary and Treasurer of the Association. We will also announce the members of the Board of Governors for the 2026–2028 term shortly, as we continue to confirm and finalize appointments with prospective members.

AsBAA’s mission remains clear: to represent the interests of our members and the wider business aviation industry through our three core pillars of Advocacy, Representation, and Community. These pillars will continue to guide our strategy and priorities throughout the coming term. We will regularly communicate our progress, acknowledge the challenges, and actively seek feedback, support, and guidance from our members and other stakeholders. I want to assure you that the concerns and aspirations raised by our general membership, as well as the objectives put forward by candidates during our recent Annual General Meeting, have been heard and will be given due attention and action throughout this term.

AsBAA will continue to champion our industry and expand the Association’s presence throughout East and Southeast Asia, particularly as business aviation continues to develop across both emerging markets well as East Asian countries. We intend to establish and develop new chapters, broaden our engagement with the business aviation community beyond our traditional chapters and partnerships, and strengthen our existing relationships with industry peer associations both within the region and internationally.

We will also intensify our advocacy and lobbying efforts in emerging markets while continuing to address the longstanding operational and regulatory challenges affecting our industry. Our work to improve operating conditions in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines will continue, while new initiatives across Southeast Asia will be introduced to highlight and address issues of concern to our members. The entire AsBAA leadership team is committed to working closely with local member companies, regulators, and other industry stakeholders to achieve meaningful, incremental progress for the benefit of the entire business aviation community.

Our third pillar, Community, is equally important. We will work to identify new activities and opportunities, to grow member engagement through different and unique events that are social, educational, and ultimately rewarding to our members. Established initiatives such as Safety Day will be expanded, while new sporting, social, and networking events are already in the planning stages. We want to find novel and engaging ways to bring people together and strengthen the relationships that make our industry and Association stronger.

The Discovery Program will also continue its important work of introducing the next generation to the exciting opportunities available within business aviation. In addition, we intend to create stronger connections between our member companies and emerging talent through tailored internship opportunities, helping to develop the next generation of aviation professionals.

Of course, the continued success of AsBAA will always depend on the participation, commitment, and support of our members. I encourage each of you to become involved, volunteer your time, and share your ideas, experience, and knowledge. To all our members, I offer my sincere thanks for your continued support of the Association. Without your willingness and generosity in contributing both your time and financial resources, none of the ambitions and initiatives outlined in this letter would be possible.

I am increasingly optimistic about our shared future and genuinely excited about what we can accomplish together over the next two years. Thank you once again for your continued trust and support. I look forward to working with you all and to seeing many of you again very soon.

Warm regards,

Paul Desgrosseilliers
Chairman of AsBAA