Australia Finance Briefing
Cirium Aviation
Market Briefing
11 August 2026 | Sydney
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, 11 August 2026
- Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Registration starts at 9:00 AM)
- Location: Commonwealth Bank Place – South, 11 Harbour Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Directions
Agenda
- Registration and welcome remarks
- Cirium market update, covering key aviation trends, demand signals, fleet developments and market dynamics globally, for APAC, and for ANZ.
- Financing and transactions in Japan, the impact on Japanese policy rate, and the appetite for New Zealand exposure.
- Broader finance issues outside Japan, sustainability, fuel security, mandatory ESG reporting for banks, and their impact on fleet age and airline financing.
- Panel Discussion.
- Networking session with industry peers
Registration is now closed.
Ashley Nicholas
Director – Corporate Finance
Avation PLC
Mr Nicholas currently holds the position of Director, Corporate Finance and is the main point of contact for all of the group’s banking relationships and asset backed finance.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Nicholas was a Director at an international general aviation group where he was involved in financing, negotiating and contracting of approximately 200 aircraft transactions. Mr Nicholas has also held an appointment at Bell Helicopters where he was responsible for sales within the Asia Pacific region. Mr Nicholas also holds auditing, accounting and business development experience.
Mr Nicholas is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, holds an MBA (with Finance Concentration) from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and a BSc in Mathematics and Management from Kings College, University of London. Mr Nicholas was born in the United Kingdom and is a permanent resident of the Republic of Singapore.
Adrian Dharsan
Head of Asia Pacific Sales
DAE
As the Head of Asia Pacific, Sales at Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), I lead a team of professionals who deliver innovative and customised solutions for our clients in the aviation industry. With more than 25 years of global experience, I have a proven track record of closing more than billions in high value transactions, ranging from aircraft acquisition and operating leases to debt financing and disposals.
My core competencies include team leadership and business development. I have a strong network of relationships with C-suite executives across Asia Pacific, Oceania, and South Asia, and have opened several new markets. During crises, I led several restructurings during the last three global events.
My mission is to create value for my self and family, my clients, my employer and my community, while advancing the aviation industry and its sustainability.
Dr. Elliott Parsons
Head of Market Research
BOC Aviation
Dr. Elliott Parsons is Head of Market Research at BOC Aviation. He joined the Company in June 2020 as Senior Manager, Strategy & Market Research, and was subsequently promoted to lead the department. Prior to joining BOC Aviation, Dr. Parsons held the role of Senior Manager at Seabury Consulting, where he was responsible for strategic advisory and account management for major airline clients across the Asia-Pacific region. He began his career as a Mechanical Design Engineer at BAE Systems before moving into consultancy roles at Frazer-Nash Consultancy and Seabury Consulting, where he developed deep expertise in fleet strategy, aircraft economics, and investment evaluation.
Dr. Parsons has over 17 years of experience in aviation leasing, consultancy, and engineering. He has led OEM negotiations, supported aircraft procurement campaigns, and driven the adoption of data-centric decision-making tools to enhance forecasting and investment strategies. His leadership style is collaborative and commercially focused, with a strong emphasis on aligning technical, operational, and strategic objectives.
Dr. Parsons holds a Doctor of Engineering from the University of Bristol, where his research focused on applying risk management to improve business performance. He also holds a Master of Engineering (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Exeter.
Marilyn Gan
Head of Origination APAC
Willis Lease
Marilyn Gan is Head of Origination, Asia Pacific at Willis Lease Finance Corporation, where she leads origination across the region for WLFC’s portfolio and funds managed by Willis Aviation Capital. She brings over two decades of experience in aviation finance, with senior roles at Vmo Aircraft Leasing, MUFG, DVB BANK, and SALE (now BOC Aviation). Marilyn is known for her deep market insight and longstanding relationships across the APAC aviation ecosystem. Beyond her executive role, she is a Board Member of the Advancing Women in Aviation Roundtable (AWAR) and a former Board Member of ISTAT, reflecting her active leadership in shaping the industry and advancing diversity in aviation.
Man Yiu Tse
Senior Analyst
ICIS
Man Yiu has over 10 years of experience in research and analysis in the energy and refining sector. He specialises in long-term energy demand forecasting, focusing on three transportation sectors—road, maritime, and aviation—at both global and regional levels. He has a keen interest in energy transition and leads the modelling and analysis of the impact of decarbonisation efforts on the energy demand landscape in the transportation sector.
Herman Tse
Valuations manager
Herman has had wide experience in aviation, including stints at a ground handling agency, airport authority and cargo airline before joining Cirium in November 2018. He focuses primarily on advisory services. His expertise is in airport and airline strategic planning, air network development, fleet planning and aviation market analysis. He is also passionate in aviation education and is a lecturer of an aviation degree program in Hong Kong.
Herman holds an MBA and Master degree in Engineering Enterprise Management from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and BSc (Hons) Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies from University of Salford. He is also a Project Management Professional (PMP). Herman is based in Hong Kong.
Ning Lek
Head of Sales, SEA
Cirium
Ning heads up sales in SEA at Cirium, bringing 15+ years of experience across the
aviation sector. She leads strategic business development and key account
partnerships across APAC, translating operational and commercial needs into data-driven solutions from Cirium’s portfolio.
Glemar Sabado
Regional Manager, SEA
Cirium
Glemar Sabado is Regional Manager, Southeast Asia at Cirium, advising aviation finance and industry leaders on using data to drive investment, risk, and strategic decisions.
He supports banks, lessors, airlines, and advisors in translating aviation data into actionable insights across asset valuation, market demand, and ESG—focusing on turning data into clear, decision-ready outcomes.
Vanessa Gu
Asia Finance Editor
Cirium
Vanessa Gu is Asia Finance Editor at Cirium, with 6+ years of experience across broadcast, digital, and corporate communications. A bilingual journalist, she specializes in producing clear, accurate reporting and analysis for industry audiences.
James Chew
Data Analyst – Professional Data Services
Cirium
James Chew is a pre-sales specialist and data analyst at Cirium, where he supports aviation clients across APAC with tailored data solutions and strategic insights. With a strong foundation in analytics and over 15 years of regional experience, James bridges technical expertise and client engagement – translating complex data into actionable outcomes. His career reflects a strong focus on delivering data-driven value across the travel and aviation ecosystem.