To reach net-zero emissions by 2050 we need to explore innovative transport solutions. Being a largely coastal nation, electric seagliders present a new way of moving people and goods around New Zealand in a comfortable, affordable, fast and sustainable way.

Ocean Flyer are striving to have seagliders operating in Aotearoa from 2025 and will share their progress to date and ambitions for the future. They will show the current prototype being tested in the US and the different applications of seagliders, and what this mode of transport could offer to Aotearoa.

Shah Aslam, CEO – Ocean Flyer

Shah is a corporate finance specialist in the fields of consultancy and start-ups. Upon completing his MBA at the National University of Singapore, Shah returned home to Aotearoa where he took up a position with the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ). He later started his own venture capital firm SO Capital.

In 2018 SO Capital purchased Air Napier and, as CEO, he is currently disrupting and growing the aviation industry. Through many years of leadership and finance experience, Shah has amassed a verifiable history of financial modelling, preparing and implementing short and long-term strategic objectives and consulting multinationals

John Hamilton, Director, Operations – Ocean Flyer

Former Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (2002-2006) and former Director of the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (2006-2014). Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake he was appointed by the government to be the National Controller in Christchurch and responsible for the control and co-ordination of the national response.

In 2019, John joined Air Napier as Director, Operations and developed the safety management system approved by CAA, and has used his aviation experience to manage the current operation and enhance the company’s operating procedures and standards

Professor Mark Orams - Dean of the Graduate Research School at the Auckland University of Technology, Aotearoa/New Zealand.

His research focuses on marine recreation, tourism and sport and he has published widely on these areas. He is the founding co-chair of the International Coastal and Marine Tourism Society (ICMTS) and serves on the editorial boards for Tourism in Marine Environments and Coastal Management. Mark remains an active ocean sport enthusiast and regularly engages in sailing, surfing, stand-up-paddleboarding, scuba diving and most recently windfoiling.

A web link will be made available to registered attendees prior to the event. The presentation will be made available following the event on the Transport Knowledge Hub website here. Please email knowledgehub@transport.govt.nz if you have any questions.

Ocean Flyer: bringing seagliders to our shores