Hemant Mistry, Managing Director for Aviation at Antal International, has been announced as a member of the judging panel for the Aviation Industry Awards 2026, bringing over 35 years of experience in global aviation, spanning technology application, commercial strategy, and regulatory reform, to Ireland's benchmark programme for aviation excellence and innovation.

Mistry combines a safety and technical background with financial expertise, an unusual mix that he has used to build consensus among senior industry stakeholders on cost management and sustainability. 

At IATA, he led the Net Zero Transition activities supporting the decarbonisation of the aviation industry, working across airlines, governments, and the supply chain. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was responsible for IATA's work on securing financial support for airlines and supply chain partners, a role that placed him at the centre of the sector's recovery.

Earlier at IATA, as Director of Infrastructure and Fuel, he worked with governments, airports, air navigation service providers, and jet fuel suppliers on partnership opportunities, pricing and efficiency improvements, and effective capacity development, which gives him a working view of airport operations and the wider operating environment. 

Before IATA, he was a Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he led competition and regulatory assessments for the European Commission and carried out safety audits for national aviation authorities. 

That grounding in regulation and safety informs how he is likely to weigh entries on airline safety and operational excellence, while his work on net zero equips him to assess aviation innovation and aviation technology submissions with a clear eye on sustainability.

The Aviation Industry Awards, launched in 2014, spans 25 categories from Aviation Company of the Year and airport management to aviation innovation, airline safety, aviation technology, and Aviation Rising Star. 

Mistry joins fellow panellists Judging Coordinator Dr Viktoriia Ivannikova of DCU, Adam Bouchard of Nashville International Airport, John Drysdale of Annadale Aviation, Samantha Harding of SILC, Aidan Flanagan of ACI EUROPE, Kieran O'Brien of KPMG Ireland, John McMahon of M.J. McMahon & Company, Dr Kyriakos Kourousis of the University of Limerick, Sinead McCloskey, Aoife O'Sullivan of Keystone Law, and Michael Treacy of Enterprise Ireland.

The awards gala will take place on 3 December 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport.

Visit the official Aviation Industry Awards website to explore the shortlist and subscribe to the newsletter for the latest awards and event updates.