The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) recently recognised retiring NBAA chief operating officer Steve Brown for his exceptional contributions to the global business aviation community, particularly for his guidance to IBAC and its direction for more than a decade.

Steve served on the governing board as an advisor and valuable confidant to IBAC and the director general Kurt Edwards. “Steve has always been willing to share his sage advice and counsel that made a lasting and positive impression on me and IBAC as an organisation,” says Edwards. “Steve played an important role in helping IBAC set a strategic direction to guide our growth. He was willing to find resources within NBAA to build the capacities of IBAC and identified NBAA members and staff to help support many of our ICAO initiatives.”

IBAC board chairman Ali Alnaqbi says: “IBAC and the global business aviation community have benefited greatly from Steve Brown's contributions. We are grateful for his knowledgeable, far-seeing insights.”

The inaugural IBAC DG Award was named after the directional gyroscope, the mechanism behind the heading indicator used by pilots for navigation. Coincidentally, DG also refers to the initials for director general.

“We felt the DG reference was fitting for Steve as a visionary leader in the development of IBAC," adds Edwards. "His guidance helped indicate the direction in which we were to fly. We at IBAC wish Steve the best in his retirement and thank him again for his contributions.”