Giuseppe Riesi - 510931

[Yanis Abt]

Dear Members of the IVAO Board of Governors,

I am writing to submit my application for the position of IVAO Governor as part of the interim elections. My motivation to apply is rooted in my long-standing involvement within IVAO, combined with a strong professional background in communication, stakeholder management, and Public Relations, both within IVAO and in my real-life career.

IVAO has been a constant and formative part of my personal development for many years. Beyond being a flight simulation network, IVAO represents an international organisation built on commitment, transparency, and community-driven values. Throughout my IVAO career, I have taken on responsibility in communication-oriented roles, including serving as Public Relations Advisor in Germany and, subsequently, as Social Media Manager at Headquarters level.

In these roles, I actively contributed to IVAO’s external communication by supporting global PR initiatives, coordinating messaging across divisions, and strengthening IVAO’s public image on social media platforms. Working at HQ level allowed me to gain valuable insight into IVAO’s organisational structure, international coordination, and the importance of consistent, well-aligned communication between departments, the Executive Council, and the community. I am familiar with strategic communication planning, community-facing messaging, and the sensitivity required when representing a non-profit organisation on a global stage.

Alongside my IVAO engagement, my real-life professional career has further shaped my understanding of communication, responsibility, and organisational governance. I currently work in Sales within the logistics industry at Raben, where I am responsible for customer relations, commercial coordination, and acting as a key interface between customers, internal departments, and external partners. In this role, clear communication, trust, and structured decision-making are essential, particularly in complex and time-critical environments.

Prior to my current position, I gained extensive experience in customer service, export logistics, and international coordination, often working in multilingual and intercultural settings. These roles required a high degree of professionalism, solution-oriented thinking, and the ability to represent companies credibly towards customers and partners alike. They also strengthened my ability to analyse situations objectively, communicate transparently, and balance operational demands with long-term relationship management.

In addition, I bring a solid background in Public Relations and media-related work outside IVAO, including responsibilities such as:

- Supporting and creating digital and print communication materials
- Coordinating and maintaining social media content and campaigns
- Ensuring consistent brand presentation across channels
- Acting as an interface between operational teams and communication activities
- Managing projects independently while aligning with broader organisational goals

These combined experiences — voluntary and professional — allow me to contribute to IVAO not only with operational know-how, but with a strategic and governance-oriented mindset. I understand the importance of reputation, transparency, and credibility for a NPO, especially one as visible and international as IVAO.

As a potential member of the BOG, I would aim to support IVAO’s mission and vision by contributing my experience in communication, stakeholder relations, and organisational understanding. I am highly motivated to contribute responsibly and constructively to the work of the Board of Governors during this interim mandate and to support IVAO’s continued development at a strategic level.

Thank you very much for considering my application. I would be honoured to further serve IVAO in this capacity.

Kind regards,

[Erdem Akbulut]

Hi Guiseppi, thanks for your application. I have some questions for you.

1) You don't have any activity for more than a year, do you think you have enough time?
2) Why you did not apply NPO first to gain more experience?

Regards,

[Erdem Akbulut]

Hi Guiseppe, since I didn't get any answer from you for over a week, I assume you are not interesting anymore to join the BoG therefore cannot support your application this time. Wish you a good luck.

[v510931]

Hi Erdem,

thank you for your message and for taking the time to review my application.

Hi Guiseppe, since I didn't get any answer from you for over a week, I assume you are not interesting anymore to join the BoG therefore cannot support your application this time. Wish you a good luck.

First of all, I would like to sincerely apologise for not replying earlier. The delay was not intentional and does not reflect a lack of interest in the Board of Governors.

Unfortunately, I was unable to access my account for a period of time and therefore could not log in to reply. The issue has since been resolved after resetting my password with the support of the BoG — at this point, I would like to sincerely thank Yanis for his assistance. I fully understand that timely communication is essential, especially in the context of a BoG application, and I regret the confusion this caused.


Regarding your questions:

1) You don't have any activity for more than a year, do you think you have enough time?

It is correct that my visible IVAO activity has been lower over the past year. This was mainly due to significant changes in my real-life career and responsibilities. These circumstances have now stabilised. I am confident that I can commit sufficient and reliable time to the responsibilities of a Governor role. My intention to apply is based on a realistic assessment of my availability and my willingness to prioritise Board-related duties appropriately.

2) Why you did not apply NPO first to gain more experience?

I deliberately chose not to apply for an NPO position prior to this application. My motivation was not a lack of interest in operational roles, but rather the wish to contribute on a strategic and governance level, based on my previous IVAO experience and my professional background in communication, stakeholder management, and organisational responsibility. I am fully aware that NPO experience can be valuable; however, I believe that my past HQ involvement and my real-life professional experience allow me to contribute meaningfully at Board level as well.


I completely understand your position and respect your conclusion regarding support for my application. Nevertheless, I wanted to clarify these points to avoid any further misunderstanding regarding my motivation or commitment.
Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
Giuseppe