Josh Stewart is a seasoned leader in the aviation industry with over 30 years of experience and over 15 years of experience in the energy sector. As the Founding Chairman of the Irish Business & General Aviation Association (IBGAA), Josh represents Ireland on the International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) Governing Board and is committed to championing and helping safeguard an industry that he is deeply passionate about. Josh is also the founder and CEO of Robusto Capital and XJet.

A Belfast native and former RAF Volunteer Reserve pilot (ULAS), Josh has been a keen aviator since a young age and worked as a bush pilot in Africa during the early stages of his career. He provided humanitarian air support for many NGOs, including the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Red Cross. He has since accumulated over 5,000 flight hours as an FAA-rated Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and commercially rated helicopter pilot.

In 2003, Josh was introduced to the Educo® Model, and it was at this seminar that he developed his invincible vision for a new type of business aviation company, XJet®.

XJet® disrupted the status quo by designing a revolutionary business model with world-class facilities, seven-star service, transparent economics, and jet fuel at cost. In 2006, XJet constructed a new state-of-the-art facility in Denver, Colorado, which immediately established a new benchmark for business aviation. XJet consistently ranked as the number one business aviation company in the Americas for multiple consecutive years.

In 2014, XJet® secured the largest private hangar in Europe at London-Stansted Airport and carried out a comprehensive upgrade to cater to heads of state and the VVIP market. XJet London was awarded the top spot in the annual rankings for Europe and the rest of the world. Under Josh’s leadership, XJet® rapidly rose from an industry start-up to a challenger brand to the world’s number-one-ranked business aviation company.

In 2018, XJet completed an asset purchase sale with Tiger Infrastructure Partners ($3.2B AUM), with Josh retained as a strategic advisor. Tiger utilized XJet to create and develop an FBO network with Modern Aviation’s platform, growing from just one location with the acquisition to 16 locations. In 2023, Apollo (NYSE: APO—$512B AUM) acquired a majority stake in Modern Aviation. Apollo Funds and affiliated entities have invested over $12 billion in the aviation industry. Josh has retained ownership of the XJet® model and trademark and continues to seek new opportunities.

Josh has 15 years of experience in the energy sector outside of aviation. He was a director and shareholder in Belize Natural Energy (BNE) from 2008 to 2020. BNE, founded by a group of Irish investors trained in the Educo® Model, came together and discovered the first oil in Belize. A 97% Belizean team powers BNE and has consistently been the number-one revenue generator in Belize, contributing more than US $250 million in government revenues and gaining global recognition for its award-winning holistic model.

At BNE, Josh saw an opportunity to create and develop the country-to-country relationship between the UAE and Belize, as no formal links had previously existed between the two countries, resulting in virtually no trade or investments between them. He began by leading high-level government delegations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Belize. He was subsequently responsible for establishing formal bilateral relationships between the UAE and Belize, signing the bilateral trade and investor protection agreements at the United Nations Headquarters in 2015.

Following this, a bilateral economic cooperation agreement was signed at the UAE Ministry of Economy in 2019. As a result of these delegations, trade agreements, and treaties, investment has flowed from the UAE into Belize from both the government and private sectors as the county-to-county alliance continues to strengthen.

In 2019, Josh launched his own investment company, Robusto Capital, in the international financial center of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), unifying his business portfolio under one structure. Robusto Capital has active investments in the aviation, energy, and non-profit sectors as it continues to develop additional bilateral partnerships with new investments.

Steve has worked in the oil, gas, and aviation industries for the last 32 years. He has held C-level executive leadership roles in the three mission-critical components of a company: finance, operations, and business development. Steve has participated in the start-up teams of 3 companies, which raised over USD$50 million in private equity investment.

In 2018, Steve became Chief Operating Officer for Robusto Capital, overseeing and working with the management teams on its investments in aviation and energy companies. Prior to Robusto Capital, Mr. DeSalvo held leadership positions in oil and gas exploration, production, geoscience, and engineering companies. From 2006 to 2009, he was Chief Financial Officer for XJet.

Mr. DeSalvo graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Business/Accounting and earned his MBA from the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. He has also completed certification courses at the Colorado School of Mines in Oil and Gas Economics, Reserve Analysis, and Geology.

Rex Almazan is the Office Manager of Robusto Capital Holdings Limited and the virtual office administrator of the Irish Business & General Aviation Association, a national, not-for-profit association based in Ireland.

Rex Almazan is an experienced office manager, marketing specialist, and customer service professional. Driven by his aspirations, he takes pride in providing the best service possible. As an employee of Robusto Capital, his goals include fostering growth and development for both the company and himself as an individual.

Rex graduated from the University of Baguio in the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing Management. After earning his degree, he joined E-Precision Contact Solutions as an Outbound Sales Account Specialist. He also worked at SITEL, a BPO company, as a Customer Service Representative for accounts such as Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and First Data Resources Financial Services. Before joining First Data, Rex was an office secretary and a personal assistant at a construction development company in his hometown, Baguio City. Before his current role at Robusto Capital, he was a Concierge for Meraas Holding, A Dubai-based master developer.

Ahmad Malaz Zind Elhadeed is the Finance Director of Robusto Capital Holdings Limited.

A seasoned finance industry professional, Zind Elhadeed has almost 17 Years of experience in international accounting and finance; he has held positions of Chief Accountant and Accounts Manager.

He entered the finance industry in 2003 as a Junior Accountant with Al Rashed Travel & Tourism Co. in Damascus, Syria.

In 2005, he secured an accountant position with Leisure Tech Group in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In 2008, he was a General Accountant with a Golf Scaffolding Factory in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Shortly after, in 2010, he was appointed to represent Golf Scaffolding Factory, a new branch in Damascus, Syria, with Teamco International Trading & Contracting as Chief Accountant.

During the unsafe situation in Syria in 2013, Zind ElHadeed had to resign and move back to Dubai. When he got back, he was able to pursue his professional career and held a position as an Accounts Manager with the Executive Group.

In 2018, Zind ElHadeed met Mr. Joshua Stewart, CEO of Robusto Capital Holdings Limited, and started a business relationship with him as Finance In Charge in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In 2019, Robusto Capital Holdings Limited hired Zind ElHadeed as Corporate Accountant and Finance In Charge in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

I am a senior accountant with over seven years of experience managing multiple accounting functions for a large Group of Companies within the UAE. My distinguished career reflects a track record of leading all financial and accounting activities to support commercial success and company growth.

Management specialist with extensive years of developing and overseeing entire Group Accounting, Audit, & Cash Control functions by utilizing a solid understanding of all accounting/financial management aspects or concepts. A resourceful leader who communicates a clear strategic vision, effectively leading highly skilled accounting teams to drive organizational success.

Track record of building trusted relationships at all organizational levels, especially with Executive Management, while providing advice, support, or consultancy on all financial or accounting matters. Adept at negotiations and collaboration with all concerned departments, banks, regulatory authorities, vendors, big companies, and all internal/external stakeholders via excellent communication skills.