Airports Council Announces 2025 Risk Management Professional of the Year Award Recipients

January 30, 2026

This Year’s Ceremony Marked the Inaugural Presentation of the Risk Management Legacy Award 

WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, has recognized the 2025 Risk Management Professionals of the Year. Established by the Risk Management Committee in 2019, this award recognizes professionals involved in risk management at ACI-NA member airports. Nominees must be full-time airport employees and endorsed by an airport executive, though risk management need not be their full-time role. The award is presented in three categories based on FAA calendar-year enplanements: Large, Medium, and Small Airports. This year, nominations were received for the Large and Medium Airport categories 

This year, ACI-NA also introduced the Risk Management Legacy Award. The Airport Risk Management Legacy Award honors individuals with long-standing commitment and significant contributions to the ACI-NA Risk Management Committee. Candidates are evaluated on committee leadership, sustained conference engagement, and active participation in committee initiatives. 

“Effective risk management is essential to maintaining safe, resilient, and reliable airport operations,” said Kevin M. Burke, President and CEO of Airports Council International – North America. “This year’s award recipients demonstrate leadership and a long-term commitment to strengthening risk management practices at their airports and across the industry. ACI-NA is proud to recognize professionals whose work helps ensure airports are prepared to manage today’s challenges and those ahead.” 

 

Large Airport Award Category: Catrina Gilbert, Vice President, Risk Management, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 

Catrina Gilbert plays an important role in advancing risk management efforts at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Gilbert leads the planning and the execution of Enterprise Risk Management programs that affect DFW’s Strategic Plan and is responsible for the implementation of a consistent framework for addressing risks, designing interventions and transfers of risk, managing insurance programs, overseeing the Airport’s Rolling Owner Controlled Insurance Program (ROCIP) for capital development projects, and implementing safety programs focused on prevention and mitigation. Her data-driven approach has delivered $1.9 million in insurance savings, achieved a 100 percent safety training compliance, and strengthened preparedness for major global events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

 

Medium Airport Award Category: Zeronda Smith, Director – Office of Risk Management, Dallas Love Field 

Zeronda Smith provides strategic leadership that strengthens Dallas Love Field (DAL) and the City of Dallas’s performance, safety, and resilience. By identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks, she ensures that operations remain efficient, compliant, and secure. Smith oversees eight divisions, a $63 million budget, and $5.4 billion in assets. Her leadership has delivered a 95 percent paperless risk management workflow and fosters a proactive culture of safety and preparedness, turning potential challenges into opportunities for improvement. Through effective risk governance, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making, she enhances operational continuity, safeguards assets and passengers, and supports the airport’s ability to adapt and thrive in a complex and evolving aviation and public entity environment. Under her guidance, equipment incidents have declined by 7 percent annually, risk review timelines have reduced from six months to just five days, and $1.8 million in subrogation claims were recovered in 2025 alone. 

 

Risk Management Legacy Award: Stephen Dinsdale, Senior Vice President, Special Products Division, Airports, ACE 

Stephen Dinsdale began his insurance career in 1963 and spent over 45 years in the aviation insurance industry. Dinsdale managed several aviation underwriting teams with a focus on Commercial Airports and Governmental Aircraft-related risks. Prior to his retirement from the industry, he was a member of ACI-NA and ACI World for over 20 years. Dinsdale was instrumental in shaping the Risk Management Committee at ACI-NA into what it is today as one of just three founding members of the ACI Insurance and Risk Management Group. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, he played a pivotal role in transitioning the seminar to rotating host cities to ensure its continuity and growth. His leadership and foresight left a lasting legacy on the airport risk management community and continue to influence the program’s success today. 

 

About ACI-NA

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports support more than 11.5 million jobs and account for $1.4 trillion in economic activity – or more than seven percent of the total U.S. GDP. Canadian airports support 405,000 jobs and contribute C$35 billion to Canada’s GDP. Learn more at www.airportscouncil.org.