Valerie Hackl until recently served as managing director for the ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG. She graduated in economics from Vienna University for Economics and Business and the University of British Columbia. She received her doctorate from the University of St. Gallen. At the beginning of her career she worked as consultant for Bain & Company.

Axel Schwarz has a degree in Technical Physics and Law. As a pilot he holds licenses from gliding to airline transport pilot. He is certified flight instructor and examiner. Axel Schwarz for many years has been active as IATA-IOSA auditor and worked in the Austro Control licensing department from 2005 to 2008.