Personal Journey in Aviation
- What inspired you to pursue a career in aviation, and how did you get started?
I switched from aerospace engineering to transport planning for my masters as I found aerospace engineering very dry. I worked as a transport planner and then by luck got hired by Boeing for helping airlines with problems that are not unlike transport planning problems I was solving.
- Can you share a defining moment in your career that solidified your passion for aviation?
I think I was impressed by the aviation industry when I started to learn about flight planning. Still to me it’s hard to believe how pilots and air traffic controllers come together to make a flight happen using really old school technology!
- What challenges have you faced as a woman in the aviation industry, and how have you overcome them?
For me the biggest challenge is the expectation of industry to act like a man. A lot of places still are being run like old boys clubs and people don’t even shy away from acknowledging it. My way to solve this problem is to be myself and keep going. At the end of the story, if you are doing your job right and meeting the key performance indicators you have to meet, people have no reason to object to the way you are doing stuff. It’s not easy but it’s doable.
- Who were your role models or mentors, and how have they influenced your journey?
I met Steve Altus early in Boeing and he has been wonderful in making me feel seen and trust myself. Recently I started working with Dominique Colin at SITA and he had been a great mentor. They both are allies that feminism movement has been asking for.
- What achievements are you most proud of in your aviation career?
I started a nonprofit with a few friends. The goal is to make sure we provide more affordable air mobility to everyday Canadians. We have been pushing the idea of supporting air mobility, not luxury travel among politicians and government ministers. It is going to be a long road but maybe we can change the future of Canadian aviation a bit.
Sustainability in Aviation
- How has the aviation industry evolved in addressing sustainability concerns during your career?
In 2018, I tried to get into a PhD program to do sustainable aviation, but I couldn’t find any program. In 2020 when I suggested to my managers to build a sustainability app, they replied to me that no airline is interested. This scene is 180 degrees different today. Industry has realized that public opinion is changing and they need to take environmental sustainability at least seriously if they want to continue their businesses.
- What role do you think new technologies, like electric or hydrogen-powered aircraft, will play in sustainable aviation?
It’s hard to tell. I think RAM has more chance than UAM to be commercially successful. So maybe hydrogen which can support longer flight is the winner. However to me all these new electric and hydrogen airplanes are great to see because even if they don’t take off they will change the design of next Boeing or Airbus aircraft
- In your opinion, what are the biggest obstacles to achieving sustainable aviation?
I think we still don’t have the right technology. Hydrogen and electric planes are not going to be good for long haul soon. SAF seems not to be very sustainable thinking about the source of bio fuel.
- How do you balance the growing demand for air travel with the need to reduce environmental impacts?
I really don’t think we can. With the current growth trend we will eat our carbon budget before 2035. I am with organizations like Safe Landing that suggest we need to slow down (at least for the next 10 years).
- What innovations or projects in sustainable aviation excite you the most?
I am very excited about electric drones being used for delivery in remote areas. They are green, cheap and easy to pilot. I am hoping they will be used by many rural communities soon. I also love airships like Flying Whales for the same reason (delivering a lot of freight to hard to reach places)
Advocacy and Representation
- What changes would you like to see to encourage more women to enter the aviation field?
I loved the IATA 25 by 2025 campaign that pushed for 25% women in senior leadership roles by 2025. Similar initiatives by ICAO, FAA, EURO CONTROL will be a good start.
- How important is diversity in driving innovation in the aviation industry, particularly in sustainability?
I have noticed women are much better and more present at nonprofits than for profit organizations. They are already pushing a lot of sustainability agenda forward just not from traditional channels.
- What advice would you give to young women who aspire to combine a passion for aviation and sustainability?
Find one friend that is also passionate about this and you will go far together.
Future of Aviation
- How do you see the aviation industry changing in the next 10 years in terms of sustainability?
I think good things will happen. It won’t be as fast as some might want to see. Aviation won’t be a front runner in sustainability but I think we have already passed the point of no return. There is only one way forward for the industry and that’s going further.
- Do you believe current policies and regulations are sufficient to achieve net-zero emissions in aviation?
I don’t think the way forward is via policies and regulations (top down). I think we need the users (passengers) to demand this from the airlines which then demand it from manufacturers etc (bottom up). If this happens governments will come up with the right regulations to make sure they satisfy their citizens.
- What role can collaboration between governments, manufacturers, and airlines play in creating a more sustainable future?
I think you cannot change the problem with the mindset that created it. I don’t believe the collaboration between existing stakeholders can change anything. We need new players to shake the industry up a bit 😊
This interview was conducted a while before publication for the purpose of learning more about gender disparities in sustainable aviation