Women in A/AA Melbourne Summit 2024

Join Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia for a full-day Summit, Thursday, 31 October at RACV City Club.

Women in A/AA has proudly delivered Summits across Australia for the last 10 years, bringing together leaders and change-makers across the aviation, aerospace, and space sectors to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the industry. We invite you to join us and bring your team to broaden your network, and take meaningful insights and key learnings back to your organisation.

This year we'll be looking at the conversations that can no longer be taboo in the workplace. We're giving space to some of the silent struggles that need to be articulated. How do we remove the barriers and the glass ceiling between women in middle management and C-Suite? Are organisations doing enough in engaging people around menopause, return to work, or parental leave?....Take part in workshops, debates, panels and more!

Program is subject to change.

EVENT MC

Vicki Emmerson, Vice President, Talent Acquisition Asia Pacific at Thales Group & National Committee Member at Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Stephanie Tully, Chief Executive Officer at Jetstar Airways & Director at Aviation/Aerospace Australia

INDUSTRY SPEAKER

Raj Burli, Industry Engagement Manager at CSIRO

Julie Cooper, Non Executive Director at Nova Systems ANZ

Dr. Ruwangi Fernando, Founder & Director at STEM Sisters & Co-Founder & Director at iSTEM.Co

Thomas Fisher, Product Design Engineering Student at Swinburne University of Technology

Parmis Hassani, Engineering and Commerce Student at Monash University

Abby Jones, HR Director, Organisational Capability at Thales Group

Manatsawee Limprapuwiwattana, PhD Student at RMIT University & NextGenNetwork Committee at Aviation/Aerospace Australia

Leif Mawson, General Manager, Melbourne Service Centre at Bombardier

CPL Charlotte, Mears, Aircrewman, 5 Aviation Regiment at Australian Army

Danielle Mesa, Chief People and Culture Officer at Airservices Australia

Hania Poonawala, Industrial Engineers at Boeing Aerostructures Australia

Dr. Mark Redmond, Employee Experience Manager at Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub), Swinburne University of Technology

Cathy Riach (Diener), Director of Talent Acquisition & Talent Management at QinetiQ Australia & Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia National Committee Member at Aviation/Aerospace Australia

Jacob Sibbald, Senior Strategy and Planning Associate & Pride Network Co-Chair at Virgin Australia

WGCDR Wendy Walker CSM, Commanding Officer – Defence Force School of Languages at Royal Australian Air Force

More speakers to be announnced.

EVENT MC

Vicki Emmerson, Vice President, Talent Acquisition Asia Pacific at Thales Group & National Committee Member at Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia

Vicki Emmerson currently Vice President of Talent at Acquisition at Thales Group and National Committee member of Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia  joins us as MC of the event. Vicki’s career spans well beyond 20 years but has committed the last 16 years in our industry with a mission to match make people with their dream jobs and to thrive.

Vicki’s passion to drive gender equity and empowerment for all women with a splash of her humour - she will bring the energy and ask the hard questions!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Stephanie Tully, Chief Executive Officer at Jetstar Airways & Director at Aviation/Aerospace Australia

Stephanie was appointed to the role of CEO Jetstar Group in November 2022. 

In this role, Stephanie has accountability for the Jetstar Australia, Jetstar New Zealand, Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Japan airlines. Stephanie sits on the Qantas Group’s Group Leadership Team, reporting to Group CEO Vanessa Hudson.  During her almost 20 years with the Qantas Group, Stephanie has led teams across both operational and commercial areas of the organisation, from cabin crew to marketing, loyalty and product design. 

In the three years prior to joining Jetstar, Stephanie was the Qantas Group’s Chief Customer Officer where she was responsible for all aspects of the customer experience and strategy across the Group including digital, lounges, the inflight experience, and customer care.  In this position Stephanie was also responsible for the Qantas brand, marketing and sponsorships. 

Stephanie was appointed as a Board Director of Aviation Aerospace Australia in September 2021 prior to which she was a Board Director of The Association for Data-driven Marketing and Advertising for six years. Prior to joining Qantas, Stephanie spent time in leadership positions at both David Jones and Ansett Australia, where she commenced on the airline’s graduate program in 1997. 

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.

SPEAKERS BIOGRAPHIES

Raj Burli, Industry Engagement Manager at CSIRO

Raj is an accomplished industry engagement leader with a passion for shaping the future of education through technology. With extensive experience serving on the boards of multiple organisations, Raj brings deep insight into how innovative technologies can transform learning and workforce development. Known for building sustainable partnerships across government, industry, and educational institutions, Raj excels at bridging gaps to create collaborative pathways for systemic change. An advocate of co-design and inclusive collaboration, Raj is dedicated to fostering environments where young people, cutting-edge technologies, and innovation converge. His work is driven by a commitment to empowering the next generation with the tools and opportunities to lead in an ever-evolving digital world.

Julie Cooper, Non Executive Director at Nova Systems ANZ

Julie Cooper is currently the Chair of Credit Union SA and is a Non Executive Director of Defence Technology Company, Nova Systems. 

She is also a Board Advisor to the successful construction and property company, Sarah Group, and is involved with the Adelaide Football Club as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee and Non Executive Director of the Club’s Charitable Foundation.

She has had a long corporate career which has spanned defence, banking, and brewing.  She was a senior executive at BAE Systems in Australia and in the UK.

Julie was also a Management Consultant for the international consulting Firm, McKinsey & Co, working out of that Firm’s London offices.  Throughout her career, Julie has worked in the UK, Asia, and in the Middle East.

She is a former Chair of the South Australian Film Corporation, and was a Director of the Australian Submarine Corporation and Helping Hand Aged Care.  She was also on the National Board of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  She is a member of the International Women’s Forum of Australia.

 

Dr. Ruwangi Fernando, Founder & Director at STEM Sisters & Co-Founder & Director at iSTEM.Co

Short Bio Dr Ruwangi Fernando is an accomplished IT expert and AI specialist with a strong academic, industry and consulting background. Dr Fernando completed her PhD at Victoria University in collaboration with Data61, CSIRO and the Department of Transport in Victoria. She chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Australian Computer Society Victoria and is a member of The Department of Home Affairs Multicultural Women’s Reference Group.

Dr Fernando has a strong history of advocating for gender equity in STEM, especially in addressing the intersectional challenges women of colour (WOC) face in STEM. She was recognised for her efforts and awarded a STEM Women Changemaker by the Australian Academy of Science, Melbourne Asian Game Changer 2022 award by Asia Society and Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll in 2023. Dr Fernando founded STEM Sisters, a pioneer organisation that empowers STEM women of colour. She spearheads six award-winning programs to break down systemic barriers and promote equal access to opportunities in STEM for WOC. Under her leadership, STEM Sisters won many awards, including the Techdiversity Business (2023) and Media (2023) Awards, the Victorian International Education Excellence Award 2022, the Multicultural Excellence Award 2022 and the WISE grant from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

She is also the founder of iSTEM Co., a research, consulting and talent-sourcing company that enables employment for women in STEM, including WOC and CALD. iSTEM Co. was nominated as a finalist for the Women in Digital awards and has recently launched DEIR, a recruitment-tech platform that eliminates recruitment bias for women in STEM. DEIR has also received recognition in STEM and won the Lift Women Social Impact Award and Burning Heroes Australia Award for Equity In Innovation.

Dr Fernando is a born leader, academic, researcher, consultant, entrepreneur, AI specialist, and speaker. She is devoted to advocating for diversity and inclusion in STEM and the importance of intersectionality.

 

Thomas Fisher, Product Design Engineering Student at Swinburne University of Technology

Tom is a 23-year-old final-year engineering student majoring in product design, with a focus on optimising the layup of carbon fibre road bikes for his final year research project. Alongside the academic pursuits, Tom is a professional triathlete, balancing intensive training with my studies. He is passionate about pushing the boundaries of innovation in design and advocating for products that align with the right to repair movement, ensuring sustainable and accessible solutions for all.

 

Leif Mawson, General Manager, Melbourne Service Centre at Bombardier

Leif Mawson has over 25 years’ success leading operational teams to maximise their potential. His experience as a People Leader & Coach spans General, Operational, Training & Customer Focused work environments. Leif has a unique stakeholder engagement skillset across the transport sector and is a skilled mentor. His experience in highly complex, regulated, operating environments is founded off a strong technical background, primarily across aircraft maintenance.

Hania Poonawala, Industrial Engineers at Boeing Aerostructures Australia

Hania Poonawala is an Industrial Engineer at Boeing Aerostructures Australia. She's worked on commercial and defence projects at Boeing, ranging from complex production system design to providing hands on production support to manufacturing operations.

She is a passionate advocate for Women in STEM and improving Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Her commitment is seen through active participation in Boeing's employee resource groups to improve inclusivity, as a mentor to university students and graduate engineers, and as a Global Ambassador for the Society of Women Engineers. She uses her experience as a woman of colour from a culturally and linguistically diverse background to share her perspectives in relevant conversations, and influence positive change.

Hania holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Product Design from Swinburne University of Technology. She leverages her experience as an engineer with a design background to lead with curiosity and empathy, with a human centred approach to solving technical and non-technical problems.

 

Parmis Hassani, Engineering and Commerce Student at Monash University

Parmis Hassani is a 4th-year student pursuing a double degree in Mechatronics Engineering and Commerce at Monash University, specializing in Artificial Intelligence for her Bachelor of Engineering and Finance for her Bachelor of Commerce.

Formerly the CEO of Monash Nova Rover, Parmis led a multidisciplinary, robotics-based student team dedicated to designing and building Mars and Lunar rovers for international competitions. She continues to support the team, bringing her expertise in leadership, engineering, and innovation.

Passionate about engineering, robotics, and diversity, Parmis is committed to driving technological advancements and fostering inclusive environments in STEM.

 

Abby Jones, HR Director, Organisational Capability at Thales Group

Abby is the Director, Organisational Capability overseeing a $4million talent, leadership and training budget. Apart from working with her amazing team, the best part of her role is working across all business lines in Thales Australia. No two parts of Thales are the same, so the breadth and depth of the team’s work is what keeps her engaged and excited about Thales’ future. Abby loves to understand what makes people tick and how this can lead to greater business performance. An organisational psychologist with over 15 years’ experience across professional services, banking and insurance and now Defence, Abby is obsessed with making Thales a better place to work by leveraging their greatest asset – their people.

Dr. Mark Redmond, Employee Experience Manager at Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub), Swinburne University of Technology

Dr Mark Redmond is an HR specialist with over 12 years of experience working across industries such as Higher Education, Science and Technology, IT, Hospitality, Security Services and Utilities. Mark has worked with a wide range of professionals and provided them with career coaching and HR advice. Mark’s ability to build positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders has allowed him to achieve outstanding results for all parties across numerous HR projects and large-scale recruitment campaigns, as well as enhancing the reputation of the organisations and teams he has worked in.

Mark previously completed a PhD at La Trobe University with research focused on ‘Change Management in Professional Sport’, a Master of Business at La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Business - Sport Management (with Honours) at La Trobe University. During his professional career, Mark also completed a Diploma of HR Management at Swinburne University of Technology. 

In his current role with the Aerostructures Innovation Research (AIR) Hub at Swinburne University, Mark plays a critical role in driving strategies and activities that focus on how the AIR Hub attracts, retains, and develops talent, as well as playing a key role in building the overall culture of the AIR Hub. Mark also has been leading the development of an Education and Training Program where the specialist AIR Hub employees will facilitate training opportunities in the Aerospace sector, with the aim of supporting the growth of the market in Australia by upskilling the current and future workforce.
 

Cathy Riach (Diener), Director of Talent Acquisition & Talent Management at QinetiQ Australia & Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia National Committee Member at Aviation/Aerospace Australia

Cathy Riach joined QinetiQ Australia in June 2022 in the newly created role of Head of Talent Acquisition & Planning.  Following a restructure, Cathy is now the Director for Talent Acquisition & Talent Management for QinetiQ’s Australia Sector, encompassing responsibility for talent acquisition and talent management across QinetiQ’s business in Australia, Germany and QinetiQ’s Target Systems business (Canada and UK).

Prior to joining QinetiQ, Cathy spent 20 years at BAE Systems Australia, starting initially in a business unit based human resources role. Following a secondment to build a shared services talent acquisition model, she assumed responsibility for the leadership of the national talent acquisition function. Her role evolved and changed over time to include responsibility for redeployment, strategic workforce planning, outplacement, employment branding, diversity hiring strategies and talent partnerships.  Cathy’s last role at BAE Systems saw her responsible for operational workforce planning and national resourcing strategies.  In April 2023 Cathy was promoted to Sector Head of Talent Acquisition, assuming additional responsibility for talent acquisition strategy and support for QinetiQ’s operation in Germany and in QinetiQ’s Target Solutions business in Canada and the UK.

Prior to joining BAE Systems, Cathy worked for the Morgan & Banks group. She holds qualifications in human resources, industrial relations and workforce planning.

Cathy is a certified member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and sits on the committees for Women in Aviation & Aerospace and The Future Through Collaboration, a cross industry initiative to advance women in the defence industry.

 

Jacob Sibbald, Senior Strategy and Planning Associate & Pride Network Co-Chair at Virgin Australia

Jacob Sibbald (he/him) is a Senior Associate in Virgin Australia's Group Strategy team and the Co-Chair of Virgin Australia's Pride Network. Throughout his three+ year tenure at Virgin Australia, Jacob has contributed to a wide array of strategic projects while simultaneously leading several initiatives for the Pride Network - including its signature Pride Flight event.

Since the introduction of the new Virgin Australia Group Belonging Strategy two years ago, Jacob and his colleagues have developed and implemented new and redesigned policies (including the Group's first Gender Affirmation Policy and Guidelines), learning modules, education materials and delivered internal events, all contributing towards Virgin Australia receiving Bronze Australian Workplace Equality Index accreditation for the first time in 2024, which is just the beginning of LGBTQIA+ inclusion efforts for the Group!

 

WGCDR Wendy Walker CSM, Commanding Officer – Defence Force School of Languages at Royal Australian Air Force

Wing Commander Wendy Walker enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force in 1996 as a Clerk and later Commissioned as a Logistics Officer. Prior to joining Air Force Wing Commander Walker worked for Kodak Australasia, managing Photographic Mini-Labs and Retail Stores in Tasmania.

Wing Commander Walker has had postings all around Australia and is currently the Commanding Officer at the Defence Force School of Languages at Laverton, where she previously served as the Executive Officer.

Wing Commander Walker has participated in numerous exercises during her career both domestically and overseas. She has also deployed on war-like Operations to Iraq and peace-keeping Operations to East Timor.

Other highlights of Wing Commander Walker’s career have included going to New Caledonia to participate in Exercise Southern Cross, the largest Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise in the South Pacific; introducing a new aircraft type into service whilst simultaneously retiring another; and working with the Air Force Culture and Diversity & Inclusion Teams.

Wing Commander Walker holds an Advanced Diploma in Business (Accounting) and a Masters in Logistics Management from the University of New South Wales. She was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours List in 2012 and a Silver Commendation in 2016.

Wing Commander Walker is married to Rick who is also in the Air Force. Together with their daughter, Heidi and their Labrador, Banjo - Wendy enjoys spending time at home in the garden, photography, reading and relaxing with family and friends.

 

More speakers to be announnced.