WA/AA International Women's Day 2023

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF WOMEN IN A/AA

This year’s International Women’s Day was successfully celebrated in Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne, while marking this year’s theme #embraceequity, along with celebrating 10 years of Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia.

Special thanks to the venue sponsors: Airbus Australia Pacific in Brisbane on the 7th of March, BAE Systems Australia in Canberra on the 8th of March, KPMG Australia in Sydney on the 9th of March, and Thales Australia in Melbourne on the 9th of March, for hosting our IWD Breakfast events.

The Brisbane event was moderated by Kathleen Boseley, Manager Engineering Capability and Innovation at Airbus Australia Pacific, joined by guest speaker Linda-Patrice Celestino, the General Manager InFlight Experience at Virgin Australia, followed by a panel of speakers: Professor Rosalind Archer, Head of School for School of Engineering and Built Environment at Griffith University, Ruth Harrison, Talent Acquisition Specialist at QinetiQ Australia, SQNLDR Anna Lovatt, Executive Officer 33 Squadron at Royal Australian Air Force, and Bree Zannes, Manager of the Engineering Quality at Airbus Australia Pacific.

The Canberra event was moderated by Alisha Parker, Business Development Associate at BAE Systems Australia, followed by a panel involving: Air Chief Marshall Mark Biskin, AC (Retd), Executive Director Defence and National Security at BAE Systems Australia, Robyn Leece, Service Standards Head at Airservices Australia, Sue McGready, CSC, Operations and Business Growth Director at Lockheed Martin Australia, and Linda Spurr, Industry Advisor at Linda Spurr Consulting and Committee Member at Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia.

The Sydney event was enriched with industry speakers: Rachael Barritt, Business Operations for Asia Pacific at Dovetail Electric Aviation, Dorji Chavara, Director of Engineering, Assets and Project Delivery at KPMG Australia, Carla Hewitt, Senior Human Resource Manager for Aviation and Gas Power at GE Australia and New Zealand, and Tia Tang, Associate Director at KPMG Australia.

The Melbourne event was moderated by Sarah McSwiney, Engineering Strategy & Operations Manager at Boeing Defence Australia & Chair at Aviation/Aerospace Australia, with guest speaker, Professor Virginia Kilborn, Chief Scientist at Swinburne University of Technology, and panelists: WNGCDR Melanie Buswell, Commanding Officer Air Training and Aviation Commons System Program Office, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group at the Royal Australian Air Force, Delphine Spaterna, Airspace Mobility Solutions Engineering Manager at Thales Australia, and Associate Professor Chrystal Zhang, Aerospace Engineering & Aviation, STEM College, School of Engineering at RMIT University

With the joined force of incredible industry speakers from reputable companies, along with a wide range of attendees across the sector, we are proud to say that this year’s IWD was meaningful and noteworthy. Thank you to our speakers, event partners, and guests. Looking forward to the next!