President's Message

January 2026

A Truly Global Board for a Global Network

Dear IAWA Members, Friends, and Supporters,

It is my honor to write to you as the new President of the International Aerospace Womens Association (IAWA) for the 2026-2027 term and to introduce the new Board of Directors, who together with myself will be the team to lead IAWA. I am deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in our organization, and I am energized by the opportunities ahead as we continue IAWA's proud legacy of lifting up women in leadership.

A Truly Global Board for a Global Network
I am honored to serve as the first President of IAWA from Europe, and I am excited to introduce our 2026-2027 Board of Directors - the most geographically diverse leadership team in IAWA's history, whose origins span Australia, Eritrea, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Scotland, and the USA.

Please join me in welcoming:

  • Connie Avery, Vice President, Association Development + Affiliations
  • Karen Blanks Ellis, Vice President, Treasurer/Secretary
  • Kaaren Cramer, Vice President, Americas
  • MC Ernst, President-Elect
  • Donna Gerber, Vice President, Annual Conference
  • Sophie Ghezai, Vice President, Africa/Middle East
  • Selda Konukcu, Vice President, Europe
  • Roberta Miranda, Vice President, Events
  • Keren Rambow, Vice President, Membership
  • Debra Santos, Past President
  • Nackia Salmon, Vice President, Leader Development (Next Generation)
  • Mansi Singh, Vice President, Asia-Pacific (APAC)
  • Andi Sims, Vice President, Marketing + Communications

This Board brings diverse industry experience and a unified vision to expand IAWA's impact on leadership development, inclusive company culture, and global engagement. Together, we are dedicated to ensuring that IAWA supports, connects, and inspires members in every corner of the globe where aerospace thrives. Our diversity is our strength, positioning us to better understand and address the unique challenges of our industry and leadership across different regions, cultures, and market contexts.

2026: A Year of Impact and Innovation

I want to share several exciting developments that will define our year ahead in IAWA:

Lift-off to Leadership study Edition 2 Launch – In February 2026, IAWA and Oliver Wyman will release the second edition of our joint study work, the first of its kind with global survey data on the workplace in our industry. This research provides actionable recommendations for women in the workplace, men as allies, organizations, and the industry as a whole - particularly crucial as our sector faces significant challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified talent. The insights from this study will inform our advocacy and programming throughout the year and we hope you gain a lot of insights to support your own career path.

ALTITUDE by IAWA – We are launching our new leadership platform, open to all IAWA members and male advocates. ALTITUDE offers virtual executive courses, mentorship opportunities, and resources to strengthen leadership skills and industry knowledge, complementing our existing professional development programs and webinars. This initiative ensures that wherever you are in the world, you have access to world-class leadership development.

IAWA Mentoring Program 2026 – Our mentoring program has opened for applications, connecting experienced leaders with emerging talent. Whether you are ready to share your expertise as a mentor or seeking guidance as a mentee, this program offers invaluable opportunities for professional growth for all of our members and relationship building across our global community.

Flagship Events – Mark your calendars for two cornerstone events: our European Forum in Berlin on June 11-12, 2026, during the Berlin air show, and our Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 3-5, 2026. These gatherings will bring together leaders, innovators, and change-makers from across the aerospace sector. I look forward to seeing many of you there and to the connections, knowledge transfer, and inspiration these events will generate.

Give to Gain: Your Call to Action

The theme of International Women's Day 2026 is "Give to Gain"  -  a concept that perfectly captures the spirit of IAWA. This is about getting involved, becoming active, and engaging with your professional community.

When you give your time, expertise, ideas, and energy to IAWA, you gain invaluable returns: inspiration from peers, knowledge sharing across borders, development of your own leadership capabilities, critical industry insights, and a global network of contacts that can transform your career trajectory.

I invite each of you to become active in 2026:

  • Participate in IAWA committees and regional activities
  • Share your expertise through our programs and events
  • Mentor the next generation of aerospace leaders or become a mentee
  • Bring fresh ideas and perspectives to our initiatives
  • Connect your colleagues and networks to our mission

And "Give to Gain" also includes the financial contributions that enable our work. Our 2026 Giving Brochure is available on our website and outlines financial support opportunities for companies, corporate partnerships and individual contributions. Please reach out to our VP Association Development: Connie Avery if your company is interested to become a supporting partner. And as a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, IAWA has been able to receive tax-deductible donations since 2025.

The Board Serves You
As your Board of Directors, we are here to serve the membership. Your experiences, challenges, and aspirations should shape our strategic direction. I encourage you to reach out to me and to any Board member with your ideas, feedback, and suggestions. Let's build this organization together.

Whether you are a long-standing member or new to IAWA, whether you're based in the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, or anywhere else our industry reaches - you belong here, your voice matters, and your contribution makes a difference.

The aerospace and aviation industry stands at a pivotal moment. The decisions we make today about talent development, leadership pathways, and inclusive cultures will determine our sector’s future. Through IAWA, we have the collective power to positively shape that future.

I am honored to serve as your President during this exciting time, and I look forward to working alongside each of you to advance our mission of empowering women leaders globally.

Together, let's make 2026 a year where we truly CONNECT, INSPIRE, LEAD  - creating meaningful connections across borders, inspiring the next generation of aerospace leaders, and leading the transformation our industry needs.

Wishing each of you a successful 2026 and see you soon.


Respectfully,

Marita Lintener
President
International Aerospace Womens Association
2026-2027

Marita Lintener
2026–2027 President