Celebrating Inclusive Heights: Women Inspiring Aviation

Every year on March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is a day when we recognize women’s achievements without cultural, ethnic, linguistic, economic, political, or economic divisions. In the 47 years since the United Nations first began officially commemorating this day, the movement has strengthened to build support for women’s rights and ensure we are all on the same page with our commitment to accelerating the progress that is still needed.

This year’s theme, “Inclusive Heights: Women Inspiring Aviation”, resonated deeply within the aviation sector as we recognized the pivotal role women play in shaping a sustainable and thriving industry. On March 8th ICAO hosted a High-level Panel discussion to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements, leadership, and contributions of women and young females in aviation. This year’s discussions recognized the contributions, achievements, and leadership of women and young females in aviation. The panel members and speakers of the event included:

• Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO Council
• Melissa Haney, Pilot, Air Inuit
• Annick Goulet, Representative of Canada on the Council of ICAO
• Catherine Guillemart-Dias, Executive Vice President Public Affairs, Airbus Canada
• Hélène Gagnon, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement, CAE
• Anita Adjei-Nmashie, Representative of Ghana on the Council of ICAO
• Véronik Blanchette, Pilot, Sunwing
• Alexandra Richard, Manager, Administration and Permits, ADM Montreal Airports
• Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General, ICAO

There was so much valuable, interesting information and advice shared during these discussions that gave insight into the careers of these aviation professionals, insight that would benefit the next generation of aviation professions. We recorded the event and have shared it on ICAO TV here.

From pilots and air traffic controllers to engineers and ground crew, women are essential pillars of the aviation industry, driving innovation, safety, and efficiency. Despite so much progress, we still face challenges in achieving gender equality in this field. These panelists engaged in insightful discussions on the barriers and opportunities for advancing gender equality in aviation, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunities.

As a tangible step towards empowering women in aviation, ICAO announced that a Global Ambassador Programme will be established to strengthen our advocacy efforts in support of gender equality, diversity and inclusion. In addition, to celebrate the #IWD2024, ICAO will provide a 10% price reduction for women on all training courses throughout 2024. Through this initiative we hope to reduce financial barriers and promote greater participation of women in aviation education and professional development.

As we commemorate what this day means around the world, it is important that we champion gender equality in aviation and beyond. ICAO also acknowledges the theme of the #IWD2024 celebrated by the United Nations; “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”. By investing in women, we not only unlock their full potential but also contribute to building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable aviation sector for the future. Together, we can reach new heights of equality and empowerment.