The International Aerospace Womens Association (IAWA) has announced its incoming president, board of directors, and a slate of transformative initiatives planned for 2026 that further its mission to connect, inspire, and lead.

2026 board of directors: Global leadership, collective impact

IAWA’s 2026 board of directors reflects a diverse and accomplished group of senior leaders representing aerospace, aviation, insurance, consulting, sustainability, and global operations across multiple regions, with leadership based in Europe, India, the Middle East, and the US. The members include:

Marita Lintener, president)
Managing director, European Aviation Consultancy (Frankfurt, Germany/Perth, Australia)

Connie Avery, vice president, association development + affiliations
SMS and operational safety senior manager, Wisk Aero (Phoenix, Arizona, USA)

Karen Blanks Ellis, vice president, treasurer/secretary
Chief sustainability officer, FedEx Corporation (Memphis, Tennessee, USA)

Kaaren Cramer, vice president, Americas
Director of engineering strategy + operations, Long Wave Inc. (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA)

MC Ernst, president-elect
Senior vice president, special risks underwriting department manager, USAIG (New York, New York, USA)

Donna Gerber, vice president, annual conference
GM Services, GE Aerospace (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)

Sophie Ghezai, vice president, Africa/Middle East
Director of operations, Africa Air Transport Solutions Associates (AATSA) International (Washington, D.C., USA)

Selda Konukcu, vice president, Europe
Senior director, commercial aircraft sales, Airbus (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Roberta Miranda, vice president, events
Managing director, Marsh Aviation (New York, New York, USA)

Keren Rambow, vice president, membership
Vice president, Airbus Relations, Pratt & Whitney (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)

Debra Santos, past president
Boeing retiree (Seattle, Washington, USA)

Nackia Salmon, vice president, leader development (Next Generation)
Chief executive and founder, Nackia Salmon Global Consulting (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)

Mansi Singh, vice president, Asia-Pacific (APAC)
Partner, BTG Advaya (Mumbai, India)

Andi Sims, vice president, marketing + communications
Vice president of business development, HPM (Birmingham, Alabama, USA)

Marita Lintener, IAWA president for the 2026–2027 term, said: “This board brings diverse industry experience and a unified vision to expand IAWA’s impact on leadership development, inclusive culture growth and global engagement.”

Founded in 1988, IAWA empowers women across aviation and aerospace with access to leadership development, mentoring programmes, research insights, and a global community of peers and advocates.

The organisation recently enhanced its structure and broadened its mission through its rebrand as the International Aerospace Womens Association, achieving 501(c)(3) status in the US to support expanded programming and grant opportunities.  

Strategic initiatives for 2026

Altitude by IAWA

In 2026, IAWA will offer Altitude by IAWA, an executive leadership development initiative designed to equip members with advanced strategic skills, mentorship access, and career-acceleration tools. The program connects participants with expert leaders and tailored resources to support leadership readiness and professional growth.

Lift Off to Leadership Report

Building on prior research that explored barriers and pathways for women in aerospace leadership, IAWA, in partnership with Oliver Wyman, will release an updated Lift Off to Leadership Report in early 2026. This industry-leading research delivers actionable insights into sponsorship effectiveness, talent pipeline challenges, and strategies for equitable leadership advancement across sectors. Early findings have generated meaningful dialogue at industry forums and reaffirm the importance of systemic support mechanisms to strengthen women’s leadership progression.

IAWA Annual International Conference – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

The IAWA Annual Conference will be held on November 3-5, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This premier global event will gather senior executives, innovators, and rising leaders from across aerospace to engage in thought leadership sessions, inclusive leadership workshops, career strategy forums, and high-impact networking.

For more information on IAWA, visit: iawa.org.

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