Leesburg, VA – November 11, 2025 - The International Aerospace Womens Association (IAWA), a global association committed to connecting, inspiring and leading women in the aerospace and aviation industries, is pleased to announce Alina Nassar as the recipient of the 2025 IAWA Woman of Excellence Award. This award recognizes women who are leaders in aerospace and aviation, have demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of women in the industries and are respected by men and women alike.
About Alina Nassar
Alina Nassar is a partner at Nassar Abogados Centroamérica in San José, Costa Rica, where she leads the firm’s Aviation and Space Law practice and co-chairs its Competition Law practice. She joined the firm in 1996 and has since advised international companies on aviation, space, corporate, and competition law across Central America.
In 2018 she received the Best in Aviation Award in New York from the Americas Women in Business Law Awards, and she is consistently ranked by Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America, and the IFLR.
Alina was president of the International Aerospace Women’s Association (IAWA), serving in 2018–2019. During her presidency, IAWA launched its first-ever report on gender equality in aviation and aerospace, Soaring Through the Glass Ceiling, in partnership with Korn Ferry and other industry leaders. She later contributed to the Lift Off to Leadership report (2021) with Oliver Wyman.
She is a frequent speaker and panelist at international conferences, covering topics from aviation and space law to foreign investment, leadership, and gender equity. Her written work includes a chapter on gender equality in Mastering the Power of Leadership (2022).
Alina has also held leadership roles beyond her firm, serving as Vice President of the International Airlines Association in Costa Rica, a board member of CINDE (former Costa Rica’s foreign investment agency), and Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the International Bar Association’s Aviation Law Committee. She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Flight Safety Foundation and is a Fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network through the Central America Leadership Initiative.
She holds degrees from the Universidad de Costa Rica (J.D.), the University of Texas at Austin (LL.M.), KU Leuven in Belgium (MSc in Space Studies), and the University of Oxford (Diploma in Advanced Management and Leadership).
Born and based in Costa Rica, Alina is raising two daughters and is passionate about traveling, reading, sports, and opening doors for others—especially in advancing education, leadership, and gender equality.
About the International Aerospace Womens Association (IAWA)
IAWA is a nonprofit association providing a worldwide network dedicated to promoting the advancement of women in the aviation and aerospace industries
at all levels across the globe. IAWA sponsors informative meetings, hosts receptions, and connects, publishes newsletters, and keeps its members updated
on the latest industry developments. Information related to the Association, its programs, studies and Leadership Development opportunities can be found at IAWA.org.
