Past Award Winners

2022 Aviation Industry Woman Of Excellence Award Recipient

Katherine Bennett CBE, FRAeS

The International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA), a global association committed to connecting, inspiring and leading women in the aerospace and aviation industries, is pleased to announce Katherine Bennett CBE FRAeS, Chief Executive Officer, High Value Manufacturing Catapult, as the recipient of the 2022 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.
 
As a woman who epitomizes these attributes, IAWA is honored to recognize Ms. Bennett as the eleventh recipient of the Woman of Excellence Award. Ms. Bennett’s career at Airbus and her current role as CEO of the HVM Catapult team are only two examples of her demonstrated leadership.  Her commitment to the development and advancement of women in the industry is exemplified by her membership in IAWA including serving on the IAWA Board, the founding of the UK’s chapter of Women in Aviation and Aerospace, and her involvement in the Royal Aeronautical Society are only a few examples of her commitment to IAWA’s mission.

From IAWA President, Kathleen Guilfoyle, Katherine’s unwavering commitment to the advancement and support of women in this field and the development of the next generation of leaders is unparalleled.  I cannot think of a more deserving candidate for this prestigious award.

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2021 Aviation Industry Woman Of Excellence Award Recipient

Dr. Fang Liu

The International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA), a global association committed to connecting, inspiring and leading women in the aerospace and aviation industries, is pleased to announce Dr. Fang Liu as the recipient of the 2021 IAWA Woman of Excellence Award. Dr. Liu has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to and support of the advancement of women in the aviation and aerospace industry and to IAWA. Her involvement in IAWA began in 2005 when IAWA went to Shanghai for its first Annual Conference in Asia, which was co-hosted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). She was the lead international relations role at CAAC and played a large role in the conference planning and instrumental in its success. She has served on the IAWA Advisory Board from 2008 - 2009 and has been an IAWA Honorary Board member since 2016.

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. As a woman who epitomizes these attributes, IAWA is honored to recognize Dr. Liu as the tenth recipient of the Woman of Excellence Award. Her participation has supported IAWA in building a global network of accomplished women in aviation and aerospace.

Dr. Liu served as the twelfth Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) from August 2015 through July 2021. As the first woman Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), appointed in 2015 and reappointed in 2018, she has been a role-model for women around the world in the aviation industry. Says Abby Bried, IAWA Advisory Board Member and Vice President and General Counsel at Panasonic Avionics Corporation. Under her leadership at ICAO, IAWA has established an affiliation relationship with ICAO where we have partnered on women's development projects. Dr. Liu has been a speaker for IAWA over the years at these events and at our conferences.

One of her pivotal achievements as Secretary General was to modernize ICAO's principal global standard-making function so as to evolve with sectoral changes and encourage new technologies. Dr. Liu has put innovation at the centre of what ICAO did while ensuring the relevance of ICAO global standards and policies, which should be flexible to the extent possible to take into consideration of diverging needs, and integration with the frameworks of other modes of transport, tourism, trade, environment etc.

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2020 Aviation Industry Woman Of Excellence Award Recipient

Dr. Christine Darden

The International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA), a global association committed to connecting, inspiring and leading women in the aerospace and aviation industries, is pleased to announce Dr. Christine Darden as the recipient of the 2020 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. As a woman who epitomizes these attributes, IAWA is honored to recognize Dr. Darden as the ninth recipient of the Woman of Excellence Award.

Dr. Darden has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the advancement of women in the aerospace industry and to IAWA. In 2007, after nearly 40 years of service, she retired as a member of The Senior Executive Service, NASA Langley Research Center, where she was hired in 1967 as a Computer/Data Analyst in the Re-Entry Physics Branch. Her final assignment at Langley was as Director of the Office of Strategic Communications and Education (OSCE). In that position she was responsible for the Center's external and internal communications, community outreach, governmental relations and educational outreach. Prior to the OSCE position, Dr. Darden served as the Langley Assistant Director for Planning, responsible for the Langley strategic planning process, and oversight of the Center's delivery on commitments. She served as Director of the Aero Performing Center Program Management Office (APCPMO) where her office had oversight of NASA Langley's work in Rotorcraft, Efficient Engine Technology, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Air Traffic Management, as a Senior Program Manager in NASA's High-Speed Research (HSR) Program Office, and for nearly 30 years as an internationally known researcher in high-speed aerodynamics and sonic boom research. In 2018, NASA signed a contract with Lockheed Martin Palmdale for the build of a full-size supersonic low-boom X-plane to demonstrate both low-boom performance and supersonic efficiency-a continuation of the sonic boom work performed and led by Dr. Darden.

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2019 Aviation Industry Woman of Excellence Award Recipient

Colleen Barrett

The International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2019 IAWA Aviation Industry Woman of Excellence Award as Colleen Barrett. This award recognizes women who are leaders in the field of aviation, have demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of women in the industry and are respected as team players by men and women alike. As a woman who epitomizes these attributes, IAWA is honored to recognize Colleen Barrett as the eighth recipient of this award.

Colleen C. Barrett is currently President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines Co., a primarily high-frequency, low-fare, point-to-point airline which prides itself in its excellent Customer Service qualities.

Prior to stepping down as the Company’s President on July 15, 2008, she oversaw management, Leadership, and budget responsibilities over the following areas/groups: the Senior Vice President Marketing (Marketing, Sales & Distribution; Online Marketing; Revenue Management & Pricing); the Senior Vice President Corporate Communications (Pass Bureau; Emergency Response; Public Relations & Community Affairs; Community Relations & Charitable Giving; Employee Communications; Legislative Awareness); the Senior Vice President Chief People & Administration Officer (People [Human Resources];
Leadership Development & Training; Manager in Training programs; University for People; Performance Reviews; Talent Development; Onboarding Program); the Vice President Customer Relations & Rapid Rewards; the Vice President Labor & Employee Relations (Labor & Employment Law; Employee Relations; FMLA/ADA; Labor Relations & Negotiations); the Vice President Reservations; the Director Corporate Security; and the Executive Office Staff. She was also a member of the Company’s Executive Planning Committee, and she chaired numerous special Teams, task forces, and committees relating to Internal and External Southwest Customers. Colleen co-authored with Ken Blanchard the book Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Success (2010).

Before joining Southwest (in 1978), she worked for several years as an Executive Assistant to Herb Kelleher (Southwest’s former Executive Chairman) at his law firm.

For Southwest Airlines, she served as a member of the Board of Directors from 2001 to May 2008 and as Corporate Secretary from March 1978 to May 2008, and she served as Vice President Administration from 1986 to 1990; Executive Vice President Customers from 1990 to 2001; President and COO from 2001 to 2004; and President from 2004 to July 2008. Colleen has one son and one grandson; is active in numerous civic and charitable organizations in Dallas, Texas; serves on the JCPenney Company, Inc. Board of Directors; and has served on numerous advisory boards and commissions.

2018 Aviation Industry Woman of Excellence Award Recipient

Marion Blakey

The International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2018 IAWA Aviation Industry Woman of Excellence Award as Marion Blakey. This award recognizes women who are leaders in the field of aviation, have demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of women in the industry and are respected as team players by men and women alike. As a woman who epitomizes these attributes, IAWA is honored to recognize Marion Blakey as the seventh recipient of this award.

Marion C. Blakey joined Rolls-Royce North America Inc. (RRNA) in 2015 as President and Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Ms. Blakey also served as Chairman of the Rolls-Royce North America Holdings Inc. Board.

Prior to joining Rolls-Royce, Blakey was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) where she provided a leading and influential voice for the aerospace and defense industry. From 2002 to 2007, Blakey was Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) where she operated the world’s largest air traffic control system and managed 44,000 employees and a $14 billion budget. Prior to 2002, she held several senior-level positions including Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ms. Blakey is Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Noblis, a nonprofit science, technology and strategy organization, and is a member of the Alaska Airlines Board of Directors where she serves as Chairman of their Safety Committee. She also serves on the Board of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

Born in Gadsden, Ala., Blakey received her bachelor’s degree with honors in international studies from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a fellow in the Royal Aeronautical Society and has received numerous honorary degrees and awards, including the National Aeronautic Association’s 2011 Henderson Trophy, Aviation Week & Space Technology’s 2013 Laureate Award, and the National Aeronautic Association’s 2013 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.

IAWA proudly awards Marion Blakey the Aviation Industry Woman of Excellence Award for 2018.