Gender diversity in aerospace is characterised by a long history of imbalance and slow structural change, but also a rapidly growing recognition that inclusion is core to meeting the challenges facing the sector.
International Women’s Day (8th March), is an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made, but we should also reflect on the work still to be done: women remain significantly underrepresented, especially in technical and leadership roles, and the barriers are both cultural and systemic.
This formed the backdrop to the conversation at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s International Women’s Day event on Friday 6th March. Rachel O’Malley, Lead Technologist – Sustainability & Strategy, ATI was in attendance and shared her reflections on the conversations:
“It was a privilege to attend the Royal Aeronautical Society’s International Women’s Day event, hosted by Christine Matthews, with inspiring contributions from Gp Capt Emma Keith and Dr Emma Royce.
“One message came through clearly: progress doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when people actively give — time, opportunity, visibility, mentorship, trust and sponsorship. When those things are given, organisations gain stronger leaders, broader talent pools, more resilient teams and more innovative cultures.
“From Gp Capt Emma Keith’s reflections on leadership in the RAF came a powerful reminder: Leadership is not a job title. It’s how we show up every day — supporting colleagues, challenging bias and opening doors for others.
“A panel discussion on male allyship acknowledged that many aviation and engineering systems were historically built by men, and that meaningful progress requires those with influence to help reshape them — by opening doors to opportunity, backing inclusive hiring decisions, and creating space for people to develop and succeed.
“Dr Emma Royce left the audience with an important reminder: recruitment without retention is simply churn. Building a diverse workforce requires systems where people can thrive, not just join.”
The ATI is a signatory of the Women In Aviation & Aerospace Charter, which has done a great deal to help the sector improve representation, including providing opportunities for male allyship . The challenge now is shifting from awareness to sustained action: changing cultures, redesigning systems and actively supporting change.
The ATI has pushed for that change in our own organisation – 60% of our Executive Management Team is female, for example – but we will continue to champion the inclusion underrepresented groups in this exciting industry of ours.
