Sophie Lane

Sophie has been with the ATI since 2021 and is responsible for enhancing our strategic partnerships in the UK and around the world, through championing the strength and breadth of the UK aerospace sector.

Sophie has had a varied career across the public and private sector. She arrived at ATI after three years in Riyadh as the CEO of a Saudi-British engineering start-up and experienced first-hand the highs and lows of trying to grow a small business during Covid.

Prior to that she had served on the Board of that start up as part of her responsibilities as International Strategic Engagement Director at QinetiQ. Between 2002 and 2017 Sophie was a Civil Servant in UK Central Government and specialising in defence, security and trade. During that time, she gained extensive experience operating with Ministers and senior officials, and worked across several Departments and in the Middle East. Sophie was closely involved with the formation of the Defence Growth Partnership, the delivery of the first Strategic Defence and Security Review, and was the UK representative for several international trade delegations.

Sophie attended Newcastle University where she gained a BA (Hons) in History. She is a regular speaker, moderator and MC at aerospace and aviation events and talks passionately about the need for collaboration and risk appetite to achieve Net Zero and economic growth in aerospace.