Since its inception in 2015, Girls in Aviation Day has grown significantly, fostering a global community of young women and their mentors. The event is a key part of WAI’s mission to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals and pilots.
In line with its commitment to fostering a more diverse and equitable industry, Engage 2 will be sharing news of this inspiring event. The project continues to place a strong emphasis on promoting equal opportunities and inclusiveness within theATM and aviation research ecosystem. By highlighting events like Girls in Aviation Day, Engage 2 aims to support initiatives that encourage underrepresented groups to explore and pursue careers in aviation.
Some takeaways from the 2024 edition
The 10th annual Girls in Aviation Day, held on September 21, 2024, was a resounding success, setting new records for participation and global reach. Over 33,000 attendees participated in 194 events across 33 countries. The day’s events provided a wide range of engaging activities, from hands-on projects to career panels with female role models. This continued growth underscores the event’s crucial role in igniting excitement and curiosity in young participants as they explore the world of aviation and aerospace.
Engage 2 took an active role at Airspace World 2025, held in Lisbon by contributing to the second edition of Tomorrow’s Voices, an initiative led by CANSO in collaboration with Engage 2 and Firstfruits Services. The programme is designed to bring young professionals aged 20 to 30 closer to the world of Air Traffic Management (ATM), offering them direct exposure to the sector, opportunities for dialogue with industry representatives and insights into the future of airspace management.
Thematic workshop. The future workforce in the Era of new entrants
A central moment of Engage 2’s participation was the first thematic workshop titled The Future Workforce in the Era of New Entrants. The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities related to the integration of new airspace users, such as drones and advanced air mobility solutions, into the ATM ecosystem. The workshop highlighted the growing need for new interdisciplinary roles, such as architects specialised in urban drone operations and urban planners familiar with U-space design. Participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds engaged in open discussions, with younger attendees in particular pointing out a disconnect between academic training and practical industry needs. Many expressed the need for more hands-on learning and support in navigating the technical language commonly used in aviation.
Panel discussion: exploring career pathways in the evolving aerospace industry
The following day, on 15 May, Engage 2 contributed to the panel Exploring Career Pathways in the Evolving Aerospace Industry”, moderated by Micol Biscotto (Deep Blue, coordinator of the project). The panel brought together experts from leading organisations across the aviation and aerospace sectors – George Vergara (RTX), Snežana Tomčić (AviAll – Aviation for All), Nicola Ni Riada (IFATCA), Romulo Gallegos (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Sabina Zaharescu (CINEA) and Sue Meeks (Infina, Ltd) – who explored the skills required for the future, emerging roles and how to build a meaningful career in a rapidly evolving landscape. One key insight that emerged was the demographic shift currently underway: with a significant portion of the ATM workforce approaching retirement, the sector is at risk of losing valuable mentorship capacity. In this context, Engage 2’s mission to connect junior and senior professionals becomes even more vital, helping ensure that knowledge and experience continue to be passed on to the next generation.
Inspirational Tours: a guided journey through the aviation professions
Among the most engaging activities of the event were the Inspirational Tours, a new format developed by Engage 2 to guide young participants through thematic routes across selected exhibitor stands. Each tour focused on key professional profiles in aviation, including air traffic controllers, AI engineers, cybersecurity experts and U-space service providers. The tours offered an accessible and tangible introduction to both traditional and emerging roles within the sector, with particular attention to future-focused domains such as drone integration and advanced air mobility. Accompanied by a dedicated Career Passport, participants were invited to collect stamps at each stop and take part in short, structured conversations with industry experts. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and plans are already in motion to refine and expand the format for upcoming editions.
Engage 2’s presence at Airspace World 2025 reaffirms its commitment to supporting the future of aviation by facilitating meaningful connections, inspiring curiosity and bridging the gap between today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders in airspace innovation.
