The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that nominations are now open for the 2021 IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards.

Nominations are now open in these three categories:

Inspirational Role Model Award: Recognises a woman holding a senior position within the air transport industry who has had a significant impact on the aviation agenda through her strong contribution to business delivery, as well as her ongoing support of diversity and inclusion agenda. Nominees are welcome from across the aviation industry.

High Flyer Award: Recognises a young female aviation professional under the age of 40 who has developed leadership through concrete action in favour of diversity and inclusion, making a positive impact on the industry. Open to all female professionals in the aviation industry.

Diversity & Inclusion Team Award: Recognises an airline that has seen a measurable change in diversity and inclusion as a result of the work it has been doing in this area. Open to all IATA member airlines.

The winners of each category will receive US$25,000 in prize money sponsored by Qatar Airways payable to the awardee or their nominated charity working on diversity and inclusion projects.

According to Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar Al Baker, they must continue to demonstrate leadership and identify greater opportunities to broaden the inclusive nature of aviation, ensuring that they benefit from an engaged workforce that feels valued and appreciated.

We believe that supporting greater diversity and gender balance across the global aviation industry is a vital element for future success which is why we are supporting the IATA Diversity and Inclusion awards again this year.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said that the COVID-19 pandemic has been an opportunity to redouble their efforts to improve performance. Improving their gender balance, in particular, is a top priority as seen by the growing number of signatories to the IATA 25by2025 pledge.

Along with honouring those leading change, the awards aim to inspire even greater urgency in driving the changes needed to strengthen aviation with a commitment to diversity and inclusion at the industry’s highest levels of leadership.

The 2021 nominations will be evaluated by an independent panel consisting of the recipients of the 2019 IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards:

  • Christine Ourmières-Widener, CEO, TAP Air Portugal
  • Fadimatou Noutchemo Simo, Founder/President, Young African Aviation Professional Association
  • Christina Kennedy, GM People-Operations and Employee Experience, Air New Zealand.

The judging panel will be chaired by Air Transport World Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker.

The deadline for submission of nominations is on 29 August at 6 pm (CET). More details on the nominations can be found on the IATA website.

Winners of the 2021 IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards will be announced at the IATA 77th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Boston. (3 to 5 October).

The IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards were launched in 2019 to recognise and celebrate the efforts to promote a more diverse and inclusive aviation industry. These annual awards were suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19.


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