Meet more of the women that are changing the face of aviation
As we worked on this edition, we came across so many women doing great work in aviation. We wanted to include more of them.
Some were nominated by others, some we already knew about, and some we discovered through conversations we had with other connections.
Their careers take them into very different parts of aviation, and many have worked hard to build their place in an industry where women are still underrepresented. Not every story needs to be a big headline to matter. Sometimes it is simply about doing good work, sticking with it and opening up possibilities for the women coming next.
Here are a few more women we think are worth knowing.
1. Claudia Zapata-Cardone – President of Latino Professionals in Aerospace, Diversity & Inclusion Champion
Claudia Zapata-Cardone is a United Airlines Airbus Captain, Line Check Airman, and President of Latino Professionals in Aerospace, driven by the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not.
Claudia has transformed advocacy into action, expanding access to aviation through scholarships, mentorship, the Latin Aerospace Industry Expo, and the Academy for Latinos in Aerospace Science (ALAS). Her work has helped thousands of Latino students and professionals discover careers they never thought possible.
A passionate advocate for women in aviation, Claudia co-founded Empowering Latina Leaders in Aerospace Science (ELLAS), creating opportunities for mentorship, leadership, professional development, and greater visibility for Latinas across the industry. Her work is focused on creating pathways, removing barriers, and ensuring underrepresented communities have the resources, confidence, and connections to thrive and lead.
For Claudia, meaningful representation goes beyond visibility. It means giving the next generation a clear pathway forward. Her leadership is helping build a more inclusive aviation workforce while showing young people that they belong in aerospace and that opportunity can become possibility.
2. Dr Tamara Pejovic – Deputy Head of the Aviation Sustainability Unit at EUROCONTROL & Co-founder of AviAll – Aviation for All
Dr Tamara Pejovic has spent more than 25 years working across aviation, from industry to research and academia, safety and sustainability. A career she never planned became her professional home and shaped her belief that aviation should be accessible to everyone.
Having experienced the realities of building a career in a male-dominated industry, Tamara believes diversity is not a corporate slogan. It is about genuine inclusion, belonging, and creating the psychological safety for people to contribute, develop, challenge ideas, and lead.
In 2021, she co-founded AviAll – Aviation for All to turn that belief into action. Its Aviation for Girls programme inspired almost 200 girls and boys from 21 countries in 2025, while initiatives including “Let’s Talk About Her” and “Find Your Voice” support women already building careers in the industry.
Tamara wants young women to understand just how broad aviation really is, with opportunities spanning engineering, data, sustainability, law, research, communications, and safety.
Her message is simple: don’t ask whether you belong in aviation. Ask where in aviation you could belong.
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3. Laura McColm – Lead Pilot for Metro Aviation & Volunteer with the Whirly-Girls
Laura McColm is Lead Pilot for Metro Aviation in Lafayette, Louisiana, but her path to becoming a helicopter pilot was anything but straight. After studying ethnomusicology and astrophysics, programming computers and travelling, she found herself drawn to helicopters.
A scholarship from Whirly-Girls became a critical part of her decision to change careers. The validation was as important as the funding, and she ultimately found her dream job as a medevac helicopter pilot.
Laura’s experience taught her to find organisations that appreciate who she is, build a strong support network, choose flight schools carefully and remember that career paths do not always follow a straight line. She also understands the importance of networking in a small industry.
As a woman pilot, Laura has encountered preconceived ideas, surprise and occasional negative opinions about female pilots. She chooses to view these moments as opportunities to educate. Today, she also volunteers with Whirly-Girls and the NOLA 99s, organisations that provide mentorship, scholarships and support to women in aviation.
4. Nastassja Lewis – Flight Attendant & CEO Aviation Industry Advocate
Nastassja Lewis is a mental health advocate whose work has supported hundreds of flight crew members across the aviation industry. Drawing on her own lived and shared experiences, she has helped create an outlet and safe space for crew facing mental health challenges.
Her advocacy has included creating a hotline and sharing access to mental health professionals, providing practical support within an industry where these conversations have been desperately needed.
As a woman in aviation, Nastassja has also supported mental health initiatives addressing the challenges and crises faced by women working within the industry. Her willingness to speak openly and create spaces where others can seek help has been central to her work.
For more than a decade, Nastassja has continued to advocate for greater mental health support across aviation. Her work has received numerous awards and recognition, but its most significant impact can be seen in the flight crew members who have been given somewhere to turn when they need support.
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5. Deborah Thomas – Sustainable Aviation Consultant & Senior First Officer
Debbie Thomas is an Aerospace Engineer, Sustainable Aviation Consultant, Airbus A320 Pilot, and Aviation Charity Volunteer who has had a passion for aviation since 14 years old.
After studying Maths and Astrophysics, Debbie spent 16 years working in engineering, including Airbus and Boeing. Once she had passed her mid-thirties, it dawned on her that if she didn’t give becoming a commercial pilot a go now, she probably never would.
She embarked on a three-year marathon of working as an engineer part-time, bringing up her children with her husband, and training for her commercial pilot’s licence. She went on to fly the Airbus A320 around Europe.
When Covid hit, Debbie leaned on her engineering background and joined the Aerospace Technology Institute FlyZero project, working on future hydrogen aircraft. She has continued working within sustainable aviation and is also involved with Hallar Global and Aviation for Good.
Debbie hopes to show other women that aviation is about excitement, possibilities, opportunities, and fulfillment. You just have to reach for it, one step at a time, and not let invisible barriers get in the way.
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