The PropelHer story

PropelHer is the driving force behind the next generation of female leaders in aircraft leasing and aviation. We create impactful opportunities for education, mentorship, and leadership development, empowering our members to build lasting connections, grow their capabilities, and propel their careers forward. Through advocacy and collaboration, we're shaping a stronger, more inclusive industry.

The organisation was established in 2016 by six founding members with the initial goal of supporting women to make connections in an industry that has long been heavily male-dominated.

As regular attendees at industry conferences, they often found themselves in the minority in predominantly male spaces. They wanted to create an environment where women could network, learn, and grow without being outnumbered.

After an intensive brainstorming session, the name and mission of PropelHer were decided: an association of aircraft leasing professionals providing a forum to exchange ideas, experiences, and insights relevant to the industry. The organisation was set up as a voluntary effort, with the founding members donating their time, leveraging their networks to secure sponsorships, and engaging senior leaders to participate in panels.

The initial aim was to host three to four networking events per year, featuring senior women and men as speakers, and gradually expand into broader initiatives to elevate female leaders within the sector.

Today, PropelHer has nearly 1,000 members across the wider aviation industry, including OEMs, airlines, legal firms, technical service providers, and banking institutions. We’ve evolved from an event-focused group to a platform delivering tangible learning and development opportunities through our flagship programmes, Altitude and Mentoring. We also lead initiatives such as a curated speakers list, campaigns to increase female representation on the Airline Economics Top 40 under 40 list, and signature events that provide meaningful opportunities for women to connect, network, and advance their careers.

The PropelHer story

Ali O'Sullivan

Andrea Wilson

Anna Rowan

Clodagh Kearns

Catherine Gaine

Evgenia Erakhtina

Fiona Scott

Maeve O’Dwyer

Marie-Aude Gagnon Rousseau

Roisin Furey

Selene Alford