PropelHer was delighted to partner with Aviation Skillnet and TYHub to introduce Transition Year students to the diverse career opportunities available across the aviation industry.
On Tuesday, 6 October, PropelHer hosted Aviation Careers: Beyond the Flight Deck, an interactive webinar delivered as part of Aviation Skillnet’s Future of Women in Aviation initiative.
The session aimed to broaden students’ understanding of what a career in aviation can look like, highlighting opportunities that extend far beyond the traditional roles of pilots and cabin crew.
Through the experiences of three women working in different areas of aviation and aircraft leasing, students had the opportunity to discover the variety of career paths available, the skills needed to succeed and the many different routes into the industry.
Meet Our Speakers
We were delighted to welcome three speakers who shared their individual career journeys and insights:
Sharon Forrester, Procurement Manager at CDB Aviation, opened the session by sharing her career journey, from starting out as an engineer with the Irish Air Corps to building a career in aircraft leasing and procurement. Her experience highlighted how careers can evolve and lead to opportunities in unexpected areas.
Ali O’Sullivan, AVP Corporate Finance at SMBC Aviation Capital, offered students an insight into the financial side of aviation, demonstrating the important role finance plays in supporting the global aviation industry.
Niamh O’Meara, Senior Legal Counsel at Milestone Aviation, shared her experience of working at the intersection of law, aviation and helicopter leasing, highlighting another career path that students may not traditionally associate with the sector.
Together, the speakers explored how they found their way into aviation, what their day-to-day roles involve and how the industry continues to evolve.
Inspiring the Next Generation
For PropelHer, initiatives like this are an important part of helping young people, particularly young women, see the breadth of opportunities available within aviation.
By connecting students directly with women working across the industry, we hope to challenge perceptions of what an aviation career looks like and encourage more young people to consider paths they may not previously have explored.
A huge thank you to Sharon, Ali and Niamh for generously sharing their time and experiences, and to Aviation Skillnet and TYHub for partnering with us to bring this initiative to Transition Year students. Thanks also to SMBC Aviation Capital for hosting the webinar.
Watch the Webinar Replay
Whether you're a student exploring future career options, a parent, teacher or simply interested in learning more about the aviation industry, we invite you to watch the full session.