21st AnnuAl
InternAtIonAl
Women In AvIAtIon ConferenCe
14 Aviation forWomen;May/June 2010
It didn’t take much looking around at the 21st Annual International Women in Aviation Conference this past February to figure out that indeed, the aviation industry is a global endeavor. And it was thrilling to discover that in this global enterprise in which we engage, women are more and more a presence across every discipline.
Wandering the halls of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and conference center
was more interesting than a day at Disney’s Epcot. For here were the real workers
from more than 16 countries, some delighted to be wearing typical ethnic clothing
to celebrate their diversity.
But don’t fool yourself. Behind the lovely pink-patterned dresses these women
are capable technicians, managers, and electronics engineers, many of whom have
a hands-on part in keeping the airways and airwaves of their country functioning
on a 24/7 basis.
“The increased participation of individuals from all over the world added to the
impact of this Conference,” said WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. “The diversi-
ty of participants, career paths and interests is what
makes this international Conference so special.”
Other international attendees may not have been
clad in native dress, but they were equally happy to have trekked the distance for
this year’s Conference. Rockwell Collins U.K. Finance
Director Jane Middleton was welcomed in as Women in
Aviation’s first internationally domiciled executive board
member. There were WAI members who traveled from
Russia, Australia, India and Japan. Meeting and exchang-
ing experiences was what they came for, and face-to-face
networking of the highest quality was their reward.
Women in Aviation, International is a multifaceted or-
ganization with many great venues for interacting, but its
Annual International Women in Aviation Conference has
become the place to be if you want the kind of intellectu-
al and emotional sustenance that only conversation with
eye-contact and the touch of an empathetic hand can bring.
That’s why we gather from near and far each year. So, are
you ready to be a part of it? The 22nd Annual International
Women in Aviation Conference is only nine months away!
Margarita Poromarova, Russia
ERAU students Andrew
Nicholson from Jamaica
and Megha Bhatia from
Dubai, UAE, are part of
the NBAA Official
Student Group.
photos by Paula Grubb
and John Riedel
