São Paulo – International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced this Tuesday (26) the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards sponsored by Qatar Airways. Directed to aviation industry companies and professionals, the initiative acknowledges the female participation in the sector and inclusion and diversity projects led by the companies.
According to information from IATA pressroom, three categories will be awarded. The Inspirational Role Model Award will be presented to a woman over 30 who holds a senior position within the industry and has had a significant impact on the aviation agenda by contributing to business delivery and supporting the gender diversity agenda.
The High Flyer Award will recognize a female contributor under 30 who has started developing her career and has been seen as a leader through her inspirational work. The Diversity and Inclusion Team Award will recognize an airline that has seen a tangible change in its diversity as a result of the work it has been doing in diversity and inclusion. Open to all IATA member airlines.
Nominations for the awards must be registered through the IATA website starting this Tuesday (26) until March 31. They will be judged by an international independent panel of experts. The first of these annual awards will be presented at IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit to be held in Seoul, South Korea in early June.
“Aviation is the Business of Freedom. The essence of aviation is building a global community by connecting people, businesses and cultures across great distances. Ten million people work in the aviation industry to make this happen. It is important that this workforce reflects the amazing diversity and inclusion that it fosters in our society. By launching these awards, we want to recognize and celebrate the great work that is being done to take the industry into the future,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general and CEO, according to material published by the association.
Sponsored by Qatar Airways, each category comes with USD 25,000 in prize money payable to the awardee or their nominated charity working on diversity and inclusion projects.“Aviation thrives with diversity and provides great employment opportunities to talented people in every corner of our planet. But there is much room to improve. For example, gender balance is by far not equal. In sponsoring these awards, we are committing to do better ourselves, to building awareness and to inspiring change,” said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group chief executive and chair of the IATA Board of Governors.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
