Increasing Women’s Participation In The African Aviation Industry

By Monday Ukoha

A Multi-pronged Approach

Increasing the participation of women in many economic sectors has been one of the major preoccupations of business leaders and policy makers all over the world. In the aviation industry, major international organizations including International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have keyed into initiatives to support more women participation in aviation professions and leadership. IATA, in 2019, came up with its agenda 25by2025 which aims to increase the percentage of women in aviation leadership to 25% across airlines by 2025.

In Africa, African airlines, notably Ethopian Airlines (ET) and Kenya Airways (KQ) have played major roles not only in recruiting female pilots but also in pioneering all women-flights to raise awareness for more women participation in aviation disciplines. These all-women flight concept continues to grow in Africa. Speaking of those flights, the former GCEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam noted: “that such remarkable flights inspire African women and young girls to dream big and realize their dreams not only in aviation, but also in science, technology, engineering, art and other fields.” These flights were also intended to inculcate the ‘can do’ and ‘it’s possible’ attitude required to encourage more women participation in the industry.

In spite of these efforts, at a Workshop, aimed at “promoting gender equality and expanding career opportunities for women in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO) region’s aviation sector”, in Sibane, Eswatini in 2024, hosted by the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority, Ms. Lungile Portia Dlamini of Eswatini Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade averred that “The African continent boasts of over 52% female population but has less than 5% in the aviation sector. There is therefore “ample room” for all to ensure that the imbalance in supply and demand is filled in the coming years.”

More Efforts Are Needed

Without a doubt, these initiatives are yielding fruits but much still needs to be done to focus attention on the gender imbalance in the industry. In its global survey report released April 2023 “on the status of licensed aviation personnel by gender” ICAO stated that, “The percentage of women pilots in service increased from 3.6% to 4.0% globally, with the highest increases being observed in the Asia Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean regions. North America scored highest globally with 4.6% women pilots, followed by Africa and Europe with 4.1% and 4.0%, respectively. However, the survey equally noted that for female aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians, their number “rose from 2.7% to 3.0% worldwide, with increases being seen in all regions except the Middle East and Africa”, thus pinpointing a focus area for policy makers and aviation business leaders in Africa.

From East to West and North to South, Africa’s aviation industry is seeing more women rising to CEO level positions across aviation enterprises. Several African countries, especially in the Southern Africa region, continue to perform better than other regions in the inclusion of women in aviation leadership and board positions. In the Republic of South Africa for instance, women occupy the CEO positions at the airport company, air navigation company, and the civil aviation authority. The gender ratio in board and management positions in the region is equally noteworthy. Ms Nozipho Ndawe, CEO of ATNS told this magazine in early 2024 that, “I would also like to say that as a country, there has been a concerted effort to drive transformation where ….capabilities are really directed at affording females the opportunity to really lead”. This is an example many African countries need to emulate, and even outdo.

In Eswatini and Namibia, women are also in charge of the CAA. In airport management in Africa, women are running airports in Zambia, Nigeria, and Ghana. Whether this is a reflection of changing patterns of women inclusion remains to be seen but suffice it to say that these are hopeful shoots that the continent can build upon.

The Way Forward

While many argue that aviation is a safety critical industry, requiring the best trained and most qualified, intentionality is key in addressing gender imbalance in the aviation sector. The African Airlines Association highlights that: “It is important to note that gender equality is not just about the large and obvious disparity in the absolute numbers of men versus women at the workplace. In line with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it also entails non-discrimination, guaranteeing equal pay for equal work and merit-based promotion.”

Frist, and without a doubt, government policy has a role to play not only in ensuring the recruitment, retention and promotion of females in the aviation sector but also driving interest amongst the female folk in STEM education and facilitating the acquisition of aviation training.

Secondly, stakeholders must lead concerted advocacy on “the importance of (women) education, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, which are crucial for careers in aviation.” Early adoption of STEM education by the girl-child will help drive increased attraction to the aviation field.

Equally, intentionally increasing the number of women in business management roles in the aviation sector is important

Furthermore, career awareness talks are critical. An aircraft design engineer who (was the only female in her class) speaking anonymously said career talks will help a lot to create awareness for the girl-child that 1) aircraft engineering is not a male exclusive field; 2) there are really no manual / heavy lifting activities as technologies exist to do these and 3) in fields such as avionics women can particularly fit in and thrive.

More importantly, it is very critical at industry scale and government to prioritize the grooming of more women in aviation leadership and technical roles. Efforts being championed by AFCAC, AWAYA, and organisations in the industry should be continued.

Celebrating the Leading Lights

In spite of the gender imbalance in the aviation industry, we celebrate the women across the continent who have broken the glass ceiling and are holding their own in a male-dominated industry in Africa.  In the following pages, we celebrate and focus on C-suite executives who are leading the charge at aviation institutions across Africa. The series will continue in future editions.

PROFILES

Compiled By Aminat Bakare

• Ms. Yvonne Manzi Makolo, Chief Executive Officer, RwandAir

Ms. Makolo started her aviation career in 2017, with her appointment as RwandAir’s Deputy CEO in charge of corporate affairs and was subsequently appointed CEO in 2018. She has led the airline to unarguably become one of the leading African airlines. In June 2023, she assumed duties as the first woman Chair of the IATA Board of Governors (BoG) for a one-year term.

She has led cultural change at RwandAir with a focus on inclusion and diversity and growing the number of women in under-represented roles. Under her innovative leadership, RwandAir has consummated commercial relationships with Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, and is expanding its route network.

• Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Airline

Before being named the CEO, Ms. Bamuturaki was the Acting CEO of Uganda Airlines for a year. She had previously served the airline as Commercial Director with responsibility for Commercial, Sales & Marketing, and service support to all markets and countries of operation.  Ms. Bamuturaki has over 25 years of experience in Commercial, Sales & Marketing in the Aviation, Travel and Hospitality industries.

She has a wealth of expertise in building teams, developing strategic resellers relationships, negotiations and route development. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from Makerere University, with certifications from IATA, Starwood and other leadership and professional qualifications. Ms. Bamukturaki has served the continent as the President of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) for the 2023 term. She is driving the Ugandan national airlines’ route network expansion including into West Africa (Lagos and Abuja) and Southern Africa (Harare and Lusaka).

• Ms. Poppy Khoza, Director, South African Civil Aviation Authority

(SACAA)Two-time appointed Director of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), Ms. Khoza carries extensive experience and knowledge in aviation since being first appointed to the pivotal role in an acting capacity in October 2012, then on a 5-year fixed term basis from December 2013 and a second term in 2023.

Outside of being the first black female DCA, she was also the first woman globally to be elected to preside over the General Assembly at the ICAO’s 41st Assembly Session in 2022.Under her as DCA, South Africa has achieved ten clean audits with the most recent in 2023 where South Africa surpassed the 90% mark. Ms. Khoza was named winner of the 2023 edition of the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards in the Inspirational Role Model category.

• Mrs. Olubunmi kuku, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)

Kuku achieved a milestone when she was appointed as the first female Managing Director of FAAN. With a remarkable career that spans over two decades, Kuku’s professional journey is a testament to her expertise, leadership, and unwavering dedication to the aviation industry. In the short period she has been the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Kuku sits on the Board of the Airports Council International (ACI) Africa and has been actively engaged in culture change and transformation of the FAAN and the airport sector in Nigeria. Kuku has continued to make her mark including the reopening of the closed Lagos Airport runway, improvement of airport infrastructure in Lagos and Minna amongst others, enhancing the security architecture of the airport and other interventions. She was recently appointed as Regional Advisor for Africa on ACI World Governing Board.

• Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)

With an international career spanning over 20 years, Ms. Adeyemi has progressed from being a practicing lawyer for 8 years, General Counsel and Company Secretary for an airline to being a Director Africa for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) before being appointed as AFCAC Secretary General in 2022. Ms. Adeyemi has been the driving force behind the Single African Air Transport Market- Pilot Implementation Project (SAATM-PIP) since she assumed office and has been impacting various sectors of the African aviation industry.

With the PIP the aviation industry in Africa is seeing improved connectivity with more Fifth Freedom rights being granted, the Dispute Settlement Mechanism Secretariat of the YD has equally been established. Adeyemi has been also driving AFCAC in the areas such as safety, aviation training, gender inclusion and diversity, environment, and consumer protection. One of Adeyemi’s strong points is in building inter institutional partnerships that are helping AFCAC achieve its objectives. She has been actively involved in advocacy for improving air connectivity in Africa.

• Ms. Nozipho Mdawe, Chief Executive Officer, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS)

Ms. Nozipho Mdawe was appointed as permanent Chief Executive of ATNS in April 2022. She is the second black African woman to be appointed in this role within the company, marking a significant and historic milestone in the South African aviation history.

Ms. Nozipho inspired ATNS to win the Civil Aviation Industry Transformation Award in 2024.  She is passionate about integrating the younger generation in the workplace. She holds an MBA and other management qualifications.

• Ms. Toska Sem, Executive Director Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

Since her appointment as the Executive Director of the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority in July 2022, Ms. Toska Sem has ensured that safety and other regulatory compliance in the Namibian aviation industry is prioritized and has affirmed this with several achievements.

Under her administration, Namibia airports passed the ICAO safety audit with a remarkable 72.31% which is considered a remarkable difference compared to the last audit held in 2016. Ms. Sem had previously served the industry as Commercial Director of Namibia Airport Company and is currently the Chairperson of the National Housing Services of Namibia.

• Mrs. Adenike Aboderin, Managing Director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO)

Mrs. Adenike Aboderin is a seasoned finance professional with many years of executive leadership, financial and management experience in both Private and Public Sectors. Until December 2023, she was the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) where she managed the finance, accounts, credit control and budget directorate of the organization.

She was appointed Managing Director of SAHCO in February 2024. Under her administration, the company’s Kano station received its ISAGO re-certification. She holds several advanced degrees and professional qualifications and is involved in mentoring young people.

• Ms. Mpumi Mpofu Chief Executive Officer, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)

With an extensive experience spanning over 25 years in aviation, Mpumi Mpofu is a prominent figure in the South African aviation industry and has served as the Director-General in the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency. She has also held the position of Director-General in the departments of Defence, Transport and Housing before her appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of ACSA on 1 February 2020.

She has overseen ACSA airports recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while improving the financial performance of the entity. ACSA under her leadership is investing in expansion and infrastructure improvement. In the Skytrax ‘best airport in Africa for 2024’ report, three ACSA airports, namely Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town airports were in the first three positions. During her tenure as Director-General in the Department of Transport, Mpofu has been credited with ensuring the “development, implementation and monitoring of transport policies and strategies in fields including aviation, rail, maritime, road transport, search and rescue”.

• Ms. Andile Mtetwa-Amaeshi, Director General, Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority

 

With an aviation career that spans over 18 years, Ms. Andile Mtetwa-Amaeshi, Director General of Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) and Chief Executive Officer of King Mswatini III International Airport, which is operated by the ESWACAA is a prominent figure in the Southern Region aviation industry. She also serves as Vice President of the Southern Region on the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) Bureau. She has a wide experience in airline operations, airport operations and regulatory aviation. She is a member of the mentoring sub-committee of the Steering Group of African Women and Youths in Aviation (AWAYA). She has been actively involved at national and continental levels to improve air connectivity in Africa, reducing gender imbalance and the general improvement of the aviation industry in Africa.

• Mrs. Eng. Angie Elyazzy, Chairperson AWAYA and SAATM Ambassador North

Formerly the Chancellor of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, Eng. Angie Elyazzy is currently the Chairperson for African Women and Youths in Aviation (AWAYA) and the AFCAC Ambassador for North Africa. She had served as the Representative of Egypt to the Council of ICAO from 2020-2021. During her tenure, she served as the Third Vice-President to ICAO Council, Coordinator of the Arab Group, then, as Coordinator for the AFI Group as well as the Chairperson of the Council’s Technical Co-operation Committee.

She has held many positions within the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority including the Head of Aerodromes Safety and Standards Central Administration. She is at the forefront of driving inclusion of youths and women into the African transport industry.

• Ms. Liz Aluvanze, CEO, Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO)

Appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of KAAO, Ms. Liz Aluvanze leads the Associations’ Secretariat functions in its advocacy efforts for the development of a safe, efficient and sustainable air transport industry in Kenya. She has built a wealth of experience as an Air Transport professional with knowledge and skills in Air Transport Strategic Management, Engineering, Regulatory Policy and Air Law, Client Relationship Management, and Contract Negotiations.

An Aeronautical Engineer by training, Aluvanze holds a Masters Degree in Air Transport Management and leads advocacy for KAAO’s 60 members. She also sits on the Board of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).

• Ms. Lulu Ratsebotsa, General Manager, Air Botswana

A graduate of the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, she holds a B.Sc. Honors in Maths & Statistics, Ms. Ratsebotsa was appointed General Manager of Air Botswana in December 2023. She is known for fostering innovation, cultivating high-performing teams, and achieving remarkable results. She has also over the years shown commitment to creating a culture of continuous improvement and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.

With experience in insurance services, Ms Ratsebotsa has served as Chief Executive Officer of Bidvest Life Insurance. Her experience record is with organisations is from a plethora of both domestic and international entities. Ms Rasebotsa’s track record demonstrates a leadership style that is dynamic, innovative and transformational. Under her leadership, the national airline is engaged in re-fleeting and expansion.

• Mrs. MusayerAoh Barrie Director General, Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority

Mrs. Musayeroh Barrie completed a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brunel University UK. She later acquired a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Leicester UK and a Diploma from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) UK in Strategic Management and Leadership Practices. She has participated in various aviation-related training programmes including the Aviation Security Professional Managers Course (AVSEC PM). She was appointed Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) in August 2023.

She has also served as the Country Director for Westminster Aviation Security Services (WASS) for over a decade. She closely collaborated with the relevant State authorities to prepare for the ICAO Security Audit in 2019 resulting in Sierra Leone achieving a commendable pass mark of 71%. Her major preoccupation has been to open the Sierra Leone air transport industry and grow human capacity in the industry.

• Ms. Mafunase Ngosa Malenga, Managing Director Southern Africa Institute of Aviation Science and Technology

Malenga is the founder of the Southern Africa Institute of Aviation Science and Technology which has over 800 graduates, 80% of whom are women. This remarkable achievement reflects her unwavering commitment to providing opportunities for women in aviation. Many of these graduates are now employed in various roles within airlines, airports, cargo companies, and travel agencies, contributing to the growth and diversity of the industry across the continent.

She was recognized by IATA in 2023 with the ‘High Flyer’ award for breaking down gender barriers and challenging stereotypes. Malenga is paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive aviation sector in Africa.

• Mrs.Ngoza Kasunga Matakala, Managing Director, Zambia Airports Corporation Limited

Mrs. Ngoza Matakala was appointed the Managing Director of Zambia Airports Corporation on 6th of March, 2024. With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in both the Financial and Media industries, she is a Chartered Accountant by profession. Mrs. Matakala has held senior management positions at esteemed organisations such as Multichoice Zambia, Group Five Zambia, and British American Tobacco, amongst others.

Her extensive expertise and leadership acumen have been honed through diverse roles and responsibilities, reflecting her commitment to excellence and innovation.

• Mrs. Fadimatou Noutchemo, Second Vice-Chair of AWAYA

Mrs. Fadimatou Noutchemo-Simo began her career in the technology sector and then in banking, before joining the senior team of Cameroon Airlines in 2010. In 2018, she joined Cronos Airlines Group in Equatorial Guinea as Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer. These experiences led her to found HEFA Group in 2019, a company with the aim of facilitating business development in Africa.

At the same time, in 2014, she founded the NGO Young African Aviation Professional Association (YAAPA), within which she created a scholarship program for disadvantaged children living in rural areas in Africa, in order to encourage them to take up a career in the aviation sector. Fadimatou Noutchemo-Simo is the first African woman to have received the “High Flying Leader” Award from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in 2019. In April 2022, she was appointed as the General Manager of Afrijet, Cameroon.

• Ms. Lucy Mbuga, ICAO ESAF Regional Director

With over 25 years of experience in civil aviation, Ms. Lucy Mbuga-ICAO was appointed as the Regional Director for International Civil Aviation Organization Eastern and Southern African (ICAO-ESAF) office in 2023. Formerly CEO/Managing Director of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Ms. Mbuga has also served as the Head of Marketing and Revenue Management at Kenya Airways. In 2010, Ms. Mbugua served on the Airports Council International (ACI) World Standing Committee on Economics, for four years, representing Africa as one of the two members. In her role as Regional Director, she oversees ICAO’s relationship with 24 member states under ICAO-ESAF. She holds a Masters degree in Aviation Strategy amongst other qualifications.

• Ms. Olive Birungi Lumonya, Deputy Director General, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority

Ms. Lumonya is an accomplished leader with over 25 years’ experience in the Private, Government and NGO sectors and is the Deputy Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and the first woman to hold this position. She is currently the Vice-Chairperson of African Women and Youth in Aviation (AWAYA) under AFCAC, promoting Women in Aviation.

Ms. Lumonya is passionate about the girl child and community empowerment at large and represented young women at the Beijing World Women’s conference 1995. In 2022, she was recognised with the Africa Women’s Leadership award in Mauritius. She was recently conferred with the Global Female Leadership Impact Award 2024 by the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) and the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Women’s Center.

• Ms. Amelia Domingues Kuvingua, President Of The Board Of Directors of the National Civil Aviation Authority of Angola

With over 15 years of experience in aviation, Ms. Kuvingua started her career as a technician in the Legal department of the National Civil Aviation Institute and was later appointed as the head of the legal department of the institute in 2013. She was appointed the Deputy General Director of the institute. She has been serving as the President of the Board of Directors of ANAC since 2022.

She has served the Agency severally as Head of Legal and Regulation Department and Deputy General Director for Administration and Finance. She has Postgraduate in Civil Law from the Agostinho Neto University – UAN, in partnership with the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, Portugal.

• Mrs. Anita Adjei Nmashie, Ghana’s Permanent Representative on the Council, ICAO

Mrs. Anita Adjei-Nmashie was appointed as Representative of Ghana on the ICAO Council on 4 October 2022. With over 30 years of experience in the aviation industry, she has a keen interest in mentorship and has encouraged youth, particularly young women, to pursue careers in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). She is also a member of the Women in Aviation International (WAI) organization as well as the Professional Women Controllers International (PWC).

In 2018, Mrs. Adjei-Nmashie became the Deputy Director, Safety Regulation at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority with a scope of oversight responsibilities covering Aerodrome Safety and Standards, among others. In 1991, she became the first woman Licensed Air Traffic Controller to work at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and in 2000 she became the only woman to hold a position as an Aviation Safety Inspector.

• Mrs. Nkechi Onyenso, Managing Director, Pathfinders International Limited

Nkechi Onyenso is currently the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Pathfinders International Limited (Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone) an aviation security company providing aviation services to airlines and associated companies for over three decades in West Africa. She  has over two decades of experience in Broadcasting, Administration, Aviation Consultancy, Legal, Corporate Governance Advisory and NGOs.

She was the first female Registrar/CEO of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) and served as Publicity Secretary of NBA (Ikeja) Branch. She serves as the Facilitator of the Governance and Institutions Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Chairman of Aviation Sectoral Group of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria.

• Mrs. Paule Avomo Assoumou Koki, Director General, Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA)

Mrs. Paule Avomo Assoumou Koki was appointed as the Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) in December 2015. She has over 30 years of experience in the aviation sector and was the first woman to obtain the diploma of Master of Aeronautics at the National School of Civil Aviation (ENAC) of Toulouse in 1988. She also holds a private pilot license.

In August 2024, Mrs. Koki was elected President of the 14th International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Navigation Conference, a significant achievement that highlights her leadership and expertise in the field.

Koki is credited to have coordinated all safety oversight related activities in the aviation industry in Cameroon for a period of four years and with setting up the first aviation training institution in the country.

• Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, Managing Director, Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL)

Appointed as Managing Director, Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) in December 2023, Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare is an accomplished business executive with close to 20 years of quality experience in management positions and engagements.

Mrs. Opare’s professional track record includes her tenures as CEO and General Manager of Vantage Real Estate Group and Blackwell Realty Limited. She has experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders within complex business ecosystems.

Mrs. Opare is well-acquainted with the nuances of both entrepreneurship and corporate business. She is experienced in global procurements and has built an extensive global network of trading partnerships with internationally recognized brands.