WOMEN'S NETWORK

WOMEN’S NETWORKWOMEN’S NETWORK//

A networking and professional development event to celebrate International Women's Day (IWD) 2022 was held at the AFAP’s Brisbane office on 9 March.

For the first time, all three aviation professional staff organisations for pilots, air traffic controllers, and air traffic safety electronic personnel - respectively IFALPA, IFATCA, and IFATSEA – this year joined forces on International Women’s Day (IWD) to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive aviation world by embracing the IWD theme: #BreakTheBias.

The AFAP Women’s Network has grown since it was formed in 2010 to draw together almost 500 commercial pilots and cadet/student pilots for professional development, information sharing and mutual support.

Research shows that three-quarters of women who belong to a network like ours feel equipped to be better leaders as a result. Two-thirds of women in networks say they have taken on a new challenge with the support of their network and 85% of women in networks credit their network with a positive change in their lives.

The AFAP has been a world leader among pilot unions with the development of the Women’s Network which has in turn increased member numbers and strengthened our union.

Save the Date: Next Women's Network meeting Cairns, 14 September 2022

Exhibiting at the AFAP stand on Girls in Aviation Day in Melbourne at Essendon Airport were (from left): Captain Moira Schlossberger, Captain Naomi Radke and Captain Anna Wakelin.

Members of the IFALPA Female Pilots Working Group, including Capt Louise Pole (2nd from right) and Capt Anna Wakelin (3rd from right) who continue to be involved, met in May at the IFALPA Conference in Singapore.

AFAP members and staff took part in Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) in both Brisbane and Melbourne on Saturday 14 May. Organised by Women in Aviation, this was a free event for girls aged 8 to 17 years to introduce them to the many career possibilities on offer in the aviation/ aerospace industry.

The event gave attendees a chance to explore a range of exciting careers and meet with women already working in the industry as engineers, aircraft maintenance technicians, operational staff, air traffic controllers, and. of course, professional commercial pilots.

The AFAP Women's Network's convenor Captain Louise Pole hosted an informative hour-long webinar on 16 June presenting on professional and industrial issues to the attending newly-joined AFAP members in the early stages of their piloting careers.