The Business Travel Magazine June/July 2019

THE CONVERSATION
in brief...
You've been involved in
several diversity initiatives
including Pride@Airbus
and founding the UK’s
Women in Aviation and
Aerospace Charter...
It was an idea that came
about as a result of a
meeting we had with the
then aviation minister
Baroness Sugg. We
launched at Farnborough
(Airshow) last year and just
last month announced we
have 100 signatories. It has
real momentum. It’s not just
a bit of paper – it’s solid
work we’re doing. The
companies signing up have
made various commitments
to improving gender
diversity. EasyJet and Flybe
have already done a lot of
work getting more female
pilots onboard. We’ve had a
lot of interest from other
countries – Germany and
the Netherlands – and a lot
of support in Ireland too.
KATHERINE BENNETT
Katherine is a Senior Vice President of Airbus and has
been with the company for 14 years. She leads the
company’s external engagement and strategy in the
UK and reports directly to the Global CEO, Guillaume
Faury. Katherine has held roles in communications and
spent two years based at Airbus HQ in Toulouse,
France. She has previously headed up government
affairs at General Motors UK. Katherine was awarded a
CBE in January 2019 for services to the aerospace and
aviation sector, which follows her OBE in June 2004 for
services to industry and charity.
You're a church organist
in your spare time...
Yes, I played at a wedding
just last Saturday and I
actually get paid for doing
it! It's hardly anything but
it’s nice to get paid for
doing something using
your brain and your hands.
I’ve been a musician since I
was a child so it keeps me
busy. I do a lot of singing
as well and I’m taking a
singing exam next month.
It’s my hobby and my
release. I also started the
Airbus Filton Workplace
Choir. We’ve now got 30
members and it’s been
a very engaging and
energising thing to do.
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