The 2026 Board of Directors brings together senior leaders from aerospace, aviation, insurance, consulting, sustainability, and global operations, with leadership representation spanning Europe, India, the Middle East, and the United States.
Marita Lintener has been appointed President of IAWA for the 2026–2027 term. She is Managing Director at European Aviation Consultancy and is based in Frankfurt, Germany, and Perth, Australia.
- Marita Lintener, President
Managing Director, European Aviation Consultancy
Frankfurt, Germany / Perth, Australia - Connie Avery, Vice President, Association Development + Affiliations
SMS and Operational Safety Senior Manager, Wisk Aero
Phoenix, Arizona, USA - Karen Blanks Ellis, Vice President, Treasurer/Secretary
Chief Sustainability Officer, FedEx Corporation
Memphis, Tennessee, USA - Kaaren Cramer, Vice President, Americas
Director of Engineering Strategy + Operations, Long Wave Inc.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA - MC Ernst, President-Elect
Senior Vice President, Special Risks Underwriting Department Manager, USAIG
New York, New York, USA - Donna Gerber, Vice President, Annual Conference
GM Services, GE Aerospace
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA - Sophie Ghezai, Vice President, Africa/Middle East
Director of Operations, Africa Air Transport Solutions Associates (AATSA) International
Washington, D.C., USA - Selda Konukcu, Vice President, Europe
Senior Director, Commercial Aircraft Sales, Airbus
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Roberta Miranda, Vice President, Events
Managing Director, Marsh Aviation
New York, New York, USA - Keren Rambow, Vice President, Membership
Vice President, Airbus Relations, Pratt & Whitney
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA - Debra Santos, Past President
Boeing Retiree
Seattle, Washington, USA - Nackia Salmon, Vice President, Leader Development (Next Generation)
CEO & Founder, Nackia Salmon Global Consulting
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA - Mansi Singh, Vice President, Asia-Pacific (APAC)
Partner, BTG Advaya
Mumbai, India - Andi Sims, Vice President, Marketing + Communications
Vice President of Business Development, HPM
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
“This Board brings diverse industry experience and a unified vision to expand IAWA’s impact on leadership development, inclusive culture growth and global engagement,” said Lintener.
Founded in 1988, IAWA supports women across aviation and aerospace through leadership development, mentoring programmes, research, and a global professional network. The organisation recently expanded its mission following its rebrand as the International Aerospace Womens Association and its designation as a 501(c)(3) organisation in the United States, enabling broader programming and grant activity. IAWA also hosted multiple global events, including its 2025 annual conference in São Paulo, Brazil.
Among its planned initiatives for 2026 is Altitude by IAWA, an executive leadership development programme designed to provide members with advanced strategic skills, mentoring access, and career development tools. The programme will connect participants with senior leaders and tailored resources to support professional growth.
IAWA will also release an updated Lift Off to Leadership Report in early 2026, developed in partnership with Oliver Wyman. The research builds on previous studies examining barriers and pathways for women in aerospace leadership and will focus on sponsorship effectiveness, talent pipeline challenges, and strategies to support equitable leadership advancement.
The organisation has also confirmed that its Annual International Conference will take place from 3 to 5 November 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event is expected to bring together senior executives, industry innovators, and emerging leaders for leadership discussions, professional development sessions, and networking opportunities.
