The Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter (WIAAC) has appointed Victoria Foy, EVP of Safran Seats GB, as its new Co-Chair, effective immediately.
Foy succeeds Jacqueline Sutton, who has served as Co-Chair of the Charter since July 2020. Foy will work alongside Sumati Sharma CA, Partner – Aviation at Oliver Wyman and Co-Chair of the Charter since 2018, to drive the progress of the Charter. She will support the Charter’s growing network of 240 signatories and supporting organisations to deliver comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategies, and emphasise that the ambition to increase gender balance must be backed up by sustained and coordinated action and investment.
Tackling recruitment, talent development and pay progression
She will also oversee the Charter’s five work packages, helping to ensure they are tackling the key issues within the aviation and aerospace sector including fair recruitment, talent development and pay progression.
Victoria Foy said: “I would like to thank my predecessor, Jacqueline Sutton for her steadfast leadership of the Charter, which has ensured that it has remained an everpresent advocate for greater gender parity and diversity throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“I am committed to working alongside Sumati to help our industry turn ambitions into actions, and targets into realities. A diverse and inclusive workforce is not a nice-to-have; it is essential to the industry’s recovery from the pandemic and future success. We need the mix of ideas, perspectives and experiences that a diverse workforce provides. The time for change is now.”
Foy has more than 15 years’ senior leadership experience, and has worked within the aviation sector as EVP of Safran Seats GB for over two years. During her eight-year career at Safran, she has played an instrumental role in promoting equal opportunities for men and women at the company. In her current role, she encourages and promotes the “Women @ Safran” network, which was created by women who work at Safran to build connections between colleagues, provide support and increase gender balance across the organisation.
For more information and the latest updates about the Charter, please visit www.wiaacharter.com or follow it on LinkedIn and Twitter.
