Panelists during the session “Innovation in Air Cargo: Delivering Change.”
For 35 years, the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) Annual Conference have brought together leaders across the industry for discussions that advance their mission: to cultivate and advance women leaders in the aviation and aerospace industries. Founded in 1988, IAWA is an international organization for women who hold positions of impact in the aviation and aerospace industry. As a long-time supporter of IAWA and silver sponsor for the year, Atlas was proud to have Sara Felder, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, represent the company on one of the panel discussions at the recent event, held in San Diego.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Innovation Drivers: Changing the Game in Aerospace.” Conversations focused on how to manage and influence the direction of fast-paced change in the aviation industry, the next evolution that is transforming the aviation industry and how to ensure women have pivotal leadership roles in the next evolution.
Sara joined the “Innovation in Air Cargo: Delivering Change” panel, which focused on the substantial impact of the air cargo industry on how we connect, do business, shop and respond to the needs of communities, as well as the ways in which this essential sector is rapidly evolving to maintain connectivity worldwide.
Sara speaks during her panel at IAWA.
Moderated by Gina Zuckerman, Vice President of Legislative Policy, Cargo Airline Association, the panel also included Lauren Haertlein, Aviation Regulatory Counsel, Zipline; Cindy Rocha, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships, Airlink; Lydia Marabella, Chief of Staff, Administration and Planning Officer, Airglades International Airport; and Amber Ritter, Chicago Department of Aviation.
“The linkages and synergies on this panel were tremendous – from Atlas’ partnership with Airlink to ensure humanitarian aid gets to communities in need to operating relief missions for Ukraine out of Chicago, to our robust operation in Miami,” said Sara. “We had so much to share about air cargo’s capabilities to deliver change.”
Katia De Loose, Director, Corporate Counsel, also attended the conference. Currently the Chair of Membership Development for IAWA, Katia has been an active IAWA member since 2017 and was instrumental in ensuring the representation of air cargo within the association. In 2019, Katia planned and moderated the first cargo panel, which has been included ever since.
“It’s been very fulfilling to be part of IAWA over the years,” said Katia. “I am proud to be part of the effort to ensure people understand the value of air cargo and I am also very proud of Atlas’ commitment to the advancement of women in aviation.”
