Jenny Body OBE is Chair of the Royal Aeronautical Society Education and Skills Committee in addition to chairing the RAeS Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. Jenny is also a past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
The Royal Aeronautical Society is holding a seminar on 16th May 2018 – Achieving Inclusivity in Aerospace and Aviation – at their head office at No.4 Hamilton Place, London.
From apprentice to President
I joined the British Aircraft Corporation, which became Airbus, after studying A-levels in maths and physics and doing a non-technical summer job with them, which inspired me to apply for an apprenticeship there.
I worked for 39 years in a number of different roles. I prepared safety critical software for fly-by-wire systems and I led a number of research projects and design teams for the Nimrod and A400M wings. I then became involved in working with other companies and UK Government to maximise support for essential Airbus research programmes. I also became President of the Royal Aeronautical Society from 2013-2014 and I am now Chair of the RAeS Education and Skills Committee and Diversity & Inclusion Working Group.
About the Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is the world’s only professional body and learned society dedicated to the entire aerospace and aviation community. It supports the global advancement of aeronautical art, science and engineering.
Its role includes promoting the highest professional standards of those working in the sector, providing specialist information and acting as a forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. The Society is a registered charity and has a range of programmes to support STEM and young people’s interest in aerospace and aviation. Part of these activities also includes the provision of dedicated careers advice and resources.
Achieving Inclusivity in Aerospace and Aviation event – 16th May
The RAeS carries out lots of work to support people looking to enter careers in aerospace, particularly engineering and operational roles, working closely with employers and training providers on a range of supporting services.
The sector is currently very keen to achieve a more inclusive workforce. The seminar on 16th May will examine what steps aerospace and aviation employers are taking to increase the diversity of their workforce; the business case for a more inclusive workforce and what recruitment and selection processes ensure people with the right skills from all backgrounds can successfully apply.
Speakers
We have a fantastic programme with speakers who are leading transformation programmes within their organisations, including Dr. Ian Ritchey of Rolls-Royce, Richard Hamer and Andy Bloor of BAE Systems, Paula Stannett of Heathrow Airport, Bola Fatimilehin of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Lucy Madahar of the University of the West of England.
Seminar outcomes
The seminar aims to provide a forum for key stakeholders engaged in attraction, recruitment, student employability and workforce planning to share ideas and best practice and highlight positive business outcomes of inclusivity-focused activities to date, as well as identify opportunities and challenges to share with the wider aerospace and aviation community.
Join us
We welcome Womanthology readers to join us at the event and share their knowledge. Many are likely to be heavily engaged in similar activities, and the sector still faces many challenges particularly with regards to increasing the numbers of women in key roles such as engineering, the flight deck and senior management.
To register please visit the RAeS website: https://www.aerosociety.com/events-calendar/achieving-inclusivity-in-aerospace-and-aviation/ or contact rosalind.azouzi@aerosociety.com.
https://twitter.com/AeroSociety
https://www.facebook.com/RoyalAeronauticalSociety
