On Monday March 8, 2021, Women in Aerospace Canada joined forces with Women in Aerospace Europe and Women in Aerospace (USA) to celebrate International Women’s Day. With participants from 15 different countries across 14 different time zones, the virtual event was truly an international celebration. Three speakers, each representing a WIA region, came together to highlight their careers and their accomplishments, while inspiring those in attendance to #ChooseToChallenge because a challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. These included Nancy Barber (former Chief Operating Officer at Bombardier Aviation), Pamela Melroy (retired Colonel, United States Air Force), and Simonetta di Pippo (Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Operations) whose stories and personal experiences were an inspiration, exemplifying the kind of success that we envision for ourselves as women working in aerospace.
If you missed the event, or would like to revisit the advice that Nancy, Pam, and Simonetta imparted, please check out the zoom recordings:
• IWD Part 1 – WIA Leadership Opening Remarks & Self-Introduction of Panelists
• IWD Part 2 – Moderated Panel Discussion and Closing Remarks
The questions that were posted to the Chat were passed along to the panelists. We have their responses collated, and posted here
Here’s what we know:
• An alert world is a challenged world
• Challenge drives change
• The rise of women is not about the fall of men
• We all have a role to play in gender parity
We hope that IWD2021 has lit a fire in your heart about taking action, about Choosing to Challenge. We need to stand up to what’s happening in the world around us. We can do it as individuals and we can come together and do it as a community. Challenge the stereotypes. Demand diverse representation. Push for progressive mindsets. Forge inclusive behaviours. If we continue to come together, we will continue to make positive gains.
The world around us expects equity, diversity and inclusion. We all have a role to play in calling out inequality. Having three Women in Aerospace organizations come together has already made our community so much stronger.
We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2022.