Ana Lopes is Senior Lecturer in Work and Employment at Newcastle University. She was co-investigator on an ESRC-funded project examining the mentoring needs of women in aviation and aerospace which led to the creation of the award-winning mentoring platform Alta, which she co-founded.

Judith Milne is a specialist aviation executive and founder of her own business advising companies and individuals on corporate strategy, fundraising, sales, employment and international growth. In 2007, she was awarded the European Business Aviation Award for outstanding contribution to European business. She is a co-founder of Alta.

Susan Durbin is Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of the West of England. Her research focuses on women’s employment in male-dominated professions. She is a co-founder of Alta and co-designed the Reaching My Potential Future Flight Challenge mentoring programme.

Wing Commander Daniela Nowalski has served in the Royal Air Force for over 20 years. As a Logistics Officer, she has supported worldwide RAF operations and, since 2021, has served as Deputy Commandant of the Tedder Academy of Leadership. She leads on mentoring for the RAF and is a co-founder of Alta.

Alessandra Badino is Head of Sustainability and Environment for Airbus in the UK, with over two decades of experience leading change programmes in complex organisations. She is a Chartered Aerospace Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, co-founder of the sustainability consultancy Blue Futures Studio and a co-founder of Alta.

Part 1

1. Introduction

2. Gender and the STEM Workplace

3. The Aviation and Aerospace Industry and Women’s Under-Representation in a Male Dominated Industry

4. Women and (Relational) Mentoring

5. The Business Benefits of Mentoring

Part 2

6. The Alta Story

7. The Mentoring Journey

8. A Holistic Approach

9. Conclusion