IWD: Menzies Aviation's Commitment to Women in Leadership

Ahead of International Women's Day, Menzies Aviation has reached a significant milestone: 25% female representation in senior leadership roles.

This meets the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 25by2025 campaign goal and forms part of the company's wider commitment to gender diversity and inclusion within the aviation sector.

As a signatory of the United Nations (UN) Women’s Empowerment Principles, Menzies works to promote gender equality within its operations and the communities it serves.

“At Menzies Aviation, we understand that diverse leadership drives innovation, enhances decision-making and strengthens company culture," comments Juliet Thomson, Chief People Officer at Menzies Aviation. "Achieving 25% representation of women in our senior leadership community is an important step, but we recognise there is more work to be done."

Leadership, mentoring and targeted development

With operations at more than 300 airports in 65 countries, propelled by a 50,000-strong team, Menzies aims to ensure its workforce is as dynamic and inclusive as the airline customers, airport partners and passengers it supports.

The organisation, a leading service partner to the world’s airports and airlines, attributes its latest DE&I achievement to strong leadership role models, employee engagement and a structured approach to succession planning.

It has focused on developing female talent by providing targeted training and mentoring to high-potential future leaders.

A key initiative in this effort is the Thrive, Women in Leadership training programme, launched in 2022.

Designed specifically for women, the programme supports employees in defining their career goals and personal success. Participants gain insights into their strengths and weaknesses while aligning their values for professional growth. So far, more than 125 employees have completed the programme.

Menzies also integrates diversity considerations into its talent pipeline, ensuring that gender balance remains a key focus in leadership development and recruitment.

Expanding diversity targets through the All In strategy

Menzies Aviation continues to work towards its wider diversity goals under its All In sustainability strategy.

One of its key objectives is to have women in 40% of mid-level leadership roles by 2033. Progress towards this target is evident, with female representation at this level reaching 29% in 2024.

Beyond gender diversity, Menzies has also committed to hiring refugees, aiming for refugee employees to make up 1% of its global workforce by 2026. The business is working closely with organisations such as the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and Tent Partnership for Refugees to make this possible.

These initiatives align with a broader mission to foster an inclusive and diverse workplace.

"Diversity is not just a goal; it is a business imperative," adds Juliet. "By continuing to break barriers, we can create a future where leadership truly reflects the diversity of our workforce and the communities we operate in.

"We remain committed to advancing gender equity and building an even more inclusive workplace for all.”

Explore the latest edition of Supply Chain Digital Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE.

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today. 

Supply Chain Digital is a BizClik brand.