Steering Group
Prof. Sue Durbin
Founder - UWE
Susan is Professor in Human Resource Management, at the Business School, University of the West of England. Her research expertise is in gendered employment, including women’s employment in male dominated areas (engineers, scientists, commercial pilots and senior managers) and working reduced hours at senior levels. She is a co-founder of the award winning alta mentoring platform, chairs the alta Steering Group and sits on the Women in Aviation, Aerospace and Space Committee at the Royal Aeronautical Society. She has published her work in leading academic journals and books.
Susan works with organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, to improve gender equality and provide support, including mentoring, for women. She is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Alessandra Badino
Founder - Airbus
Alessandra is an executive level thought leader in Sustainability and Aerospace Technology, with over two decades of experience leading change programmes in complex organisations.
Alessandra is a Chartered Aerospace Engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and started her career in Engineering with a focus on developing breakthrough innovation through large international Research Programmes, before transitioning to Business Development and Supply Chain Management.
Recognising the key importance of developing and integrating a sustainability mindset in both business and society, Alessandra has taken the role of Head of Sustainability and Environment for Airbus in the UK and has also co-founded an environment and people focused consultancy, Blue Futures Studio, to help the transition to a sustainability culture.
A passionate advocate and promoter for equal opportunities in the workplace, Alessandra is a founding member of alta and has represented Airbus on the alta steering group since its inception in 2010
Judith Milne
Founder - LB
Judith is a specialist aviation executive and founder of her company advising companies and individuals on all aspects of corporate strategy, including fundraising, sales, employment and international growth. In May 2007 Judith was honoured with the European Business Aviation Award for outstanding contribution to European business.
Having had a varied career in both Executive and non-Executive roles, Judith has led companies into international expansion into the Middle East and Asia Pacific supporting prime customers with the purchase of their own business jets, advising on the set up of aircraft operation and introducing individuals to finance for the purchase of the asset. More recently as Managing Director of a boutique hotel in the Caribbean, Judith is guiding the business through a major refurbishment and business transformation.
Daniela S. Nowalski
Founder - RAF
Wing Commander Daniela Nowalski joined the RAF in August 1999 after reading Physiology at St Andrews University where she was also a member of the University Air Squadron. In addition to completing Officer Training and Logistics Training at RAFC Cranwell, and specialist Air Movements Officer training, she also has a master’s degree in Logistics & Management from the University of Lincoln and is currently undertaking a PhD, having been awarded a CAS Fellowship in 2023.
Wing Commander Nowalski’s posts have primarily been at the forefront of the UK’s air movements & transport operations and included operational tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. She has served in the Joint Force Logistics HQ during Op HERRICK drawdown and in the UK’s Permanent Joint HQ in a planning role supporting emergent UK operations in the broader Middle East. She commanded Logistics Squadron at RAF Waddington, supporting and enabling the RAF’s ISTAR Force.
She has served as the Aide de Camp to Commander British Forces Cyprus and as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Capability & Force Design) during a Strategic Defence and Security Review. Following a year planning and executing the nation-wide baton relay to commemorate RAF100 in 2018 she served as Executive Officer on 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing at RAF Wittering, the home of the RAF’s high readiness deployable logistics capability. She transitioned into full time reserve service in 2021 and assumed the role of Deputy Commandant of the Tedder Academy of Leadership, a role that shapes and influences leadership training and education across the RAF Whole Force. She is also an Alumni of the Windsor Leadership Trust, a graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (Reserves) and a mum to 2 very loud small people.
Ana Lopes
Founder - NCL
Ana Lopes is a Senior Lecturer in Work and Employment at Newcastle University, UK. She is a sociologist of work who develops research and teaches on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. She focuses in particular on gender inequalities in work and employment. Ana has a passion for participatory methods of research and research that ‘makes a difference’ by contributing to a fairer, better world.
RAeS Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Team
Founder - Raes
Ambassadors
Kirsten L. Riensema, MSc, FRAeS
Kirsten has been an alta mentor since its inception. Over her 30-year career in operational and regulatory areas of commercial aviation, Kirsten has been dedicated to implementing safety and risk management principles, ensuring people are central to decisions and solutions. She is passionate about designing processes that recognise the inter-dependencies within the system and human-centred approaches.
Her journey began with British Airways, and transitioned to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, where she led the Aerodrome and ATM team and the CAA’s International strategy. Kirsten finished her career with the CAA as the Advanced Air Mobility Strategy Lead, paving the way for future aviation. In this capacity, Kirsten served as the Chair of the ICAO AAM Study Group.
Kirsten’s has been an active mentor to students and young aviation professionals for many years and is also a STEM ambassador. She is a Trustee for a Local Academy Trust and for CHIRP (Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme).
Pamela P. Valdez
Pam Valdez retired from The Boeing Company as Vice President of Air Force Services. Pam is a career aerospace logistician with 36 years at Boeing and 6 years in the US Navy. She has led logistics programs for fighters, tankers, trainers, helicopters, attack, reconnaissance, and special mission aircraft. Her passion is aircraft training and training equipment.
She holds licenses as a pilot, A&P mechanic, and FCC avionics technician. She is a Fellow in the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Pam is currently on the Boards of USO Northwest, Museum of Flight and the Royal Aeronautical Society Seattle Branch.
Judith Milne
Founder - Little Blue
Judith is a specialist aviation executive and founder of her company advising companies and individuals on all aspects of corporate strategy, including fundraising, sales, employment and international growth. In May 2007 Judith was honoured with the European Business Aviation Award for outstanding contribution to European business.
Having had a varied career in both Executive and non-Executive roles, Judith has led companies into international expansion into the Middle East and Asia Pacific supporting prime customers with the purchase of their own business jets, advising on the set up of aircraft operation and introducing individuals to finance for the purchase of the asset. More recently as Managing Director of a boutique hotel in the Caribbean, Judith is guiding the business through a major refurbishment and business transformation.
Daniela S. Nowalski
Founder - RAF
Wing Commander Daniela Nowalski joined the RAF in August 1999 after reading Physiology at St Andrews University where she was also a member of the University Air Squadron. In addition to completing Officer Training and Logistics Training at RAFC Cranwell, and specialist Air Movements Officer training, she also has a master’s degree in Logistics & Management from the University of Lincoln and is currently undertaking a PhD, having been awarded a CAS Fellowship in 2023.
Wing Commander Nowalski’s posts have primarily been at the forefront of the UK’s air movements & transport operations and included operational tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. She has served in the Joint Force Logistics HQ during Op HERRICK drawdown and in the UK’s Permanent Joint HQ in a planning role supporting emergent UK operations in the broader Middle East. She commanded Logistics Squadron at RAF Waddington, supporting and enabling the RAF’s ISTAR Force.
She has served as the Aide de Camp to Commander British Forces Cyprus and as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Capability & Force Design) during a Strategic Defence and Security Review. Following a year planning and executing the nation-wide baton relay to commemorate RAF100 in 2018 she served as Executive Officer on 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing at RAF Wittering, the home of the RAF’s high readiness deployable logistics capability. She transitioned into full time reserve service in 2021 and assumed the role of Deputy Commandant of the Tedder Academy of Leadership, a role that shapes and influences leadership training and education across the RAF Whole Force. She is also an Alumni of the Windsor Leadership Trust, a graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (Reserves) and a mum to 2 very loud small people.
Ana Lopes
Founder - NCL
Ana Lopes is a Senior Lecturer in Work and Employment at Newcastle University, UK. She is a sociologist of work who develops research and teaches on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. She focuses in particular on gender inequalities in work and employment. Ana has a passion for participatory methods of research and research that ‘makes a difference’ by contributing to a fairer, better world.
RAeS Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Team
Founder - Raes