Aviation Ambassadors Group
The Aviation Ambassadors Group works with the Department for Transport to help deliver a skilled, diverse and sustainable aviation workforce fit to seize the opportunities of the future.
Terms of reference
The Aviation Ambassador Group is currently made up of 10 volunteers. They act as role models to raise the profile of the aviation sector, deliver enhanced outreach activities, and develop and promote career pathways with the following groups, among others:
- the Department for Transport (DfT)
- the aviation sector
- the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- the Department for Education (DfE) and its arm’s length bodies
- the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
- educational institutions
- charities and non-profit organisations
The group helps meet the goals of the Generation Aviation programme. This programme sees the UK government, industry and others, including the aviation ambassadors, work to help build an aviation workforce fit for the future, attract diverse and talented people and prepare for new technologies.
Our aviation ambassadors play an important role in inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals, championing the sector and acting as role models for prospective aviation workers from all backgrounds.
The Aviation Ambassador Group has 3 main objectives, which are outlined below.
Raising the profile of the aviation industry
Inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals, championing the sector and acting as role models for prospective aviation workers from all backgrounds.
Using social media and communication platforms to improve the visibility of all opportunities in the sector including by showcasing the wide variety of roles that are on offer in the aviation sector such as those that are less understood or are overlooked.
Outreach programmes
Developing and delivering bespoke outreach activities to young people and underrepresented or marginalised groups. This will include attending events designed to educate, inspire and engage young people who would not otherwise pursue opportunities available within the aviation sector.
Career pathways
Supporting the development or promotion of new learning and development opportunities, including considering where pathways into the aviation sector can be created, improved or signposted, including supporting the mobility and retention of skills within the sector.
2024 to 2026 aviation ambassadors
The Aviation Ambassadors Group is made up of 10 volunteers.
Alex Durand
Alex has decades of aviation experience and has been chief executive officer of Klyne Aviation for over 10 years, delivering integrated aviation services that fly clients worldwide. He is also a non-executive director for NUNCATS, a UK electric aircraft innovator.
Alex is a champion of aviation – commercial, general and business – and his local community in Norfolk. He sits on the Norfolk chamber of commerce board and works as vice chair of the British Business and General Aviation Association.
He wants to challenge the perceptions of the aviation sector to help build a more diverse, accessible and sustainable future.
Alice Goodwin
Alice is an avionics design and development engineer working at Virgin Atlantic. She is responsible for fleet maintenance activities to ensure the maximum safety, integrity and reliability of aircraft systems. She is also a One Young World Ambassador and holds a private pilot licence.
Alice devotes much of her time to mentoring and encouraging young people wishing to enter the aviation industry, particularly women and people from backgrounds currently underrepresented in aviation.
An impassioned public speaker, including radio appearances, Alice will continue to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as an ambassador.
Hannah Wells
Hannah is a first officer with easyJet, as well as an experienced engineer.
She is a training first officer for all cadets at easyJet, where she trains the next generation of aviators. She leads back-to-work training for pilots returning after maternity leave and mentors cadets on the multi-pilot license programme.
Hannah has impressive academic credentials, having graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in engineering. She was awarded the Amy Johnson scholarship with easyJet, which funds aspiring female commercial pilots through training.
Hannah funded her licence through work and scholarships and is motivated to signpost these opportunities to other aspiring pilots.
Honor Puciato
Honor is an expert in sustainability and environmental protection skills with over 15 years of experience within the industry.
She is passionate about working with organisations to face environmental challenges in the aviation industry.
Currently employed at Ricardo, Honor works with several UK airports, including Heathrow Airport Ltd, where she currently manages the air quality agenda of the organisation.
Jack Jenner-Hall
Jack is a 17-year-old glider pilot and aviation advocate from Norfolk who will be entering his second term as an aviation ambassador.
He earned public attention in 2020 as he became the UK’s youngest pilot, qualifying as a glider pilot at the age of 14. He competes in aerobatics competitions, winning the sports category of the British Aerobatics Association Dan Smith Memorial Competition in April 2022. Jack has also become one of the youngest instructors in the country, qualifying at 16.
Jack is passionate about aviation and STEM and is keen to share this passion to inspire people to get involved with the aviation industry and show that anything is possible, whatever your age.
Lilya Turner Hurd
Lilya is a trainee commercial pilot at Leading Edge Aviation. She also studied airline transport management at Buckinghamshire New University.
She tirelessly promotes the sector and access to it. She is a British Airways Inspire Student Ambassador.
Lilya founded Aviate Navigate Communicate, a start-up that works to break down barriers into the industry. She has spoken at schools and groups all over the country.
Mariya Tarabanovska
Mariya is an award-winning aerospace engineer, entrepreneur and future of flight advisor dedicated to shaping the future of sustainable aviation. As the founder of Flight Crowd, a non-profit organisation focused on electric aviation, Mariya leads initiatives to educate and empower the future of flight workforce.
Her experience spans aerospace and defence, electric aviation operations and career coaching. And her commitment to community engagement, outreach and industry advocacy has earned her broad recognition in the aviation sector.
Ukrainian-born Mariya is a science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) ambassador and female aerospace role model. She is passionate about creating diversity, inclusion and equitable opportunities within the aerospace sector. She is also dedicated to redefining industry perceptions and inspiring young individuals to explore the limitless possibilities in the world of aviation.
Michael Glen
Michael has more than 10 years of experience in aviation and currently works as an airspace, noise and air traffic management specialist at Heathrow Airport.
Outside of work, Michael continues to champion the sector as a sector commander in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
As an ambassador, he will bring his extensive knowledge of airports to promote the best opportunities and the variety of career paths available.
Mohammad Taher
Mohammad is an award-winning educational influencer and engineer focusing on giving a ‘behind the scenes’ look into the aviation industry.
Known as The Airport Guy, he uses the power of short, sharp and engaging video content across social media and has built a community of over half a million people by bringing to life the roles and operations across the aviation industry.
Nurina Sharmin
Nurina has a masters in aerospace engineering and is an aerospace engineer with an impressive academic background in modelling and computational simulation.
She works as a research lead and outreach ambassador with Flight Crowd, a non-profit organisation and Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund recipient focused on the future of flight.
Nurina is also a school governor in West Yorkshire and Milton Keynes. She previously worked as a project coordinator leading the STEM outreach programme Falcon 2 with the Royal Aeronautical Society and is now moving into aviation defence.
Nurina wishes to use the aviation ambassador role to provide further outreach to all those across the country wishing to enter the aviation industry.
Further information
Read about the Generation Aviation Group.