IATA Announces 2024 Diversity & Inclusion Award Winners

Winners of IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the winners of the 2024 edition of IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards which recognize the companies promoting diversity at the aviation industry.

The annual awards were presented during the World Air Transport Summit (WATS), which followed the 80th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The meeting along with the transport Summit is the airline industry’s most authoritative event. Some 1,500 people gathered in Dubai, including IATA’s member airlines, IATA AGM-level Strategic Partners, international and regional associations, leading manufacturers, industry suppliers and media.

“The quality of nominations gets more compelling every year as the results of aviation’s focus on diversity and inclusion become even more concrete,” said Karen Walker, Editor-in-Chief, Air Transport World and Chair of the judging panel.

This year’s edition honored two recipiants and one airline under the followed categories: Inspirational Role Model Award, High Flyer Award, and Diversity & Inclusion Team.

Inspirational Role Model Award: Kendra Kincade

Kendra Kincade, CEO and Founder, of Elevate Foundation.

This award was given to the CEO and Founder, of Elevate Aviation Foundation which under her leadership developed programs to advance gender balance in aviation.

Among thema are a mentorship program, and the Elevate Aviation Learning Center, which offers aviation awareness and training from kindergarten through career. Kincade also directed the documentary “Only Up,” which celebrates women in aviation and inspires future professionals.

High Flyer Award: Mafunase Ngosa Malenga

Mafunase Ngosa Malenga, Founder and Managing Director of the Southern Africa Institute of Aviation Science and Technology.

Mafunase Ngosa Malenga, founder and managing director of the Southern Africa Institute of Aviation Science and Technology is the winner of the High Flyer category.

Malenga founded the Institute of Aviation with over 800 graduates, 80 percent of whom are women. Beyond education, Malenga inspires young women to pursue aviation careers, breaking gender barriers and fostering a more inclusive aviation sector in Africa.

Diversity & Inclusion Team: British Airways

Representatives of British Airways.

The British Airways team claimed the Diversity and Inclusion Award for their efforts to promote equality and diversity.

The airline recently launched “Inclusion Starts with I,” an Inclusion and Diversity campaign emphasizing individual actions to drive inclusion, supporting the airline’s strategy to promote diversity.

British Airways achieved its 2025 goal of 40 percent female leadership a year early and is progressing toward its 2030 targets as a result of its DE&I efforts.

Special Commendation for High Flyer: Hana Al Awahdi

Hana Al Awahdi, Senior Vice President, Human Resources Business Partner, dnata.

Hana Al Awahdi, is the Senior Vice President of the Human Resources Business Partner, dnata.

dnata was the first ground service provider to sign up to IATA’s 25by2025 initiative and under Al Awahdi’s leadership it achieved 29%= percent representation of women in leadership roles in dnata’s UAE operations in 2023. This reflects Al Awahdi’s focus on increasing the number of women in leadership roles in addition to the recruitment of people with disabilities.

Under Al Awahdi’s leadership dnata rolled out ‘breaking the bias’ training to over 400 senior managers in the UAE, along with mentorship programs, career signposting, a global celebration of workplace achievements under the banner #IAmRemarkable, and an innovative “maternity coaching” program using qualified internal coaches to support mothers before, during and after maternity leave.

“The winners are true beacons of the change that is happening as diversity and inclusion entrenches itself as a strategic priority for the aviation industry,” said Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO of RwandAir and Chair of the IATA Board of Governors (2023-2024), who presented the awards.

The IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards are sponsored by Qatar Airways offering each winner a prize of 25,000 dollars payable to themselves or their nominated charities.