Page 34 - STAT Trade Times Novemmber 2024 Magazine for Website

specialreport

Forum held in Switzerland between
September 17 - 18, 2024, Rachel Douglas,
Organisational Behaviour Manager at
dnata, highlighted the importance of nur-
turing female talent for leadership roles.
“For us, building the pipeline for females
into leadership roles really means focus-
ing on their knowledge, their skills, and
their confidence levels,” Douglas said. She
recognises the unique challenges women
often face, such as balancing major life
events with career progression.
Adele Johnson, UK Head of HR at dnata,
shared how dnata is addressing these
challenges through initiatives focused on
supporting women’s health, from men-
strual health to menopause. “We’re look-
ing at how we can support young women
as well as ladies going through meno-
pause through breathable fabric clothing,
education, forums, and exercise,” Johnson
explained. By investing in such initiatives,
dnata hopes to retain women and diverse
backgrounds within its workforce.
On the other hand, in an interview with
The STAT Trade Times, Lufthansa Cargo’s
Voegele mentioned that initiatives such as
healthy food options for shift workers, im-
proved canteen services, and psychosocial feel valued. “We’re really excited about
counselling are part of a broader wellness measuring the impact that we have and
strategy. By 2025, Lufthansa Cargo aims to how diversity, equity, and inclusion con-
launch a comprehensive health manage- tinue to help make JetBlue a great place
ment programme to provide ongoing to work,” she said.
support for its employees.
Preparing for the future of
Creating cultures of belonging aviation
and engagement The air cargo industry is on the brink of
For Icema D. Gibbs, Vice President of Cor- transformation, requiring leaders to balance
porate Social Responsibility and Diversity, technological advancements with human-
Equity, and Inclusion at JetBlue, fostering a focused strategies. Adrian Binfield, Head
sense of belonging among employees is a Knowing that my of People and Culture at the International
top priority. “It’s important for us to ensure work supports Airlines Group (IAG), sees this as a dual
that they know their voice is heard, that responsibility: not only to embrace tech-
this is a safe place for them to be,” Gibbs global trade and driven changes but to convey how these
stated during the IATA event. Through shifts can positively impact communities.
JetBlue’s “speak-up” surveys and crew impacts lives and “Aviation is genuinely a force for good,”
member resource groups, the company businesses around Binfield noted. “It goes beyond just con-
actively listens to employees’ concerns, necting people with communities; it has
building an inclusive culture that enhanc- the globe keeps an economic impact and helps to drive
es engagement. social change as well.” Yet he acknowl-
As Gibbs explains, employees who me driven and edges the industry’s responsibility to align
participate in these initiatives tend to be passionate. with today’s values, especially regarding
more engaged than the general work- sustainability and environmental, social,
force. For JetBlue, measuring the impact Lizanne De Lange and governance (ESG) factors. This, he
of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Kuehne+Nagel believes, will not only attract new talent
initiatives is essential to ensuring that the but will educate them on the broad range
airline remains a place where employees of career paths in aviation, from ground
32 | NOVEMBER 2024 www.stattimes.com