Windhoek: The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Tuesday hosted its 'Women in Aviation' conference, aimed at empowering women in the aviation industry. The event sought to empower, educate, and inspire women through mentorship, advocacy, and outreach, promoting gender equality and professional excellence in Namibian aviation.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Veronicia Montsi, Manager of Commercial Services at the Namibia Airports Company (NAC), emphasized the initiative's role in transforming Namibia's aviation sector into a diverse and inclusive space where success is determined by talent rather than gender. Montsi highlighted the industry's male-dominated nature and the program's goal to address gender imbalance by raising awareness and encouraging young women to join the sector.

NCAA Executive Director Toska Sem shared her experiences in aviation, describing the platform as a place where women can gather for strategic interventions, support, mentorship, and experience-sharing. Sem stressed the importance of such initiatives for women in aviation.

Lucy Mbugua, Director of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Eastern and Southern regional office, pointed out that gender diversity in aviation is not just about fairness but also progress. She noted that diverse teams are more innovative and manage risks better. Mbugua emphasized the challenges women face due to gender stereotypes, which discourage them from pursuing careers traditionally seen as male-dominated.

Mbugua also noted the rapid expansion of the aviation industry and the global shortage of professionals such as pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers, technicians, and leaders. She mentioned ICAO's Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Programme, which aims to inspire, attract, educate, and retain young talent, including talented Namibian women.