A Zambian national has been honoured by IATA at its Diversity & Inclusion Awards.
Mafunase Ngosa Malenga is the Founder and MD of the Southern African Institute of Aviation Science and Technology (SAIAST). She won the High Flyer award for her work in training African women in aviation and tourism-related skills.
“It is such an honour to be involved in the evolution of the aviation industry both locally and regionally. The more graduates we produce, the bigger the change we are making,” said Malenga.
Malenga founded SAIAST in Lusaka to offers courses in ground operations, sales and ticketing, passenger handling, travel and tourism, aircraft marshalling and cabin crew roles in postgraduate, undergraduate, vocational and online forms.
SAIAST has over 800 graduates, 80% of whom are women. These graduates are now employed throughout the travel industry in travel agencies, airlines, airports and cargo companies. Iata said Malenga encouraged young women to pursue careers in aviation and was paving the way for a more diverse aviation sector in Africa.
“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. Their contributions to righting the gender balance in aviation are truly inspirational and deserving of today’s recognition,” said Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO of RwandAir and Chair of the Iata Board of Governors.
IATA’s Diversity & Inclusion Awards are sponsored by Qatar Airways. Each winner received a prize of US$25 000 (R470 000) that could be paid to themselves or a charity of their choice.
