WIA-Europe Symposium
Our annual flagship event, WIA-Europe, brings together individuals from across Europe, highlighting future-proof and transferable skills and career opportunities, as well as challenges and opportunities in the aerospace sector.
The WIA-Europe Symposium aims to unite professionals from across Europe to explore future-ready skills, career pathways, and the evolving opportunities and challenges within the aerospace sector. Each year, we select a dedicated theme and present a curated series of online lunchtime sessions.
The symposium brings together industry experts, researchers, students, and leaders for a series of talks, panels, and workshops focused on career development, skills building, knowledge exchange, and inclusive workplace practices.
WIA-Europe Symposium 2026
The WIA-Europe Symposium 2026 — themed “Skills In Motion” — is the 5th edition of the WIA-Europe Symposium, dedicated to driving aerospace innovation and entrepreneurship. For the first time, it will be held in a hybrid form with an online event series from May 4–6 and an in-person day in Brussels on May 7th.
Events:
Start-Up Day
The Start-up Day unites professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders from across the aerospace sector for a dynamic day of learning, collaboration, and discussion. Across three engaging workshops, participants explore the fundamentals of building a successful start-up, hear inspiring career journeys from women shaping the future of aerospace, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends driving the global space economy.
From Degree to Deployment: Why the First 5 Years Decide Everything
This session explores early-career pathways and the gap between education and industry. It addresses key questions such as:
- Are universities preparing systems thinkers?
- Why do many aerospace careers stall around years 3–5?
- What may be missing—confidence, networks, or regulatory literacy?
The discussion brings together students, early-career professionals, universities, educators, and industry talent leaders who are committed to strengthening the aerospace talent pipeline.
Transferable Skills Development (Workshop)
A poll-selected workshop that explores the key transferable skills engineers often do not learn in school.
Brussels In-Person Day – Networking & High-Level Discussions
An in-person event in Brussels that brings together industry leaders, policymakers, start-ups, and early-career professionals to explore Europe’s aerospace and innovation landscape. Through high-level discussions and panels, it examines key challenges such as scaling aerospace start-ups and the effectiveness of EU skills policies in addressing early-career gaps.
Building on earlier, more practical events in the series, this day offers a strategic, policy-focused perspective, alongside valuable opportunities for networking and connection with peers, mentors, and industry leaders.
WIA-Europe Symposium 2025
The WIA-Europe Symposium 2025 — themed “Narrowing the Knowledge Gap” — was the 4th edition of the WIA-Europe Symposium, dedicated to strengthening and diversifying the aerospace workforce. Held online from May 12–16, 2025, the symposium brought together early-career professionals, seasoned experts, and individuals from across Europe who were interested in entering or advancing within the sector.
Over five days, participants explored generational and geographical knowledge transfer, the intersection of STEM expertise with diversity-equity-inclusion advocacy, executive leadership skills, and current European space-education opportunities, including master’s programmes and scholarships. Through expert panels, interactive workshops, and regional collaboration sessions, the event aimed to foster cross-border cooperation, support professional development, and build a more inclusive pipeline of aerospace talent for the future.
Events:
Generational Knowledge Transfer- Linking Experience with Fresh Perspectives
We explored the challenges and opportunities of generational knowledge transfer in the aerospace sector, incorporating cross-industry expertise and insights. We also addressed the best practices and strategies companies adopted to effectively mentor and share knowledge between generations, ensuring continued innovation and leadership in the industry. We invited those who faced these challenges, as well as those who had experienced successful practices in generational knowledge transfer, to contribute to the discussion.
Integrating STEM Expertise with Gender Diversity Advocacy
This interactive discussion targeted people who combine technical (STEM) roles with advocacy for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA). It provided a space to explore how to balance technical work with inclusion efforts, and addressed the fear or difficulty some may face in voicing DEIA concerns in a technical environment.
Executive Skills – Assessment and Coaching for Career and Social Success (Workshop)
An interactive workshop on “executive skills” — cognitive and organizational competencies like planning, working memory, sustained attention, goal-oriented planning — which are often not formally taught but are critical for career success. The workshop aimed to help participants recognise these “hidden curriculum” skills and offered practical, evidence‑based strategies to develop them, especially for women in aerospace.
Space Education in Europe – WIA-Europe Partners and Scholarships
This session offered an overview of educational and training opportunities across Europe for aspiring aerospace professionals. Representatives from universities and educational institutions presented master’s programmes along with scholarship opportunities for members of WIA‑Europe, highlighting pathways for upskilling and career entry or advancement in the space sector.
Mapping Talent – Knowledge Transfer & Talent Growth in Aerospace Through Regional Collaboration
Focusing on regional dynamics, this event examined how cross-regional collaboration can help address skill and knowledge gaps across Europe. Panellists discussed strategies to attract and retain talent, share expertise between different regions, and foster innovation through cooperation — especially in regions where aerospace capabilities are emerging or evolving.
WIA-Europe Symposium 2024
The WIA-Europe Symposium 2024— themed “Skills Fusion” — was the 3rd edition of the WIA-Europe Symposium. Held online from May 13–17, 2024, the symposium brought together aerospace professionals for a week of discussions on career development, skill adaptability, workplace challenges, and diversity.
Each day focused on a specific theme, including mid-career growth, transferable skills in the space economy, green and AI skills, overcoming impostor phenomenon, and fostering diversity and inclusion, particularly for LGBTQIA+ professionals. Expert speakers shared insights, strategies, and practical tools to support professional growth, adaptability, and inclusive practices. The symposium provided valuable knowledge exchange and networking opportunities, empowering attendees to navigate industry changes, embrace new opportunities, and contribute to a more inclusive and innovative aerospace workforce.
Events:
Are You in a Mid-Career-Life Crisis? Strategies for Growth
This session addressed key challenges faced by mid-career professionals, including skill gaps, career transitions, and continuous learning. Sahana Shastry, Christie Maddock, Coraline Dalibot, Kathie Bowden, and Susanne Svensdotter provided guidance on upskilling and reskilling, offering practical approaches to staying competitive in an evolving aerospace landscape.
Transferable Skills – Part 1: Space Economy, Commerce & Governance
Simonetta di Pippo and Charlotte Mathieu explored the intersection of business, policy, and technology in the aerospace sector. They highlighted how professionals could leverage their expertise to transition into roles within the space economy. Heidi Thiemann moderated the discussion, ensuring a dynamic exchange of ideas on career mobility and emerging opportunities.
Transferable Skills - Part 2: Green Skills and AI in Aerospace
Vera Pinto, Ioana Bratu, and Ioannis Lentas delved into the increasing role of artificial intelligence and sustainable technologies in shaping the future of aerospace. The panellists examined the skills necessary to adapt to these changes and the policies influencing industry-wide transformation.
Overcoming Impostor Phenomenon in the Workplace
A session dedicated to understanding and combating self-doubt in professional settings. Diana Pueyo, Cristina Domínguez Soto, Susana Ortiz Marcos, and Gabriella Goddard explored how impostor feelings impact leadership, career progression, and workplace dynamics. The speakers shared research-backed strategies and practical tools to build confidence and resilience.
Nurturing Diversity and Inclusive Skills for a Vibrant Talent Pool – Understanding Intersectionality & Inclusive Tools
This session examined the challenges faced by LGBTQ professionals in aerospace. Cecile Deprez and Marcelle Laliberte discussed how intersecting identities influence career advancement and workplace experiences. The discussion centred on fostering inclusive work environments, using respectful language, addressing microaggressions, and promoting allyship.
WIA-Europe Symposium 2023
The WIA-Europe Symposium 2024— themed “Mind the Skills Gap” — was the 2nd edition of the WIA-Europe Symposium. Held online from May 15–17, 2023, the symposium aimed to explore the gaps between existing workforce capabilities and the evolving demands of the aerospace (and related) industry.
The event offered key insights into where skills are lacking — technical, soft, or industry‑specific — and how organisations and individuals can respond through upskilling, mentoring, and strategic workforce planning. Expert speakers shared practical advice on addressing recruitment and retention issues, developing transferable skills, and building inclusive, future‑proof talent pipelines.
The session was designed for professionals, students, employers, and stakeholders committed to closing the skills gap and fostering a resilient, adaptable workforce.
Learn more >>
Events:
Nurturing Diverse Talent: 10 Things You Might Be Doing Wrong
Experts Lucia Klestincova and Xenia Pattberg shared insights on how organisations can better attract and support diverse talent. Participants learned about strategies for inclusive communication, fostering understanding, and avoiding common pitfalls in diversity initiatives.
A Career at the European Space Agency
Attendees had the chance to engage in a live Q&A with Lucy van der Tas, Head of Talent Acquisition at the European Space Agency, discovering how careers at ESA are launched and gaining valuable guidance on the recruitment process. WIA-Europe members also received personalised feedback on CVs for those interested in ESA vacancies.
Skills Summit 2023: Exploring the Future of Aerospace
This session provided a comprehensive look at the European aerospace talent landscape. Panellists from ESA, EUSPA, the EU Commission, and leading universities discussed research, initiatives, and challenges for growing and future-proofing the workforce, with insights relevant to graduates, career-changers, HR professionals, and educators.
If You Thought You Weren’t Burning Out, She Was. Now What?
The session reflected on the ongoing challenges of burnout in the post-pandemic workplace, particularly for women. Lucia Klestincova guided attendees through the causes of burnout, organisational gaps, and strategies for promoting feminine leadership, team resilience, and individual empowerment.
PADAWANS: STEM Outreach at Schools
The team behind the award-winning PADAWANS project shared how they organised hands-on workshops for children across Europe, breaking stereotypes and promoting gender balance and inclusivity in the space sector. Participants also engaged directly with the speakers to discuss results and ideas for future outreach initiatives.