Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), this week attended the 75th IATA AGM in Seoul, South Korea (1-3 June), to help honour the outstanding achievements made by women in the Travel & Tourism industry globally, and present Fadimatou Noutchemo Simo, Founder of the Young African Aviation Professionals Association (YAAPA) with an award at the Diversity & Inclusion Awards ceremony.
Founded by Noutchemo Simo in 2014, the Association has been instrumental in attracting the future generation of aviation professionals in the African region.
Following the incredible success of YAAPA, which has also seen Noutchemo Simo launch the ‘Heleta Aviation Scholarship’, an initiative which encourages and rewards underprivileged children in rural areas, Guevara will present Fadimatou Noutchemo Simo with the prestigious High Flyer Award. Part of the Diversity & Inclusion Awards, this accolade is designed to recognise aviation’s leading under-30 female contributors, who have developed thought leadership in the industry through their pioneering work.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council commented, “I am delighted to present Fadimatou with this prestigious award, one which she truly deserves. Her Association has made tremendous steps since its inception and I am delighted to share the stage with such an inspirational leader.”
“We know from WTTC research that Travel & Tourism employs almost twice as many female members of staff than other sectors. The sector provides women with more opportunities for workforce participation, leadership, entrepreneurship and empowerment than many other sectors, particularly in developing countries.”
The IATA Annual General Meeting, hosted by Korean Air, brought together 1,000 industry leaders to Seoul from 1-3 June 2019.