Westminster alumna Janine Hornsby has recently been appointed as the new Chief Executive by The Air League, one of the UK’s longest-standing aviation and aerospace charities and the largest provider of aviation and aerospace scholarships and bursaries in the sector.
Janine Hornsby graduated from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) course at the University of Westminster in 2018, having previously held teaching roles and serving as Head of Curriculum at one of Cambridgeshire’s most challenging secondary schools. Motivated by a desire to transition from the education sector to the corporate world, she pursued the MBA to facilitate this career change.
Following a short foray in the publishing industry, she joined Marshall Aerospace in 2020 as a Senior Marketing and Communications Manager. Marshall is a Cambridge-based aircraft maintenance, modification and design company that specialise in the C130 Hercules aircraft.
During her time at Marshall, Janine saw the significant impact that the global skills and labour shortage is having on the aviation, aerospace and space industries and was determined to make a difference. This observation led Janine to launch the Skills Summit event series, which resulted in a cohesive industry approach to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) engagement programmes aimed at schools and communities across the UK. With a key focus on encouraging collaboration over competition, Janine brought together leaders from civil, business and military aviation to work more closely on solving an industry wide challenge that negatively impacts the UK’s GDP. In doing so, she achieved tangible outcomes, including the launch of new accredited qualifications and the development of a collaborative and progressive outreach curriculum that guides students from the age of five to career entry. She particularly focused on supporting social mobility and breaking down perceived barriers to entry for those who might think a career in aviation is unattainable.
About her time at Westminster, Janine said: “The MBA at Westminster played a pivotal role in my career development, and I can confidently say that I wouldn’t have reached where I am today without it. The programme reshaped the way I approach challenges and problem-solving, teaching me to think strategically and to conduct myself as a Chief Executive. It reinforced the value of collaboration over competition and provided me with a comprehensive understanding of how different functions within a business must work together. Most importantly, it gave me the confidence to successfully transition from my career as an educator into the corporate world. It was the best investment I could have made for myself and if I could go back and do it all again, I would.
At Marshall, my ability to drive these initiatives was limited by time and scope. So, when the opportunity arose to become CEO of The Air League – a charity that has been transforming lives through aviation since 1909 – I knew I could make a greater impact. Now, I am in a position to focus all my energy on inspiring and supporting thousands of young people, helping to secure the future of our sector more effectively.”
Westminster’s MBA directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4: Quality Education and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out about other Business and Management courses at Westminster.
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