- IAWA Names Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison 2026 Woman of Excellence
The International Aerospace Womens Association has named veteran aviation executive Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison as the recipient of its 2026 Woman of Excellence Award, recognising nearly five decades of leadership, mentorship and work to expand opportunities across the aviation industry.
The award will be presented during IAWA’s Annual International Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, scheduled for November 3 to November 5, 2026.
The conference will bring together senior executives, innovators and emerging leaders from aviation and aerospace for discussions on industry development, inclusive leadership, professional advancement and global collaboration.
IAWA presents the Woman of Excellence Award annually to an outstanding woman whose work reflects the association’s core values of connecting, inspiring and leading.
Recipients are expected to demonstrate sustained leadership in aviation or aerospace, support the professional advancement of women and younger colleagues, share their networks and serve as respected role models across the industry. The award is traditionally presented at the gala dinner during IAWA’s annual conference.
Blacknall-Jamison has accumulated about 47 years of professional aviation experience, including approximately 30 years in leadership positions. Her career has covered airline operations, aviation safety, emergency procedures training, human resources, executive coaching, organisational transformation and nonprofit leadership.
She most recently served as Executive Director of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, commonly known as OBAP, after being appointed to the position in 2024.
In that role, she was responsible for advancing the organisation’s mission, coordinating its programmes and overseeing staff, volunteers, fundraising, technology, events and special projects.
OBAP works to expand access, representation and professional opportunities for Black people across aviation and aerospace. Its programmes cover pilots, engineers, aircraft maintenance technicians, flight attendants, corporate professionals and students pursuing careers in the industry.
Blacknall-Jamison joined OBAP in 1989 and has held several leadership and volunteer positions within the organisation. She previously became its first female and non-pilot board chair and later served as chair of its Board of Advisors.
Her appointment as Executive Director represented the continuation of a relationship with the organisation spanning more than three decades.
“It is an honour to join OBAP as Executive Director,” she said following her appointment in 2024. “I am committed to building upon the organisation’s legacy of excellence and fostering opportunities for Black professionals in the aerospace industry.”
Before joining OBAP’s executive leadership, Blacknall-Jamison worked with the United States Federal Aviation Administration as a change adviser and professional leadership coach.
At the FAA, she advised executives and senior managers on national and cross-agency initiatives intended to improve organisational performance. Her work included resolving business challenges, developing change-management programmes, improving internal processes and coaching executives, middle managers and frontline supervisors.
She previously worked at United Airlines, where she concluded her airline career as a senior manager responsible for emergency procedures training for pilots and flight attendants worldwide.
Her work at United also included responsibility for recruiting minority and female pilots, placing her at the centre of early efforts to improve representation within commercial aviation.
That experience is particularly relevant to the recognition by IAWA, whose award criteria emphasise connecting professionals, mentoring emerging talent and advancing women across aviation and aerospace.
Blacknall-Jamison has consistently argued that industry partnerships must provide aspiring professionals with practical exposure, mentorship and access to decision-makers.
Commenting on an OBAP partnership with American Airlines earlier in 2026, she said such collaborations were essential to providing meaningful access for people seeking aviation careers.
“By connecting participants with industry leaders and real-world experiences, we’re helping equip the next generation with the tools and confidence to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace,” she said.
Her professional work has extended beyond airlines and federal aviation regulation.
Blacknall-Jamison has served on the Board of Trustees of the Civil Air Patrol Foundation and chaired the Board of Directors of the Her Many Voices Foundation. She has also worked as a coach supporting individuals making significant educational, professional and personal transitions.
She is an adjunct professor at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology and has undertaken faculty work in professional coaching and leadership development.
Blacknall-Jamison holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in business management. She also holds professional qualifications in coaching and change management.
Her contributions have already attracted recognition within the aviation community. In 2024, she was inducted into the OBAP Founders and Pioneers Hall of Fame, which honours individuals whose courage, leadership and service have helped create opportunities for later generations of aerospace professionals.
The latest award places her among a distinguished group of women recognised by IAWA for leadership and industry impact.
Previous recipients include aviation and space lawyer Alina Nassar, who received the honour in 2025, and Dr Regula Dettling-Ott, the 2024 recipient.
IAWA describes itself as a global association focused on elevating women in leadership positions across the aviation and aerospace industries. Its programmes include leadership development, professional networking, research, mentoring and engagement with organisations across different parts of the aerospace ecosystem.
The Philadelphia conference, where Blacknall-Jamison will receive the award, forms part of IAWA’s broader effort to connect established executives with emerging professionals and strengthen the pipeline of women entering senior industry positions.
For Blacknall-Jamison, the honour reflects not only the length of her aviation career but also its breadth. From training airline crews and recruiting underrepresented pilots to advising federal executives and leading a major professional organisation, her career has combined operational responsibility with a sustained commitment to opening doors for others.
