This September, Aviation Australia is proud to launch Industry Engagement Month, a celebration of the partnerships, people and programs shaping the future of aviation.
Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing industry insights, highlighting opportunities for the next generation, and celebrating the achievements of apprentices, alumni, and our partners. It’s all about strengthening connections and building capability for a sustainable, future-ready aviation sector.
Industry Engagement Month opens with a look at the conversations already influencing aviation’s future.
At this year’s Australian Aviation Summit, Aviation Australia CEO Glenn Ryan joined a panel of industry leaders in the session ’Securing Australia’s Aviation Future.’ The discussion focused on how the sector can take a long-term view, embrace new technologies, and strengthen its workforce to meet future demand.
Glenn noted that while Australia has developed highly technical aviation capabilities, the industry must also adopt new approaches and mindsets to remain competitive. This includes addressing questions of sustainability, the role of autonomous technologies, and how Australia balances the need for sovereign capability with the opportunities of international mobility.
A major focus of the panel and the discussions throughout the day was the aviation workforce pipeline. Glenn highlighted a gap in Australia’s current approach: there is no coordinated national strategy to inspire and develop future talent, with most initiatives operating only at a state level. Aviation Australia’s Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Program (AGISP) was presented as a model that could be expanded nationally to provide consistent opportunities for students and strengthen the skills base the industry requires.
The discussion also reinforced that securing the future of aviation hinges on strong collaboration between industry and government. Building capability and scale requires a shared commitment to long-term workforce capability planning. We’re addressing critical skills through initiatives like the government funded Modular Licence in the Northern Territory and our partnership with Boeing to launch the Townsville Aviation Training Academy, both designed to deliver future-focused, scalable solutions.
We were also inspired by the contributions of fellow panellists including Emma from Stralis Aircraft, who shared the significant progress being made in the development of hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for aircraft. Aviation Australia is proud to be a founding partner of Stralis and values this strong and ongoing relationship. Stralis exemplifies the type of innovative and sustainable solutions that will be essential to the industry’s future, and through our partnership we are working together to create practical pathways for meaningful change.
As Australia’s largest aviation training provider, Aviation Australia remains committed to leading in education, training, and excellence across the sector. Through strategic partnerships and innovative programs, we’re not only addressing today’s workforce challenges but actively shaping a sustainable and future-ready aviation industry.
Keep the conversation going — talk aviation, industry insights, and future workforce solutions with us.
Reach out at [email protected], or follow along with our Industry Engagement Month updates on our website and LinkedIn.
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