How did you get into business aviation?

I graduated in the mid ‘90s with a degree in media & communications and a vague notion about going into journalism, copywriting, scriptwriting, anything writing-related. As a broke graduate, I moved back home to East London and contemplated my future whilst I got a temping job in the marketing department of London City Airport. It was an exciting place to be, growing rapidly, accelerated by the growth of the new London Docklands business district at the end of the runway. It was super evocative – the smell of the jet fuel and the hordes of besuited businesspeople scurrying through the terminal. I was instantly hooked.

Career progression took me to London Biggin Hill Airport where I looked after marketing and PR and then taking on the customer services team.

I have since worked at two charter brokerages and am now responsible for our global business aviation operations at Hunt & Palmer, a UK-headquartered global charter brokerage.

What advice would you give to your younger self and would you have taken it?

Be less reactive. I’m somewhat impetuous and do things from the heart. I have had to learn to press pause, step back and appraise the situation in question from a less emotional viewpoint. That said, my intuition has always stood me in very good stead for managing interpersonal relationships with colleagues and clients alike. And my gut instinct has rarely been proven wrong.

What was your best business decision?

Getting involved with the Air Charter Association, a global trade body for operators, brokers and related tertiary suppliers to the charter community. I joined the board in 2015 and have been deputy chair for six years. We’ve worked hard to establish trading best practice, developing an expansive professional training curriculum which we deliver all over the world and online.

What was your worst business decision?

My biggest mistake was working so hard that I lost sight of my priorities and my sense of self. I think we all know people (especially women) who have been afflicted by this: working so hard around the clock at a job you love to continually prove your excellence and demonstrate your worth to the business and your clients ... until you are consumed by it, overrun by it, fall out of love with it and feel like you’re failing professionally and personally. That brought about a real crisis of confidence, but a hard reset and yes, an impetuous decision to step away without forethought enabled me to regain my perspective and find a slightly different path which ultimately led to a much better life and the very best new chapter with Hunt & Palmer where I have spent the past nine years.

Is business aviation in the climb, the cruise or the descent and why?

The answer depends on which sector you are in. If you are one of the big manufacturers then it’s an exciting time of innovation and unprecedented demand for incredible business jets that have performance in terms of range and altitude that was unthinkable even 15 years ago.

The charter industry, however, does feel like we are continually flying through turbulent airspace in the form of punitive taxation and regulation and the very real challenge of airport access. The greatest threat though is the increased competition amongst charter brokerage companies and operators that is challenging the long-term sustainability for the sector. There will be some high-profile metaphorical hard landings, I’m sure.

That said, as a fully reactive and nimble industry by very design, we offer safe, secure and totally tailored transportation that connects economies, communities and families, delivers aid, performs evacuation and repatriation missions, transports sports teams, their supporters and entertainers all over the world.

How do you relax?

Always being close to the sea and the sky! I live in Brighton (on the UK south coast) and love nothing more than an invigorating walk by the sea or along the South Downs with my family, preferably punctuated by a hearty pub roast.

But my average weekday evening will be sat at home with a good book or TV drama and a cat on my lap.