RwandAir CEO, Yvonne Manzi Makolo, will become the first woman to serve as the Chair of Iata’s Board of Governors after being named chair-elect at Iata’s 78th Annual General Meeting in Doha earlier in June.

Makolo became the CEO of RwandAir in 2018. She was born and educated in Rwanda but has also spent some time in Canada. In April 2017, when the Cabinet of Rwanda made management changes at the airline, Makolo was appointed Deputy CEO, responsible for Corporate Affairs. A year later, she was appointed to the position of MD and CEO of the airline.

Under Iata’s 25by2025 initiative, 111 airlines and aviation industry organizations have committed to achieve at least 25% female representation in senior positions by 2025, or to improve female representation in those roles by 25%.