Katie's Profile
Job title
Senior Lecturer
Academic qualifications
BSc (Hons) Politics with International Relations, PGCert Learning and Teaching in Vocational Subjects, MSc Aviation Management
Professional recognition / membership
Fellowship (FHEA)
"I once pre-empted the impact of a cyclone and advised British Airways to change flight schedules, saving them thousands of pounds – and I even got an award for it!"
I’m a Senior Lecturer in Aviation Management here at UCB. I’m from Birmingham itself and delighted to share my passion for aviation with students in my home town. The Aviation modules I teach are: Operations, Planning and Strategy, and I have specific expertise in Aviation Flight Operations, Air Traffic Management and Airline Disability Strategy.
My professional background includes vast experience with British Airways (BA), flying as Cabin Crew, working on Check-In, and as a Duty Manager in the Flight Planning team. I also carried out a placement year with BA’s Social Media Content Team and worked on their Disability Customer Strategy. As a result of my many years working within the industry, I have thousands of tales to share with students about what it’s really like to work in aviation. Some days are exciting and fun; others are stressful and busy. My classes are therefore full of fascinating stories, laughter, and a good dose of reality, of course.
I especially enjoy sharing my knowledge about how strategic thinking can really make a positive impact within the industry. To take just one example, back in 2019, I pre-empted the effect that Cyclone Vayu would have on BA’s operations. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the Pakistani airspace was closed to commercial flying operations. By predicting the storm’s impact, I was able to advise the airline to amend flight schedules, increase crewing, change aircraft flying lines and implement new flight plans built to mitigate the effect of the storm. Not only did this minimise disruption for staff and passengers alike, but it also saved the airline thousands of pounds in delays.
I live and breathe all things aviation, and seeing students thrive on the course at UCB is truly inspiring. When you join this industry, you instantly become part of a community of like-minded people. And the course isn’t just about technical expertise, our students go on to succeed in all kinds of roles – everything from managing crew to writing policy. A genuine enthusiasm for the industry will get you far, and there’s really no limit to where you could go. It’s challenging at times, but so rewarding.
I always like to remind students that when everything is against you, just remember that a plane takes off heading into the wind. I think that’s a great metaphor for life.
When I’m not at work, I love visiting new cities and travelling on different types of aircraft. I always bring my travel stories back to the classroom and invite students to share their own experiences as well. I’m also learning German, and proud of my Duolingo streak – one year and counting!