At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 in Las Vegas, Women and Drones recognized the women and companies that are “driving change and leading the way toward greater female participation in the uncrewed aviation industry” with its “Women in Emerging Aviation Technologies Awards.” The awards were presented as part of the Women in Emerging Aviation Technologies Summit, which featured more than 30 speakers from around the world.

This year marked the sixth consecutive year that Women and Drones has honored the “trailblazers, innovators, mentors, and business leaders who are making significant contributions to the UAS/AAM industry.” The awards ceremony featured keynote addresses by Abigail Smith, Executive Director of Policy and Plans within the Office of Policy, International Affairs, and Environment at the FAA, and Beth Flippo, CEO of DroneExpress.

“Women To Watch in Emerging Aviation Technologies” awards were presented to women in ten categories: Leadership, Education, Geographic Information System (GIS), AI/Autonomy, Visual Arts, Entrepreneurship, Public Safety/Public Service, Engineering, Sustainable Aviation Propulsion Technology and Drone Sports.

In addition, Women and Drones inducted ten women into its Hall of Fame and honored eight firms as its “Top Companies for Women in Emerging Aviation Technologies in 2022.” Other companies received the “Innovation - Emerging Aviation Technologies Award,” “Titan Aviation Company Innovation Award,” and “FoxFury Company Spotlight on Drones for Good Award.”

Here is the complete list of honorees:

Hall of Fame Inductees:

  1. Lisa Ellman, Executive Director of the Commercial Drone Alliance and Partner at Hogan Lovells
  2. Tracy Lamb, CEO of Quantum AI, Commercial Pilot/Instructor Crewed and Uncrewed Aircraft
  3. Miriam McNabb, Editor of DRONELIFE.com
  4. Robin Murphy, Director of the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering
  5. Marilyn Pearson, Global Regulatory Lead for AAM/eVTOL/UAS, Pilot/Instructor Commercial Crewed and Uncrewed Aircraft
  6. Jennifer Pidgen, COO at Sundance Media Group and UAS book Co-Author
  7. Erin Roesler, Director of Operations for the Northern Plains UAS Test Site
  8. Sabrina Saunders-Hodge, Director of Research Engineering and Analysis Division, FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office
  9. Anita Sengupta, Founder/CEO of Hydroplane Ltd, Aerospace Engineer, Commercial Pilot, Space Program Veteran
  10. Huy Tran, Director of Aeronautics at the NASA Ames Research Center
  11. Sally French, Journalist and Founder of The Drone Girl Website
  12. Fiona Lake, Founder of Australia’s Rural Drone Academy

Top Companies for Women in Emerging Aviation Technologies in 2022:

  1. Airspeeder (Australia)
  2. CAE Inc (Canada)
  3. Hydroplane Ltd. (United States)
  4. Kenya Flying Labs (Kenya)
  5. NASA Aeronautics Research Institute (United States)
  6. She Maps (Australia)
  7. Swoop Aero (Australia)
  8. WingXpand (United States)

FoxFury Company Spotlight on Drones for Good Award:

  • Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR)

Titan Aviation Company Innovation Award:

  • Hydroplane Ltd.

Women to Watch Awards:

  • Niharika Kolte Alekar of India, Founder, Volar Alta - Drone Tech Solutions, Entrepreneurship Category, Sponsored by Spright
  • Diana Cooper of the United States, Global Head of Policy & Regulations at Supernal, Leadership Category, Sponsored by Sabrewing Aircraft Company
  • Miriam Foxx of the United States, Captain, Investigations Division at Chula Vista Police Department, Public Safety Category, Sponsored by Fox Flight Team
  • Baisali Ghosh of India, Marcom Manager at FlytBase Inc., AI/Autonomy Category
  • Ryan Grieves of the United States, FPV Drone Pilot, Drone Sports Category
  • Lexie Janson of Poland, Personal Aerial Vehicle Test Pilot for Airspeeder, Trailblazer Category
  • Joan Li of Australia, Earth Observation Data Scientist, Geographic Information System (GIS) Category
  • Wendy Ljungren of the United States, Founder of Anzen Unmanned, Engineering Category, Sponsored by Metis
  • Ndapile Mkuwu of Malawi, Certified Drone Pilot, GIS Analyst, Geologist, Education Category
  • Joanna Steidle of the United States, Drone Pilot, Artist & FPV / Owner-Hamptons Drone Images, Visual Arts Category, Sponsored by On The Go Video

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