Women In Aviation International (WAI) has announced that its president, CEO and founder Peggy Chabrian, plans to retire and step down from the organisation, effective April 2020.
Chabrian held the first WAI meeting in Prescott, Arizona, in 1990, an event which led eventually to its formal establishment as a non-profit organisation in 1994, with the stated aim of encouraging “the advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests.”
“The organization is in an excellent place with record accomplishments in all areas including membership numbers, scholarship awards, and a solid financial position,” said Dr. Chabrian.
“It has been a pleasure to have established the WAI annual conferences 30 years ago, to create the organization 25 years ago, and to serve as its president since its inception in 1994.
The organisation has come a long way since its inception and marked several milestones this year, including: a record membership of 14,000, $948,000 in scholarships awarded at the 30th anniversary conference, a $1-million endowment fund and the fifth annual Girls in Aviation Day on 5 October 2019, expected to reach 20,000 participants.
“A trailblazing pioneer and an industry leader, Dr. Peggy Chabrian has steered the international growth and prominence of WAI for three decades with her signature professionalism and expertise,” said Marci Veronie, WAI chairman.
“On behalf of the WAI board of directors and staff, we offer a huge collective thank you for all that Peggy has accomplished for women in aviation pursuing a wide range of career pursuits and for providing the year-round resources to foster each member’s dream of finding her or his right path in this ever expanding industry.”