THE AIR LEAGUE TRUST - Key Persons
Anita joins the Air League having recently been appointed Managing Director of MDA UK, having overarching responsibility for all UK business; tasked with leading the operational delivery of mission-critical programmes, developing customer relationships and scaling the business.
Anita previously led Strategy and Execution activities at Farnborough-based start-up KISPE Space Systems Limited, supporting the growth of capabilities and opportunities to enable teams to leverage the benefits of space and space-enabled systems and knowledge, to make difficult challenges a reality and to apply new technology and approaches for the betterment and enhancement of humankind.
Anita is also an Honorary Group Captain in Royal Air Force 601 Squadron, providing insights on Space matters to RAF and MOD personnel.
She is also a member of the Board of Directors at nanosatellite pioneers AAC Clyde Space, which provides Space Data As A Service, Missions, Products and Components to worldwide customers and is a Board Member of the Institute of Directors, which has a Royal Charter to support, represent and set standards for business leaders nationwide.
Anita possesses an Aerospace Engineering Degree and an MBA and is active in STEM and Mentoring outreach activities for schoolchildren as young as 4 years of age through to undergraduates and early careers candidates, including events with organisations such as the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Science Museum.
Claire runs communications for the Boeing Company across Europe and Israel. An experienced corporate affair professional, with notable involvement in aerospace and defence, Claire is a former UK government special advisor to the Secretary of State for Transport and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Grenville joined the Air League as Honorary Treasurer in May 2019. He has spent most of his working life in aerospace joining the industry from university with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He initially specialised in manufacturing before moving to general management in the light aircraft business where he was Managing Director of Brooklands Aerospace which manufactured the Optical aircraft. He subsequently spent over 20 years with BAE Systems where he worked in the Regional Aircraft, Airbus and Defence businesses and his final role was Group Audit Director.
Jeremy Greaves has been at Airbus for more than fifteen years, in a number of diverse international roles covering Communications and PR, Business Development and latterly as Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Strategy in the UK. Presently he is also the interim head of UK Public Affairs.
He is an Honorary Captain, Royal Naval Reserve, and a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS).
Prior to Airbus he held increasingly senior positions in assorted London based marketing companies, the Defence Procurement Agency, Lockheed Martin UK and EADS.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters UK
- Managing Director of Operational Support Services
Nick is Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters UK. Prior to this, he held the position of Director UK Sales & Export Campaigns within the Leonardo Helicopters Division.
His career started at Plessey Marine where he undertook an engineering apprenticeship. He joined Westland Helicopters Engineering Division in 1983 working on several different aircraft programmes, reaching the position of Chief Engineer. Nick then moved into Technical Support and Customer Training before his final appointment as Senior Vice President of the UK Government Business Unit, where he was accountable for all business with the UK Ministry of Defence with contracts ranging from aircraft build and modification to long term support contracts.
In 2012 Nick joined Marshall Aerospace as Managing Director of Operational Support Services. He was responsible for aircraft projects and services for both the Ministry of Defence and other international customers, as well as holding responsibility for the activities delivered through Marshall's Australian and Canadian offices. In this role Nick oversaw a dramatic turnaround in delivery performance leading to much greater availability of the UK C130 fleet as well as much improved relationships with all customers.
He moved to Boeing Defence, Space & Security in January 2015 as Director of Sales & Marketing for the UK and Europe. During his time in this role, Boeing secured orders for P8 Poseidon aircraft, Apache E helicopters, E7 Wedgetail aircraft and was selected for the UK LANCA programme.
Nick attended the first Executive Masters of Defence Administration course at the Royal Military College of Science, graduating in 1994. He also attended the Top Management Programme run by the UK Government Cabinet Office in 2005 and the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in 2009.
In 2003 he was awarded an MBE for services to aviation. He is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a freeman of the City of London and a member of the Coachmakers Livery Company.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Chief Commercial Officer of Heathrow
Ross was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of Heathrow in January 2017. Previously he was Heathrow's Director of Operations and before that, Director of Strategy. Prior to joining Heathrow in 2011, Ross held a mix of advisory and aviation industry roles. At Bain & Company, he advised on a mix of strategic, commercial and operational engagements. Prior to Bain, Ross spent a decade with British Airways where he held a range of operational and commercial management roles, in the UK and overseas.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Royal Air Force in 1987 As an Apprentice Technician
Tony joined the Royal Air Force in 1987 as an Apprentice technician before qualifying as an engineer officer in 1999. With many years spent at the front line supporting global operations and exercises, Tony has also worked in in the Ministry of Defence in London, the Joint Headquarters at Northwood and Headquarters Air Command at High Wycombe. He first joined the Board of Trustees when Station Commander of RAF Wittering, and Tony is now Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets. Tony is the RAF's LGBT+ Advocate, sits on the RAF's D&I Steering Group and is a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering's D&I Leadership Group.
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Zoë is a graduate from Tufts University. Professionally she is a risk management expert with over 30 years experience in the international insurance sector, specialising in aviation and aerospace. She is currently Managing Director of her own consultancy firm.
Prior to her current appointment Zoë was broker relationship and Chief Underwriting Office Airline Director at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty. She was responsible for portfolio management and strategic direction of the airline practice underwritten. Zoë previously spent 16 years at Willis Ltd in London and New York where she held a number of key production and management roles.