Maria Laine, President of Boeing UK, Ireland and Nordics, shares her message of support
Boeing has partnered with the UK since before World War II. We have an enduring commitment to our British armed forces, including veterans, reserves and their families, and therefore, I am truly thrilled to partner with Women in Defence UK, underpinned by our joint common purpose to improve representation and awareness of women working in defence. We are committed to cross-industry initiatives that drive equity at all levels.
The very existence of Women in Defence demonstrates how far we’ve come in recognising the vital contribution women make right across the defence community. But there is still more to be done. Women that we have served with, and worked alongside, will know all too well the journey we have been on to date and it is really thanks to them that there is such a strong foundation in place for us to build on. It is your shoulders that we are collectively standing on today.
I’d also like to pay tribute to the collective and wide range of talented and skillful women being recognised at this year’s Women in Defence awards and send my congratulations to all those who were nominated; each one of us has a role to play in growing a UK defence industry that is not only more inclusive and diverse but a place where we can thrive and succeed
