A featured contribution from Leadership Perspectives: a curated forum reserved for leaders nominated by our subscribers and vetted by the Construction Tech Review Advisory Board.
Senior Manager for Industrial Participation and Cooperation at Airbus in Australia
Navigating the Skies of Tomorrow
Scott White
Scott White is a seasoned executive leader with a wealth of experience in the aviation industry. With expertise in engineering, business strategy, legislative compliance, project and program management, governance, ecosystem development and external engagement, he brings a comprehensive skill set to his role. Scott is also well-versed in corporate, technical and project risk management, disaster management, and engineering management.
In an exclusive interview with APAC CIO outlook, Scott shared his valuable insights on the aviation sector's challenges, trends, and best practices.
Can you introduce yourself and your roles and responsibilities in your current organization?
I’m the Senior Manager for Industrial Participation and Cooperation at Airbus Australia Pacific, based in Brisbane, Australia. My background is in aerospace engineering, with additional qualifications and experience in business, commerce and project management. I've also worked in local government as a senior executive in public transport.
What challenges do you encounter in your role, and how do you overcome them?
I frequently engage with various internal and external stakeholders in the organization. The primary challenges are finding projects that align with mutual interests and fostering collaboration among all parties involved.
This process often involves meeting with government officials, industry partners, and academia. Securing adequate project funding is another significant challenge, particularly for future technologies.
What are the latest trends you see in the aviation industry?
One of the main trends in the aviation industry right now is the strong emphasis on sustainability. This includes efforts to make current technologies more efficient in reducing emissions and fuel consumption. Additionally, there's a push towards adopting new technologies like electric propulsion systems, such as Advanced Air Mobility, and sustainable aviation fuels.
Among the emerging technologies in the industry, which ones are you optimistic about?
While new technologies show promise and provides exciting headlines, progressing these through the Technology Readiness Levels to commercialization is where optimism meets reality. Sustainability in aviation is attracting considerable investment worldwide, but not all initiatives will succeed. The challenge lies in making emerging technologies commercially viable and aligning them with real-world needs. It's crucial to ensure that research activities address actual problems and have a clear market demand. Developing the ecosystem around these technologies, including regulations, infrastructure and education/skills development, is equally vital for their success.
In my experience keeping aware of an organization’s pulse, freeing yourself for other activity by leveraging the strength of your managers and being willing to change ‘how’ you do things (even/especially when it’s hard) can all give confidence to your steps
What advice would you give to budding professionals in the aviation industry?
My advice to aspiring professionals in the aviation industry would be to stay updated on emerging technology trends. However, it's equally essential to understand the entire ecosystem in which these technologies will operate. This includes considering commercial viability and the regulatory landscape. Investments and advancements in the industry depend on technology, favorable economic conditions, and social acceptance. By focusing on these aspects, professionals can increase the likelihood of their technology solutions succeeding in the market and positively impacting society.
