Page 46 - Flight International (January 2020)

WORKING WEEK

WORK EXPERIENCE AMY RUDDOCK
Doctor who aims to cut the carbon

As vice-president corporate development for Virgin Atlantic, Amy Ruddock is responsible for driving
the carrier’s sustainability agenda via strategy, London Heathrow airport expansion and public affairs

Why did you choose to work You are also leading Virgin’s
in aviation? expansion at Heathrow airport.
I am a plane geek. I grew up What does that involve?
living around the world and Our ambition is to become the
became a young appreciator of UK’s second flag carrier; that is
a differentiated cabin. I’m also a a network carrier that connects
PhD physicist who appreciates passengers between domestic,
the complexity of propelling 400t short- and long-haul services. We
into the air. I married a business need two flag carriers to ensure
jet pilot, which sealed my fate an expanded Heathrow delivers
– our weekends with our young choice and competitive fares
girls often involve plane-spotting for passengers – currently one
picnics. Our house is adorned in four passengers at Heathrow
with vintage airline posters and has no choice over with whom
aircraft models. they fly. Practically, that means
How has your career my team is lobbying to amend
progressed? the slot allocation mechanism.
After my PhD, I worked for This was not designed for huge
the Boston Consulting Group Virgin Atlantic increases in capacity such as the
(BCG) for nine years, between third runway and will prevent
our London and Atlanta Emissions reduction is airline’s ‘number one environmental priority’ effective competition. Another
offices. My third project was a part of my team is working
transformation programme with A large part of your role is onwards. Virgin was one of the alongside Heathrow Airport Ltd
a low-cost carrier and I haven’t sustainability. What is Virgin first airlines to call for a global to ensure that Virgin Atlantic
looked back. In nine years at Atlantic doing about carbon carbon pricing mechanism for and our partners have the right
BCG I worked with five airlines emissions? aviation and was delighted terminal infrastructure to grow
(in Europe, the Middle East and Virgin Atlantic has long been a when CORSIA was ratified by and that our growth helps to
the USA) on topics as diverse as leader in sustainable aviation ICAO in 2018. These market- achieve our net zero goals.
strategy, operational efficiency and carbon reductions have been based measures are much more Where do you see yourself
and commercial growth. I moved our number one environmental environmentally effective than five years from now?
to Virgin Atlantic, a former priority from the start. In 2007, taxes because they give value to I have never been happier than
client, following my second we established our “Change carbon savings and money goes since my move to Virgin Atlantic
maternity leave and have been is in the Air” programme directly to carbon reduction from consulting and I want to
there about two months. and in 2012 announced our projects. Then, as current aircraft continue shaping the industry at
What does your current role pioneering partnership on technologies reach their limits, the executive level. ■
involve? sustainable aviation fuels with the next big breakthrough Looking for a job in aerospace?
As vice-president corporate clean technology company is set to come in the form of Check out our listings online at
development, I am responsible LanzaTech. The next phase advanced, affordable, waste- flightglobal.com/jobs
for sustainability, corporate is the carbon offsetting based sustainable aviation fuel
strategy, expansion at London and reduction scheme for technologies. We are calling on If you would like to feature in
Heathrow (with the third international aviation (CORSIA). government and potential fuel Working Week, or you know
runway) and government affairs. This is an internationally suppliers to help us achieve an someone who would, email
It’s a broad, high-impact role agreed programme designed to ambitious target of at least 20% your pitch to kate.sarsfield@
that keeps me on my toes but I address carbon-neutral growth of sustainable fuel across our flightglobal.com
wouldn’t have it any other way. within civil aviation from 2020 operation by 2035.

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