Aerospace New Zealand advances gender equality with Women’s Empowerment Principles commitment

UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand is proud to welcome Aerospace New Zealand as the newest signatory to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a set of globally recognised principles offering guidance to businesses on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community.

This milestone reflects a deepening collaboration between the two organisations, building on their shared commitment to championing women’s leadership and participation in the aerospace and space science sectors. It also marks a significant step forward in aligning New Zealand’s rapidly growing aerospace industry with global standards for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development.

“Space exploration is a frontier of innovation and discovery, and women have a critical role to play in shaping its future,” says Tara Singh, President of UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand. “We are delighted to welcome Aerospace New Zealand as a WEPs signatory and look forward to working together to advance gender equality in this exciting and rapidly evolving industry.”

Through its commitment to the WEPs, Aerospace NZ signals its intent to promote workplace cultures that value diversity, support career development for women, and remove barriers to participation and advancement.

“By becoming a signatory to the Women’s Empowerment Principles, we are reinforcing our dedication to creating an inclusive and forward-thinking aerospace industry,” said Mark Rocket, President of Aerospace New Zealand. “We are proud to stand alongside UN Women Aotearoa NZ in supporting women’s full and equal participation in the sector.”

This partnership not only underscores the importance of gender equity within emerging industries but also highlights the vital connection between innovation, diversity, and sustainable development.

Together, UN Women Aotearoa NZ and Aerospace NZ are aiming for a future where women’s voices and leadership are central to the advancement of space science and technology.

ENDS

Media Contacts:

Tara Singh

president@unwomen.org.nz

President

United Nations Women Aotearoa NZ

About UN Women Aotearoa NZ: UN Women is the United Nations Entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women with a mission to ensure that globally, all women and girls have equal opportunities. ​Women’s empowerment is about ending violence, responding to women’s urgent needs in an emergency, providing training and supporting women’s employment, leadership and economic development. Our role in Aotearoa New Zealand is to mobilise women’s empowerment efforts through raising awareness about women’s issues and providing support towards UN Women’s programmes in our neighbouring Pacific countries and around the world.

About Aerospace New Zealand: Aerospace New Zealand is an industry body that promotes the interests of our nation. They encompass broad aspects of aerospace: aviation, space flight, rocketry, manufacturing, engineering, geospatial mapping, data analytics, education, training, and services. Aerospace New Zealand works with individuals and organisations that want to grow the economic wealth and aerospace capability in New Zealand, as well as connecting the community across the country and organising the annual New Zealand Aerospace Summit.