Event

Aviation Inclusion Event

When
18 May 2026 10:00 - 16:30
Register
Agenda

EUROCONTROL and EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, are pleased to announce the inaugural Aviation Inclusion Event on 18 May 2026 at EUROCONTROL’s Brussels Headquarters.

Location
EUROCONTROL HQ

Rue de la Fusée 96
1130 Brussels
Belgium

How to get here

Why attend

Aviation Inclusion is the first European‑level aviation event dedicated to LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Co-organised by EUROCONTROL and EASA, the event has been organised to mark this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia IDAHOBIT, and aims to position inclusion not as a symbolic or social initiative, but as a core enabler of safety, trust, performance, operational excellence, innovation and workforce sustainability, as we look to support inclusion across the sector in the years ahead.

Aviation Inclusion will be exploring success stories in aviation that can be amplified to counter stereotypes and inspire confidence as
our sector looks to continue to evolve its culture and its narrative to remain attractive to younger generations and future talent, creating working environments in which all people in our sector feel respected, safe and free from discrimination or bias.

As joint event sponsors, EUROCONTROL and EASA aim to use this event to strengthen coherence and shared accountability across the European aviation ecosystem, in line with their own commitments to advancing on diversity, equity and inclusion matters across both organisations.

Our target audience

The event aims to be as inclusive as possible with a wide range of participants expected, in particular:

  • Institutional and regulatory partners
  • Industry leaders, operational professionals from airlines, air navigation service providers, airports, manufacturers and other parts of the sector
  • HR and DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) practitioners
  • Staff networks, partners and the civil society, and allies from across the aviation ecosystem.

Event format

This in person event is designed to maximise dialogue and networking.

  • Morning: keynote presentations and a panel discussion
  • Afternoon: interactive breakout sessions followed by a final plenary discussion focused on next steps

Draft Agenda

Below is an indicative agenda to give a sense of the day’s flow and topics. The final agenda, including confirmed speakers, will be published closer to the event.
TimeSession
10:00 - 10:15

Welcome & Arrival

General welcome, safety information and practical details.

10:15 - 10:30

Opening Remarks

EUROCONTROL & EASA Leadership

  • Why IDAHOBIT matters for aviation
  • Inclusion as a safety, performance and people issue
  • Setting a shared vision for a more inclusive aviation sector
10:30 - 11:15

Keynote Address

Inclusion, Safety and the Future of Aviation

A powerful keynote grounded in lived experience, exploring:

  • A real personal story from aviation
  • The cost of silence and invisibility
  • The impact of hiding on wellbeing and performance
  • The link between inclusion, trust and safety culture
  • The role of allies
  • What has changed — and what still needs to change
11:15 - 11:45Coffee Break
11:45 - 12:30

Panel Discussion

Lived Experiences Across Aviation

A diverse panel of aviation professionals (pilots, ATCOs, ground operations, maintenance), representing different roles, backgrounds, genders and LGBTQIA+ experiences.

Discussion themes:

  • What has changed in aviation
  • Where people still feel unsafe or unseen
  • What true inclusion would look like in practice
  • What hasn’t worked — and why
12:30 - 13:00

Reflection Session

Seeing Each Other Differently

Who shapes the workplace?
Can change be driven both top down and bottom up?
Who are our allies — and how do we activate them?

13:00 - 13:45Lunch
13:45 - 14:30

Network & Exchange

Interactive Breakout Sessions

Participants choose a topic for practical, open exchange:

  • Setting up and empowering ERGs and staff networks
  • Training and awareness strategies that work
  • Inclusive language in operational environments
  • Microaggressions, feedback and speaking up
  • Where psychological safety meets performance
14:30 - 15:00

Cross Sector Inspiration

Beyond Aviation: Lessons & Solutions

Case study: “I Exist Too” – Shipping Sector
Learning from another transport mode to explore transferable practices and fresh perspectives.

15:00 - 15:30Coffee Break
15:30 - 16:15

What Now?

From Dialogue to Action

An interactive session focused on what comes next after the event: 

Ideas and priorities from participants and possible next steps, including: 

  • Launch of a European LGBTQIA+ Aviation Inclusion Network
  • Regular webinars and continued dialogue
  • Strengthening reporting and speak up cultures
  • Leadership visibility and allyship
  • Shared commitments and concrete actions
  • Invitation to a 2027 continuation forum
16:15 - 16:30

Closing Remarks

Wrap up and key takeaways by senior leadership.

Register now

About the Networking Dinner

We are pleased to invite participants to a networking dinner in Brussels on 17 May, the evening prior to the start of the official programme. The venue will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Please note that while participation in the dinner is optional, food and beverages will be at the attendees’ own expense.

In order to comply with our security measures while coming on-site, we would also need some additional information from you. To this extent, please fill in hereunder your date of birth and nationality. Such information will be solely used for security reasons as specified above.

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At EUROCONTROL, we manage your data responsibly and do not provide it to third parties. We only use and process your data to answer your question and for quality control purposes. We apply our internal data protection rules, which are aligned with the General Data Protection Regulation, to all of our data-processing. Read the full Privacy Statement (PDF) for this event to learn more.
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