Professor Anna Smallwood

Areas of expertise

• Air Transport Management
• Air Transport Safety & Investigation
• Hydrogen

Background

Professor Smallwood is an experienced aviation professional, applying her background in airline operations leadership to leading the Cranfield University Centre for Air Transport Management, along with developing associated research activities at the unique Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) facility at Cranfield University.

Appointed as Professor and Head of the Centre for Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in October 2023, Anna brings significant practical experience in leadership and change management from within the European airline sector, as well as in risk, safety and crisis management. Her industry experience stems from roles including Director of Airline Operations TUI Group, Head of Risk, Safety & Compliance, Head of Engineering and Maintenance Fleet Programme Management, and holding the regulatory responsible position of Nominated Person Ground Operations for two airline operating certificates. During her career she has responded to major industry crises including 9/11, the volcanic ash airspace closure of 2010, B737 MAX Grounding, and the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

During her career Anna has led complex cultural and business change affecting people, process, and technology. She has successfully led the delivery of several significant innovation projects including a UK first commercial airplane biofuel flight, introduction of Boeing 787 Dreamliner technologies into operational service, high value aircraft modification programmes, safety management system design, implementation of operational and maintenance software technologies, sustainable aviation initiatives and transformational consolidation of multiple operations control centres.

In 2007 Anna was granted Membership status of the Institute of Risk Management (IRM), having gained the Institute’s Post-Graduate Diploma in Risk Management, she also has a BA Honours degree in English from Nottingham University, is a Prince 2 qualified project management practitioner and is trained in crisis and trauma response techniques. She has supported national industry bodies including the UK Airlines Emergency Planning Group and the Operations Directors Liaison Group and has non-executive experience having served as an independent member on Boards of airline, rail, and pension organisations. From 2020 to 2023 Anna was a Visiting Professor to Cranfield University and completed a one-year term as an Independent Member of Council for the University. Anna is currently on the Board of the Women in Aviation and Aerospace.

Anna has a particular interest in enabling collaboration across academia and industry to progress solutions for sustainable air transport.

She leads a team of experienced academic colleagues progressing a portfolio of research in the areas of sustainable air transport, urban mobility, digital aviation, future airport design, new modes of air transportation and is involved in the development and delivery of highly relevant post-graduate and continuous professional education for the aviation leaders of today and tomorrow.

Research opportunities

Applications for PhD research in areas relating to air transport, airport planning and management, sustainable and digital aviation, are always welcome.

Please contact Anna for a preliminary conversation about your area of interest.

Current activities

Anna has a particular interest in enabling collaboration across academia and industry to progress solutions for digital and sustainable air transport.

Anna is involved in the development and delivery of highly relevant post-graduate and continuous professional education for the aviation leaders of today and tomorrow.

She leads a team of experienced academic colleagues progressing a portfolio of research in the areas of sustainable air transport, urban mobility, future airport design, new modes of air transportation.

Clients

• Boeing Co
• TUI Airways Ltd
• EasyJet PLC
• SAAB AB
• Saab UK Ltd (BlueBear)
• Heathrow Airport Ltd
• Etihad Airways
• Regional & City Airports (Rigby Group PLC)
• ULEMCo Ltd