Contact Professor Anna Smallwood

Areas of expertise

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

Background

Professor Anna Smallwood is an experienced aviation professional, applying her background in airline management to leading the 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. During her career she has responded to major industry crises including 9/11, the volcanic ash airspace closure of 2010, and the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Her industry experience stems from roles including Head of Risk, Safety & Compliance, Head of Engineering and Maintenance Fleet Programme Management, including Boeing 787 Dreamliner Entry-Into-Service and digital systems change programmes, along with Director of Airline Operations for TUI Group.

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 served a two-year term as Secretary to the UK Airline Emergency Planning Group, a three-year term as a Public Member of Network Rail, was a TUI Group UK Pension Trust Company Nominated Trustee, and completed a one-year term as an Independent Member of Council for Cranfield University. Since commencing her academic career, Professor Smallwood is undertaking a PGCert in Academic Practice.

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