Saadia Zahidi appointed first woman to lead IATA as Director General effective November 2026
Saadia Zahidi has been named the first woman to lead the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as its Director General, taking office on November 1, 2026. She succeeds Willie Walsh, who guided the global airline industry's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Zahidi will become the ninth Director General of IATA, which represents about 350 airlines accounting for over 80% of global air traffic.
Before joining IATA, Zahidi served as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board at the World Economic Forum (WEF) for over 22 years, most recently leading the Centre for the New Economy and Society. There she oversaw work on jobs, skills, education, gender parity, and economic growth, and authored flagship reports such as the Future of Jobs Report and Global Gender Gap Report. She has also advised the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Women's Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency's High-Level Advisory Group.
Zahidi holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Smith College, an MPhil in International Economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. Her appointment marks a historic milestone for gender leadership in global aviation governance.