“2017 Women to Watch in UAS” Named

The drone industry is celebrating some of the women making headlines this year.  Drone360 magazine and Women and Drones have published this year’s 2017 Women to Watch in UAS, a list of 9 women “disrupting, innovating, and shaping the future of the UAS (unmanned aerial systems) industry,” says Drone360.

“The Women to Watch in UAS List emphasizes the integral role of women in the success of the drone industry. We’re striving for a not-distant future where UAS leads science fields by offering equal opportunities for women to succeed as they demonstrate their abilities alongside their male counterparts,” says Sharon Rossmark, founder and CEO of Women And Drones.

From over 100 submissions from all over the world, these 9 women were chosen for their outstanding contributions.  In categories from drone racing to legal advocacy, these women are inspiring an entire industry.

This year’s winners included the woman who thought up Lego drone kits (Holly Kasun of Flybrix,) a young woman making a name in FPV racing (Lexie Janson of Poland,) an originator of drone light shows (Natalie Cheung of the US) and a woman using drones to improve public health systems around the world (Helena Samsioe of Sweden.)  Well known drone advocate and co-founder of the Women in Commercial Drones advocacy group Gretchen West made the list, as did the two Australian co-founders of She Flies, a group that brings STEM education to women and girls through drones (startup specialist Catherine Ball and scientist Karen Joyce.)  Women who champion the industry, are major technology innovators, and inspire others were recognized for their place.

While women make up only a small portion of the drone industry, they are making their mark: playing a critical role in all areas.  You can see the complete list with descriptions of this year’s winners here.