Engineer. Pilot. Speaker
Renee is an Aerospace Engineer, an Aviator and a Professional Speaker
Renee Wootton is an enthusiastic STEM professional, aerospace engineer, and commercial pilot with over a decade of experience in Australian aviation projects, now participating globally. She has held various roles in project engineering, environmental impact, airport services, customer experience, maintenance engineering, aircraft performance, flight operations, network planning, fleet strategy, and people strategy.
Renee has improved maintenance practices, optimized flight routes, reduced fuel burn, minimized landfill, supported airline pilots, and upgraded military aircraft simulators. She worked on the Western Sydney International Airport project and led Qantas Group's First Nations Employment Strategy. In 2024, Renee joined LanzaJet as Global Director, New Market Development, focusing on decarbonizing aviation through Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Renee holds a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering, a Graduate Diploma in Flying, a Diploma in Science, Engineering, and Technology, a Commercial Pilot Licence, and is pursuing a Master of Research in Aerospace Engineering with the University of Sydney.
A proud Aboriginal woman from Tharawal Country, Renee advocates for diversity in STEM and participated in the Superstars of STEM program and was recognised as the 2024 NSW/ACT Young Achiever of the Year and Australian Financial Review (AFR) BOSS Young Executive of the Year.
Renee is a professional speaker, dedicated to inspiring the next generation through STEM and diversity engagements and is a host of the Promoted Podcast; the podcast that helps young professionals get promoted and be great when they get there.
STEM is a creative, innovative and team driven industry, which can be a rewarding career choice for anyone
Lend Lease | Panel Discussion
Events
Renee has presented for businesses including Qantas, Lend Lease, Western Sydney Airport, the University of New South Wales, Swinburne University, NSW Parliament House, Engineers Australia and more.
Renee has proudly presented for Indigenous organisations including Two Point Co, Careertrackers, the South Australian Aboriginal STEM Congress and more.
Audiences have ranged from small audiences to tens of thousands of school students to 2,500 Australian Corporate Businesses Leaders, CEO’s, Board Members and business representatives.
UNSW | Alumni Speech, 2020
“In Australia alone, only 12% of the nations engineers are female and in 2014 there were only approximately 500 indigenous engineers identified. These statistics are why I am motivated in giving my time to the Power of Engineering, along with many other indigenous non-profit organisations and programs. There is a clear lack of female and indigenous representation within Australia in the engineering field, and this is important because it impacts the world around us.”
Qantas | Inspiring and educating young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
Recognition
Renee was a the winner of the NSW/ACT Young Achiever Awards in 2024 and was recognised by the Governor of NSW, Sir David Hurley, and his wife, Mrs. Hurley as one of the top 30 Indigenous Young Leaders of NSW in 2018. Renee has been featured in the Australian Financial Review, Women’s Agenda, The Australian Jewish News, The Daily Telegraph and has been recognised and awarded for her work in the non-profit sector.
Speaking Topics
Technology, aviation, aerospace engineering, women in STEM, future career pathways, indigenous ingenuity and history, STEM skills, gender diversity, challenging and breaking stereotypes, engineering myth-busting, inspiring young people, and Renee’s personal journey.
Speaking Activities
Speaking Activities involve Renee providing speaking or presentation services, including the delivery of keynote addresses, providing master of ceremonies or facilitator services, motivational or inspirational speaking, training services, speaking at conferences and workshops and public speaking in relation to a particular issue or industry.
A donation will be made to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation when you work with me.
Being able to read opens so many doors. But in very remote Indigenous communities, books can be scarce and literacy levels are often much lower than anywhere else in Australia. ILF's purpose is to make a difference to the lives of Indigenous families by not only gifting thousands of new, culturally appropriate books - with a focus on early literacy and first language - but also by running programs to inspire the communities to tell and publish their own stories, in the languages they choose.
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