Women breaking barriers in regulated industries | IWD 2026

Emma Hayes is Chief Revenue Officer at Ideagen, driving growth strategy and commercial operations having previously served as both Chief Strategy Officer and CFO, where she played a key role in scaling the organization through strategic M&A and operational transformation. Before joining Ideagen, she spent nearly a decade at Deloitte UK as a Corporate Finance Director advising on complex transactions, and held senior finance and transformation roles at Severn Trent — all underpinned by a First Class degree in English Literature from the University of Sheffield and deep expertise in corporate finance, M&A and strategic growth.

Sally Barford is Associate Vice President of Hotel Services and Medical Operations at Virgin Voyages, leading guest experience, hotel services, and medical operations across the fleet with nearly three decades of hospitality and travel industry expertise. A founding team member since 2017, she has driven significant operational and commercial impact - including transitioning procurement to an outsourced model saving over $1 million annually and, prior to Virgin Voyages, overseeing $1.5 billion in annual procurement spend at Virgin Atlantic. Sally holds an MBA from the University of West London and deep expertise in strategic partnerships, P&L management, and operations excellence.

Sally is one of the flight data analysts for IATA's Flight Data Exchange and Incident Data Exchange programs, working with the world's largest flight and safety datasets across more than 12 years in aviation safety, safety management, and data intelligence. Specialising in incident investigation and safety management system software, she brings a wide-ranging operational perspective spanning military, civil, and industry environments, underpinned by a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London and advanced training in accident investigation, FDM, and safety management systems.

Michelle Low is a Board Director with the Women in Aviation International Singapore Chapter (WAI SG), championing inclusivity and talent development across the sector. In her professional role, she leads IATA's safety and sustainability consulting practice for Asia, bringing expertise in regulatory affairs and safety management across senior positions at Boeing, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, and ICAO. Michelle holds degrees from Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.