Jenny Body

{{short description|British aerospace engineer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2018}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jenny Body

| image = Jenny Body, President, Royal Aeronautical Society (13468399833) (2).jpg

| alma_mater = British Aerospace

| employer = Airbus

| known_for = First woman to become President of Royal Aeronautical Society

}}

Jennifer Mary Body is a British aerospace engineer, the former President of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Early life and education

Body, whose father was an aerospace engineer, was the only girl in her physics class at high school in Bristol.{{Cite news|url=https://sptr.net/blog/interview-jenny-body-president-of-the-royal-aeronautical-society/|title=Interview: Jenny Body, President of the Royal Aeronautical Society|date=2013-10-06|work=SPTR|access-date=2018-03-07|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622060308/https://sptr.net/blog/interview-jenny-body-president-of-the-royal-aeronautical-society/|archive-date=22 June 2018|url-status=dead}} in 1971 she became an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering apprentice with British Aerospace.{{Cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/jenny-body-8825/|title=Jenny Body|website=royalsociety.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-03-07}} She studied at Imperial College London.{{Cite news|url=http://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/blog/reporter/2012/07/16/presidential-hat-trick/|title=Presidential hat-trick - Reporter|date=2012-07-16|work=Reporter|access-date=2018-03-07|language=en-US|archive-date=8 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308043752/http://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/blog/reporter/2012/07/16/presidential-hat-trick/|url-status=dead}}

Career

Working in the avionics group at British Aerospace, Body created the software for the fly-by-wire aircraft.{{Cite web|url=https://info.uwe.ac.uk/news/uwenews/news.aspx?id=2596|title=UWE Bristol: News|website=info.uwe.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}} She established the Next Generation Composite Wing Programme, the biggest UK Aerospace programme so far.{{Cite web|url=https://extra.shu.ac.uk/cse/wiset/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=361&cntnt01returnid=26|title=WiSET - Search this site|website=extra.shu.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.atkinsglobal.com/en-gb/projects/next-generation-composite-wing-research-programme|title=Next Generation Composite Wing research programme|website=www.atkinsglobal.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-03-07}} In 2009 she established the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerosociety.com/news/career-mentoring-tops-the-bill-at-special-conference-hosted-by-women-in-aviation-and-aerospace-committee/|title=Career Mentoring Tops the Bill at Special Conference Hosted by Women in Aviation and Aerospace Committee - Royal Aeronautical Society|website=Royal Aeronautical Society|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-date=8 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308042512/https://www.aerosociety.com/news/career-mentoring-tops-the-bill-at-special-conference-hosted-by-women-in-aviation-and-aerospace-committee/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerosociety.com/get-involved/women-in-aviation-aerospace-committee/|title=Women in Aviation & Aerospace Committee|website=Royal Aeronautical Society|access-date=2018-03-07}} In 2002 she was made engineering lead of the Nimrod wing design team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/10563862.Airbus_engineer_honoured_with_degree_by_UWE/|title=Airbus engineer honoured with degree by UWE|website=Gazette Series|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}} She has been a technical manager for wing assembly.{{Cite book|title=Employability : making the most of your career development|last=John|first=Neugebauer|others=Evans-Brain, Jane|isbn=978-1473985018|location=Los Angeles|pages=42|oclc=1012125330|date = 14 July 2016}}

In 2013 Body became the first woman to be President of the Royal Aeronautical Society since its creation in 1866.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theengineer.co.uk/trailblazers-of-diversity/|title=Trailblazers of diversity The Engineer|website=www.theengineer.co.uk|language=en-UK|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theiet.org/armed-forces/churchill-medal/churchill-winner.cfm?|title=Churchill Medal winner 2012/13 - The IET|website=www.theiet.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.raesbristol.org.uk/2013/01/|title=RAeS Bristol Branch|website=www.raesbristol.org.uk|access-date=2018-03-07}} During her time as President, she focussed on the development of women's technical skills, trying to inspire and motivate young people to consider careers in aerospace engineering.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerosociety.com/news/mind-the-skills-gap/|title=Mind the skills gap - Royal Aeronautical Society|website=Royal Aeronautical Society|access-date=2018-03-07}} In 2014 she announced a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the International Aviation Women Association and the Royal Aeronautical Society to recruit and up-skill women within the aviation industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerosociety.com/news/international-collaboration-to-help-develop-diverse-skilled-leaders-in-aviation/|title=International collaboration to help develop diverse, skilled leaders in aviation - Royal Aeronautical Society|website=Royal Aeronautical Society|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-date=30 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071928/https://www.aerosociety.com/news/international-collaboration-to-help-develop-diverse-skilled-leaders-in-aviation/|url-status=dead}} She regularly represents the society to this day, awarding prizes and giving interviews to the press.{{Cite web|url=http://www.raesbristol.org.uk/2016/|title=RAeS Bristol Branch|website=www.raesbristol.org.uk|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.rossgazette.com/article.cfm?id=105227&headline=Mitcheldean%20students%20scoop%20%C2%A35000%20to%20build%20a%20flight%20simulator§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016|title=Mitcheldean students scoop £5000 to build a flight simulator|work=The Ross Gazette|access-date=2018-03-07|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|url=http://newsletter.sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk/newsletter/140512sydenhamschoolnewsletteredition92.html|title=Untitled Document|website=newsletter.sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-date=8 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308041738/http://newsletter.sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk/newsletter/140512sydenhamschoolnewsletteredition92.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2013/december/03/131203-next-50-years|title=The Next 50 Years for Aviation, Aerospace and Space {{!}} Royal Navy|website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/qatar-airways-ceo-akbar-al-baker-presented-with-raes-fellowship.html|title=Arabian Aerospace - Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker presented with RAeS Fellowship|website=www.arabianaerospace.aero|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.adsadvance.co.uk/heathrow-utc-joins-think-utc-.html|title=ADS Advance - Heathrow UTC joins 'Think UTC'|website=www.adsadvance.co.uk|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Cite news|url=https://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/article/mind-the-gap-gender-is-still-a-barrier/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616061842/http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/article/mind-the-gap-gender-is-still-a-barrier/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-06-16|title=Mind the Gap: Gender Is Still a Barrier {{!}} Telegraph Jobs Careers Advice|work=Telegraph Jobs|access-date=2018-03-07|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/short-brothers|title=Short Brothers {{!}} English Heritage|website=www.english-heritage.org.uk|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerosociety.com/news/flying-high-in-the-aerospace-industry/|title=Flying High in the Aerospace Industry - Royal Aeronautical Society|website=Royal Aeronautical Society|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-date=30 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071545/https://www.aerosociety.com/news/flying-high-in-the-aerospace-industry/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mayorofbath.co.uk/events/12/11/16/mayor-and-mayoress-attend-the-opening-of-the-nucleus-the-new-science-facility-at-hayesfield-school|title=Mayor of Bath|website=www.mayorofbath.co.uk|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-date=30 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071552/http://www.mayorofbath.co.uk/events/12/11/16/mayor-and-mayoress-attend-the-opening-of-the-nucleus-the-new-science-facility-at-hayesfield-school|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/astraea-team-wins-prestigious-award|title=ASTRAEA TEAM WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD|website=BAE Systems {{!}} International|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}}{{Excessive citations inline|date=October 2020}} She spoke about the lack of skills in the aerospace industry on BBC Radio Norfolk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerosociety.com/news/society-press-coverage-may-2016/|title=Society Press Coverage - May 2016 - Royal Aeronautical Society|website=Royal Aeronautical Society|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-date=30 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071859/https://www.aerosociety.com/news/society-press-coverage-may-2016/|url-status=dead}}{{Citation|last=Freedom In The Air|title=Dare to Dream, Dare to hope {{!}} Royal Aeronautical Society|date=2014-06-07|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlFwellfWG4|access-date=2018-03-07}} On 16 July 2016, the University of the West of England awarded her an honorary doctorate. She is on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Employment Studies Research.{{Cite web|url=http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/bl/research/cesr/members.aspx|title=Members of Centre for Employment Studies Research - UWE Bristol: CESR|website=www1.uwe.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-date=8 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308042018/http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/bl/research/cesr/members.aspx|url-status=dead}}

Body is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. In 2013 she became a Fellow of City and Guilds of London Institute.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityandguildsgroup.com/~/media/cgg%20website/documents/the-city-and-guilds-of-london-institute-fellowship-awards--city-and-guilds-group%20pdf.ashx|title=Fellowship (FCGI) and Honorary Fellowship (HonFCGI) of The City and Guilds of London Institute|website=City and Guilds of London Institute|access-date=2018-03-07}} She was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 2010 for services to engineering. In 2010 she retired from Airbus, where she was the most senior female engineer. She was a member of the Royal Society Diversity Committee between 2015 and 2017. She works on the Diversity Strategy of the Royal Academy of Engineering.{{Cite web|url=https://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/other/spring-2014-diversity-newsletter|title=Diversity in Engineering|website=Royal Academy of Engineering|access-date=2018-03-06|archive-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413153059/http://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/other/spring-2014-diversity-newsletter|url-status=dead}} She is a chair of the Royal Aeronautical Society Education and Skills Committee.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kingston.ac.uk/news/article/1695/21-jul-2016-aerospace-engineer-artist-and-choreographer-among-leading-figures-to-join-elite-line-up-of-kingston/|title=Aerospace engineer, artist and choreographer among leading figures to join elite line up of Kingston University honorary graduates|website=www.kingston.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-03-07}} She is part of the British Computer Society Women in STEM network.{{Cite news|url=http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240239882/BCS-establishes-female-network-in-STEM-and-IT|title=BCS establishes female network in STEM and IT|work=ComputerWeekly.com|access-date=2018-03-07|language=en-GB}} She is an ambassador of Aerospace Bristol.{{Cite web|url=http://aerospacebristol.org/ambassadors/|title=CAMPAIGN BOARD|website=Aerospace Bristol|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-07}}

Already, Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), Body was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to aerospace engineering.{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N8|date=28 December 2019}}

References