2020 Humanitarian Team Award
The Humanitarian Team Award recognizes co-ed teams, organizations or companies with a primary focus of using drones for good. The organization must have a culture of inclusiveness were women are engaged in key roles on the team and/or in leadership positions.
About Kenya Flying Labs
Kenya Flying Labs, a non-profit organization, is passionate about using drone technology to improve the healthcare and overall livelihood of people in the local communities. In partnership with the Kenya Red Cross and NESTA they are developing a cholera surveillance system that combines aerial imagery and predictive analysis to predict outbreaks in Kenya.
Kenya Flying Labs is also working to launch a program to enhance cellular connectivity in one of the largest refugee camps in Africa using tethered drones.
Kenya Flying Labs
Kenya Flying Labs’ executive team consists of Cleopa Otieno, Anne Nderitu, and Mohammed Akasha.
Cleopa is the CEO of the organization. He is a licensed drone pilot and acts as the accountable manager of the organization. His background is in software development before he transitioned to UAVs. He also has more than 15 years of experience in project management in projects across Africa.
Anne has worked with Kenya Flying Labs for two years rising from a project engineer to COO of the company. She is responsible for the drone operations. Anne is also the first female fixed-wing drone pilot in Kenya. She attended the African Drone and Data Academy in Malawi, a program funded by UNICEF and supported by Virginia Tech.
Mohammed is an aeronautical engineering graduate from Shenyang Aerospace University. He is the CTO of the company and is responsible for all the technical aspects of the company like the maintenance of drones.
“Africa has been core to an exciting and rapidly expanding drone industry and every day I’m reminded how honoured I am that I’m utilizing my skills as a young African woman to positively impact my community across various sectors. This award sheds more light to my deepest beliefs that women will be key in unlocking all drone pentials across my mother continent.”
Anne Nderitu, Chief Operating Officer & Fixed Wing Drone Pilot
Meet Our Panel of Judges
Michelle Hanlon
Co-Director Air & Space Law
University of Mississippi
USA
Michelle is Co-Director of the Air and Space Law Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law and its Center for Air and Space Law.
Jillian Switzer Ruiz
Senior Director of Marketing
AirMap
USA
Jillian Switzer Ruiz is Senior Director of Marketing at AirMap, the leading global provider of UAS Traffic Management (UTM). She has over 10 years of experience in sales, marketing, and communications for emerging SaaS technologies.
Aliyah Pandolfi
Executive Director
Kashmir World Foundation
USA
Princess Aliyah Pandolfi leads a network of scientists, engineers, biologists, and security specialists around the world in the design and application of drones for conservation and wildlife protection.
Our Sponsors
Sharon Rossmark
Founder & CEO
Women And Drones LLC
Sharon Rossmark is an American entrepreneur, author, mentor and FAA certified remote pilot. She has an extensive and diverse background in business and nonprofit board governance. Sharon is the Founder and CEO of Women And Drones, the premier global platform for women who are disrupting, innovating and shaping the future of the UAS industry. She is the co-author of several books introducing young children to drones. Most of the characters in the books are girls which is a purposeful, important part of her commitment to engaging more girls in STEM, STEAM and aviation. Sharon is a frequently requested speaker, panelist and moderator.
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Women And Drones LLC
Women And Drones is the leading membership organization dedicated to driving excellence in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) industry by advocating for female participation in the opportunities of this dynamic segment of the global economy. We partner with companies committed to an inclusive culture where women can thrive. In efforts to support the growing market for talent, our educational programs start with girls in kindergarten and carry on through career. Women and Drones also provides Drone Flight Services, including aerial imagery and drone product beta testing.