The power that connects us: Rolls-Royce pioneering sustainable aerospace

Aviation is on the rise. Even if not matching pre-pandemic levels yet, demand for global air traffic is rapidly taking-off again. This upsurge reemphasizes the urgent question: How can we connect people, cultures, and markets around the globe in the most sustainable way?

From new engine architectures, smart materials and optimized air traffic management to sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen and hybrid-electric propulsion – the list of potential solutions is long and sometimes confusing. Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer at Rolls-Royce, will connect the dots and navigate us through the complexity to narrow down the challenge of how to achieve zero-emission flying.

Grazia Vittadini is Chief Technology Officer of Rolls-Royce

Prior to joining Rolls-Royce in November 2021, she spent almost 20 years at Airbus, covering a broad range of operations from Commercial Aircraft, Defence and Space to Technology and Innovation across the company. She was the first woman to be appointed to the Airbus Executive Committee as CTO.

Grazia has always led transnational and diverse teams. Beyond her expertise in future mobility and sustainable aerospace, she has maintained a forward-thinking interdisciplinary approach, promoting innovation through fields like AI and quantum computing.

Grazia is a member of the Siemens Supervisory Board and the Senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. She also serves as advisor at the German Centre for Mobility of the Future (DZM) as well as at the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology of Politecnico di Milano (DAER). Also, she was recently awarded the honorary Doctor of Science (DSc, Post-Doc) by the renowned Cranfield University (UK).

Born in Italy, Grazia grew up between Milan and the USA. She holds a pilot’s license and graduated in Aeronautical Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano, where she specialized in Aerodynamics.