Jenny Kavanagh has served as Chief Strategy Officer at Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) since July 2020. She oversees the commercial exploitation of CAeS’s cutting-edge hydrogen technology, leading teams across Business Development, External Affairs, and Marketing and Communications. Her role focuses on building strategic relationships with operators and platform developers, enhancing CAeS’s profile within UK government and industry, and ensuring the hydrogen ecosystem is prepared to support the adoption of zero-emissions technology in aviation.
With over 30 years of engineering expertise and 20 years of experience in aerospace, Jenny brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Prior to joining the C-Suite, she was Head of Airborne Systems at CAeS, managing 80% of the company’s business, including manufacturing, MRO, project management, and engineering functions. She also served as Senior Programme Manager at BE Aerospace (now Collins Aerospace), where she played a pivotal role in the A350XWB galley development programme, and as a Project Manager at APV Baker, delivering advanced engineering solutions for commercial food production.
At CAeS, Jenny has been instrumental in driving the company’s innovation agenda. She led the successful bid for Project Fresson, a pioneering initiative funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute to convert a 9-seat Britten Norman Islander aircraft to gaseous hydrogen fuel cell propulsion. Jenny is also a key advocate for collaboration between government, industry, and regulators to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to facilitate zero-emissions flight.
Jenny holds degrees in Manufacturing Engineering and Commerce from the University of Birmingham and the University of Melbourne. She is a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) and is an active member of the Aerospace Growth Partnership Council. She has also contributed to the JetZero Zero Emissions Flight Infrastructure Working Group.
Jenny is passionate about the decarbonisation of aviation, believing the industry is on the brink of a third revolution akin to the advent of the jet age. She is committed to positioning CAeS as a leader in this transformation, accelerating the adoption of sustainable technologies to benefit future generations.