2025 Sue Partridge CEng FRAes

Sue joined Airbus as an undergraduate engineering apprentice in 1989. At that time, she was
the only female apprentice out of 100 in her cohort. After gaining extensive experience within
the business, Sue held a number of leadership roles within Airbus Engineering and
Programmes working across the product range and lifecycle. A highlight was leading the
A380 Wingbox engineering team with the A380 Wing Design Team being awarded the 2005
RAeS Gold Medal for outstanding contribution to Aerospace Engineering and Science.

In 2010, Sue took over the leadership of the Wing Development activities for the A320neo and
A330neo Programmes delivering significant upgrades to Airbus wings and ensuring the on-time
entry into service of these aircraft which make significant contributions to the fuel efficiency of
the Airbus fleet.

In 2017, Sue was appointed Head of the Wing of Tomorrow Programme, the largest
Research and Technology Programme in Airbus. Wing of Tomorrow is maturing high
performance, low cost and high rate wing technologies to prepare Airbus for the launch of
tuture aircraft and support the route to decarbonisation via the exploration of new wing
designs to optimise aerodynamic performance as well as new approaches to the industrial
processes that increase production rates and lower cost.

With approximately 400 Airbus team members worldwide, the Wing of Tomorrow Programme
is led by Sue from the UK at the Broughton and Filton sites with support from Airbus sites in
Bremen, Stade, Nantes, Toulouse, Getafe and Illescas. The Wing of Tomorrow Programme is
preparing the technology, the people and the supply chain with physical and digital
capabilities to ensure the entire industrial wing ecosystem is ready to deliver future generation
Airbus aircraft.

Sue’s personal accomplishments, along with her transformative influence on inclusivity,
have shaped the Airbus Filton site into a more diverse, innovative and dynamic aerospace
hub. As Airbus works towards a more sustainable future, it relies on a diverse workforce
committed to driving innovation.