Cristina Garcia-Duffy is ORE Catapult’s Technical Director, leading the strategic development of our technical capabilities and new areas of innovation.
She was formally Head of Technology at the UK Aerospace Technology Institute with accountability for the sustainability strategy, bringing together UK industry and government to address the environmental impact of the aviation industry. This included the development of international relationships to progress towards zero net carbon aviation. Cristina also led the development of the UK National Aerospace Technology Strategy, which determines the priorities for government investment in aerospace research & technology (in the order of £150M per annum).
Prior to joining the ATI in 2014, Cristina held management positions at Leonardo Helicopters including responsibility for the Company’s UK Advanced Rotorcraft Centres. She was also in the leadership team of Project Zero, which delivered the world’s first electric autonomous tilt-rotor demonstrator aircraft. The team and aircraft have been recognised with various international awards since 2012.
Cristina holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and an MSc and BSc in Aerospace Engineering from Saint Louis University, both in the USA.