Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Affiliations
Continuing Education
Regulatory Frameworks
Timeline
Generic

Martha Romero

Aeronautical Engineer | Compliance & Safety Specialist
Horley

Summary

Aeronautical engineer and safety specialist with operational and technical expertise leading teams in the development of regulatory programmes that ensure adherence to international aviation safety standards. Excel at navigating complex organisational matrices to assess industry challenges and trends. Approachable, non-judgmental, and fair in working with partners to ensure timely deliveries in a highly regulated environment. Translate complex terminology into clear messaging to advocate buy-in.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience
2010
2010
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
2
2
Languages

Work History

DIRECTOR OF GROUP SAFETY, QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE

DRONAMICS
10.2023 - Current
  • Led pivotal regulatory initiatives within the Dronamics Operating Unit, leveraging the team's expertise and fostering robust relationships with regulatory authorities
  • Devised proactive solutions to navigate regulatory updates and changes, aligning with the expectations of Dronamics
  • Implemented a comprehensive Safety Management framework across all departments, employing a phased approach to maximize engagement at all organizational levels
  • Collaborated closely with counterparts in diverse jurisdictions, including the operational unit in Australia and the R&D division in the EU, ensuring consistent alignment on key regulatory matters
  • Provided essential support for broader regulatory activities at Dronamics, particularly concerning EASA, UK-CAA, and other regulatory bodies
  • Served as the primary liaison for interactions with regulatory authorities, pulling the team's efforts to effectively address oversight inquiries and audits
  • Took charge of crafting compelling safety cases presenting persuasive arguments that secured multiple operational authorizations
  • Responsible for Compliance Monitoring and Emergency Response for the Dronamics Group
  • Developed and implemented tools and systems to facilitate colleagues' understanding, application, and compliance with safety and quality requirements, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and best practices
  • Most significant milestone achieved to date: Delivered a successful application for an LUC to Dronamics Airlines (UAS equivalent to an AOC)

MANAGING DIRECTOR

MRA Aviation Management Systems
06.2020 - Current
  • During the pandemic, I created my own consultancy where I have supported and advised clients conducting gap analyses, establishing audit plans, setting compliance monitoring goals and developing their SMS programmes
  • I’ve also trained personnel, including aircrew, in hazard identification and risk management to steer client management system improvement
  • Lead and conduct investigations of occurrences and incidents
  • Develop Flight Data Monitoring programmes
  • Currently advising Truth Data Insights (major helicopter provider of FDM/FOQA Flight Data Monitoring)

Director of Safety

Norwegian Air UK
02.2018 - 06.2020
  • Implemented safety management solutions across a wide range of services, including flight deck and cabin operations, ground handling, and airworthiness
  • Created and continually develop an agile Safety Management System (SMS) in compliance with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority regulations
  • Direct budget oversight and allocation; recruit and train the safety management team, ensuring training meets the highest industry standards
  • Maintained safety management documentation, generate performance reports, and analyse data to improve and execute advanced safety programmes
  • Established the Norwegian Support Service for Safety, cascading the strategy, developing a road map, and executing frameworks to optimise third-party task production safety across multiple workstreams
  • Collaborated in the creation of a new AOC, Norwegian Air Argentina, replicating the Norwegian Air UK model
  • Communicated with stakeholders in native Spanish to ensure Argentinian authorities understood and accepted the safety model
  • Averted a Management/Union breakdown concerning confidentiality parameters through expert knowledge of FDM and a record of building trust through successful engagement with pilots and unions
  • Oversaw the entire safety reporting programme from database management to incident investigations to minimise risk across all departments
  • Centralised safety management product delivery of five geographically dispersed management groups while effectively steering a fixed budget, resulting in zero overhead budget increases during a multi-year massive airline expansion
  • As lead investigator during a serious take-off incident, drove safety through successful conflict resolution by successfully lobbying with the Civil Aviation Authority to gain recommendation support
  • Project Manager and Steering Committee member of the Support Service Centre for Safety within the Norwegian group
  • Secured resources, developed procedures, and oversaw continuous improvement and compliance with the safety management system
  • Created the Norwegian Safety Management Manual
  • Realised a £50,000 annual budget savings after researching methods of safety performance and advocating transitioning from an off-the-shelf performance tool to development of an in-house tool

Aviation Safety Manager

Monarch Airlines
06.2013 - 01.2016
  • Led the Safety Team in measuring organisation-wide operational risk management processes and safety performance
  • Assessed, analysed, prioritized, and mitigated risk of emerging and known threats by developing action plans and promoting solutions
  • Maintained the flight data monitoring (FDM) and safety databases

Aviation Analyst - Safety

Monarch Airlines
03.2011 - 05.2013
  • Led the Safety Team in measuring organisation-wide operational risk management processes and safety performance
  • Assessed, analysed, prioritized, and mitigated risk of emerging and known threats by developing action plans and promoting solutions
  • Maintained the flight data monitoring (FDM) and safety databases

Education

ms - Human Factors and Safety Assessments in Aeronautics

Cranfield University

BEng - Aeronautical Engineering, with honours

San Buenaventura University

Diploma - Developing Leadership Competencies

IESE Business School

NEBOSH National General Certificate - undefined

Skills

  • Data Integrity

  • Safety Investigations

  • Risk Assessment

  • Risk Mitigation

  • Project Management

  • Process Administration

  • Process Improvement

  • Process Efficiency

  • Analytics

  • Quality Assurance

  • Collaborative Leadership

  • Compliance

  • Problem-solving

  • Contract Management

  • Vendor Management

  • Diplomacy

  • Relationship Building

Certification

NEBOSH National General Certificate, 2021

Affiliations

  • Royal Aeronautical Society, UK
  • UKFSC UK Flight Safety Committee, Fairoaks, UK (Former Treasurer)

Continuing Education

  • Incident and Accident Investigation
  • Quality/Safety Lead Auditor
  • Dangerous Goods
  • Fatigue Risk Management (FRMS)
  • Flight Data Monitoring and Flight Operational Quality Assurance in Commercial Aviation
  • Flight Safety Officer
  • Effective Projects in Controlled Environments (Prince2)
  • SMS Fundamentals for Managers
  • General Security Awareness Training

Regulatory Frameworks

  • UK
  • EU
  • EASA
  • ICAO
  • IATA
  • FAA
  • CASA

Timeline

DIRECTOR OF GROUP SAFETY, QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE

DRONAMICS
10.2023 - Current

MANAGING DIRECTOR

MRA Aviation Management Systems
06.2020 - Current

Director of Safety

Norwegian Air UK
02.2018 - 06.2020

Aviation Safety Manager

Monarch Airlines
06.2013 - 01.2016

Aviation Analyst - Safety

Monarch Airlines
03.2011 - 05.2013

BEng - Aeronautical Engineering, with honours

San Buenaventura University

Diploma - Developing Leadership Competencies

IESE Business School

NEBOSH National General Certificate - undefined

ms - Human Factors and Safety Assessments in Aeronautics

Cranfield University
Martha RomeroAeronautical Engineer | Compliance & Safety Specialist