Redefining the aerospace industry through innovation, sustainability, and leadership
Renee Wootton is a high-impact aerospace executive, sustainability strategist, and advocate for diversity in STEM, dedicated to driving real-world change in aviation and energy transition. With a career spanning NASA JPL, Qantas, and LanzaJet, she has played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, global market expansion, and corporate sustainability strategies.
As Global Director of New Market Development at LanzaJet, Renee leads efforts to scale SAF globally, working across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors to create commercially viable, policy-supported, and environmentally sustainable solutions. With her deep technical expertise in aerospace engineering and market development, she bridges the gap between industry needs, regulatory frameworks, and clean energy innovation. Her ability to align technology, policy, and business strategy makes her a key player in the future of aviation sustainability.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Renee is a renowned keynote speaker with Saxton Speakers, where she delivers powerful insights on sustainability, leadership, and breaking barriers. She works closely with nonprofits, government agencies, and corporate partners to drive conversations around climate action, Indigenous representation in STEM, and the next generation of aviation leaders.
As co-host of the Promoted Podcast, Renee shares career insights, leadership strategies, and industry trends to help professionals thrive in fast-evolving industries. She is also actively involved in mentorship and community-building, particularly in her new home in Darwin, where she is fostering a network of support and opportunity for professionals in aviation, energy, and sustainability.
In 2025, Renee remains focused on delivering impact through corporate partnerships, expanding SAF markets, and supporting the nonprofit sector in climate and STEM initiatives—all while embracing an exciting personal milestone: setting up a new life in Darwin, Australia with her soon to be husband, Alex and their dog, Taco.
A dynamic and results-driven leader, Renee is committed to driving global sustainability, fostering inclusive leadership, and shaping the future of aviation and clean energy.
Talking Points
The Future of Aviation: Scaling Sustainable Fuel & Decarbonizing the Industry
Aviation is at a turning point—sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is no longer just an option, but a necessity for the industry’s future. In this keynote, Renee Wootton unpacks the global SAF landscape, policy shifts, market adoption challenges, and the role of corporations in leading the transition to net-zero aviation. Drawing from her experience at LanzaJet, NASA JPL, and Qantas, she provides a clear roadmap for airlines, energy companies, and investors to accelerate SAF adoption and drive long-term value.The Future of Aviation: Scaling Sustainable Fuel & Decarbonizing the Industry
Key Takeaways:
- The state of SAF & clean aviation technologies in 2025
- Policy & investment strategies for scaling sustainable fuels
- How businesses can lead the charge in decarbonizing aviation
Breaking Barriers in Aerospace: Leadership, Diversity & Innovation
As one of Australia’s first Indigenous female aerospace engineers and pilots, Renee Wootton has navigated a career filled with challenges, breakthroughs, and firsts. In this inspiring keynote, she shares her journey from NASA JPL to Qantas and now LanzaJet, offering insights on overcoming barriers, leading with impact, and fostering diversity in STEM and corporate leadership. This session is a powerful call to action for companies to embrace inclusion and innovation as key drivers of success.Breaking Barriers in Aerospace: Leadership, Diversity & Innovation
Key Takeaways:
- Why diversity in STEM and leadership is a competitive advantage
- Lessons in resilience, adaptability, and high-performance leadership
- Practical strategies to break barriers & empower the next generation
Scaling Clean Energy Solutions: The Intersection of Policy, Business & Technology
The energy transition is complex—but collaboration between corporations, governments, and innovators is key to unlocking large-scale solutions. As a leader in SAF and global market development, Renee shares how organizations can bridge the gap between clean energy innovation and commercial success. This keynote is perfect for corporate sustainability leaders, policymakers, and investors looking to drive meaningful action in decarbonization and climate solutions.Scaling Clean Energy Solutions: The Intersection of Policy, Business & Technology
Key Takeaways:
- How policy, business, and technology must align for clean energy success
- Strategies for scaling sustainable solutions in competitive markets
- The role of corporate leadership in shaping a net-zero future
From Engineering to Executive Leadership: Thriving in High-Stakes Industries
How do you transition from technical expertise to strategic leadership? In this keynote, Renee shares her journey from aerospace engineering to executive leadership, offering insights on career growth, decision-making, and thriving in high-stakes industries. She breaks down the key leadership skills engineers, scientists, and technical professionals need to excel in business and executive roles.From Engineering to Executive Leadership: Thriving in High-Stakes Industries
Key Takeaways:
- How to translate technical expertise into strategic leadership
- The mindset shifts needed to succeed in executive roles
- Lessons in high-performance decision-making & resilience
Inspiring the Next Generation: Future-Proofing Careers & Embracing Change
The world of work is evolving faster than ever. How can young professionals and emerging leaders stay ahead in rapidly changing industries? Drawing from her work on the Promoted Podcast, Renee shares practical career advice, leadership lessons, and the mindset needed to navigate career transitions successfully. This keynote is perfect for corporate teams, university audiences, and young professionals looking to future-proof their careers.Inspiring the Next Generation: Future-Proofing Careers & Embracing Change
Key Takeaways:
- How to embrace change & develop an adaptable career mindset
- Key skills that will define the future of work in STEM & business
- How to build a personal brand and accelerate career growth
Video
Future You - Learn about Renee Wootton's STEM career as an aerospace engineer
Renee is a proud Tharawal woman who joined the Australian Air Force Cadets at just 15, and this is where her passion for air travel was ignited. Driven by her curiosity, Renee studied aerospace engineering at university to understand how planes work and now works at Qantas as the First Nations Engagement Manager. Future You has developed free classroom resources aligned to the Australian Curriculum V9.0, practical tools for parents, and useful activities for students to enhance engagement with this film.Want a Career in Sustainable Aviation? Hear from LanzaJet Leaders their Journeys in the industry.
Ready to take off your engineering career? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Renee Wootton, Director of New Market Development, and Daniel Bloch, Director of Partnerships, at LanzaJet, a pioneering company revolutionising sustainable aviation fuel. In this video, Renee and Dan share their career paths and discuss: The importance of diversity and inclusion in tackling global challenges like climate change. How LanzaJet actively supports women and diverse talent in STEM, fostering a culture of mentorship and empowerment. Practical advice for aspiring engineers, from embracing ambiguity to building a strong network. The exciting career opportunities within the rapidly evolving sustainable aviation industry. LanzaJet is leading the way in creating a greener future for aviation. Learn how you can be a part of it!Qantas Graduate Program - Meet Renee
Renee Wootton | Youth Summit, Country Universities Balonne 2024
Wow! Renee was wonderful. I’m feeling so inspired by Renee’s presentation. The audience was in awe of what Renee has and continues to achieve whilst advocating and supporting others in the p ... keep reading Ausgrid
Thank you for your inspirational presentation at our recent Youth Summit. Your powerful messaging about success being achieved through resilience and support resonated well with the audience. They were clearly captivated. Your story will no doubt have a profound impact on many of the young people in attendance and we look forward to further nurturing the aspirations that you inspired. Your life journey has encouraged our youth to dream big, think outside the box and consider new horizons. We consider our community very lucky to have had the opportunity to hear your story, as part of our work to increase educational opportunities and improved outcomes for students in rural, remote and regional communities.
I just watched your video and had to get in touch - it was brilliant! You completely nailed what we wanted you to convey to the kids - it was inspiring and challenging and uplifting - and doable! I cannot thank you enough. You are definitely the stand out speaker for this year's Congress and I can’t wait to have you work with them in 2022 face to face!
I wanted to give you all an update on how brilliant your webinar performed! The webinar was the 5th most watched of 90+ webinars in the expo, which is phenomenal! To give you some perspective, the 4 that outperformed ours were all Instagram influencers. I just wanted to say again a huge thank you! What a great result! The event attracted 85,000 Gen Z’s, so it was a great opportunity to get engineering in front of students.
Thank you so much for today’s panel session. It was a fantastic discussion, with some really brilliant insights and advice for students. Delighted with how it went. Thank you so much for all the time you have contributed to making this event a success.
