Dr. Eva Maleviti on shaping the future of sustainable aviation

When it comes to aviation’s environmental stewardship, Dr. Eva Maleviti, an assistant professor and program coordinator for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Master of Science in Aviation and Aerospace Sustainability program, has been making a positive impact through academia, industry development and mentorship.

With a strong background in the sciences, Dr. Maleviti’s academic journey began when she obtained a BSc in Physics at the University of Patras in Greece. Shifting her focus to sustainability, she went on to obtain her MSc in Sustainable Development and her PhD in Sustainability, Energy and Environment at the UK’s University of Surrey. While these degrees laid the foundation for her success in academia, she wasn’t quite fulfilled.

Returning to Greece, and with a desire to make an impact, Dr. Maleviti started her aviation career in 2012. She served as an academic coordinator and instructor at the Training Directorate of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry for nine years, during which time she developed and taught a wide range of aviation-related courses.

“Initially, I had my sustainability career and aviation career as two separate entities. But with time, I made the conscious decision to combine both,” Dr. Maleviti tells Runway Girl Network. Since 2019, she has also served as a technical expert for ICAO’s carbon-offsetting CORSIA scheme with the Hellenic Accreditation System.

She faced various challenges along the way. But when her competence as an aviation instructor was questioned due to her unconventional background in physics, she doubled down on her proficiencies. In 2021, Dr. Maleviti graduated with a perfect GPA after earning her aviation maintenance graduate certificate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Her credentials are vast and impressive. Dr. Maleviti has extensive experience as an aviation consultant, supporting air operators and maintenance organizations in developing sustainability strategies, ESG reporting and tailored aviation training programs. She is also a private pilot, with advanced aviation training and certifications in quality and safety management. In 2023, she published a comprehensive textbook titled Fundamentals of Sustainable Aviation.

“Most people think aviation sustainability is all about being ‘green.’ But that is not the case. Sustainable aviation is much more than eco-friendly initiatives. It involves the financial, environmental, operational and societal sustainability of the aviation industry with the aim to help the industry stay resilient against threats and move forward,” she says.

For young leaders aiming for a career in sustainable aviation, Dr. Maleviti emphasizes the importance of education and having an eagerness to learn. Staying flexible is also key.

“One core skill needed for a leader in aviation sustainability is the ability to respect their work environment, colleagues and current achievements. They need to be ready to learn, adjust and evolve as they move forward in their careers,” she says.

Despite her career success, Dr. Maleviti lacked mentorship when starting out in aviation, which made the early years difficult.

Asked how the lack of early guidance shaped her own approach to mentoring young women today, she points to the important work underway at the Women in Aviation International (WAI) Mediterranean chapter, for which she is an active participant, and which “was established for this exact reason — that young women should be able to seek help, guidance, mentorship and career development opportunities in a community where they can.”

A member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Dr. Malevit’s passion for teaching and research in sustainable aviation, environmental and energy management, and corporate and social sustainability management, earned her the Adjunct Faculty of the Academic Year 2020-2021 award at Embry-Riddle.