Maria Rueda, Strategy and Safety Management Director, EASA

Maria Nieves Rueda Garcia joined the European Union Aviation Safety Agency as Strategy & Safety Management Director in October 2023. She is responsible for leading EASA’s strategy and budget, coordinating the rulemaking process, safety management and data intelligence, international cooperation and many cross-Agency themes in EASA (artificial intelligence, cyber security, digitalisation, research and innovation).

With an academic background as an aeronautical engineer specialising in airports and air navigation, Rueda was formerly Managing Director at CAA International (CAAi), the UK CAA’s international cooperation and training. She has acquired over 30 years of hands-on experience in roles of increasing responsibility. Earlier, she held senior positions at Deloitte and had been Business Development Director at George Best Belfast City Airport.

Rueda graduated from the Institute of Directors in London in 2005 with a diploma in Company Direction. She also earned a Non-Executive Director Diploma from the University of Chester in 2021.

Outside the professional sphere, Rueda is passionate about sports. Committed to giving back to the community, her primary goal is to end world hunger. To this end, she follows various organisations and actively participates in charity efforts.