EUROAVIA has long been an Association promoting innovation, leadership, and collaboration among European aerospace engineering students. These values align with those of the current International Board (IB) Secretary; read now about his journey in our Association and how EUROAVIA shaped his personality and beliefs.
A Journey Sparked by Curiosity
Joining EUROAVIA in November 2021, Elia recounts how it all started: “Some people recruited me for the Rotorthon event that year. They said it was cool, so I thought, why not?” This initial participation in the Rotorthon event, where his team also won, fueled his love for the Association and the opportunities it offered.
“It was my first on-field experience, engaging with real aviation enthusiasts and professionals. It helped me realize how much I enjoy my degree and gave me motivation for my university studies.”
From Local Involvement to International Engagement
After the Rotorthon event, Elia became the president of the Local Group of Forli-Bologna and almost immediately joined the Annual Meeting of EUROAVIA Annual Congress -AMEAC- in Napoli in 2022. The congress was a revelation of the true scale and potential of EUROAVIA. “I had no clue about how powerful and interconnected the community was,” he admits. “It was enlightening and inspired me to aim higher within the Association.”
Representatives of the Local Group Forli-Bologna in AMEAC 2022
Motivated by the desire to contribute more meaningfully to an international level, he then joined the Regulation and European Grants Working Group in the European Grants subunit. When the Working Group split up, he became the Coordinator of the European Grants Working Group. Wanting to contribute to the Association even more, he stepped up as a candidate for the International Board for the Business Year 2024-2025 and is now the secretary of the Association.
Reflecting on this growth, Elia emphasizes: “Taking responsibility, first for small projects and then for larger units, has been fundamental in upscaling myself as a person and an engineer.”
Ideals to be reached
Together with the rest of the International Board, Elia prioritizes two main goals for the Association: expanding EUROAVIA’s European footprint and fostering a sense of responsibility among members, which would empower and upskill them.
Through initiatives like the Mentoring Programme and the Technical Committee, he sees first-hand the Association’s potential to empower its members. “The Mentoring Programme is one of the most direct ways to inspire and uplift EUROAVIAns, and in its format, it’s unique to EUROAVIA” he notes.
The EUROAVIAn Spirit
A defining concept throughout the interview was the “EUROAVIAn Spirit,” a shared commitment to volunteering and innovation. “The members of our community come together by the same drive to work tirelessly for our passions and shared values and the satisfaction of seeing our Association advance in the Student Community and in the Aerospace sector.”
This spirit is truly shown in the Airbus Sloshing Rocket Workshop, a project through which the future leaders of aerospace can bring real-world engineering applications to a company.
Moments from EUROAVIA Technical Events
Looking ahead
As his term unfolds, the Secretary envisions EUROAVIA as a means of connection for European students, companies, and institutions. “Our mission is to empower young engineers while leading innovation in academia and industry through the united voice of students,” he says.
Together with the rest of the International Board, Angeles Fuentes, and Stamatis Moraitis, they hope to leave behind an Association that is more aware of its potential and firmly rooted in the values of EUROAVIAn Spirit.
EUROAVIA isn’t just an association—it’s a journey of growth, collaboration, and transformation,” he concludes.
If you want to read more Wingspan Conversations, check out this article from the current EUROAVIA President.