The MSc in Management (Aviation Leadership) was the gateway for me in developing my aviation career – Tomás Thornton

Tomás Thornton completed the MSc in Management (Aviation Leadership) in 2018. Here he tells us how it opened up a career in the aviation industry for him.

“The MSc in Management (Aviation Leadership) provided me with the opportunity to pursue a career within aviation. The knowledge and experiences gained throughout the course, both from the course content and the countless great colleagues allowed me to develop and grow throughout the two years. The course gives you that base knowledge to start a successful career within aviation. The MSc is coordinated by experienced faculty, and it gave me the ability to lead and initiate professional and research activities independently and as part of a team, where I worked and learned from colleagues from a range of diverse backgrounds, expanding my overall aviation knowledge.

Upon completion of the MSc, I was positioned in a finance role where I gained valuable experience working as a Lead Financial Analyst with Stobart Air, which specializes in regional connectivity and ACMI operations. Here, I was responsible for managing the treasury activities of the airline ranging from cashflow reporting, Fuel/FX hedging responsibilities and the general liquidity management of the airline. I also liaised closely with the FP&A manager on the coordination and compilation of the annual budget and budget forecasts which supports the business in the financial planning process and which allowed me to work with many stakeholders within the airline including Commercial, Engineering and Operations.

The MSc in Management (Aviation Leadership) was the gateway for me in developing my aviation career. I was always deeply interested in aviation, having travelled extensively throughout my life. I would encourage many others to pursue the course if that is what your passion is. Ireland is the epicentre for aviation with many great companies positioned here to have a fruitful and successful career in this dynamic industry.”