Audrey Natukunda will start off her July in style after landing the position of Country Manager Rwanda from her long-term employer Brussels Airlines where she has worked for her entire career spanning over 18 years.
As of July 2022, Brussels Airlines rewarded Ugandan aviation executive Audrey Natukunda with the countrywide management position of Country Manager in charge of the east African nation of Rwanda.
Brussels Airlines is Belgium’s national airline, offering flights out of Brussels Airport to Europe, Middle East, North Atlantic and Africa.
In her new role, Audrey will be responsible for the overall management of the station, including commercial teams, security, ground operations teams, finance and HR.
Decisions are taken in close coordination with Headquarter, in order to reach defined revenue, service and quality targets, respecting budget at all times.
Brussels Airlines is the home carrier of Belgium and one of the four network airlines of the Lufthansa Group. It connects the European capital from Brussels Airport with over 85 destinations, 17 of which are in Sub Saharan Africa.
Before landing this position, Audrey was based in Kigali working for the same aviation employer, Brussels Airlines from December 2013 until July 2022 as the Finance Supervisor for 8 years and 8 months.
As Finance Supervisor she was responsible for management, accounting, administration, budget, reporting and legal and tax matters of the station.
The company employs 3,100 people and operates 41 aircraft. Brussels Airlines aims to emit 50% less CO2 by 2030 compared to 2019 and plans to be carbon neutral by 2050. The airline is participating in the Stargate Project led by Brussels Airport and is therefore part of the testing ground for sustainable aviation at its home base. In addition, the airline signed the Circular Economy agreement of the Antwerp Management School in 2021.
Centenary Group and Service Cops Sign Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Digital Financial InclusionHer first job was Accounts Assistant and Sales Agent that she landed in June of 2004 while in Kampala, Uganda at Brussels Airlines. She was the Assistant to the Finance manager and was involved in ticketing and Sales Agent for 2 and a half years until November 2006.
In December 2006, Audrey became the Commercial Administrative Officer (CAO) at Brussels Airlines a role in which she stayed for 7 years of her career until November 2013.
Her next role at the same airline took her to Kigali, Rwanda as Finance Supervisor which was her previous position before her current role.
Her academic credentials include a Bachelors degree in Tourism from Makerere University that she pursued in 2000 and concluded in 2003.
Prior to her tourism degree, Audrey studied at Bweranyangi Girls Senior Secondary School for her Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) 1994 to 1997 and proceeded to Maryhill High School for her Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) focusing on History, Economics and Geography between 1998 to 99. During this academic period she was a member of the interact Club and Youth Alive as well as the Entertainment Prefect at Maryhill High School.
In 2023, Brussels Airlines welcomes three state-of-the-art Airbus A320neo allowing the airline to significantly lower its CO2- and noise-emissions on its medium-haul network. Next to that, the airline aims to operate its first flight using Sustainable Aviation fuel (SAF) by 2023.
As an ambassador of its country, Brussels Airlines brings the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world, among others through collaborations with Belgian Star Chefs, Belgian culinary products and the Belgian Icons, specially painted aircraft that honor a Belgian iconic person, team or event to promote Belgian culture worldwide.
