Boeing’s president for the UK, Ireland and Nordic region Maria Laine, has been named as a new visiting professor for the University of Sheffield, describing the appointment as an ‘honour’ and an opportunity to strengthen relationships, while advocating the wider University’s innovations. 

Laine, who has three decades of experience working for the leading global aerospace company, which is also a founder member of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), said: “I am honoured to have been appointed as a new visiting professor for the University of Sheffield, which helps to further cement stronger ties between Boeing, the wider University’s activities and the AMRC. 

“It’s a great opportunity to bring industry and academia closer together and I look forward to growing our partnership and continuing to explore ways to expand the footprint of UK aerospace manufacturing, through access to the AMRC’s groundbreaking facilities and by sharing ideas and research findings.” 

Boeing has also rooted its commitment to South Yorkshire with a new research programme as part of the AMRC’s new innovation facility Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS), which will develop and test pioneering new composites manufacturing  technologies for aerospace to meet future demand for lighter commercial aircraft. 

During her appointment, Maria will use her wide breadth of experience to provide input and advice to the AMRC on sector trends and developments, give visiting guest lectures to the Faculty of Engineering aerospace degree students and champion the wider University’s activities.