La-Chun Lindsay (pronounced “La-Shon”) is an American aerospace engineer who was the first woman to hold the position of Managing Director of Wales' largest (£3 billion revenue) industrial company, GE Aviation Wales. Lindsay launched GE’s first LGBTQ+ Chapter in Wales as part of her ongoing mission to campaign for LGBT and human rights.[1][2]
La-Chun Lindsay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Citizenship | United States of America |
| Alma mater | Clemson University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Aerospace Engineering |
| Institutions | GE Aviation |
Early life and education
editLindsay was born in the city of Rock Hill in South Carolina.[1] She graduated from Clemson University in 1995, with a B.S in Ceramic Engineering.[3] From January 1992 to August 1994 she worked as a cooperative education student for the Department of Energy at Battelle Laboratory where she developed a "fiber optic coupled system for use in the remote processing of nuclear waste".[4] She also "invented a system to destroy fluorocarbons and halohydrocarbons by reaction with molten aluminum".[4]
Career
editAfter graduating she worked at SELEE Corporation, where she introduced the use of ceramic foam in metal filtration technology. At SELEE, she occupied numerous different roles and led their largest product line.[5] She then joined General Electric Quartz in 1997 as plant manager. Lindsay held a number of roles at General Electric, including Process Engineer, Tubing Green Belt, Supplier Quality Black Belt and Manager of the Sand Processing Plant,[5] before joining the Corporate Audit Staff in 2000. Here, she performed financial, compliance, regulatory and commercial audits, and she was a member of GE's Commercial Council.
In 2007, she became Vice President of Commercial Distribution Finances Field Services Group in GE Capital where she led over 300 remote employees.[5] In 2014, she transitioned to GE Aviation as Plant Leader of Lynn Assembly, Test and Overhaul, where her team grew to over 400, and she was responsible for producing and developing engines for GE Aviation’s military and commercial customers.[5]
In 2015, she became Managing Director for GE Aviation Wales, a company with approximately $3 billion in annual revenues.[1][6][7] Lindsay was the first woman to assume a Managing Director position for the company.[8] During Lindsay's leadership, GE Aviation Wales was awarded the contract to service the GE9X jet engine,[2] requiring a £20 million investment in the site, with £5 million pledged by the Welsh Government.[9] Lindsay was a guest speaker at the "Women in the Workplace" event which was held in conjunction with the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Cardiff.[10] Lindsay returned to the United States to work at the GE Aviation headquarters in 2018.[11]
In 2020 Lindsay was appointed the role of Welsh Envoy where she offered in-market support for Welsh export and inward investment ambitions.[8]
Awards & International recognition
edit- 2016 - 40 Most Influential LGBT People in Wales (4th rank)[1]
- 2017 - 40 Most Influential LGBT People in Wales (2nd rank)[12]
- 2017 - Honorary Fellow at Cardiff University[13]
- 2017 - Honorary Doctorate at the University of South Wales[14]
- 2018 - Honorary degree, College of Engineering, Swansea University[6]
- 2020 - Appointed Welsh Envoy[8]
Diversity efforts
editLa-Chun Lindsay has undertaken high profile events such as chairing a panel on gender equality in Wales at the United Nations.[15] Lindsay was ranked 4th (2016) and 2nd (2017) in the Wales Online ‘Pinc List: The 40 most influential LGBT people in Wales’ for her work in this field.[1][12]
In 2016, it was claimed that she was the only openly gay executive within the global company of General Electric.[2] During her first two years at GE Aviation Wales, the number of women on the shop floor rose from 1 to 13%.[2] She founded the Wales branch of the GLBTA GE Aviation Alliance, which was developed to attract, develop, and retain gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees within the company. Since launching GE’s first LGBTQ+ Chapter in Wales it has grown to GE’s largest LGBTQ+ Chapter in the UK.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e WalesOnline (2016-08-13). "The Pinc List 2016: The 40 most influential LGBT people in Wales". walesonline. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ a b c d "More equality leads to higher profits". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ "Honorary Fellowships". Cardiff News. Cardiff News. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ a b Lindsay, La-Chun. "La-Chun Lindsay". Linkedin. Archived from the original on 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
- ^ a b c d "La-Chun Lindsay". Stonewall. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- ^ a b "La-Chun Lindsay". www.swansea.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ "Out of this world: how Wales is shaping the future". The Telegraph. 2018-02-21. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ a b c "Envoys appointed to promote Wales as an investment location on the world stage | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "£20m GE engine repair contract won". BBC News. 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ^ Sands, Katie (31 May 2017). "Inspriational Women Take the Stage at Business Event". Western Mail.
- ^ "New site leader appointed at GE Aviation Wales – Aerospace Manufacturing Magazine". Aerospace Manufacturing Magazine. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ a b WalesOnline (2017-08-19). "The Pinc List 2017: The 40 most influential LGBT people in Wales". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "Cardiff University". Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ "La-Chun Lindsay". www.southwales.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ "Written Statement: Ministerial Overseas Visit to the USA (12 December 2022) | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "Leading Corporate World Figure to Inspire Future Female Generation". Business News Wales. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-10-08.