Samantha Harding, founder and owner of SILC, has been confirmed as a member of the judging panel for the Aviation Industry Awards 2026, bringing a decade of sustained contribution to Ireland's aviation industry through conference leadership, stakeholder engagement, and the promotion of Ireland as a globally recognised hub for aviation and leasing.

Harding founded the SILC Conference to serve the aviation services, MRO, and lessor technical community, and over ten years has built it into a platform that meaningfully strengthens collaboration across Ireland's aviation sector.

That work has required her to engage consistently with the full breadth of the industry, from aircraft maintenance and leasing professionals to airport operations teams and commercial aviation stakeholders, giving her an unusually comprehensive view of the relationships, priorities, and challenges that define the sector.

Her sustained focus on building connections across the Irish aviation community, while simultaneously championing its reputation on the global stage, positions her as a judge with both the network and the perspective to assess aviation excellence in its broadest sense.

Her academic formation complements that practical engagement. Harding holds a Master's degree in Financial Economics and a Specialist Diploma in Aviation Leasing and Finance, qualifications that ground her industry knowledge in the financial and commercial frameworks that underpin aviation operations management and investment decisions across the sector.

The Aviation Industry Awards, launched in 2014, is Ireland's benchmark programme for best practice and aviation innovation, spanning 25 categories from Aviation Company of the Year and Airport Achievement Award to Innovation in Safety and Risk Management, Aviation Technology, and Aviation Rising Star.

Harding joins fellow panellists Adam Bouchard of Nashville International Airport and Dr Kyriakos Kourousis of the University of Limerick on a panel assessed under strict confidentiality protocols.

The awards gala will take place on 3 December 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport. Entries close on 21 August 2026.

Visit the official Aviation Industry Awards website to explore past winners, review category details, and subscribe to the newsletter for insights and event updates.