Jonathon Counsell, International Airlines Group
Jonathon Counsell
Group Head of Sustainability
International Airlines Group

Jonathon is a Master’s graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London and has an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.

In July 2015 Jonathon became Group Head of Sustainability for the International Airlines Group with responsibility for the group sustainability strategy across the Groups’ five airlines Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Level & Vueling.

He was previously British Airway’s Head of Environment, appointed in December 2007, with responsibility for developing and implementing BA’s strategy on all issues relating to the Environment including Climate Change, Air Quality, Noise and Waste.

In 2013 he became Chair of Sustainable Aviation, the leading UK aviation industry consortium of airlines, airports, manufacturers and UK Air Traffic Control authority driving improvements in the sustainability performance of the sector.

In 2015 he was also appointed the Chair of the International Airline Transport Association Environment Committee and in June 2017 was re-selected as Chair.

In August 2019 he was elected as the Chair of the newly formed IATA Sustainability and Environment Advisory Council.

Jonathon is also Chair of the oneworld airline alliance’s Environment & Sustainability Best Practice Group.

In April 2019 Jonathon became President of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Heathrow Branch.

In September 2020 Jonathon became Visiting Sustainability Professor of Cranfield University to support their work enabling the aviation industry to deliver net zero emissions by 2050.

Jonathon is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Board Member of the Greener By Design Partnership.

In November 2020 Jonathon became Chair of the UK Government’s Jet Zero Council Sustainable Aviation Fuel Delivery Group enabling the UK to become the global leader in development of sustainable fuels.

From December 2020 Jonathon joined the UK’s Air League Council which has the mission of supporting today’s youth through its Changing Lives Through Aviation campaigns.

In June 2021 Jonathon was appointed as the Chair of the Sustainable Aviation – Farnborough International Limited steering board for the inaugural Sustainable Skies World Summit event being held on Jan 26th / 27th 2022.