From runway engineer to aviation safety regulator: Harieta Tudreu's journey

For Harieta Tudreu, a career in aviation regulation was never part of the original plan.

Today, however, she is breaking new ground as the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji's (CAAF) first female Aerodrome Inspector, helping ensure Fiji's airports meet the highest safety standards while inspiring more women to pursue careers in aviation.

With more than six years' experience in civil aviation, the Fiji National University civil engineering graduate (2013–2016) has built her career through experience, passion and a commitment to making Fiji's skies safer.

She began her aviation journey as an engineering intern with Fiji Airports after completing her bachelor's degree.

Her early days were spent alongside the maintenance crew, gaining hands-on experience and working long hours on airport runways.

"I spent a lot of time with the maintenance crew. We would always be out on the runway day and night," she said.

During her four years with Fiji Airports, Ms Tudreu worked on various airport development projects, from the planning and design stages through to implementation.

The experience deepened her understanding of the critical role infrastructure plays in ensuring safe air travel.

After four years in airport operations, she joined the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji through its cadet programme for aerodrome inspectors.

The move proved to be a defining moment in her career, shifting her focus from airport operations to aviation regulation.

Ms Tudreu said she chose regulation because she believed strong laws and standards formed the foundation of a safe aviation industry.

"My understanding at that time, which I still believe now, is that our regulations and legislation become the foundation of our industry," she said.

"If you have strong regulations, you will have a strong aviation system."

As an aerodrome inspector, she oversees airport safety compliance, ensuring aerodromes meet regulatory requirements so passengers can travel with confidence.

For Ms Tudreu, aviation safety is also deeply personal.

She said she had always wanted her career to give back to the people and the country that raised her. While she initially thought that contribution would come through construction, she discovered another calling in aviation safety.

"Doing my bit to ensure that the travelling public, my family and friends, and even myself when I travel, get from point A to point B safely — that is how I enjoy my contribution to aviation," she said.

Today, Ms Tudreu combines her engineering background with aviation regulation, playing a key role in keeping Fiji's aviation system safe, reliable and prepared while also helping pave the way for more women to enter the traditionally male-dominated aviation sector.

Your role in safety and oversight. How important is professional judgment alongside technical knowledge for you?

As aerodrome inspectors, we conduct safety oversight, and our role depends heavily on sound judgment and strong technical knowledge. Every decision we make is centred on maintaining aviation safety.

In aviation, we often refer to problem-solving as the resolution of safety issues. By applying sound judgment, engineering knowledge, and technical expertise, we work towards resolving safety concerns before they develop into more serious problems.

If a safety issue is not resolved, the associated risks remain active. In aviation, risks cannot be ignored. They must be identified, managed, and mitigated because unresolved risks can escalate into significant safety concerns.

If these risks are not effectively managed, they can threaten human life, compromise the safety of the travelling public, and affect the integrity of the air transport system.

That is why sound judgment and engineering intelligence are so critical in our work. They enable us to reach effective resolutions to safety issues, reduce risk, and maintain the highest standards of aviation safety.

What would you like to highlight about Fiji’s aviation industry?

There is significant growth on the horizon for Fiji’s aviation sector. With the master plans for Nadi International Airport and Nausori International Airport now approved, major infrastructure developments are expected to create a wide range of career opportunities.

The industry will require engineers across multiple disciplines, including project managers, quantity surveyors, aircraft engineers and reliability engineers, to support these developments.

Whatever your engineering disciplines, there is likely to be a place for you in aviation. As the sector expands, so too will the demand for skilled professionals to help deliver projects and maintain the safety and efficiency of Fiji’s aviation industry.

What’s your advice to give someone who is interested in aviation as a career?

If you’re interested, please act on that interest.

The aviation industry needs you, whether you are studying electrical, mechanical, civil, IT, engineering, aircraft maintenance, or software engineering.

All those disciplines have a place in aviation, so do some researches, talk to somebody that you might know who is in the aviation industry, and connect with us on LinkedIn.