Photo caption: UC graduate Doyel Bhattacharyya now works as an Engineering Planning Analyst at Air New Zealand
After a career break following maternity leave and the global pandemic, Doyel Bhattacharyya made a remarkable return to the aviation industry, securing an Engineering Planning Analyst role at Air New Zealand – a move she credits to her postgraduate studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC).
Doyel’s career journey spans multiple countries, industries, and life transitions. Originally from India, she moved to Dubai as a child, growing up in an aviation family before earning a bachelor's in aerospace engineering in the United Kingdom. She later worked in aircraft maintenance planning for Emirates before stepping away from the workforce to start a family.
“It was supposed to be a short maternity break,” says Doyel. “But Covid-19 changed everything.” While it was an unexpected pause, she says it gave her the chance to rethink her future and how she wanted to shape her career.
After spending time in Sri Lanka and India, Doyel and her family set their sights on New Zealand as the ideal place to rebuild her career. “New Zealand was always at the top of our list,” she says.
With a strong aviation background, she strategically upskilled by enrolling in UC’s Master of Business Information Systems, equipping herself with critical skills in business analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and stakeholder engagement – all of which helped her stand out in a competitive job market.
During her studies, Doyel took full advantage of UC’s career development services, networking events, and internship opportunities before securing an internship with Qalibre, where she focused on process improvement and enjoyed the ability to apply her coursework to real-world challenges.
“UC was the perfect launchpad for me,” Doyel says. “I knew I wanted to return to aviation but in a new capacity, blending my industry experience with emerging digital tools.”
This transition led to her securing an Engineering Planning Analyst position at Air New Zealand, where she can blend her expertise in aviation and technology. The opportunity came at just the right time, with Doyel applying for the role just weeks before completing her degree.
To those who are looking to break into competitive industries, she says “don’t limit your search and be open to something you might not be familiar with, because you might have the same skill set. If you limit yourself, you might be missing out on a lot that’s out there.”
Doyel is excited for future opportunities in teams that are shaping the future of aviation with AI. She hopes to make an impact across ethical considerations, business growth, and digital transformations happening in the industry.
