Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance names Russ Dunn, Chief Technology Officer at GKN Aerospace, as the new Chair for 2025

• Taking over from Johan Lundgren, outgoing CEO at easyJet, Russ Dunn will be taking over as HIA Chair from the beginning of 2025.

• The Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance (HIA) had a successful 2024 during which it launched its initial flagship report covering the range of issues that need to be addressed and the timeline that needs to be met in order to make hydrogen work for aviation. 

• In 2025 the Alliance will continue to champion the development of hydrogen propulsion technologies and the enabling infrastructure that the UK needs to make zero emissions flight a reality.

As of Monday 9th December 2025 Russ Dunn, Chief Technology Officer at GKN Aerospace will become the new Chair of the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance (HIA). 

Russ is taking over the Chair role from Johan Lundgren, CEO of EasyJet, who has led HIA since its creation in 2023. He now hands over the reins of the Alliance to Russ who will lead the organisation for the coming year. 

HIA had a successful 2024 during which the Alliance released “Launching Hydrogen-Powered Aviation” the group’s first milestone report outlining the steps and timeline the UK Government and industry need to follow to secure its position as a global leader in hydrogen-powered aviation. The Report provides a range of challenges and opportunities for the UK to address in the coming months and years.  

Looking ahead at 2025, HIA will focus on exploring the detail of a number of the key recommendations outlined in its Milestone Delivery Report, including around airport infrastructure and hydrogen skills development – looking at the steps needed to make the UK ready for the hydrogen transition.

Commenting on his new role as Chair, Russ Dunn said:
“I am delighted to be named as the Chair of the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance at this crucial time for the industry. Globally, more people are flying today than ever before, as aviation continues to connect communities and enable business. With this growth comes an important responsibility - to decarbonise aviation, so we can continue to deliver the benefits it offers in a sustainable way. Hydrogen is key to that ambition and 2025 is an important year for the UK and HIA members as we continue to engage with our stakeholders to promote the huge sustainability benefits that hydrogen can bring to our sector.

“HIA members are doing incredible things in the UK to prepare the global industry for transitioning to hydrogen – from GKN Aerospace’s own development of multi-Megawatt fuel cell systems for aircraft and ZeroAvia’s flight testing and certification efforts around hydrogen-electric powertrains, to Bristol Airport and EasyJet demonstrating hydrogen ground operations. HIA enables us to connect these technical and ecosystem advancements together, and to bring our shared knowledge into key policy discussions around sustainable aviation in the UK.”
 
Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: 
“During my time as Chair of HIA, we set out our recommendations on the steps the UK needs to take in terms of innovation, policy and regulation and highlighted the potential the UK has to become a world leader in hydrogen aviation. 

 “There is of course much still to do but I am immensely proud of the progress we’ve made in the last 18 months and I can think of no better successor than Russ Dunn, who has been a valued member of the alliance since its inception and is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about hydrogen-powered aviation.”

About Russ and GKN Aerospace’s activity in hydrogen aviation
Russ Dunn leads GKN Aerospace’s global technology portfolio, working across the whole business to create more sustainable aerospace technologies and manufacturing tools, techniques and processes. GKN Aerospace’s work on hydrogen technology is primarily focussed on the development of hydrogen fuel cell and fuel systems technology at the size and power needed for commercial flight. 

GKN Aerospace is a global tier-one aerospace manufacturer headquartered in the UK; the business designs and manufactures a wide variety of airframe and engine structures, landing gear, electrical systems, transparencies and aftermarket services. 

Russ joined GKN Aerospace as Chief Technology Officer in 2013 following 17 years at Airbus where he had a number of technical leadership roles. His work at Airbus culminated in leading the Wing Engineering team for all A350XWB derivatives, from early concept development through to detailed design, manufacture, assembly, flight test and certification.

At GKN Aerospace he assumed responsibility for the global business sustainability strategy in 2019 and is driving the business’ focus on more sustainable technologies; in particular, the transition to zero emissions flight.