INESE LIBERE — JOINING AVIATION IS A DECISION I’VE NEVER REGRETTED

Inese Libere, the Flight Operations Standards Manager at SmartLynx Airlines, has been named Employee of the Year in the New Horizons category, and she says that the honor still feels surreal to her. “This feels amazing and almost hard to believe. I’m still getting used to it!” Inese laughs.

With 16 years in the aviation sector — a field she calls one of the most challenging — Inese’s journey has been built on dedication, adaptability, and a positive attitude. “You have to love what you’re doing,” she adds. And it’s clear she does. That passion has shaped her career since her first day at SmartLynx back in May 2008. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I chose SmartLynx without hesitation because I could feel the spirit of the place. It was intuition, and I’ve never regretted it. It made me who I am today — focused, team-oriented, resilient.”

Inese’s contributions speak for themselves. One of her proudest accomplishments was merging the complex operations manuals for SmartLynx’s three Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) into a unified system. This initiative, supported by her team and management, allowed her to optimize resources dedicated to documentation management and compliance assurance at least threefold.

Reflecting on the challenges of 2024, Inese sees lessons rather than setbacks. “The recovery after COVID was just as painful as the pandemic itself, but we got through it because of hard work, adaptability, optimization of resources, and teamwork. Now it’s time to polish what we’ve built and aim for operational excellence.”

Inese is optimistic about the future. In 2025, she is committed to further improving the quality and transparency of the company’s documentation. “With fewer pages to maintain and compare, we can refine everything even more. It’s a logical next step, and I’m confident it’s achievable with the support of our amazing team.”

The Manager’s role often demands intense energy, especially during preparation for major assessments to support the company’s certifications, like the IOSA audit, where multiple AOCs are assessed simultaneously. However, Inese stays grounded with the help of her daily 10km runs, power yoga, and her dogs. “Without those, I’d probably be far less active at work,” she says with a smile.

When asked what advice she’d give her younger self, Inese pauses thoughtfully. “Always keep a balance between work and rest. Dedicate time to learning and becoming a better version of yourself. Work 60%, live 30%, and learn 10%. And be a good manager — of yourself.”

If she had to choose the next Employee of the Year, Inese would focus on key traits: motivation, positivity, adaptability, teamwork, and strong management. “It’s so powerful when your effort is recognized — it motivates you and reassures you that you’re on the right track. Plus, it’s what helps make the entire Avia Solutions Group a community of successful, reliable, and resilient companies.”