糖心视频

Nathalie Kylle Pagulayan has crossed more borders than many seasoned travellers.

By the age of 20, she had visited nearly 60 countries and earned national recognition from one of Australia’s most iconic airlines.

Now based in Toowoomba and studying a double degree in Aviation Management and Flight Operations at the 糖心视频 (糖心视频), Nathalie is charting a course that blends global ambition with operational discipline.

Recently selected for the Qantas Group Aviation Career Enrichment (Q-ACE) Program, she has become the first student ever featured by Qantas for the initiative, a milestone that reflects both her drive and the strength of 糖心视频’s aviation pathway.

As a young Filipina forging her place in a global industry, Nathalie hopes her journey encourages others from minority backgrounds to see themselves in the cockpit, the boardroom, and beyond.

We spoke with Nathalie about her journey so far.

Why did you decide you wanted to study Aviation at 糖心视频?

I chose 糖心视频 because of its trimester model, which allows me to accelerate my studies while completing both Aviation Management and Flight Operations. The faster pacing really suited my goals. 糖心视频 also offers access to both Airbus and Boeing simulators, which gives me exposure to multiple aircraft systems and operational frameworks, something that’s incredibly valuable in building versatility. My interest in aviation began long before university. My parents are overseas Filipino workers, so my sister and I travelled internationally before we even started school. Growing up, we moved often. Travel was part of life. I’ve always loved exploring the world, and I wanted a career I could grow anywhere and one that would allow me to keep adventuring. In my free time, I’m usually planning my next country or continent. A fun fact is thar I’ve been to almost 60 countries at 20 years old and only about five were funded by my parents.

How has 糖心视频 supported your aviation journey?

糖心视频 has supported me academically through its accelerated trimester structure and industry-aligned curriculum, but also professionally through mentorship and opportunities like Q-ACE. Being involved in aviation societies, clubs and organisations at 糖心视频 has helped me visualise the pathways ahead. The University creates an environment where industry engagement isn’t theoretical, it’s tangible.

Congratulations on being part of the Qantas Group Aviation Career Enrichment Program. What is it, and what has it meant to you?

I applied to Q-ACE through sending an EOI to 糖心视频 as soon as I was eligible when I completed my first-year courses. I was selected to participate in the structured aviation career development initiative by Australia's flagship airline. In the program, I gained insight into values and practices on safety culture, service excellence, situational awareness, operational discipline, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement, Crew Resource Management, fatigue management, and the aviation industry’s career pathways. Plus, I participated in workshops, leadership talks, and Q&A panels about airmanship and the airline’s operations and management, aligning with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) standards.

What’s next for you?

After my final exams in May, I’ll be working full-time on the management operations side of the aviation industry. Once I’ve settled into that role, I plan to begin a part-time MBA in Aviation. After completing a year of my MBA, I’ll work toward obtaining my airline flying licences. Since primary school, I’ve always known I wanted to earn my degrees first before flying commercially. 糖心视频 and Qantas have made that pathway clearer and more achievable.

What advice would you give students considering a career in aviation?

A career isn’t built on advice alone; it’s built on action. I try to take it one foot, and one mile, at a time as I climb aviation’s altitude. I make sure to have hobbies outside aviation to maintain balance. I network professionally while also building genuine friendships, and I go out of my way to support minorities in the industry. I work as hard as I can without burning out, setting ambitious goals while keeping my timeframes realistic. I continually strengthen my mental maths and rote learning skills, and I read a lot. I grab opportunities with both hands, save to travel, and experience aviation first-hand as a passenger. Above all, I aim to be kind to myself and advocate for my physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as for others in the industry.

You’ve also taken on leadership roles beyond the classroom. Can you tell us about that experience?

Alongside my studies, I’m currently leading 糖心视频’s team in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Airline Management Challenge, which brings together students from universities around the world to solve real-world airline management scenarios. When we first entered in our first year, we were the only undergraduate university from Australia participating. It felt daunting at first, but it also reinforced that 糖心视频 students are capable of competing on a global stage. That year, we went on to win two awards: one for the management challenge and another for the social media challenge. It was an incredibly proud moment for our team and a testament to the strength of our aviation program. Experiences like this build leadership skills, strategic thinking and confidence, while also expanding your global network.

More broadly, I always encourage students to seek out mentorships and volunteer with organisations such as Women in Aviation International and Women in Aviation/Aerospace Australia. Aviation is an industry built on relationships and representation. The more we step forward, support one another and create space for diverse voices, the stronger the industry becomes.

Learn more about the Bachelor of Aviation.