“I prepared reports for industry partners and conducted investigations into unauthorized operations, including one case that ultimately resulted in enforcement action,” Stuyt shares.

One of the new responsibilities she took on was to build the airport’s drone response capabilities.

Stuyt has invested her time and efforts into managing drone security for YOW, finding it integral to airport security.

“The drone industry is evolving rapidly with technology advancing at an unprecedented pace. As with many emerging technologies, innovation often develops in parallel with new risks and operational challenges,” she says. “Keeping pace with changing capabilities, developing effective mitigation strategies, and ensuring legislation evolves alongside the technology will continue to be a significant challenge, not only for us at YOW, but for airports around the world.”

In 2024, Stuyt moved up to the position of Manager of Critical Operations Systems at YOW, where she focused on offering strategic direction for airport security systems, enacting lifecycle management practices, and serving as the system owner while bridging operational users and technical support teams.

“I worked really closely with the IT team that provided valuable insight into the technical and infrastructure side of the security systems, and we reinforced the importance of strong collaboration between the operational and technology teams in delivering effective security solutions,” Stuyt states.

Earlier this year, Stuyt transitioned into her current role as YOW’s Manager of Physical and Corporate Security.

“This position has allowed me to bring together the operational, technical, and strategic experience I’ve developed over the past decade to help drive meaningful change and strengthen our security operations across the airport,” she explains.

While building herself up throughout her career journey, Stuyt learned two core lessons.

“I worked really closely with the IT team that provided valuable insight into the technical and infrastructure side of the security systems, and we reinforced the importance of strong collaboration between the operational and technology teams in delivering effective security solutions.”

“The first is the importance of people. Every interaction, every role, every meeting matters. I would not be where I am today without having had the opportunity to build credibility across different parts of the organization and earn the trust of colleagues along the way. The people I've worked with throughout my career have played a significant role in my development. They have continuously challenged me to think differently, exposed me to new perspectives in areas of expertise, and contributed to my growth both professionally and personally,” she reflects.

Stuyt continues, “The second lesson is the importance of self-advocacy. Throughout my career, I've learned that if you do not speak up for yourself and your own ideas, opportunities can easily pass you by. When you identify a gap, it is important to be proactive in finding ways that you can contribute to solving it. Similarly, when you see an opportunity for growth or improvement, you cannot always wait for someone else to create that path for you. You often have to take the initiative and create it for yourself.”

Stuyt sits at a unique cross section of industries — security and aviation — both of which are traditionally male-dominated. From her perspective, this experience has highlighted the value of visibility.

“It’s important for women to see that there are opportunities to grow into operational, technical and leadership roles across all areas of the business,” she asserts. “Diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making, problem-solving and ultimately the resilience of our organizations. I would encourage anyone interested in this field to stay curious, be willing to take on new challenges, and not to be afraid to step into spaces where they may not yet see many people who look like them.”