ABOUT

ORAJe: The network of the USAIRE Student Awards

Created in 2013, ORAJe (Organisation des Rencontres Aéronautiques de la Jeunesse) is an association that consolidates the network of the USAIRE Student Awards’ finalists. The association’s goal is to both structure the USAIRE Student Awards community, but also to strengthen the link between young people and experienced professionals in the aerospace and defence industry. Now the ORAJe network consists of more than 300 finalists, some of which are now well-established professionals in their respective fields.

ORAJe seen by its President: Héloïse Conte

“ORAJe is a powerful network. Our members are employed across the entire aerospace industry, from startups to major stakeholders and public entities. And because we have all gone through the contest and the 10-pager challenge —a significant commitment during our free time and summer vacations— I trust that we are all passionate, dedicated, and hard-working individuals. But ORAJe is not just about professional events. Above all, ORAJe is a community of aerospace enthusiasts. It brings together friendly, open-minded, and curious people—the kind of individuals with whom you’ll always have engaging and inspiring conversations!”

Discover ORAJe's activities

The team behind ORAJe

Board

PRESIDENT : Héloïse CONTE

Electronics Engineer at MBDA

Héloïse participated in the 2019 USAIRE competition to deepen her knowledge of civil aerospace. That year's theme, dual-use technologies, piqued her curiosity about the defense industry and fueled her desire to explore it further. Today, she thrives as a project engineer at MBDA, overseeing the development of various electronic systems. In 2021, she joined the ORAJe board as secretary before being elected president for three consecutive one-year terms, a role she will hold until the end of 2025.

TREASURER: Christine LIN

Engineer at Safran Aircraft Engines

Christine participated in the 2020 USAIRE competition when she had just started to be interested in the aerospace industry. It was a great experience for her to learn new technologies and issues that the field is meeting with today: global warming. After her experience in Canada, she decided to come back to France and started a career as an engineer at Safran Aircraft Engines.

VICE-PRESIDENT: Quitterie MAGNIN

Strategy Intern, International Development at Thales

Currently studying for a Master’s degree in Finance & Strategy at Sciences Po, Quitterie joined ORAJe in 2023. She graduated with a BA in Political Humanities from Sciences Po’s Europe-Asia program, and studied energy system engineering for a year at the University of Tokyo. Quitterie notably used to work as an intern at CETIM in 2023, where she contributed to build the Center's hydrogen strategy in Japan. As of 2025, she has joined Thales as a Strategy Intern at Thales' International Development deparment.

SECRETARY: Arthur NICHANIAN

First Officer at SWISS

Arthur is a laureate of the 2021 USAIRE Student Awards and currently works as a First Officer for SWISS. He first studied aeronautical engineering at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, where he did his BSc. and then at Cranfield University, where Arthur graduated with an MSc. in safety & human factors in aviation. Arthur is also a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University where he is conducting research related to Flight Data Monitoring.

Extended board

Alexandre JEANJEAN

Strategic Project Manager at Paris-Orly Airport

Passionate about aviation, Alexandre completed a double Masters in Aerospace Engineering (ESTACA, France) and Air Transport Management (Cranfield University, UK). He then joined Groupe ADP's graduate program and recently joined Orly in a first permanent position as strategic project manager. Alexandre has been involved in ORAJe since his second prize in the USAIRE Student Awards edition of 2023, with his teammate Mathieu GOUJAT.

Julien LANGLET

Control & Guidance Engineer at MBDA

Julien participated in the 2020 USAIRE Student Awards when he was a student at ESTACA, bringing to him a fantastic experience to use some of the knowledge he had learnt in his aeronautical engineering school. As of now, Julien is part of ORAJe and is also working for MBDA as an engineer.

Bastien CONTI

Retrofit Systems Manager at Airbus

Passionate about aeronautics, Bastien pursued his passion by enrolling at ESTACA. This engineering school enabled him to deepen both his technical and human knowledge through associative experiences and internships. This passion also led Bastien to take part in the USAIRE Student Awards 2022. After graduating in 2023, he seized the opportunity to join AIRBUS to start his career in the customer service department. In addition to ESTACA and AIRBUS, you'll find Batien flying across the French Pyrenees thanks to his private pilot's license.

Honorary President

HONORARY PRESIDENT: Michel DUBARRY

Ex-President of Rolls-Royce Europe and North Africa

Michel Dubarry, President of Rolls-Royce Europe and North Africa between 2008 and 2023, is the founder of the USAIRE Student Awards. At the time, his goal was to bridge the younger generation and aerospace industry professionals. As the Executive Vice-President of USAIRE, Michel Dubarry greatly contributed to develop the contest and consolidated the Awards' alumni network by creating ORAJe in 2013. Since 2017, Michel is also President of the Fondation Bordeaux Université, pursuing his engagement for the youth.


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