Hong Ki To (Connie), a former aviation professional with over two decades of global airline experience, earned a Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Supply Chain Management and a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from SETU at the University’s conferring ceremonies in Carlow.
Connie was also nominated for the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Ireland (CILT) Undergraduate of the Year 2025 award.
From a career in aviation, to supply chain management
Over the last number of years, Connie was inspired to try something new and pursue a career in supply chain management. With over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, Connie took the leap and embark on her studies at SETU.
"I realised how important and in-demand supply chain management had become,” she explained. “I didn’t know much about the field at the time, but I was curious and wanted to understand how global operations really worked. Even in my aviation career, I was always interested in the decision-making and processes behind the scenes.”
Hong Ki To (Connie).
Her curiosity turned into determination, leading her to enrolling at SETU. Connie reflected that SETU’s emphasis on experiential learning and industry collaboration made complex supply chain concepts easier to understand and apply.
Applying theory to the real world
Connie particularly enjoyed modules such as procurement, planning and control, financial management, and global logistics.
“I especially liked studying real-world case examples that helped me understand how decisions were made in practice,” she said. “It allowed me to learn from past experiences and see how theory applied in real situations.”
Larry Banville, SETU lecturer, recognised Connie’s unique ability to connect her aviation background with academic insight and nominated her for the CILT Undergraduate of the Year Award. Her achievement stood out as an example of how lived experience and academic excellence can come together to create meaningful impact.
SETU’s supportive atmosphere
Connie said her time at SETU as both challenging and rewarding, praising the supportive atmosphere among lecturers and classmates.
“The lecturers were incredibly supportive and encouraged me to grow both academically and professionally. I really valued the teamwork among classmates in group projects.”
Hong Ki To (Connie).
Being recognised as CILT Ireland’s Undergraduate of the Year 2025 and graduating with First Class Honours were proud achievements that made her SETU journey especially meaningful.
Looking to the future
Connie aspires to become a trusted supply chain professional known for reliability, collaboration, and resilience. “I wanted to contribute to continuous improvement and be someone others could rely on, especially when challenges arise,” she reflected.
Connie’s journey is an inspiring testament to courage and adaptability. It is journey of transformation from navigating the skies of aviation to steering the global networks of supply chain management. Connie’s story proves that it is never too late to embrace change and take flight in a different direction.
