Laura was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo; however South Africa has been her home from a young age. She matriculated from Pretoria High School for Girls in 2003 and in late 2004 began her dream of becoming a pilot. Laura received her South African Air Force (SAAF) military pilot wings in July 2007 on the PC7 MkII Astra, then trained towards a rotor wing licence.
A few months later she attained her Helicopter Private Pilot Licence at Starlite Aviation, then further completed her SAAF military helicopter conversion course. She flew many national and international military missions on the medium transport Atlas Oryx helicopter as a member of 15 Squadron, home based at Air Force Base Durban from 2008 until early 2013.
Laura holds both the South African (SACAA) multi-engine instrument Helicopter and Airplane Commercial Pilot Licences, as well as the American (FAA) Commercial Pilot Rotorcraft instrument and the Private Pilot Airplane Airman Certificates. She is currently employed as a contract rotor wing and fixed wing pilot for Starlite Aviation Operations, through Crew Resources International, flying the King Air 200, Beechcraft 1900, Super Puma 332L and 332C1e (H215), Puma 330J and BK117 C1. She worked for Starlite Ops in Kosovo from 2012-2014, and presently works for Starlite in Mali.
- Laura received her South African Air Force (SAAF) military pilot wings in July 2007 on the PC7 MkII Astra, then trained towards a rotor wing licence. A few months later she attained her Helicopter Private Pilot Licence at Starlite Aviation, then further completed her SAAF military helicopter conversion course. She flew many national and international military missions on the medium transport Atlas Oryx helicopter as a member of 15 Squadron, home based at Air Force Base Durban from 2008 until early 2013.
- Throughout her career she has achieved a few awards. In 2012 she was awarded her first military medal, the SANDF Tumelo Ke Katghleho (General Service Medal) for distinguished military service directly or in support of a military operation.
- Laura was a 2013 finalist and the runner up in the General Sector category for the South Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Awards.
- The following year she awarded the Flight Safety International Bell 206 type rating scholarship through the Whirly-Girls (International Women Helicopter Pilots).
- Last year she was recognised by the Kingdom of the Netherlands as one of South Africa’s 50 most inspiring women in the STEM sector, through the Dutch embassy’s Inspiring Fifty non-profit organisation.
- She ended the year with a feature in DESTINY magazine’s Power of 40 issue, which profiles powerful young achievers under the age of 40