Chairman
Captain John Raby
Captain Raby's airline flying career commenced in 1965 with the then Ansett ANA. Over more than 24 years with Ansett he served as a first officer and captain on most aircraft types, and progressed through various management positions, culminating in appointment to the position of flight training manager. Captain Raby's special interest was pilot training, development of standards and the introduction of specialist courses in human factors.
From 1990, Captain Raby worked overseas in VIP, long haul and European low cost short haul as a pilot, instructor/examiner and manager. During his time with easyJet in the UK John was appointed fleet manager. He returned to Australia in 2000 as the foundation head of flight operations for Virgin Blue.
Captain Raby was appointed to the role of Chairperson in February 2006.
Members
Mr John Bartlett
John Bartlett is currently head of safety systems for Virgin Blue and has over thirty years experience in the aviation industry.
He joined Virgin Blue after three years as general manager, Airlines, for the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority.
Prior to his position with the Civil Aviation Authority, John spent 15 years working with Ansett New Zealand in various key roles, including flight operations manager.
Mr Owen Batchelor
Owen Batchelor was formerly the General Manager of Pearl Aviation Australia which operates a broad spectrum of flight, engineering and support operations around Australia. He was appointed to that role after periods as Safety and Quality Systems Manager, then Operations Manager.’
Owen’s career in aviation spans 42 years, initially aircraft engineering, then flying operations and later as an aviation safety regulator.
His 25 years with the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) involved positions that ranged from operational roles through supervisory, line management, policy and strategic development and general management roles, including a six month period as Acting Director of Civil Aviation.
Owen holds two post graduate degrees, a Masters Degree in Public Policy, and a Masters Degree in Public Management.
He left the New Zealand CAA in April 2000 holding the position of Assistant Director, Government and International Affairs.
Owen rejoined the industry operationally as Quality Manager for Origin Pacific Airways. After a period, Owen was appointed as Chief Operating Officer for Origin, and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Air Support, the airline’s Part 145 maintenance company.
Mr Jim Davis
Jim Davis has extensive experience in the aviation industry gained through his time with CASA and a range of airlines.
After gaining a degree in aeronautical engineering at Sydney University , Jim joined CASA in 1974 as a performance engineer before leaving in 1978 to go to East West Airlines flying F27 and F28 aircraft.
Stints flying for airlines overseas followed, with Jim returning to Australia in 1995 to fly for Pelair before resuming his role as a performance engineer with the same company.
In 1999 he left Pelair to start with Hazelton as flight operations and standards manager, staying on with the company until it merged with Kendall and later became Rex.
In 2003 Jim was appointed as Rex's executive general manager operations, and is currently managing director operations.
He also currently sits on the boards of Air Link Airlines and Pelair.
Mr Stephen Fankhauser
Stephen Fankhauser is the Aviation Course Coordinator at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. Swinburne has been offering Aviation programs since 1992 and the current offerings range from Certificate, Diploma, Degree and Masters programs.
Stephen commenced at Swinburne in 1994 having been an Aeronautical Design Engineer at the former Government Aircraft Factories (now Boeing Hawker de Havilland).
He currently teaches in the area of Structures, Aircraft Design and Propulsion as well as managing the Higher Education Aviation programs. His interests are in the development of aviation education and training.
Ms Pamela Graham
Pamela Graham has held the General Manager’s position at Launceston Airport since February 2005.
She was previously General Manager Operations at Melbourne Airport and responsible for managing airfield, passenger and terminal operations, as well as safety, security and emergency planning.
Pamela held this position January 1999 to January 2005, having had a long background in operations and airport administration dating back to 1984 when she began a career in aviation at Perth Airport.
Mr Rob Graham
Rob Graham retired as Director, Safety Investigation at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in October 2004. He was responsible for safety investigation across all transport modes. He joined the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in June 2001 from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand where he was General Manager Aviation Services with responsibility for airport operations, air traffic control, Part 141 training, licensing, search and rescue and aviation security.
Robbie retired from Airservices Australia in 1998 as Director, Safety and Environment. He had implemented the Airservices Australia safety management system and had been responsible for the internal investigation of all accidents and incidents.
He has extensive experience and an ongoing involvement in safety management systems design, safety management within organisations, air traffic control, aviation systems implementation and CNS/ATM.
Dr Bob Hall
Bob Hall is a chemical engineer and is currently president of the Australian Sport Aviation Confederation.
A glider pilot with more than 30 years experience as both a competition pilot and an instructor, he has been responsible for supervision and audit of NSW gliding clubs, instructor training and issue of instructor ratings.
He has been chairman of the Gliding Federation of Australia Operations Panel, with responsibility for safety regulation, before moving on to hold positions as vice-president and then president.
Over the last 15 years Bob has been largely responsible for managing negotiation - firstly on behalf of the Gliding Federation of Australia and then all of Sport Aviation - with both CASA and Airservices Australia on matters relating to safety regulation.
Bob has also had significant experience in risk assessment and management, both within the aviation community and the chemical industry.
Mr James Kimpton AM
A one-time deputy chairman of the CASA board, James has also held positions with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and, most recently, Swinburne University of Technology.
From 1983 to 1999 he held a range of roles with Ansett, including manager of Aviation Policy and government advisor.
While employed by Ansett, James served as chairman of the Australia Air Transport Association and the board of Airline Representatives of Australia.
Between 1996 and 1998, at the request of the Minister of Transport and Regional Services, he chaired the Program Advisory Panel oversighting CASA reviews.
In 2001 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to aviation, and currently edits 'Aviation briefs' for the Aviation Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Keith Morgan
With 37 years in Aviation, Keith Morgan has experienced most elements of the business. Graduating as a RAAF pilot in 1972 he completed 20 years of service with time spent flying both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Highlights were a tour as the solo in the RAAF aerobatic team, the Roulettes, a tour as the Chief Flying Instructor at the RAAF Central Flying School and a tour as the Operations Officer at 34 Squadron flying VIP Falcon 900 aircraft. Overseas postings included Malaysia, Singapore and the Middle East.
In private enterprise Keith has flown helicopters in Borneo in a flying doctor role and a private Corporate Jet before turning to more ground based business activity.
With over 12 years at the Adelaide based flight training business that is now Flight Training Adelaide (FTA), Keith held various positions prior to becoming CEO in 2004. He is currently CEO of Flight Training Group (FTG).
FTG incorporates FTA and Flight Training Queensland (FTQ). FTQ will commence construction in early 2009 and will be a purpose built residential ab initio College at Maryborough in SE Queensland with a mature state capacity for 200 students.
In November 2007 FTA was awarded the National Export Award for Education and Training.
Dr Heather Parker OAM
Dr Heather Parker, BA,MD,FRACGP,OAM has qualifications as a Speech Therapist, Psychologist and MD from University of Manitoba, Canada.
She gained a FRACGP and has been a GP for 27 years, achieved a Private Pilot's Licence and used it to combine medicine and aviation by flying to rural towns in Queensland for women's clinics.
She has been an aviation medical examiner in Australia for over 10 years and is now appointed as a medical examiner for overseas authorities: UK, USA, Canada, NZ, South Africa and Singapore. She has served on the committee of the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine and has published in JASAM.
She has held office in the Australian Women Pilots' Association, the Maroochy Aero Club and has been a member of the South Qld Regional Parole Board. She has a night rating and formation endorsement, and in 2006 received the Nancy-bird Award for the most noteworthy contribution to aviation by a woman of Australasia. That year she was also awarded an OAM for services to medicine and to aviation.
She is Patron of the charity Corporate Angel Network of Australia.
Mr Adrian Verkerk
As Head of Engineering and Maintenance for Qantas Airlines, Adrian Verkerk is responsible for fleet management and airworthiness matters, in addition to holding the position of Maintenance Controller.
After graduating from Sydney University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Adrian spent 10 years in the design office of Hawker de Havilland Australia, working on a wide range of mechanical systems projects for military aircraft.
Adrian joined Qantas in 1988 and since that time has worked in various engineering roles within the airline, progressing from mechanical systems, powerplant engineering, maintenance contracts management, technical training management, airworthiness compliance to his current position as Head of Engineering and Maintenance.
Department of Defence
The Department of Defence sends a representative from its Airworthiness Coordination and Policy Agency.
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
The Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government sends a representative to meetings as an observer. The present observer is Mr John Doherty, Executive Director, Aviation and Airports Division.
Airservices Australia
Airservices Australia sends a representative from its Safety Management area.