CASA Board

Board role

The CASA Board is appointed by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

The Board is responsible for deciding the objectives, strategies and policies to be followed by CASA and for ensuring that CASA performs its functions in a proper, efficient and effective manner.

Board members

Air Chief Marshal (Ret’d) Mark Binskin AC - Chair of the CASA Board

First appointed: 20 August 2021

Air Chief Marshal (Ret’d) Mark Binskin is a highly respected senior executive and leader in the national security, defence and aerospace sectors. He was Chief of the Defence Force of Australia from 2014-2018, Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011-2014) and Chief of Air Force (2008-2011). In 2020, he was Chair of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.

He is currently Chair of the Australia Pacific Security College Advisory Board, Deputy Chair of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation, on the Boards of the Western Parkland City Authority and the Australian International Military Games (Invictus Games Sydney 2018), a member of the Governing Committee of the Temora Aviation Museum and is a Non-Executive Director at BAE Systems Australia and Nihon Cyber Defence.

As Chief of Defence, Mark successfully led the Australian Defence Force, comprising 80,000 permanent and reserve personnel, to significantly improve capabilities and responses to major global events and championed organisational change across areas of national security, culture, diversity and leadership performance. He has provided national security advice to the highest levels of governments, industry leaders and international stakeholders, and his aerospace knowledge and expertise is extensive.

Mark was previously the ADF Airworthiness Authority and has over 3,500 hours in single seat fighter aircraft including the A-4G Skyhawk, Mirage 111O, F-16C and F/A-18 Hornet. He continues to be active in general aviation and holds a commercial, RAAus and Remote pilot licence, and is a warbird owner.

He has completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Mr Michael Bridge

First appointed: 1 October 2018

Michael is a commercial pilot by trade, receiving his pilot’s licence in 1987 and currently holds an Airline Transport Pilots License. He is the former RPT (Airline) Manager and later Group Operations Manager for the Skyport Group. Michael became an Airnorth Board member when The Skyport Group and Airnorth merged operations (forming Capiteq Limited) and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Capiteq Limited; a position he held for 17 years.

Michael recently stepped down from the Board of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) where he was a Director from 1998 and Chairman for seven of those years. Michael has held numerous Board positions including the Board of Trustees of TAIST (The Aviation Industry Superannuation Trust) and the AustralianSuper - Aviation Division, Advisory Board and was appointed Chairman of the Northern Territory Tourist Commission Board in 2012. Michael is also a Director (and previous Chairman) of the Northern Territory Major Events Company Pty Ltd and is currently Chairman of CGH Group Pty Ltd, which is an international specialist labour-hire and recruitment company.

Michael has sat on numerous Embraer international Advisory Boards and is an Ambassador for the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame, Business Events Northern Territory and the Museum and Arts Galleries of the Northern Territory. In 2004, he was awarded the National Australia Bank’s Medal for Management Innovation and in 2008 the Australian Aviation “Personality of the Year” for his work on creating the TAAAF - The Australian Aviation Association Forum, Australian aviation’s premier consulting body.

Ms Donna Hardman

First appointed: 1 January 2020

Ms Donna Hardman has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of NSW and a Masters of Business Administration from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management. She is graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and the Australian Mutuals Institute.

As an experienced board member and committee chairman, Donna offers deep governance experience, strategic thinking and a fresh perspective. She helps organisations to meet some of today’s most complex challenges: organisational change, business transformation and digital disruption.

Donna’s board career spans 6 years and includes 2 APRA-regulated bank boards, 2 ASX-listed boards (Property and Fintech sectors), 1 government Board and 2 government audit and risk committees including the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Board Audit and Risk Committee.

Prior to becoming a non-executive director, Donna enjoyed a successful executive career in financial services sector where she designed, built, managed and transformed businesses in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. She spent 12 years delivering large, complex change projects with an international consulting firm in Asia and as the founder and CEO of a boutique consultancy practice.

Donna has strong professional, government and community links and well-established networks in relevant sectors and industry groups across Asia Pacific. She consults on enhancing board and organisational performance. She is a passionate advocate for customer-centric, technology-enabled and people-powered innovation.

Ms Elizabeth Hallett GAICD

First appointed: 1 July 2020

Elizabeth is an experienced non-executive director and chair of audit & risk committees in regulated sectors, including the financial services and infrastructure sectors. She is a non-executive director on the boards of Sunsuper, a large public offer superannuation fund, NPP Australia Limited (which is responsible for the New Payments Platform), and NSW Land Registry Services. Elizabeth is a reappointed member of the Australian Takeovers Panel, and sits on the Advisory Committee of the John Sample Group.

Elizabeth was formerly a corporate partner with an international law firm for 22 years, where she held global and national leadership roles. Elizabeth brings legal and regulatory, corporate governance, risk management and strategy development skills and experience to the board.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne, and is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors’ Course.

Ms Marilyn Andre

First appointed: 1 July 2020

Marilyn has an aviation career spanning over 25 years. Her career in aviation included flying the BA Jetstream 41, Airbus A319/A340 and Boeing 747 and expanded into holding governance, leadership and education positions associated with the industry.

Marilyn has held senior leadership and advisory positions with a range of aviation entities including Boeing Training and Professional Services Australia, Boeing Australia Holdings, the Australian Air Force Cadets National Council and Women in Aviation (Australia).

In addition to extensive operational and governance experience, Marilyn has consulted for several Australian flight training providers on aviation syllabi. She has a particular interest in the possible integration of virtual and augmented reality to enhance flight training outcomes.

Marilyn is a sessional lecturer with the School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith Aviation at Griffith University in Queensland and is finalising a doctorate with the Australian Graduate School of Leadership at Torrens University.

Pip Spence PSM

First appointed: 17 May 2021

Before joining CASA, Pip was the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary for the Arts at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. Before that she was the Deputy Secretary for Transport. In this role, Pip was responsible for aviation and airport policy and program matters.

Pip has held senior leadership roles across the Australian Public Service. This includes the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the then Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. In that role Pip was closely involved in establishing the National Broadband Network and the associated reform of telecommunications regulations.

Pip commenced her career in the Department of Transport and Communications, where she worked in a number of aviation-related areas. This included working in the office of the Minister for Transport.

Pip has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Tasmania and a Graduate Diploma in Economics from the Australian National University.

CASA Audit Committee

Section 45 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) requires that CASA must have an audit committee. The Board must, by written charter, determine the functions of the audit committee. The functions must include reviewing the appropriateness of the Board’s financial reporting, performance reporting, system of risk oversight and management, and system of internal control for CASA.

CASA Board Audit and Risk Committee Charter and Governance Arrangements (pdf 301.35 KB) is available to download.

CASA Board contact

CASA Board Secretariat

colin.mclachlan@casa.gov.au
PO Box 2005
Canberra ACT 2601