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
Mr Anthony Mathews - Chair of the CASA Board
First appointed: 19 August 2018
Mr Tony Mathews brings a wealth of aviation safety expertise, as a former Qantas regional airline manager, Royal Flying Doctor Service manager as well as a qualified commercial and airline transport pilot.
In addition to his aviation experience, Mr Mathews brings considerable governance experience to the role, including serving as Deputy Chair of the Board of Airservices Australia, the national civil provider of air traffic control and aviation and rescue firefighting services at our major airports. Mr Mathews was on the board of Airservices Australia between June 2012 and September 2017. He was deputy chairman from July 2014 and also led the board’s safety committee.
He has also worked as the general manager aviation for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and general manager and chief pilot for Qantas regional subsidiary Southern Australia Airlines in his more than 45 years in the aviation industry. A qualified airline pilot, his extensive work in regional aviation has also included being on the board and Chairman of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA).
Beyond aviation, Mathews has worked with a number of companies and community organisations in the Mildura region, including as a board member of the Mildura Cooperative Fruit Company, Mildura Health, Murray Campaign Committee and Mildura Murray Outback Tourism. He is also a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Graeme Crawford - The Acting Chief Executive Officer and Director of Aviation Safety
Appointed: 1 January 2021
Mr Graeme Crawford was appointed as Acting Chief Executive Officer and Director of Aviation Safety in January 2021.
Graeme’s substantive role is CASA's Group Executive Manager Aviation, a role he has held since May 2016. Aviation Group identifies and proactively manages emerging safety issues, sets aviation standards through the development and implementation of regulations and supporting material, and performs entry control and surveillance of aviation organisations.
Prior to CASA Graeme had over 20 years’ experience in senior executive roles at globally renowned aviation organisations such as Qantas Airways, Pratt & Whitney, Goodrich Aerospace, Air Canada and General Electric where he was responsible for maintenance businesses and led major business transformation programs delivering both increased efficiencies and improved customer service levels.
Read Graeme Crawford’s full biography.
Mr Mark Rindfleish
First appointed: 16 April 2018
Mr Mark Rindfleish has over forty-five years as an Airline pilot and senior Operations Manager with airlines in Australia and overseas.
Mr Rindfleish has held the positions of Director of Flight Operations for Ansett Australia, Vice President of Flight Operations Air New Zealand, Executive General Manager Operations Ansett, General Manager Safety Jetstar Airways and Head of Flying Operations and Chief Pilot of Jetstar Australia and New Zealand.
In addition, Mr Rindfleish has served in a number of advisory roles including Safety Advisor to the Boards of the various Jetstar Airlines, Chairman of the Flight Operations Committee Association of Asia Pacific Airlines and Chairman of the Star Alliance Flight Operations Committee.
Throughout his career, Mr Rindfleish has maintained a keen interest in sport and general aviation and regularly flies light aircraft.
Mr Rindfleish is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Master Air Pilot and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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.
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 is available to download.
CASA Board contact
CASA Board Secretariat
colin.mclachlan@casa.gov.au
PO Box 2005
Canberra ACT 2601