Flight Safety Staff Profiles

Colin is CEO of the Flight Safety Group of companies in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Current operations include aviation external auditing and accident investigation, helideck inspection and friction testing, training and expert witness involvement in all aspects of the aviation industry.

Colin has 54 years’ experience in the aviation industry including 16 years as a military pilot serving in the South African Air Force, nine years of which was on the fighter line involved in the Angolan conflict, operating in an air-to-ground role. This was followed by flying corporate aircraft in a military role as part of the South African Air Force VIP squadron. During that period, Colin was also the leader of a military intelligence section involved in sensitive aerial photographic operations.

Colin's involvement in civilian corporate flying spanned 15 years; for the final ten years, he was employed by the Anglo Alpha group of Companies, flying the Gulfstream Commander 900 series aircraft.

Colin was the owner and Chief Pilot of a corporate Charter Company for seven years and has logged 7500 hours on 35 different aircraft types ranging from the Lear 35 to turbo-prop and multi-engine piston. He currently retains an Australian Commercial Pilots licence and various African licences.

This flying background enabled him to set up a successful aviation consultancy business, involving a broad spectrum of aviation consultancy work and the production of 150 Flight Operations and related manuals. Projects included AOC license applications, Air Service violation hearings and start-up airline processes - he was involved in the successful Air Service license application, start-up phase and granting of the AOC for the second National carrier airline in South Africa. He was appointed as the Director of Regulatory Compliance and served on the Board.

Colin has been involved in flight safety auditing for the past 15 years. He was approved as an auditor for the Billiton Group and was a member of the Ansett Airlines' specialised "Regulatory Compliance and Auditing Department" prior to starting Flight Safety Pty Ltd. Colin was a designated BHPBilliton aviation adviser based in Melbourne, Australia from 2002 until 2004 before starting his own business.

Colin has served on the South African Civil Aviation Authority's 'Regulatory Review Committee’ and has acted in a consultative and advisory capacity to many large corporate entities. Colin is a certified International ISO Lead Auditor and has served clients globally, including Australasia, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Iran, Canada, Africa, UK, Europe, Malta and the Middle East.

Geoff started his pilots career in the late 70's. He ventured into aircraft maintenance in 1980 with Skywest Airlines. He has since accumulated over 30 years of experience and has held positions of Charter Pilot, Agricultural Pilot, Chief Pilot (Ag. and Charter) as well as LAME and Chief Engineer for various companies. He holds Australian Fixed and Rotary wing Commercial Pilots Licenses as well as Australian LAME and PNG LAME, IA and Maintenance Controller Ratings.

Geoff is a certified ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor. Geoff lives outside Ingham in North Qld.

Janelle has extensive experience in business management, having owned and operated her own businesses for 10 years.

She managed Flight Safety Pty Ltd from September 2007 to July 2011 and then took some time away to start her family.

She joined the team again in 2014 as Accounts Manager.

Janelle is a qualified bookkeeper and internal auditor, has a Small Business Management Certificate IV, Micro Business Operations Certificate III and has studied a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing and Management (Open Universities – Monash).

Janelle is responsible for all aspects of managing the companies accounting systems. She also assists with administration and conducting internal audits for the QMS.

Janelle appreciates quality family time while boating and fishing, dabbles in alternative therapies and practices yoga.

Kamen has over 10 years marketing, web and administrative experience.

Originally completing an Associate Diploma in Commercial Art she then completed a Bachelor of Arts (Design and Marketing) at the University of the Sunshine Coast whilst working for International Relations at the University.

Upon completing her degree she set off overseas to live and work in Scotland for Standard Life Bank before returning once again to Australia and the University.

In 2009 Kamen took the plunge and started her own Web and Graphic Design business, Mojo Burns.

Highly active in Surf Life Saving at a club and operations support level, most weekends are spent with family and friends at the beach, enjoying the Sunshine Coast lifestyle.

Jeff started flying in 1967 in the South African Air Force. He flew mainly helicopters and was an instructor at Central Flying School Dunnottar on Harvards.

The highlight of his time in the air force was being appointed Personal Adjutant to the then Chief of the Air Force Lt Gen R. R. “Bob” Rogers. He left after 12 years achieving the rank of Major.

He then joined South African Airways as a 3rd officer on B707’s and 747 classics. As a co-pilot he flew 727’s, 737’s and 747 classics. During this time went on contract to All Nippon Airways in Tokyo.

After attaining the JCAB ATP, was based in Sydney for 18 months. On returning to SAA, received his command on Airbus A300 and 737-300’s and -800’s. After 22 years with SAA, Jeff joined Nippon Cargo Airlines who were recruiting JCAB ATP holders as co-pilots on 747 classics. He had bases in San Francisco, Amsterdam and Tokyo.

Jeff also had the opportunity to upgrade on to the 747-400’s. After retiring in 2011,

Jeff joined Flight Safety in 2012. Pastimes include golfing, walking and trying to keep up with four fantastic grandkids.

Johann started his aviation career in the South African Air force in 1955, a year after graduating from high school.

After serving 8 years in the Air force as an instructor and fighter pilot, he advanced to South African Airways in 1963, where he commenced as a First Officer on DC-3, DC-4, then through various other types to a command on Boeing 747 Classic.

After 25 years service, he joined Singapore Airlines, still on B747 Classics, for another 8 years. He retired from active airline flying in April 1996, with 33 years of airline service and 19742 flying hours.

On taking up residence in Australia in May 1996, he joined a major flight training school in Adelaide, where he became manager of the Airline Transition Training section. He remains active in aviation as a flying instructor and lately as a simulator instructor for Alteon Training.

He is a certified ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor and has been auditing for Flight Safety Pty Ltd since August 2007.

Johann enjoys woodwork, metal fabrication and general handiwork in his small but crowded “workshop” at home on the Gold Coast.

Mike started his working life in 1968 in the accounting field, working for the Greatermans group. During this time he studied and obtained the CIS International Diploma.

This was followed in 1973 with 43 years in aviation. He started in the air force and spent time doing maritime coastal patrolling before spending the rest of his permanent force time doing ground and air training on Harvard's. He then joined South African Airways for 13 years while still flying part time for the air force on the Impala (MB 326K/M).

An opportunity arose to join a new company, Flitestar, as the Senior training Captain. This was followed by Gulf Air, Bahrain as a training Captain. He then went to Taiwan to join EVA Airways for a short time which ended up becoming 21 years. Mike held positions ranging from Training and Checking Captain to Chief Pilot fleet Airbus A330. In this rewarding career the highlight for Mike was being selected to be the team leader to introduce the Airbus A330 into the airline.

Types Mike has flown are Boeing 737-200/300, 757-200, 767- 200/300, MD11, 747-200/SP/300/400, Airbus 320-200 A330-200. He finished his career having flown 24016 hours. Mike enjoys camping, cycling and visiting the Kruger Park as often as possible.

Regina is a software engineer specialising in Internet applications and technologies and has been an Internet user and programmer since 1991.

Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science, Computer Technology (Victoria University) and a Master of Applied Science by Research, Computer Science (University of South Australia).

Regina developed the first website for the University of South Australia in 1994 and has built a wide variety of business and non-profit websites since then.

Regina maintains the ISO:9001 certified Quality Management System for the Flight Safety group of companies and provides onsite information and communication technology (ICT) support.

Regina enjoys golf, tennis and wine tasting.