Assuming the Mantle

Pip Spence is one of the most well-credentialed bureaucrats to ever occupy the office of Director of Aviation Safety. With stints behind her at the Department of Transport Airports Division, NBN, Western Sydney Airport and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under her belt, she has the Canberra street cred to know how regulators work. At the time I spoke to her, she was only six weeks into her new role, but already had a solid handle on the task that was ahead of her.

SH: Many people view the DAS position as a poisoned chalice. Why did you want the job?

PS: I've watched quite a few different Directors of Aviation Safety over my career, and it might be a poisoned chalice, but it’s such an important job and I genuinely feel that I've got the right temperament to help at this point in time. I'm someone who can listen, someone who’s passionate about the aviation sector and understands the journey we've been on to get to where we are. I'm also open to being told there’s another way through on things. CASA is an organisation that despite tensions with the industry has really passionate people who are doing things because they want to make the sky safer. There’s a real mission in the place and people are genuinely committed to that outcome.

And now is this really amazing