I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Greg Hughes to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Board and the re-appointment of Ms Pip Spence as CEO.

Mr Hughes has been appointed for a three-year period and brings decades of senior leadership experience in the aviation and transport sectors, with expertise in operations, governance, and strategic oversight across complex and safety-critical environments.

Mr Hughes has a comprehensive understanding of aviation safety standards, regulatory compliance, and navigating complex stakeholder environments. His experience aligns strongly with CASA’s mandate to promote a collaborative safety culture and maintain rigorous safety oversight.

Ms Spence is a highly experienced executive and board member with deep knowledge of the aviation industry and has been CASA’s CEO and Director of Aviation Safety since 2021 – the first woman to hold this position.

In this time, Ms Spence has strengthened CASA’s organisational capability, improved service responsiveness and relationships across government, industry and international partners, and fostered a culture of accountability.

Re-appointed for two more years, her experience and ongoing commitment to transparent, risk-aware, and data-driven regulatory decision-making will ensure CASA has the strong leadership it needs to continue progressing significant reforms. 

I look forward to working with Ms Spence, Mr Hughes and the rest of CASA’s board and executive to ensure Australian aviation remains among the safest in the world.

CASA plays a pivotal role ensuring the safety of aviation in Australia by setting and regulating standards that cover maintenance, airspace, aerodromes, licensing, and all types of aviation operations. To see more about this work, visit www.casa.gov.au.