The CASA Board has appointed experienced aviation executive Graeme Crawford to act as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Aviation Safety of CASA until the successor to Shane Carmody who retired on the 31 December 2020 is determined. Crawford who was appointed to the 2IC position of Group Executive Manager Aviation in May 2016 has overseen the finalisation of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs), the transformation of CASA’s operational functions to a new operating model and the management of Australian civil aviation safety risk as the chair of CASA’s Aviation Safety Committee (ASC).

In 2021 Crawford will maintain the focus on the transition of the sectors within the aviation industry to the new flight operations regulations, CASA’s continued organisational transformation, the on-going effective consultation with the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) and their Technical Work Groups (TWG) and the evolution of CASA’s culture to become more inclusive.

Crawford who commenced his 40 plus year aviation career at Rolls-Royce in Scotland in 1979, has held Executive Management positions with a number of globally renowned aviation companies including Qantas Airways, Pratt & Whitney, Goodrich Aerospace, Air Canada and General Electric where he lead significant transformation activities that delivered sustainable business improvements and cultural change. Prior to immigrating to Australia in 2007, Crawford ran commercial aviation operations in Norway, USA, Canada and Scotland and as such is familiar with the civil aviation safety regulations of EASA, FAA and TCCA.

Crawford who completed his Engineering and Industrial Management education in Glasgow, Scotland, is a Six Sigma black belt, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.