James Miller has been appointed as a Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) for a three-year term, while Angus Mitchell has been reappointed as Chief Commissioner and chief executive of the ATSB Commission for a further 5 years.
Mr Miller brings more than 50 years' experience in aviation to the role, including as Fleet Captain of Qantas, adding first-hand experience in complex airline operations and the leadership of large multi-crew environments to the bureau. He also has a background chairing critical safety and operational committees, along with significant experience in safety systems and investigations.
Mr Miller's appointment fills the vacancy left by former Commissioner Peter Wilson.
As Chief Commissioner, Mr Mitchell has overseen a number of significant and high-profile investigations, as well as a period of expansion in the volume and accessibility of safety information available through the ATSB.
The ATSB Commission is made up of 4 members: the Chief Commissioner and 3 commissioners with expertise relevant to the ATSB's functions across the maritime, aviation and rail transport modes.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King welcomed both appointments.
'I'm delighted to welcome James Miller as a Commissioner of the ATSB, and to extend our Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell for another 5 years,' Ms King says. 'The bureau will be bolstered by Mr Miller's appointment, owing to his half-a-century career in aviation.'
'Angus Mitchell has promoted a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration essential to the operations of the bureau. I am deeply appreciative that he has agreed to serve as Chief Commissioner for a further 5 years,' she says.
'These appointments ensure the ATSB is supported by the most capable and reliable hands, at a time that the nation's travel, freight and logistics sectors are moving at an unprecedented pace,' Ms King says.