IFALPA ASIA-PAC LEADERS

IFALPA

ASIA-PACIFIC LEADERS

Captain Anna Wakelin has been appointed as a regional vice-president (RVP) in the Asia-Pacific region (South of Pacific) for the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Association (IFALPA) .

She takes over from Captain David Griffin (New Zealand) and is the first woman to hold this senior position.

Originally from New Zealand, Captain Wakelin moved to Australia in 2006. She holds a master’s degree in aviation management, and is currently pursuing a law degree in Melbourne where she now lives.

Most recently Captain Wakelin was a captain on the Airbus A320 aircraft type with Tigerair, flying domestically within Australia.

At Tigerair she also worked as a flight operations safety officer assisting with internal safety investigations; and as a non-technical skills facilitator.

Before this she flew as a first officer on Fokker 50 aircraft with Alliance Airlines.

Captain Wakelin has also worked as a flight instructor in New Zealand, Fiji, and Australia, holding an A-category instructor rating in New Zealand and grade one instructor rating in Australia with aerobatic, instrument, and instructor training privileges. In addition to volunteering her time to IFALPA and the AFAP, other volunteer work has included flying for the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard Air Patrol, flight instruction at the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School, media liaison and safety officer for the Around New Zealand Air Race and Air Safari. and various roles within the Australian Women Pilots’ Association.

She was also elected to serve on the board of the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive, an international group backed by pilot and cabin crew unions and other interested parties, seeking solutions to improve the quality of aircraft cabin air.

With an interest in flight safety and human factors, Captain Wakelin also continues to work with the AFAP’s safety and technical team as a pilot representative.

“In taking on this new role at IFALPA, I look forward to further representing the interests of Australian and regional pilots in international forums through IFALPA,”

Pilots leading the Asia-Pacific region for IFALPA are: Capt Anna Wakelin (Australia) – RVP South of Pacific Capt Max Matsumoto (Japan) – RVP North of Pacific Capt Ron Hay (USA) – RVP US/Central East Pacific Capt Ishtiaque Hossain (Bangladesh) – Executive Vice President. Asia & Pacific Capt Farouk Zaheer (Malaysia) – RVP, Asia/East Capt Shavantha Pedris (Sri Lanka) – RVP, Asia/West

From left, IFALPA Asia-Pacific leaders Capt Max Matsumoto (Japan), Capt Anna Wakelin (Australia), Capt David Griffin (New Zealand), Capt Ron Hay (USA), Capt Ishtiaque Hossain (Bangladesh), Capt Farouk Zaheer(Malaysia) & Capt Shavantha Pedris (SriLanka) at the Global Pilots’ Symposium (26 May 2022).

AWARD

Capt Laurie Shaw

Captain Laurie Shaw has been awarded a Presidential Citation at the 67th International Federation of Airline Pilots Association (IFALPA) Conference.

Presented by IFALPA president Captain Jack Netskar in Singapore on 28 May, the award was made in appreciation of the outstanding contribution Captain Shaw has made to pilots through the Hong Kong Air Line Pilots’ Association, “most notably in bringing a cohesive Pilot Association Program (PAN). in concert with Cathay Pacific management, to the pilots of Hong Kong”. The citation went on to recognise that:

"The structure he created is enduring and resilient and will stand the test of time even as the industry struggles to recover from the global pandemic."

Captain Shaw has been actively involved in the aviation industry for 40 years, accumulating more than 23,000 hours of flying experience both domestically and internationally.

His commercial flying began in the Northern Territory flying Cessna 210s with his most recent position being a Senior Captain with Cathay Pacific Airways as an Airbus A350/A330 captain.

His airline experience includes flying for Ansett Airlines of Australia gaining experience on Fokker 50s, with Malaysia Airlines flying Fokker F50s and B737-200 before joining Cathay Pacific Airways on the B747-200 in 1995. He flew the B777 and B747-400 before obtaining his command on the A330 in 2003.

He also has a passion for improving health and wellbeing outcomes across the aviation industry.

Over the past ten years Captain Shaw has been actively involved with the global pilot profession in developing and evolving approaches to well-being. He was also instrumental in developing and implementing a mental health and wellbeing program - the Peer Assistance Network (PAN) - for the Cathay Pacific Airways pilot group.

Until very recently, he has been advising Virgin Australia on the establishment of its peer support program.

Captain Shaw was the founding Chairman of the HIMS Australia Advisory Group (HAAG) - a collaboration of stakeholders including CASA, the AFAP, airline/company management, along with aviation medicine and mental health professionals interested in establishing a transparent process for medical recertification for pilots afflicted with substance use disorders in Australia. As a standing member of IFALPA’s Human Performance (HUPER) Committee and the Pilot Assistance Working Group (PAWG), he also contributed to the development of the second edition of the IFALPA Pilot Assistance Manual (Substance Dependence section) which is intended to assist member associations such as the AFAP establish and enhance support programs to assist pilots.

A loyal AFAP (overseas category) member, Captain Shaw opted for redundancy when Cathay Pacific closed its Australian base in 2021 and has recently returned to flying with Fiji Airways as an A330/A350 captain.

IFALPA president Captain Jack Netskar (left) presents Captain Laurie Shaw with his award in Singapore on 28 May 2022.