SAFA Skysailor Magazine

24 SKY SAILOR September-October-November | SPRING 2026 pressure, while dealing with regulators, government, and a range of stakeholders. In one role, we had three different reg- ulators covering areas such as economic performance, environment, and health (drinking water standards). In others, the organisation itself had regulatory functions. The subject matter is different from aviation, but the broader policy and regulatory frameworks are very similar. Governance has been another consistent part of my career. I’ve served on boards and advisory committees, and I continue to sit on an external board. It keeps the brain sharp and gives you a different per- spective. In regulated environments, you learn to keep the context behind decisions. Years later, someone may come back in a legal or regulatory setting and ask why a particular decision was made. Having a clear record isn’t bureaucracy for its own sake; it’s good governance. What attracted you to the CEO role at SAFA, and what will shape the way you lead? I had been looking for work I felt genuinely passionate about again. Earlier parts of Meet SAFA’s CEO: Gavin Hanlon