Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Angus Mitchell has been appointed as the new Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, it was announced yesterday.
Mitchell will start on 2 September and replaces former Chief Commissioner Greg Hood, who retired at the end of June.
"As the incoming Chief Commissioner I am excited to bring my 30 years’ of professional experience to help the ATSB continue to evolve as a global leader in transport safety investigation, research and analysis, and influence the implementation of positive safety action,” Mitchell said.
“I have long admired and respected the quality and professionalism of the Bureau’s independent ‘no-blame’ investigation reports, and I am looking forward to helping ensure the ATSB continues as a world-leading best practice safety investigation agency which influences the national and international safety agenda.”
Mitchell has no aviation experience in his background, but former Qantas Chief Pilot and current AMDA Foundation Director Chris Manning remains on the ATSB commission.
Approximately 71% of all investigations handled by the ATSB are aviation accidents or incidents.