Get to know our Southpac facilitators
With some new faces in our training team (alongside the regular faces you already know), we wanted to share a little bit about each of our course facilitators. Find out about their aviation backgrounds and the unique experiences they bring to our Southpac courses!
Nathan Burkitt – Safety & Quality Facilitator
Nathan joined Southpac in 2021 to help us develop and deliver the brand new Managing Aviation Compliance Course. His diverse career experience has included Chief Pilot, Head of Flight Operations, Head of Training, Safety Manager and Quality & Compliance Manager for various major airlines, low-cost carriers, charter operators and corporate jet organisations.
However, Nathan’s list of volunteer experience is almost as long as his 25 year aviation career. In addition, He supports St John’s Ambulance Service as a first responder and trained paramedic, and over the summer weekends you’ll find him patrolling his local beach as a volunteer Surf Life Saver.
David Munns – Facilitator and Lead Auditor
David has been with Southpac for more than 6 years and in that time has guided hundreds of students through our Safety & Lead Auditors Course with an exceptional satisfaction rate. A licenced commercial pilot and helicopter pilot with over 30 years experience prior to joining Southpac, some of Dave’s career highlights include carrying out operational and depot level maintenance on UH-1 ‘Huey’ and Eurocopter ‘Squirrel’ helicopters as well as F/A-18 Hornets.
Meanwhile, outside of aviation, Dave loves his cars, and has a collection of tools, 3D printers and laser cutters – and an even bigger collection of his favourite tipple, Bundy Rum!
Wayne Martin – Safety & Human Factors Facilitator
Wayne has more letters after his name than the alphabet (BAvMan MAvMgmt MBus PhD FRAeS) and for good reason. As well as an illustrious 40+ year career as a pilot, trainer and safety investigator, Wayne has a PhD in Human Factors from Griffith University, and is widely known as a leader in the field. He founded the world-renowned PACDEFF Human Factors Conference which he ran in Sydney earlier this year, and will be held in Brisbane next year. It’s now the largest CRM and Aviation Human Factors Conference of its type in the world.
In between facilitating Southpac’s Safety Investigators Course, Aviation SMS courses and Human Factors courses, and developing bespoke training for our in-house course clients, Wayne also completed his Grad Cert in Safety Leadership this year.
Robert Russell – Director of Training & Development
As our Director of Training & Development, Rob is a passionate and highly experienced facilitator – as anyone who has been on Rob’s Systems for Continual Improvement or Advanced Management & Leadership courses can attest to. With a 20+ year career in aviation as an active crew member, airline Training Manager and a Human Factors specialist, one of Rob’s career highlights included flying Secret Service and White House staff in convoy with Air Force One when President Bill Clinton was the first American President to tour Vietnam since the Vietnam War.
Having flown all over the world, Rob returned to sunny Queensland to join the Southpac team 3 years ago. He will chase a wave anywhere, and has even been spotted surfing at Melbourne Airport! But if you’re looking for Rob on the weekend, chances are he’ll be at Straddie, paddling out or enjoying a beer at the surf club.
Tessa Stewart – Learning & Development Specialist
Joining Southpac in 2021, Tessa is our Learning & Development Specialist and has been busy overhauling our online training courses as part of the AVI50119 Diploma of Aviation (Aviation Management) In addition, She has been busily supporting the development of several new courses (coming soon!).
Tessa came to Southpac after 9 years at a major Australian airline where she held operational and training roles. It was here that she developed a passion for learning and development.
Outside of work, Tessa keeps busy with her young family and has been renovating a vintage caravan that will soon be ready to hit the road. She has also been known to whip up a mean batch of brownies for the Southpac office!
Annette James – ARO Training Facilitator
Annette is the co-creator of our new ARO Course. As an experienced aviation consultant specialising in aerodrome operations, she spends most of her time airside at various aerodromes around the country. Having come from the UK, Annette loves the opportunity to experience Australia’s remote and regional areas first-hand. Achieving her commercial pilot licence in 2004, Annette has had an exciting aviation career, including airborne survey, airport management and aerodrome technical inspection and training. She has a passion for training and aims to create a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment.
Having spent extended periods in some of the most remote parts of our beautiful country, Annette has developed a reputation as being a ‘crazy dog lady’ and can’t walk past a canine friend without stopping for a pat. When she is not working in aviation, Annette loves spending time at home with her own two rescue strays.
