John Fenwick

Chair

BA, MBA, GAICD

John chairs the company’s Nominations, Remuneration and Governance and is a member of the Strategy Committee, Audit & Risk Committee and the Finance Committee.  John was a member of the Australia Army for over 33 years, having recently retired in 2021.  John’s most recent role prior to retirement from the Army was as Director General Army Aviation where he was responsible for the management and development of the Army’s aviation personnel, airworthiness systems and fleet of aircraft. John has extensive skills and experience in aviation, leadership, governance and risk.

Alan Ross Taggart

B.COMM, FCPA

Ross chairs the Finance Committee, and is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee, the Strategy Committee and the Nominations, Remuneration & Governance Committee. Ross retired as a local accountant of Hamilton Taggart Business Advisors in 2022. Ross has been a partner of a Newcastle based accountancy practice for 38 years.  Ross joined the Board in 2010, is a Life Member of Merewether SLSC and a very active supporter of many local business and community initiatives.

Katie Brassil

GAICD

Katie joined the Board in 2011, is the Chair of the Company’s Marketing Committee and Hunter Regional Advisory Committee and is a member of the Nominations, Remuneration and Governance Committee and the Strategy Committee. At the end of 2021, after 15 years, Katie finished as a senior executive in the mining industry. Katie has extensive experience in the private sector and all three tiers of government, including over 20 years in elected and governance positions. She has demonstrated leadership and specialist skills in economic development, strategic planning and management, stakeholder engagement and consultations and public and government relations.

Peter Duncan

AM – IP, FIPAA, MAICD, COMPLEA

Peter joined the Board in 2017.  He is the Chairman of the Northern Regional Advisory Committee and is also a member of the Strategy Committee.  Peter has a strong record of achievement in a number of fields, including infrastructure, transport, forestry and resource management. He held several senior executive positions during his 40 years in the NSW public service, including as Chief Executive of Roads and Maritime Services.  Peter is an experienced designer, project manager and consultant on major projects.

Nat McGregor

B.COMM, CPA, MBA, DIP FINANCIAL SERVICES, GAICD

Nat joined the Board in May 2017. Nat is the Chief Operating Officer at the Black Dog Institute and prior to this was the Chief Operating Officer of the Garvan Institute, preceded by the University of Newcastle. In these roles he has overall organisational responsibilities for the following functions: finance and commercial services’ governance, legal, risk, audit and compliance; infrastructure and facilities services; IT services; strategy planning and performance; business development and innovation; people and culture and human resource management. Nat holds a Bachelor of Commerce (University of Newcastle), is CPA qualified, an MBA from Deakin University and is an alumni of both INSEAD and Columbia University business schools.

John Davis BA LLB

BA LLB

John was Chairman of the Board from May 2017 to September 2023. He has been a Director since 2015. John is the Chair of the Strategy Committee and is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee. John was a Partner of Sparke Helmore Lawyers from 1978 until his retirement in 2012, and was the firm’s National Managing Partner (CEO) from 2004 to 2009, providing advice to government and private organisations in fields including procurement and contracting; planning and environmental services; and commercial property.

Kevin Humphries

Kevin joined the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Board in 2023. He currently is the Chair of the New England North West Regional Advisory Committee. Initially starting his career in education, Kevin taught and held Principal positions for twenty years across rural NSW and Tasmania. Following a period of self employment in the consultancy and project management industry Kevin entered State Parliament in 2007 as the Member for Barwon. Based in Moree, Kevin held Ministerial portfolio positions in Health, Land, Water and Western NSW.

Shane Thompson

Shane joined the Board in 2019 and is also a member of the Finance Committee.  Shane started working in the mining industry in 1977, and has worked at Wambo Underground, Camberwell Open-Cut and CHPP mines up to 2010. During this time Shane was elected to the CFMEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy District Board of Management. He is the current Northern District Secretary for the MEU.

Darren Moncrieff

Darren joined the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Board in 2024. Darren is currently a shareholder and board chair for an aviation company in PNG supplying fixed wing FIFO services. Prior to this he was the Managing Director for Babcock Australia’s Aviation Rotary Wing business responsible for onshore aeromedical, surveillance and offshore business supporting the oil & gas industry. Darren spent 10 years in Managing Director roles with Cobham Aviation Services, he led 2 of the major business units in Australia and the United Kingdom, responsible for FIFO Jet Charter services, Maritime Surveillance (Australian Border Force), Search and Rescue Services (AMSA) and delivering Electronic warfare training services for The Royal Air Force and The Royal Navy based in the UK. Darren has extensive domestic and international exposure setting strategy, leading and growing businesses, commercial negotiations, operations, governance and risk management, financial management, and aviation accountable manager roles – all aimed at delivering safe and compliant services to customers and communities. Darren is a member of the Company’s  Audit and Risk Committee and Strategy Committee, is a Member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and a Graduate of University Adelaide’s Professional Management Program.