ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Aviation Industry Panel Discussion Series
Thursday | 30 October 2025 | 5.30PM-8.00PM | Colombo Theatre A, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney
Beyond Pilot Error: The Science vs. Experience Debate in Modern Aircraft Incident Investigation
What skillset is essential for an air incident investigator?Â
This topic directly addresses current industry debates about what makes a good air incident (including accidents) investigator, while offering practical insights for improving aviation safety through better investigation practices.
This panel will explore the fundamental tension between traditional aviation expertise and scientific methodology in incident investigation. The discussion will examine whether investigators should primarily be experienced pilots who understand operational realities, or whether scientific training and critical thinking skills are more valuable for uncovering systemic safety issues. Â
Current debates in the aviation industry regarding the ideal air incident investigator revolve around the balance between technical expertise, investigative experience, and human factors and system safety awareness. While strong technical knowledge of aircraft systems is crucial, there's growing recognition of the need for investigators skilled in understanding human behaviour, organisational culture, and systemic issues that contribute to air incidents.
Join us for a meaningful discussion about the skillset required for a good air incident investigator.
Tuesday | 30 September 2025 | 5.30PM-8.00PM |Â Rydges Sydney Airport (Dreamliner Rooftop Room)
Connecting Sydney: The Two-Airport City Challenge
Is Sydney ready for a two-airport city and what does that really mean for passengers, businesses and the broader economy?
Sydney is on the verge of a major aviation transformation. With Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird-Walton) Airport set to open in 2026, the city will soon operate as a two-airport metropolis. But what does that really mean for passengers, businesses, and the broader economy?
Western Sydney is now Australia’s third-largest economy, with its population set to grow to around three million by the 2030s. With air travel demand set to double over the next 20 years, Western Sydney Airport promises to unlock new opportunities in transport, business, and tourism. But delivering on that vision will require careful planning and collaboration.
Join leading industry experts as they explore how the two airports will work together, whether public transport can keep pace with 24/7 operations, and how Western Sydney can secure the economic and tourism benefits of this shift.
This is a must-attend event for anyone interested in Sydney’s future as a global transport and business hub. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on one of the biggest infrastructure shifts of the century.
Thursday | 20 June 2024 | 5.30PM-8PM | Colombo Theatre A, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney
Sustainability in Aviation – Net Zero 2050 #Is it Possible?
The aviation industry is currently working on best practice measures to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This commitment aligns with the Paris Agreement goal for limiting global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.
How realistic is this target for aviation? How viable is the current road map to achieve this goal?
Our expert panel will discuss the challenges around SAF production, scaling, hydrogen as an alternate fuel source, infrastructure and supply chains, and the need for industry stakeholders to capture data and accurately model carbon emissions throughout the entire fuel lifecycle.
Thursday | 09 November 2023 | 5.30PM-8PM | Colombo Theatre A, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney
Aviation Green Paper: What has it got right? What has it missed?
The Federal Government’s , which includes emerging technology, marks an important stage in developing the Aviation White Paper, which will set the policy direction for the aviation sector to 2050. What has it got right? What has it missed?
This ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Aviation Industry Panel discussion brings together experts from across aviation’s regulatory, educational, operational and consultancy sectors to discuss the wins and losses in the government’s Green Paper, and what is needed for the White Paper to be an effective instrument for policy direction for the aviation sector to 2050.
Topics covered include stronger consumer protections, improved complaint handling processes, improved accessibility for consumers living with disability, improved sustainability targets, access to affordable air services, how to leverage economic shifts for the benefit of Australia’s regions, how to maintain world leading safety and security standards, and how to provide secure jobs now and in the future.Â
Thursday | 27 July 2023 | 5.30PM-8PM
How can a just culture be improved to facilitate advances in aviation safety?
The aviation industry as a whole, broadly accepts the premise ‘to err is human’. In western based countries, this has resulted in the industry advocating a system of safety that divorces human error from accountability. This is more widely known as a ‘just culture’, where the overarching principle is to treat people fairly if they make mistakes, even if the mistakes lead to negative outcomes. Such a perspective on human error is reflected more broadly in the shift from Safety-I, where the focus was understanding what went wrong, to Safety-II, where the focus is on understanding the system’s ability to succeed.
It can be argued, however, that this shift and focus is problematic, neglecting fundamental principles associated with human behaviour. Humans are central to the success and failure of all systems. Having a detailed understanding of why humans err, will ultimately result in improvements in safety. Such knowledge does not and should not be at odds with a mature safety system, where the focus is on improvements and not retribution. Therefore, this panel will discuss the latest research about human error, the link between motivation, punishment, reward and human error, and a retributive vs. a just safety culture.Â
