Board of Trustees
Kirsten Riensema MSC, FRaeS
Kirsten has over 25 years’ experience in both the operational and regulatory areas of aviation, including safety and risk management. She started her career with British Airways, as a station duty manager and dispatcher in Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta and London Heathrow before joining the UK Civil Aviation Authority in 2005. She headed up the Aerodrome and Air Traffic Standards Division, responsible for setting policy and providing effective, risk-based and proportionate oversight to aerodrome and ATS providers and their related activities.
Kirsten served as member of the ICAO Air Navigation Commission from 2015-2018, including as the First Vice President and the alternate Council Member for the United Kingdom on the ICAO Council. This enabled her to have a good appreciation and understanding of the inter-dependencies within the aviation system. Since her return she has been the Head of Strategic Relationships in the CAA’s International Group.
Captain Ed Pooley
Ed spent over 30 years as an airline pilot ending up at British Airways after much time in the independent sector. As a young co-pilot, he was an active light aircraft instructor. After becoming a line and later a Training Captain, he then led the implementation of integrated and independent oversight of operational safety and accident/serious incident investigation at the British Regional Air Lines Group as it expanded to a 100-aircraft operation in the 1990s. He continued in this role whilst continuing to fly until taking early retirement during re-organisation at British Airways.
Since then, he has set up and led a small consultancy business which has carried out work for clients in Europe and around the world. He has been a presenter at leading safety conferences for almost 20 years and remains active in various pro-bono activities relating to aviation safety.
Crispin Orr
Crispin joined the AAIB as Chief Inspector in January 2017 following a career in the Army including senior appointments as an Aviation Commander, Commanding Officer of the Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron and as Head of Military Air Accident Investigation Branch. In 2015, he established and was the first Head of the Defence Accident Investigation Branch.
Crispin has an engineering degree from Durham University and an MSc in Defence Technology from Cranfield University, as well as post graduate qualifications in Safety and Accident Investigation. He is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
Alastair Muir
Alastair was appointed Safety Director for NATS in April 2018 and is accountable for the provision and oversight of safety and human performance in NATS he also has the executive lead for drone integration within NATS.
Alastair is an engineer by background with over 30 years of experience in air traffic management with the vast majority of the time holding safety accountability across centre operations, airport operations and engineering. Prior to his current post, Alastair led the northern UK and north Atlantic operations and previously led NATS engagement with the European Commission on single European Sky Legislation.
He currently holds the Chairmanship of the United Nations International Civil Organisation (ICAO) North Atlantic implementation group and has held similar positions within Euro control.
Captain Andrew Moll OBE
Andrew joined the Royal Navy in 1978 as a seaman officer and initially specialised as a Fighter Controller. He served in this capacity in HMS COVENTRY from 1981 until the ship’s loss in May 1982, during the Falklands Conflict. Thereafter, Andrew’s naval career was largely sea-going as both a surface and anti-air warfare specialist in destroyers and aircraft carriers. His commands included: the fast patrol boat SNV AL FULK, while on loan to the Omani Navy during the later stages of the Iran-Iraq war; the Type 42 destroyer, HMS YORK, again in the Gulf and on counter-narcotics operations; and, the Type 22 frigate, HMS CHATHAM, leading NATO’s squadron in the Mediterranean and patrolling the Baltic.
He was staff trained at the Joint Services Defence College, Greenwich, and completed two appointments in the Ministry of Defence: the first in the Directorate of Naval Operations, and the second as the Secretary to the Chiefs of Staff Committee, covering the period of the 2003 Iraq war.
Andrew joined the Marine Accident Investigation Branch in January 2005 as a Principal Inspector in charge of one the Branch’s four investigation teams. He assumed the post of Deputy Chief Inspector in September 2010 and was appointed as the Branch’s Chief Inspector in October 2018.
Away from work, true to form, Andrew’s activities involve boating. He is an RYA Powerboat Trainer and Yachtmaster; a Younger Brethren of Trinity House, and the Chairman of Trustees for Southampton Sea Cadets.
Stella Macaskill
Stella’s career has been spent working in healthcare. First in the NHS and then for the Royal College of Pathologists. As Director of Educational and Professional Standards she was responsible for postgraduate pathology training, examination and work placed based assessment, continuing professional development and clinical audit. More recently, as Director of Professionalism her role expanded to include delivering research to influence national workforce planning, publishing accredited clinical guidelines, quality improvement and patient safety.
She designed and delivered pathology invited service reviews for NHS employers and implemented Disciplinary Regulations for her employer. Human factors were the common theme linking this to her patient safety and quality agenda. She has undertaken commissioned review work for the Care Quality Commission following a high-profile recall of cancer patients and an Independent Inquiry.
Her board experience includes membership of the Trustee Board and Council of the Royal College of Pathologists. She was a Trustee at a London Academy school between 2016-2019. She chaired the Business, Audit, Personnel and Finance Committee and sat on Independent Review Panels.
Stella is a lay representative for Health Education England. HEE are responsible for the quality of postgraduate medical and dental education across England.
Stella volunteers at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. She began in April 2020 to support staff and patients during the pandemic. She is still there now taking a lead role in recruiting the next generation of volunteers. She recently won a Trust award for her contribution.
She has a Degree in Biology, a Masters in Healthcare Education and Evaluation and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management. She is developing a portfolio career.
John Lloyd
Captain John Lloyd was appointed Chief Executive of The Nautical Institute in May 2017 having previously been Chief Operating Officer. In this role he was responsible for the Certification and Accreditation services including the Dynamic Positioning scheme and Oil Spill Response training programmes.
At the Nautical Institute he has pioneered a range of professional development short courses for the maritime community, led developments enhancing membership benefits globally in collaboration with KVH Videotel and developed specialist qualifications for the renewable energy sector.
Prior to joining the NI, John was Professor, Maritime Training at the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in charge of the international pathways for students and for delivery of Advanced level maritime simulation courses. In 2014 he inaugurated a new maritime college in Angola following a two-year development programme.
Prior to this he held appointments as: Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu Maritime College in Santo, Vanuatu; and senior posts at Flagship Training Limited and Warsash Maritime Centre.
John is a Master Mariner and served as a Marine Pilot in Namibia from 1994 – 1995. He is a Master of Business Administration and an Adjunct Professor in the University of Tasmania, a Freeman of the (UK) Honourable Company of Master Mariners and a Younger Brother of Trinity House.
John is married with 2 grown-up children who live in Australia.
Captain Jerry Kinder
Jerry was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1982 as a general duties officer. He was a pilot flying the Canberra, Hawk, Phantom and Tornado F3 aircraft. While serving he received 2 Green Endorsements. In 2000, having qualified for his ATPL, he ‘retired’ from active service and joined Airtours as a first officer. In 2005 he moved to Virgin Atlantic, where he flies the Boeing 787.
Away from flying, Jerry has extensive board experience, with expertise in change management, structural re-organization, and effective industrial relations. He took on the role of Chair of Governors of a large secondary school during a period of industrial dispute and a subsequent restructuring. He also served on a local authority as a Parent Governor Representative. Since then, he has been a trustee for one pension scheme and is currently a trustee for another. He is Chair of Directors for a small residential property company. He was Vice Chair of the pilot Company Council at Virgin Atlantic, again during a period of industrial unrest and subsequent, successful, restructuring; and later went on to serve 6 years on the National Executive of the pilots’ union, BALPA. He now as a member of, and advisor to, their Legal Committee.
He is a strong believer in the ‘Just Culture’, and in using the principles of human factors and threat error management to enable individuals and organisations to deliver of their best.
Kathryn Jones MSc
Kathryn has worked in aviation since 1989 in operations, human factors and safety management system roles. Her experience includes: working for an airline in all aspects of operations, including as a ramp agent; as a CAA inspecting officer; and as Head of Scheduling for a pilots union. She returned to the CAA in 2008, and has worked within the Safety and Airspace Regulation Group in a variety of roles, including developing operational policy and supporting the delivery of CAA initiates on safety management systems, safety reporting and horizon scanning. She leads the CAA’s Human Factors Programme of internal and external external activities.
Kathryn has worked extensively interantionally including, as both a member and chair of various EASA flight time limitations rulemaking groups and has been part ICAO’s Fatigue Risk Management expert group since 2009. She is a member of ICAO’s Human Performance Task Force which developed Doc.10151, the ICAO Human Performance Manual for Regulators. This manual developed five key human performance principles for regulators and how they should be applied within regulatory devleopment, approval and oversight. It also introduces some key safety mangement approaches including systems thinking and human centred design.
Kathryn holds an Masters in Air Safety Management.
Ryan Hall
Ryan became a Harbourmaster at the Port of London Authority (PLA) in December 2020 where he is responsible for navigational safety and stakeholder engagement across the tidal Thames. Ryan’s sea-going career began in the Royal Navy with deployments in HMS ECHO, Fishery Protection Officer in HMS TYNE and partaking in a foreign exchange programme with the Federal German Navy where he navigated FGS KOELN for four years, including back to back deployments for anti-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean.
Ryan left the Royal Navy to start life afresh in London and was lucky enough to launch the first virtual showroom for Audi UK in Mayfair, London before moving to City Cruises as head of operations. At City Cruises Ryan oversaw the successful growth and launch of the new vessel Millennium Diamond as well as starting operations in Poole, Dorset.
His career in the port industry took shape when Ryan joined the PLA as Deputy Harbourmaster Upper in 2013, where he was responsible for large events in central London including the annual Universities Boatrace, New Year’s Eve Fireworks and the Hollywood spectacular Spectre.
After starting a family, Ryan re-located to the south coast where he became Pilotage Manager and Deputy Harbourmaster at Southampton, it was here that he managed a team of 70 marine pilots and pilot launch crews and over saw the introduction of a new pilot station in Gosport and a new pilot training scheme including simulation and utilisation of technology to improve the pilotage experience.
Ryan now lives in Godalming, Surrey with his wife and daughter after re-locating back from the South coast. When at home he enjoys running along the river Wey, cycling and all activities that an active four-year-old daughter bring to life.
Commander Mike Cripps MEng MBA CEng MIMechE RN
Mike Cripps is a Royal Navy Air Engineer Officer with broad experience of delivering of maritime aviation capability, currently working within the Military Aviation Authority.
He has experience of operating aircraft from several Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships during front-line appointments. Beyond the front-line, Mike has worked within the MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation, both in acquisition roles, and as an Engineering Authority where he held Type Airworthiness Authority for all Avionic and Weapon systems on the UK’s Merlin helicopters. He’s worked within the Royal Navy’s Strategic Headquarters getting to grips with the financial realities of aviation support and spent 3 years in Canada as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 12 Wing Air Maintenance Squadron.
Mike graduated from Cranfield University’s Executive MBA in 2019 and has been a Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Chartered engineer since 2010.
Ruth Kaufman OBE, FORS, FIMA, CSci
Chair of Trustees
Ruth graduated with a BA in Maths with Social Sciences from the University of Sussex and worked in Operational Research (OR) and other management functions in London Transport and the London Electricity before joining the Department of Health as an OR team leader. She moved on to lead the OR Group at the UK Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) and was Chair of the Government OR Service for two years. Before retiring from government in 2008, she was a member of ECGD’s Executive Board, as Head of Strategy, Change and OR.
Her charity board experience includes five years as Chair of Woman’s Trust, 10 years on the board of the Operational Research Society including two years as its President, external advisory to the Finance Committee of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. She is currently a trustee of two other charities (Science Council and Humanists UK), and chair of the OR Society’s Pro Bono OR steering group. She received an OBE for services to OR in December 2015.
Ruth took over as Chair of CHIRP Trustees in October 2020.