Graham Edkins   
Manager Business Developement
Graham Edkins began working as a rail safety investigator for Westrail in 1993 and also managed the implementation of their proactive rail safety management program, based on “safety health indicator” programs (REVIEW and MESH) developed by Professor James Reason. Graham joined the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) in 1996, as a Senior Air Safety Investigator (Human Performance Specialist). He was involved in the investigation of several aircraft accidents and incidents within Australia and overseas. While at BASI, Graham was responsible for the development of the INDICATE proactive safety management program, and managed its trial and evaluation with Kendell airlines. Graham assisted a number of air operators with the implementation of INDICATE including the RFDS, Tamair and the Qantas Group of Regional Airlines. He also represented BASI, and later Qantas, in the development of CASA’s safety management system advisory and education material for passenger carrying operators.
 
 

Graham joined Qantas in 1997 as the Manager Aviation Psychology Services with the job of establishing a more effective Employee Assistance Program (EAP) across the Qantas Group and the development of a Critical Incident Stress Management program for aircrew. In 1998 he moved to the Qantas Corporate Safety Department as the Manager Flight Safety Investigation and later Manager Safety Education and Human Factors. He managed the development of Crew Resource Management (CRM) training initiatives for aircrew and its wider human factors application in other Qantas operational groups. He was appointed President of the Australian Aviation Psychology Association (AAvPA) and Vice Chair of the IATA Human Factors Working Group. Graham also managed the implementation of the first Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) program within Qantas Flight Operations, was the Chief Editor of the internationally regarded Qantas Flight Safety magazine and developed highly successful training courses in safety investigation, audit, systems compliance and governance.


After leaving Qantas in 2003, Graham was appointed Executive Director, Public Transport Safety Victoria (PTSV), responsible for the safety regulation of train, tram and bus services within the State. During his time at PTSV, Graham managed the development of new rail safety legislation for Victoria and the creation of an independent office for transport and marine safety investigations. Graham also represented Victoria in the development of model National Rail Safety Legislation and was the Chair of the National Rail Safety Regulators Panel. He was appointed to the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Waterfall rail accident as a human factors specialist and later Chair of the Safety Management Systems Expert Panel.


In 2005 Graham rejoined the aviation industry as Group General Manager Personnel Licensing, Education and Training for CASA. In this role he was responsible for the management of all personnel licensing functions, aviation medicine, aircraft registration and CASA's Aviation Safety Promotion branch, which consistently attracts positive feedback from the aviation industry for its wide range of education and promotion initiatives.


Graham has both Masters and PhD qualifications in Organisational Psychology and has published extensively in areas such as safety analysis, human factors training, accident investigation and system safety. He is the co-author of the book Innovation and Consolidation in Aviation, published by Ashgate in 2003 and Course Director of Human Factors in Safety Management, a self study distance learning course managed through Informa.
 

Graham has developed extensive knowledge / experience in the following areas:
   - Practical error management strategies
   - Applied and innovative human factors training programs
   - Investigation of incidents and accidents across a range of industries
   - Development and implementation of simple but effective safety management systems for      organisations
   - Compliance and surveillance activities including system and risk audits
   - Critical Incident Stress Management debriefing following traumatic incidents
   - Safety culture assessment and development
   - Safety Case development and evaluation
   - Safety leadership development and mentoring
   - Practical strategies to ensure safety governance and accountability