Chris is currently Director of Flight Operations (DFO) at Cathay Pacific and a member of the IATA Operations Advisory Council. He commenced his aviation career in 1980, graduating as a fighter pilot in the South African Air Force. He enjoyed a brief interlude in corporate aviation before starting his airline career in South African Airways in 1987. He has spent the past 31 years in Cathay Pacific where he has flown the Boeing 747 as well as the A330, A340 and A350 Airbus types. Chris is a Senior Training Captain, IRE/TRE, and holds an MSc in Air Transport Management. During his 20 years in operations management he has held roles in flying training, as Chief Pilot of the company’s Airbus fleet and as General Manager Flying, with oversight of fleet operations and pilot training. He has been DFO since July 2018 and, having dealt with the exceptional challenges of COVID, Chris and his team are now focused on growing and advancing Cathay’s pilot workforce, while making increased use of digital technology to enhance efficiency and support sustainable operations.