Our Leadership Team

Clair joined CAAi in 2011 and was appointed to the position of Head of Operations in January 2023. Clair leads the Business Services team, responsible for the continuous improvement of our processes and procedures in line with our BSI 9001:2015 accreditation. Clair has 24 years of experience in aviation, with a background in Ground Handling and Airlines Operations, before joining CAAi, where she has project managed our large Capacity Building projects, working to improve safety standards with Regulators and Aviation bodies globally.

Maria joined CAAi in 2011 and was appointed to the position of Managing Director in 2015. Maria is responsible for setting the long-term strategic vision for CAAi and establishing and maintaining senior stakeholder engagement and key partnerships. Maria has over 23 years of experience in the aviation sector and holds MSc in Airports and Air Navigation Services as well as BSc in Aeronautical Engineering.

 

Matthew joined the CAAi in 2009 and was appointed Head of International Operations for the Middle East, Africa and Americas in 2018. Matthew leads a multidisciplinary technical assistance and project management team across CAAi’s delivery function for some of the strategically significant regions for the UK CAA. He is also responsible for international examination and licensing services. Matthew has 19 years’ experience working in the aviation industry, including to Chief Executive and Board level, and holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree from the Oxford Brookes University.

Rob joined CAAi in 2011 and became Head of International Operations for the Asia Pacific region in 2017 responsible for our Programme Delivery. Rob has vast aviation operational and commercial experience with 17 years at BAA plc covering London’s South-East Airports. Rob has a Bachelor Honours Degree of Valuation and Estate Management from the University of West of England and maintains his professional qualification as a Chartered Surveyor.

Richard Joined CAAi in 2010 and became Head of Technical Resource in 2021, responsible for the management and delivery of the technical services across regulatory domains. Richard is an aviation professional with more than 25 years working for the UK CAA and CAAi. Richard has extensive experience in working with major UK and European aerospace companies. Having very strong account manager skills in business development, bid preparation and contracts, he developed a solid know-how in project management, delivering to agreed targets and budgets. Also experienced in coordinating commercial and purchasing teams. From 2006 he was the Senior Project Manager responsible for the outsourced EASA framework contracts that include the provision of certification services and consultancy services in support of international technical cooperation activities.

Silke Buckley is the Head of Training for International Operations Training at Civil Aviation Authority – CAA International.

Silke Joined CAAI in 2013 and became Head of Training in 2023  responsible for the strategic development and delivery of the CAAI Training Portfolio. Silke has extensive experience in the development of Learning Management Systems and Learning technology and has over 20 years of experience in the active application of adult learning principles, learning design techniques and innovative Learning solutions. Silke has a Masters and BA Degree in Business Studies from the University of Brighton.

Managing Insider Risks
Threat Image Projection – Implementation and Analysis
Introduction to Security Culture
Introduction to Human Factors in Aviation Security

Kevin has 18 years of experience working in regulatory roles in the transport sector. Kevin has been working for the UK CAA since 2014, primarily in Aviation Security regulation but also in General Aviation and most recently as aviation security lead in CAAi. Prior to joining the UK CAA, Kevin spent 12 years with the Department for Transport in a variety of security-related roles ranging from compliance, policy, strategy and head of personnel security and vetting. Kevin has significant experience of working on a number of high-profile security events and policies both domestically and internationally with a focus on risk management. Kevin has an MSc in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management.