Air Vice Marshal (retd) Mark Skidmore AM is Chairman of the Board of Skykraft, Chairman of Seitec, non-executive Director of QinetiQ Australia, Director of Swift Aerospace Consulting and provides support to the RAAF Reserves. Mark is also a Fellow of the RAeS and a past President of the Australian Division.

Mark has more than 30 years’ experience in both civilian and military aviation. Mark had an outstanding military aviation career, beginning as a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force in the early 1980s. A qualified test pilot, he led RAAF research and development squadrons and was promoted to Australia’s Air Commander, holding oversight for Australia’s air operations, and reached the rank of Air Vice Marshal before retiring in 2012.

Mark has also worked in civilian aviation as Director of Aviation Safety and CEO, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and as a test pilot and business development manager. He has led large teams of operational, technical and administrative support staff providing leadership for operational, training and support functions. In 2007 Mark was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Director of the Coalition Combined Air Operations Centre in the Middle East Area of Operations. In 2010 Mark was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his exceptional service as the Air Commander Australia and in a range of other senior appointments. Today Mark is part of the general aviation community, owning and regularly flying a 1946 Globe Swift GC-1B aircraft and an ex-RAAF CT4A.