I started my working life as a Fighter Pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force, flying the F/A 18. It was a culture that demanded very high standards while accepting that perfection is theoretical. Learning, honest feedback, and incremental improvement were genuinely valued. That ethos has stayed with me throughout my career and continues to shape how I think about leadership, performance, and improvement today even if I occasionally miss the view from the office.
That early exposure to high standards and continuous improvement still influences how I approach my work. In my current roles as a Director of Skildare, Managing Director of Skildare Defence and Patron Defence, I am motivated to look for better ways of working, make thoughtful use of technology, and learn from best practice wherever it can be found. I also co founded and led a not for profit charity for nine years, an experience that quietly shaped my views on sustainability, governance, and building organisations that endure. Most recently, the acquisition of Molly Morgan Vineyard with my wife Di has introduced a new industry and a new learning curve, reinforcing the value of adaptability and steady improvement over time.
Outside of work, I play golf with modest expectations and inconsistent results. I am also learning viticulture and the business of wine, which has extended my long standing interest in the weather from aviation into farming with similarly mixed results. I continue to fly a Cirrus SR22, primarily in support of Angel Flight missions, which keeps me connected to flying and occasionally rewards me with a better view than the vineyard offers.
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