ACOG Steering Committee
ACOG’s work is overseen formally by a Steering Committee responsible for oversight, direction, and assurance. The Committee comprises an independent Chair and members, alongside senior subject matter experts drawn from across the aviation sector.
The ACOG Steering Committee provides constructive challenge, strategic guidance, and specialist advice to support the delivery of ACOG’s objectives and reports on ACOG’s progress to the Civil Aviation Authority, the Department for Transport and ultimately the Secretary of State for Transport.
ACOG’s Steering Committee meet 6 times a year to discuss key issues relating to the national airspace change programme, including the development of the Airspace Masterplans. A summary from the Steering Committee meetings can be found at the bottom of this page.
Members
Sir Timo Anderson – Chair
Initially plying his trade as a fighter pilot, Sir Timo enjoyed a full career in the Royal Air Force, including operational service and senior command appointments. He architected RAF strategy as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in the MOD and at that time was also a non-executive director on the CAA Board, sharing co-responsibility for the UK’s ‘joint and integrated’ airspace policy. He retired from the RAF having established and led the UK Military Aviation Authority, the world’s first fully integrated military aviation regulator with responsibility for regulating military air operations, organisational approvals, safety assurance and accident investigation across the UK Services and Defence industry sector. In his subsequent civilian career, Sir Timo has been called upon to provide advice and support at senior executive and Board level for major international businesses and was COO for what was at the time Europe’s largest regional airline.
Karen Dee – Chief Executive, AOA
Karen Dee joined the AOA as Chief Executive on 1 March 2017. Karen has more than 20 years’ experience in policy development, communications, and representation activities within the transport sector. Her career has incorporated roles in government, consultancy and trade associations including: the Department for Transport, Market Access, the Road Haulage Association, CBI, Policy Solutions and more recently, the Freight Transport Association where she worked as Director of Policy for six years.
Trevor Didcock – Senior Independent Director, Affinity Water
Trevor is an experienced Board member and executive with a career that spans a range of sectors from aviation, water and automotive services to financial services and consumer packaged goods. He is Senior Independent Director at Affinity Water; is a non-executive on the Board of Futurice, a digital engineering and innovation consultancy, and chairs the UK business; and has supported the Civil Aviation Authority in its transformation programme over the last 9 years.
Kathryn Leahy – Chief Operations Officer, NATS
Kathryn was appointed Chief Operations Officer of NATS in October 2023. Previously Kathryn was Director of Operations, Heathrow, for airside and airfield operations with day-to-day responsibility for the airport operations centre, resilience and emergency planning.
Kathryn’s aviation career began in 1997 at Virgin Atlantic Airways, where she went on to spend 13 years focusing on risk, safety management and audit. In 2010, she joined BAA at Heathrow and moved quickly into her first operational role as Director of Terminal 3.
David Morgan – Chief Operating Officer, easyJet
Captain David Morgan is easyJet’s Director of Flight Operations, having joined as Chief Pilot in 2016. He is responsible for one of Europe’s busiest and largest airline operations with 330 aircraft on 1061 routes across 34 countries. Previously David worked as Chief Flight Operations Officer at Wizz Air. More recently, David is leading the work to look at how technology and future generation aircraft will help easyJet on its path to being a carbon, net zero airline.
Patrick Naegeli – Vice President, British Gliding Association
Patrick Naegeli joined the ACOG Steering Committee in March 2020 as one of two general aviation subject matter experts. He has been closely involved in the governance, administration and representation of sporting and general aviation in the UK and internationally for more than 25 years, and has held a number of senior voluntary roles, including the Chairman of the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom and President of the European Gliding Union. Patrick is an active, instrument qualified private pilot, flying both light aircraft and sailplanes.
Julian Scarfe – Director, PPL/IR Europe
Julian Scarfe is a general aviation pilot who flies a light aeroplane for business and leisure. His career has been outside aviation, helping to run an innovation consultancy, Innovia Technology Ltd, based in Cambridge. Through his roles in PPL/IR Europe and Europe Air Sports, he has been involved in development of aviation safety regulation, working with EASA and the UK CAA, for more than a decade.
Simon Scholey – Head of Flight Technical, British Airways
Simon’s career in British Airways started in 1989 as a cadet pilot, having initially trained at the BAe Flying College in Prestwick, Scotland. Since then, he has flown various Boeing and Airbus aircrafts before becoming a Training Captain in 2004 and entering Management in 2005. Here he was responsible for the introduction of the B787, A350 and A380 aircraft, the transition to EASA Ops (and back out again!) and the introduction of the Electronic Flight Bag. He has also been appointed to represent IATA airlines on the UK Future Airspace Strategy (FAS) programme.
Steering Committee Meeting Summaries
Summaries of each of the Steering Committee Meetings can be found below:
