David R. Gault

Experience

• 

  Cathay Pacific Airways

  Apr 1995 - Feb 2004

  Leadership role in maintaining and monitoring the crisis management response throughout the global network. Interacted directly with high value corporate clients to ensure long-term loyalty and satisfaction.

  • Corporate Contingency Planner

    Jul 2001 - Feb 2004

  • Customer Relations Executive

    Apr 1995 - Jul 2001
• 

  Gulf Air

  Feb 2004 - Aug 2005

  Emergency Planning Manager

  Overall ownership of Emergency Response Planning for the Gulf Air global network ensuring the airline was in a constant state of readiness.

• 

  Kenyon International Emergency Services

  Sept 2005 - Jul 2009

  Regional Emergency Planning Manager - Asia Pacific

  Established the local corporate office, including business registration, compliance, site selection, and establishing a client base.🔹First responder for Kenyon at 2 mass fatality air crashes in Thailand and Indonesia, establishing on the ground logistics and ensuring repatriation of human remains.🔹Key emergency response resource within APAC providing support, guidance, and expert advice to airline clients.🔹Conducted Emergency Response training to a variety of organizations in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. Show less

• 

  Royal Bank of Scotland Business

  Apr 2010 - Dec 2010

  Business Continuity Manager, Security & Risk - International

  Short term contract to integrate business continuity plans as part of a significant corporate merger between ABN AMRO and RBS.🔹Key liaison point between both banks ensuring Business Continuity capability with internal and external compliance and governance.🔹Produced and maintained a range of compliant documentation, including Business Continuity Plans, Business Continuity Risk Assessments, Business Impact Analyses.🔹Led a global exercise on business continuity effectiveness involving +300 resources. Show less

• 

  CSC Information Technology Solutions Pty. Ltd

  Mar 2011 - Sept 2011

  Business Continuity Services Manager

  Short term contract to review, improve, and implement Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management plans with a leading insurance company in Asia-Pacific.

• 

  Hong Kong Airlines

  Sept 2011 - Feb 2017

  Manager, Corporate Crisis & Risk Management

  Strategic lead for crisis and risk management in the airline with 44 aircraft flying to 30+ destinations. 🔹Positioned in the Corporate Safety & Security Department.🔹Developed and implemented the airline’s first plans, protocols and procedures for Crisis and Risk Management aligned with the Corporate Safety Management System.🔹Provided professional expert and support for Executives and Senior Management in Crisis Management, Risk Management, Aviation Security, Crisis Communication, and Business Continuity.🔹Owner of the Crisis and Risk Management System ensuring local and international regulatory compliance and contributing to ICAO and IOSA audits and accreditations.🔹Controlled $100k annual budget from forecasting spend, developing business cases, to ongoing monitoring and providing regular financial reports. 🔹Designed and delivered all Emergency Response training programs and workshops from Senior Management to junior frontline resources.🔹Produced and maintained all Corporate Crisis and Risk assessments, registers and analyses.🔹Represented function across various committees and boards, including chairing Corporate Safety Risk Management Meetings and attending the Safety Review Board and Safety Action Group.🔹Developed, coordinated and led exercises and drills, including 3 Full-Scale Exercises involving live aircraft and crew (communicable diseases and simulated air crashes).🔹Key member of the airline's Bomb Threat Assessment Team.🔹Coordinated the response to a live bomb threat situation resulting in successfully landing the aircraft and managing all related decisions and communications.🔹Liaised with Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and Hong Kong Airport Authority on key regulatory issues. Show less

• 

  Oman Air

  Jul 2018 - Jun 2020

  Manager Emergency Response Planning

  Key operational emergency planning resource for an airline with 48 aircraft flying to/from +50 destinations. Covered for and represented Head of Department, including key decision-maker for serious events, and attending one-to-one meetings with COO.🔹Direct line management of a team of 5 emergency response practitioners from recruitment, onboarding, training to coaching and ongoing operational management.🔹Controlled $150k annual budget from forecasting spend, developing business cases, to ongoing monitoring and providing regular financial reports. 🔹Established collaborative strategic partnerships with other carriers developing and maintaining mutual support agreements. 🔹Continually reviewed and maintained the Company’s Emergency Response Plans for both aircraft and non-aircraft related emergencies and developed exercises and drills to assess readiness.🔹Devised and delivered training including 1:1 crisis management leadership training; a comprehensive induction and annual refresher program for 800 cabin crew; and training for international outstation teams.🔹Led procurement and tendering processes for all contracts and vendor agreements; purchased and implemented a Crisis Management Notification tool with a total contract value of $127k.🔹Coordinated emergency response planning across all international outstations considering local and international regulatory compliance.🔹Formulated the airline's strategic and operational response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and implemented virtual meetings and training.🔹Increased employee engagement with emergency and crisis planning by introducing a fortnightly newsletter. Show less

• 

  Riyadh Airports

  Apr 2021 - now

  Aerodrome Emergency Planning Senior Manager

  Senior emergency planning professional for the world’s 2nd largest airport in terms of size (375sq km) with 6 terminals and 37.5 million annual passengers. As the first person in a newly created role established an emergency planning programme and protocols across the whole airport.🔹Positioned in the Fire & Rescue Services Department of the Aerodrome Division at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA).🔹Conducted a complete review and gap analysis, creating an improvement program to upgrade emergency response infrastructure ensuring compliance with ICAO emergency response planning standards.🔹Developed and implemented all strategies and emergency response plans for airport infrastructure, staff resources and broader operations.🔹Key liaison with airlines and key stakeholders to understand their emergency preparedness and ensuring alignment with airport emergency plans and regulatory requirements (ICAO Annex 14 and Part 139).🔹Responsible for writing the Aerodrome Disabled Aircraft Recovery Plan.🔹Driving culture change in a traditionally reactive organization to transition to a more proactive approach focused on response rather than scenario-driven planning.🔹Responsible for the Aerodrome Emergency Plan and it's compliance with ICAO standards.🔹Establishing collaborative relationships with key stakeholders including airport resources, Government Ministries, airlines, military, ground handlers, medical responders, police and hospitals.🔹Expert advisor on emergency response planning for Senior Leadership, coordinating the Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) and representing function on other key high level airport committees.🔹Responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of Tabletop, Partial and Full-Scale Aerodrome Licensing Exercises.🔹Ensure coordination between the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and the Mobile Command Post (MCP) in times of activation.🔹Responsible for coordination of the recovery of a disabled aircraft at KKIA. Show less