Human Factors in Airport Operations

Laurence Graham is a seasoned aviation leader with more than 40 years’ experience in airline operations, management, safety, and organisational resilience.

A former Chief Standards Pilot and Senior Check Captain with South African Airways, he is qualified as a commander on Airbus and Boeing aircraft, including the Airbus A350, A340,

A330, and B747-400, among others. Across an airline career spanning 25,000 flight hours, he maintained an unblemished safety record while shaping future airline leaders and advancing operational standards.

Holding an Executive MBA from Henley Business School, University of Reading, Laurence combines deep operational insight with strategic business acumen. He has served as Director

of Professional Standards for a branch of the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) and, in recognition of his contribution to aviation, was elected a Fellow

of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) in 2020. Furthermore, Laurence holds qualifications in aviation assessment, assessment design, and moderation.

His expertise spans flight operations and management, where he set and upheld the highest standards of performance. He also brings extensive experience in leadership development, Safety Management Systems, and Business Continuity Management, applying the same discipline and precision that defined his airline career. Through his consultancy, he equips

aviation and corporate leaders to build strong safety cultures, make sound decisions under pressure, and lead effectively in high-reliability environments. Additionally, he now consults closely with Henley Business School–Africa in the fields of safety management and business continuity.

Laurence lectures in aviation human factors at university level and has developed numerous online and in-person training programmes. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to operational excellence, developing leaders of the future, and advancing safety and resilience across the global aviation industry.