LifeFlight CEO Ashley van de Velde OAM has been honoured with a prestigious award recognising his four decades of service in aeromedicine.
Mr van de Velde was named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Social Impact category at a gala event held in Sydney last night.
Mr van de Velde has overseen the growth of the organisation from a small community rescue service into a vertically integrated charitable organisation with a 21-strong fleet of helicopters and four long range air ambulance jets.
Under his leadership, LifeFlight has championed the ‘doctor first’ aeromedical retrieval model, which places critical care specialists on every mission and now employs more than 400 staff.
Mr van de Velde said he was humbled to receive the award, which recognised his commitment to improving community healthcare outcomes, especially in remote and regional areas.
“It’s an honour to be recognised with this prestigious award I accept it on behalf of our dedicated teams right across the organisation and the thousands of people we airlift in time of need,” he said.
“We believe providing the vehicles like the helicopters and jets are great, but unless you have got those medical teams onboard that actually make the difference, it’s just another air service.
“The most valuable lesson I think we’ve learned is to remain humble within the business – walk the talk. We just do the job and make sure we do it well.”
Mr van de Velde began his aeromedical career with the Gold Coast Helicopter Rescue Service – one of LifeFlight’s earlier incarnations – as a volunteer aircrewman in 1981.
In FY25 LifeFlight’s medical teams, helicopter and jet fleets helped 8,497 people – 3.9 per cent higher than the previous year.
The organisation also embarked on new base builds at Mt Isa and the Sunshine Coast, welcomed three new AW139 helicopters to its fleet, and inked a $250 million partnership with Italian aircraft manufacturer Leonardo.
EY Regional Markets Leader, Oceania, Selina Short, said the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program highlighted the success of individual entrepreneurs, while underscoring the critical role entrepreneurs play in driving economic and social prosperity.
“As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we are reminded of the transformative impact that these leaders have on their communities and the Australian economy as a whole,” she said.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards shine a spotlight on entrepreneurs who create businesses that address the most complex challenges and build a better working world.
