LifeFlight is driven by the dedication of our respected leaders, whose influence extends broadly throughout the Queensland community and beyond.
They work tirelessly to champion our cause for equitable healthcare, ensuring the longevity of our services.
Hon. James (Jim) Elder, the former Deputy Premier of Queensland, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to LifeFlight.
Jim has served in a number of capacities at LifeFlight over the past 15 years and brings an abundance of government policy knowledge and experience. During more than 12 years of parliamentary service with the Queensland Government, Jim worked across portfolios in State Development and Trade, Transport, Health, Business, Industry and Regional Development, as well as Youth, Sport and Recreation.
As well as an integral knowledge of government policy, Jim specialises in business development and Government interaction with private sector initiatives. Through his career, Jim has created a solid record of business and project development achievements. Jim has also been instrumental in attracting a number of high profile businesses to Queensland.
Jim is currently the Non-Executive Director for Centurion Group of Companies, Non-Executive Director of Infinite Water, a Director of APIED Ltd Australia, a Director of British Borneo Petroleum Australia, Chairman of the Enhance Group, as well as Director of LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine Limited, Director of LifeFlight Commercial and a Director of LifeFlight.
Stewart Morland is a distinguished figure in the Australian Energy sector with more than 25 years’ experience. His journey began in the 1990s with pioneering work in the Eromanga Basin, positioning him at the forefront of Australia’s oil and gas industry.
Stewart played a key role in the evolution of the IOR Group, transforming it into one of Australia’s leading suppliers of fuels and storage systems for the coal seam and shale gas sectors. His company also operates an oil refinery in the Eromanga Basin and has established a network of unmanned refuelling stations across Australia.
Beyond energy, Stewart’s business interests span transport, aviation, marine charter and computer software and hardware development. His diverse expertise brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as a Non-Executive Director at LifeFlight.
Stewart’s dedication to philanthropy was evident during his seven-year tenure as Chairman of LifeFlight, beginning in 2006. Under his leadership, LifeFlight expanded and diversified significantly. He was instrumental in responding to community needs in South West Queensland by establishing a helicopter rescue base in Toowoomba, which became a 24-hour service in 2010. Stewart also helped introduce LifeFlight aeromedical bases into the Surat Basin and Gladstone regions, enhancing support for growing communities throughout regional Queensland.
Jan established JTA Australia following a successful public sector career as Queensland’s Director of Fair Trading and Commissioner for Consumer Affairs.
Since leaving the public sector she has been appointed to the boards of statutory authorities by both Coalition and ALP governments and has chaired inquiries for Queensland and Federal Government Ministers.
Jan has been an interviewer and presenter in mainstream media, a newspaper columnist, a published author, and has worked with United Nations agencies (e.g. the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation). She has also been an independent non-executive director on a number of commercial and not-for-profit boards in the private sector.
Jan has worked on extraordinarily complex projects spanning a wide range of sectors but particularly in water, oil and gas, energy, utilities, infrastructure and coal seam gas and coal. Many of the projects her company undertakes are in regional and rural Australia.
Her particular expertise lies in strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, community consultation and education and awareness. She understands the information needs of key stakeholders, the broader community and the media. She has worked on brand development, marketing and public acceptance across many industry sectors and brings to each task both empathy and emotional intelligence.
Jan has also facilitated complex workshops and chaired public meetings with thousands of attendees and managed stakeholder forums with diverse views to achieve informed consensus about proposed projects. She has been a successful non-executive director (and chair) for organisations such as the RACQ, Ports Corporation Queensland, Wyatt Gallagher (Boston-based), Queensland Dairy Authority, Queensland Competition Authority, RSPCA, Community Housing Grants Board etc.
Recently she was recruited by a global training company to present masterclasses in stakeholder engagement in South East Asia.
Jan has wide experience across numerous industry sectors in Queensland, and has worked for government agencies in this state as well as in Western Australia and South Australia. She has extensive networks, is an excellent negotiator and mediator, and works well as part of group dynamics.
Ashley van de Velde is the driving force behind LifeFlight Australia, having dedicated more than two decades to the role of CEO. His unwavering commitment to LifeFlight's mission is fuelled by a deep passion for providing rapid aeromedical retrieval services to as many people as possible.
Ashley’s journey with LifeFlight began in 1981 when he was a Queensland Water Police Officer and volunteered as an aircrewman. Since those early days, he has been instrumental in the organisation’s growth and diversification, both nationally and internationally. His vision and leadership have ensured that quality medical care is accessible to both local and remote communities.
Recognised as one of Australia’s most experienced CEOs in the complex aeromedical industry, Ashley excels at developing innovative solutions in challenging situations. He firmly believes in building stronger communities through collaboration with government and industry partners. His unique combination of skills and extensive operational knowledge is vital to ensuring LifeFlight’s long-term sustainability.
Ashley’s dedication to LifeFlight’s mission and his exceptional leadership continue to inspire and guide the organisation towards a future where more lives can be saved through rapid and reliable aeromedical services.
Rebecca Frizelle is Chief Operating Officer of Frizelle Prestige and a key shareholder at Frizelle Sunshine Automotive and PWA. In 2014, she was appointed to the Board of the Titans and became the first female Chair in the NRL code.
She stepped down from the role in September 2017 to pursue a personal stake in the club. She is a Director of Sunland Group Ltd since January 2018. Ms. Frizelle is also a Director of the Griffith University Advisory Board, Audi Australia Foundation Board, and St Hilda’s School Foundation and a Member of the AICD.
Known for her strong advocacy for the city of Gold Coast, she is also one of the largest employers here with over 800+ people now under the Frizelle Sunshine group.
She’s a proud Mother of three, and a loyal supporter of women in leadership roles.
John is a successful businessman, owner of the Lewis Hotel Group, and a former LifeFlight Jet pilot.
After a chance meeting with LifeFlight CEO, Ashley van der Velde, and Dean Bordiss, who was Fixed Wing Chief Pilot at the time.
By the end of the meeting our commercial division had a new aircraft, John found himself guarantor for the finance to buy the jet he was selling and a new joint venture, Aeromed Qld, was created.
He gained appropriate endorsement to become a First Officer and flew both domestic and international retrieval missions. For many years, he kept his qualifications up to date, undertaking training requirements along with the rest of the fixed wing crew, and was on duty for the 2014 test flight when our first Challenger 604 jet was approved by Queensland Health as a response aircraft during the ebola outbreak.
For John and his family, particularly his wife Deb, there is a deep interest in philanthropy and John is also a Life Member of LifeFlight Australia.
Amelia brings a wealth of experience in strategy, finance, operations and transformation in a career spanning 30-years across a range of industries including aviation, telecommunications, tourism and higher education.
Amelia is currently the CEO at Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) which she joined in 2016 as Chief Financial Officer. As part of her role, Amelia delivers shareholder value creation opportunities as well as engages stakeholders across industry, government and the community. Prior to QAL, Amelia has had global experience in roles across the Pacific, UK, US and Caribbean. Amelia also worked at Qantas in senior finance executive roles, which included overseeing the financial and commercial management of Qantas Engineering, Customer and Airport Ground Operations businesses.
Amelia has extensive experience serving on boards and currently holds the role of Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Infrastructure and Finance Committee at Griffith University, in addition to serving as an advisory member of UNIQ You. She was previously a Director of Destination Gold Coast and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for National Trust (Queensland).
She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Our Regional Advisory Committees are a diverse group of passionate individuals dedicated to supporting LifeFlight and our aeromedical crews across the state. Their expertise and advocacy play a crucial role in shaping our strategies, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of service delivery and community engagement.
We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Custodians of the land on which we serve and fly, and pay respect to their Elders past, present and future.
