Jaco van der Westhuizen was an Air Traffic Controller for 12 years, after which, he migrated to Human Factors and Safety Management. Jaco has practical experience in implementing systems and programmes that range from fatigue risk management to just culture, safety culture interventions, and lastly safety management system design, implementation and training.

Jaco is a contracted guest instructor for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as well as for the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) on a range of safety-related courses. In addition, he serves on the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Mental Health Work Group and is the CEO of a non-profit volunteer organisation in South Africa by the name of Mayday-SA, that provides peer support on mental health and wellbeing to the aviation community.

Lastly, Jaco has a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from the University of Pretoria (2018) and a Masters in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa (2008). He also supervises research at a Masters and Doctoral level for two private universities, Stadio and Regenesys.