Chris Smith is the founder of Staff On Side Corporate Engagement, an Airline Captain and Manager, a Senior Lecturer and aviation Counsellor. After a lifetime in the aviation industry in a variety of senior managerial positions, Chris is now dedicated to working with companies, organisations, and individuals on matters of leadership and mental health, with a particular focus on staff engagement and manager - staff relations, as well as lecturing, counselling, and writing. He has established and operates peer support programs in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam, and consults in Ireland and Germany, and currently holds an Ambassadorial Role for the ‘Trust’ Peer Support Program across Australia and Asia. Chris is a regular corporate speaker on the psychology, mental health, safety, and legal and aviation conference circuit in Australia and overseas (Singapore, Japan, France, USA). He also presents regularly on radio and is a contributing writer on mental health matters for the Sunday Mail Newspaper. In 2012, he was awarded the Master Air Pilot Certificate by the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators, London, for services to the aviation industry. Chris holds a Master’s Degree in Aviation Management, a Diploma of Counselling and has PhD research conducted with the University of Southern Queensland, where he presently lectures.
