Who we are

Aviation Advocacy is a team of commercial and corporate aviation experts.

Andrew Charlton

Managing Director

Andrew Charlton is the managing director of Aviation Advocacy, an independent air transport focused strategic consulting and government affairs consultancy based in Switzerland, with an office in Brussels. It was established in 2006.

Andrew has wide-ranging experience in the legal, commercial and aero-political aspects of all parts of the aviation industry. He has been involved in some of the most major developments in the industry. Previously, Andrew was the Chief Legal Officer of Qantas Airways before being responsible for Government Affairs for IATA and then SITA.

He has experience in airlines, service providers and industry bodies, in both the commercial and political arenas, as well as having served on a number of industry boards, including the Executive Committee of CANSO. Andrew’s clients include major industry suppliers, airlines, service providers and airports.

Andrew also regularly writes about and comments on aviation matters. He regularly speaks at and moderates industry events. Aviation Advocacy’s subscription only Aviation Intelligence Reporter is an increasingly influential monthly critique of developments. Its subscribers include senior regulators; airline, ANSP and airport senior executives; and several trade associations.

Damian Wallace

d.wallace@aviationadvocacy.aero

Damien is an aviation expert with extensive policy, operational, strategic and advisory experience gained in the aviation industry and in government. During twenty four years as a senior executive with Qantas Airways he was Head of Operations Planning and Control and Group General Manager Network and Airline Operations, as well as holding leadership roles in engineering planning and in network management. Damien was Chairman of Airport Coordination Australia (ACA) which cooordinates runway movements at Sydney, Brisbane and Perth airports, for three years, and also served over ten years as a Director.

Before joining Qantas, he gained extensive government and policy experience, including as Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor to four Australian Government Cabinet Ministers.

Charles Stotler

c.stotler@aviationadvocacy.aero

Charles Stotler is a lawyer specialising in policy and regulatory affairs associated with advancing science and technologies, such as UAS, in-flight connectivity and space applications. He has experience advising international airports, international intergovernmental organisations, trade associations and industry stakeholders. He holds an LL.M. in air and space law from McGill University.

Ben Smith-Stubbs

b.smithstubbs@aviationadvocacy.aero

Ben Smith-Stubbs brings a wealth of “how-to” knowledge in the public policy space. Ben has over 10 years-experience with government policy and advocacy in Australia. Serving as a policy adviser to cabinet ministers, Ben was involved in a range of reforms to the Australian financial services and trade related portfolios. Following his time in government, Ben was Senior Director for Government Affairs at Visa (Australia/New Zealand), advocating for regulatory reform of the payments industry. In his spare time, Ben operates as a commercial pilot for a major Asia-based airline.
Ben edits the ATM Policy Institute Blog and is completing a Master’s from University of New South Wales in Aviation Management.