Published on Apr 02, 2025
I would love to hear more about your interest in geology and your degree and doctorate in Earth Sciences. It seems quite different from airline management!
Funnily enough, I remember distinctly the moment I became interested in geology. I was 14 and on a school walking trip on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Halfway up a mountain, we bumped into a gentleman who was studying the rocks we were walking over, looking for precious metals. He was a geologist, and I thought it was quite a cool career; being outside in the mountains studying the history of rocks!
I did geology at ‘A’ level then went to Liverpool University to undertake an Earth Science degree. I was then fortunate enough to be selected to undertake research that led to a PhD and the awarding of my doctorate.
Even though I’ve not continued within the subject area, I remain fascinated and intrigued by our geological history. More than that, in awe.
The oldest rocks found in UK are over 2 billion years old. Ever since then, the three countries have led rich and active geological lives, roaming around the planet, often in the thick of things, ‘collecting’ mementos along the way.
Over the last 500 million years parts of Britain have sunk to the bottom of the deepest oceans, risen to the top of the highest mountains, become buried and squashed down to depths of over 20km, and been plagued by volcanoes and lava flows. We have spent time under water in the southern hemisphere, lived in coral rich seas near the equator, and experienced harsh desert environments on our slow migration path northwards towards our current location.
On top of all that, we were the home and breeding ground to all manner of lifeforms, resulting in one of the most diverse and well-preserved fossil records on the planet.
And geologists get to study all of that!
What led you to being the Managing Director at BMIbaby?
It seems an unusual switch from geology to aviation, but there was a six-year period in between which was spent living and working in America. I became involved in the early evolution of computer-based-learning via the internet and was fortunate enough to get a job at a University in South Carolina. This was really in its infancy, but grew quickly and expanded into web-based developments.
In 2000, I was given the opportunity to return to the UK and head up the ecommerce internet booking website for British Midland Airways. This grew quickly as online booking systems evolved, and in time another opportunity arose to be part of the team that set-up the low-cost carrier BMIbaby. The timing was perfect, and we managed to grow the airline very quickly, carrying over 4 million passengers within a few years. All very exciting!
I left in 2006 to pursue another opportunity as Managing Director of a Golf & Country Club close to home, and also then started on the after-dinner speaking circuit. That evolved really quickly, and I soon found myself travelling all over the world telling stories and anecdotes about aviation!
As an early budget airline, BMIbaby paved the way for future budget airline companies. Were there any innovative business concepts that you came up with that are still used today in other budget airlines?
The low-cost carriers revolutionised aviation by changing almost every aspect of the business model. It wasn’t just one aspect; it was a root and branch review of every revenue and cost line. Chipping away at every aspect to improve the revenue and reduce the costs. Without compromising safety. That was a given, safety was the priority.
Many of the principles used by the low-cost carriers apply to all other sectors and businesses too. I’ve come-up with my version of these, which I call the 8 C’s of running a business. They are:
Tell us a little more about what delegates can expect at your talk.
In this presentation, I’m going to expand on the 8 C’s described above and share some examples from the aviation industry that will resonate with anyone who flies! I will also share some insights from our industry that will stimulate professionals from other sectors to think about how they can improve the performance of their own businesses. I will also share the very latest data and trends within aviation, with some fun stories and tales thrown in too!
And finally, what is a quote that you live by?
Rather than a specific quote, I have my three P’s that I consciously focus on fist thing every morning. They help structure my day and put things in context. They are:
Perspective: The earth is over 4.5 billion years old. That is 4.5 followed by lots and lots of 000’s! We only get a handful of decades to explore and experience, so try not to let the little things in life drain your energy and waste your time.
Privilege: Despite our relative insignificance on this planet, it is still a privilege to get the chance to experience and explore. Don’t take this for granted. We are lucky. Make the most of every opportunity.
People: You only have control over some things in your life. Other people may do, say, or behave in a way that is outside of your control. These may be disruptive and challenging. These events are outside of your direct control. Accept that these will happen and even expect them. Then when they do happen you will be better prepared to manage.
Thank you so much Dave, I’m so excited for your upcoming ‘The Leading Note’ talk…And maybe Geology has more to do with business than I first thought! After all, the planet is over 4.5 billion years old, but we’re still evolving and hopefully on your talk, we can learn to keep on ‘rocking’ it!
Published on Apr 02, 2025 by Ella Thomas