I completed a 5-year postgraduate degree in psychotherapy and became a leading force to introduce human factors and leadership training into Swissair and into the wider aviation industry. I was involved in international scientific associations and was elected to the Board of the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP) for 8 years.

As an Aviation Human Factors Specialist registered by the EAAP I received the 2008 Award for ‘outstanding International commitment and achievement in Aviation Psychology’.

Both with Swiss Civil Aviation Authority and the European Joint Aviation Authority’s Human Factors Steering Group I served as an expert. I had the privilege of participating in the design and implementation of the European regulation of Human Factors training related to licensed aviation personnel.

I was appointed the manager of the aviation subproject in the Daimler-Benz Foundation’s research project ‘Group Interaction in High Risk Environment’. Two PhDs and one Master thesis have been published in the context of this aviation related research with the strong focus on NOTECHS (NonTechSkills in aviation) as the forerunner of the next generation NTS systems in medicine (ANTS, NOTSS), rail and beyond.

Following the collapse of Swissair in 2001, my wife Andrea and I founded Gemako Ltd specialising in consulting, coaching and (management) training in aviation, rail and medicine in Switzerland and Germany. To support the training, we developed a unique team training computer simulation ‘GemaSim’ (www.gemasim.com).

In 2003, on behalf of Lufthansa’s Aviation Quality Services, I was invited to design and implement the first IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) auditor’s training course and consequently became an IOSA (airline) auditor myself.

We moved to New Zealand in 2003 to support Air New Zealand’s introduction of the Airbus A320 with a focus on related Human Factors, and also supported the airline’s IOSA certification in 2004.

In 2005 we started our own business in NZ, specialising in training for auditing, leadership, team development, stress management and performance enhancement. GemaSim enhances our own training methodology and also supports training initiatives in Australia, USA (United States Air Force) and Europe (such as NATO Europe, Swiss Air Force or Swiss Federal Rail Corporation).

In 2007 we were offered the exclusive rights to Process Communication Model® (PCM) in Australia and New Zealand after our certification in the US as PCM Master Trainers. Since then we focus on the proliferation of PCM by licensed providers delivering PCM training, coaching and consulting across both countries and to a broad range of industries.

Significant organisations such as the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) or the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) have accredited PCM in the context of their Continuous Professional Development programmes.

Amongst others Qantas, Air New Zealand, NSW RailCorp, Sydney Ferries Corporation, WELLNZ, Foodstuffs, Woolworths as well as several hospitals, health organisations, the University of Otago, the NZ Department of Labour, the RNZAF, Airservices Australia and other government agencies have been trained in PCM. Additionally, I regularly work for corporates in Europe, in the USA and in India such as SWISS International Air Lines, ZÜRICH Insurance, Zurich Airport, SIEMENS and AIG in NYC and in India, and enjoy lecturing at a Swiss Technical University.

As Chairman of the Board, I am responsible for market and business development, marketing, customer relations, the training of new PCM Certified Providers and seminar delivery for our customers in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and in the USA / India.