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Angus gets another five years at the ATSB

Written by David Sexton | Aug 24, 2026, 5:56:22 AM

ANGUS Mitchell has been re-appointed as chief commissioner and chief executive to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau Commission for a further five-year term.

The announcement was made in an a statement this week from federal infrastructure and transport minister Catherine King.

According to Ms King’s office, as chief commissioner, Mr Mitchell had “overseen a number of significant and high-profile investigative cases, as well as a period of expansion in both the volume and accessibility of safety information available through the ATSB”.

The ATSB Commission consists of four members: the chief commissioner and three commissioners with expertise relevant to the ATSB's functions in the maritime, aviation and rail modes of transport.

Mr Mitchell was first appointed to the role in 2021.

The federal government has also welcomed the appointment of James Miller as a commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) for a three-year term.

According to Ms King’s office, Mr Miller brings “a distinguished career of over 50 years’ experience in aviation, including as fleet captain of Qantas, and he complements the bureau with first-hand experience in complex airline operations and leadership of large multi-crew environments”.

Mr Miller’s background chairing critical safety and operational committees was also noted.

Mr Miller’s appointment fills the vacancy left by commissioner Peter Wilson, who the government thanked for his “distinguished service”.

“Angus Mitchell has promoted a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration essential to the operations of the bureau.

"I am deeply appreciative that he has agreed to serve as chief commissioner for a further five years,” Ms King said.

“The bureau [also] will be bolstered by Mr Miller’s appointment, owing to his half-a-century career in aviation.

“These appointments ensure the ATSB is supported by the most capable and reliable hands, at a time that the nation’s travel, freight and logistics sectors are moving at an unprecedented pace.”