SkyTech 2025 Speaker Bio

Paul Hibberd

National Manager, Emerging Technologies and Regulatory Change

CASA

Paul leads the Branch responsible for CASA’s preparations for emerging technologies, CASA’s regulation of drones (RPAS) as well as the coordination of CASA’s regulatory change projects. 

The RPAS and emerging technologies role covers policy and regulation of existing RPAS operations as well as understanding and coordinating CASA’s readiness for aviation technologies still in development, including advanced air mobility (air taxis), the integration of crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations in airspace, the use of non-traditional fuel sources (eg electrification), and future RPAS operations.

The regulatory change role covers the project management of policy development and legislative activities, design and execution of CASA’s implementation of major legislative changes, and support to CASA in analysing the regulatory impact of changes. 

Paul’s earlier career as a lawyer drew him in and out of CASA several times over a long period.  His legal career also included a significant period at a national law firm, 2 years in London working on international law of the sea matters and deep seabed mining regulation and managing CASA’s legal advisory, legislative drafting and international relations functions.