RPAS 2026 Speaker Bio

Michael Dawes

Senior Transport Safety Investigator

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)

Michael Dawes joined the ATSB in 2017 with a background in civil engineering, having spent time working in geotechnical consulting and other public service roles.

Michael holds a dual role at the ATSB. First, as a Senior Transport Safety Investigator, with a focus on the lessons that can be learned from RPAS accidents and incidents and how lessons previously learned in crewed aviation can be applied in the RPAS space. Secondly, as Senior Remote Pilot, Michael is responsible for the agency’s RPAS and digital site survey program. This program assists other investigators and managers to better understand accident sites using RPAS and other 3D modelling capability.

This has led Michael to work with the agency’s Chief Remote Pilot and other pilots to plan and execute RPAS operations in some unique locations and in challenging conditions, often at short notice. He has also been a driver of developing new RPAS capabilities and techniques for the ATSB.