Mr. David Perks (Australia) began his career in air traffic control as a Flight Data Officer in Sydney, Australia in 1990. He obtained his first air traffic control rating in 1994 and re-located to Brisbane in 1995 where he remained an en-route controller until 2013. During this period, he completed a Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and has been admitted as a non-practicing lawyer in the State of Queensland, Australia. In 2013, Mr Perks commenced his current role as a Senior ATS Specialist for Airservices Australia where, along with his team, he develops and maintains the ATC ruleset ensuring it is both up-to-date, relevant and fit for purpose.

Mr Perks is a former Member and Chair of IFATCA’s Professional and Legal Committee (PLC). In 2018 he was appointed as the IFATCA Member of the ICAO Separation and Airspace Safety Panel (SASP) and was elected Chair in 2021.

Mr Perks was appointed as IFATCA’s next Liaison Officer to the ICAO Air Navigation Commission in July 2024.