Craig Hobart joins Angel Flight as Non-Executive Director

Last month, Angel Flight welcomed Craig Hobart to the board as Non-Executive Director. Craig brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in corporate governance and a unique perspective having volunteered for Angel Flight for the past 18 years as pilot and advocate.  

With a strong inner compass for community service, Craig and his wife Marisa felt compelled to help those living in remote Australia access vital medical treatment and in 2006 joined the Angel Flight crew as volunteer pilot and Earth Angel (driver) respectively’.

"Marisa and I identified with Angel Flight nearly 18 years ago, me as a pilot and Marisa as an Earth Angel,” said Craig.

“Sometimes we would do our respective roles together and patients were surprised when the pilot got a kiss on the cheek from the Earth Angel (ground-based transport), harmless fun.”

“The more we did, the more we saw the need and took strength from the courage of so many patients and families."

With a long and impressive professional history including Executive for Australia’s largest industry funds, REST and CEO for Tyndall, Australia’s largest national funds managers, Craig now operates his own consultancy, Hobart Consulting and enjoys helping clients drive growth strategies for investment.

Craig is also a Non-Executive Director at Woodsford- a global litigation funding company based in London, President of TSS’ Old Southportonians' Association and Treasurer of Southport Flying Club. 

Angel Flight CEO Marjorie Pagani said Craig’s career experience in company governance and finance combined with his hands on experience as an Angel Flight pilot are perfectly aligned to his newly appointed role. 

“Craig and I reconnected during his 8-day volunteer stint at Avalon Airshow. Although Craig was known to me as an Angel Flight pilot, the synergies only became apparent through our conversations during the show.”

“So many of our volunteers are humble about their career or life experiences and Craig is a prime example.” 

Craig hopes to bring a unique perspective to the role, having participated as a volunteer on the ground and in the air. 

“I passionately believe in service and at this stage of my life I am strongly draw to this. I hope to bring advocacy to the role and connect with people from all levels of society to continue Angel Flight’s mission.” 

Reflecting on his time as pilot for Angel Flight, Craig insists volunteering for the organisation has brought him more value and joy than the service he provides. 

“I have been touched by so many people’s lives and the resilience they have shown is inspiring.” 

“The story of a little boy named Tyson, now a grown man, will stay with me for life. He was medically blind and deaf, and his foster parents needed help transporting him to medical care.” 

“Despite the adversity he faced, his positive outlook and zest for life was remarkable.”