The safety and effectiveness of the aviation industry depend heavily on its people, underscoring the importance of stakeholders taking action to help safeguard the mental health and well-being of pilots, cabin crew, engineers, air traffic controllers, and other safety-critical personnel.
Central to improving mental well-being and identifying potential challenges early is the creation of a culture that empowers individuals to voice concerns, admit errors, and seek support without fear of judgment or career repercussions. Breaking down the longstanding barriers of stigma is essential to fostering open dialogue and early intervention, ultimately safeguarding both employees and the integrity of the entire aviation system.
In this episode of Risk in Context, Captain Andy James, Marsh’s Aviation Operational Risk Consulting Leader, speaks with Dr. Wolfgang Seidl, workplace health expert and board advisor, and Kimberly Perkins, PhD, an airline pilot, researcher, and co-founder of InVolo. They discuss the critical importance for the aviation industry to prioritize its people’s mental health and share actions that organizations can consider, which will be covered in more depth during Marsh’s Aviation Summit.
Aviation Operational Risk Consulting Leader, Specialty, Marsh Risk
United Kingdom
Captain Andy James leads Marsh’s Aviation Operational Risk Consulting team, working alongside the aviation broking and advisory teams. He has more than 30 years of operational aviation experience, flying as a helicopter pilot in the British Army for 11 years, followed by 21 years as a commercial pilot and instructor.
Workplace health expert and board advisor
United Kingdom
Wolfgang Seidl is a Doctor of Medicine, holds a master’s degree in Psychiatry, Philosophy, and Society, and is a BACP-accredited Counselor and Psychotherapist. He is an internationally recognized expert in the field of quality enhancement measures in workplace health and return on investment models. He serves on a number of advisory boards and is a Visiting University Professor in Applied Psychology.
Research Scientist, 787 Airline Pilot, and Founder of Involo
United States
Kimberly Perkins, PhD, is a Boeing 787 airline pilot and human factors scientist whose work bridges frontline flight operations, academic research, and global safety policy. With more than two decades of global flying experience, she understands that aviation safety is not sustained by procedures alone, but by people operating within complex sociotechnical systems. Her research reimagines risk management for aviation by integrating emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and ethical AI into safety management systems, advancing a behavioral science–driven approach to resilient team performance. She leads the Aviation Lab at the University of Washington, directing a multidisciplinary team of graduate researchers focused on aviation mental health, system design innovation, and psychosocial risk management.
Podcast,Featured insight
03/10/2026
