Captain Jan Becker Travels from Sunshine Coast, QLD

Jan is a captivating, funny, engaging, forthright and thought-provoking speaker who passionately shares the keys to successfully captaining your own life, business and health.

Jan is the co-founder of the Helicopter business which started in a humble tin shed on the Sunshine Coast in 1996.  Today, Jan is the CEO of the largest flight academy in the Southern Hemisphere, turning over $20 million a year and employing a staff of 70.

The innovative company was the first civilian flight academy to introduce Advanced Night Vision Goggles Training and operates a fleet of 20 helicopters and four simulators, training civilian and military personnel from around the world. Jan’s business acumen and leadership has been recognised by numerous honours including the 2014 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Owner Award, the 2013 National Telstra Medium Business Award, and the 2010 Queensland Premier’s Innovation Export Award.

As well as steering the company to new heights, Jan is a Commercial Helicopter Pilot, holds a Master of Aviation Management and in 2019 was appointed Chair of the Helicopter Association International, USA.

This high-flying CEO also understands the importance of keeping her feet on the ground.  Having worked as a registered nurse and midwife in hospitals and remote settings across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Africa, Jan has seen firsthand how life can change in an instant.

As a registered nurse and midwife, Jan is passionate about reducing child mortality and improving maternal health in some of the world’s most under-resourced countries.

She is the co-founder of Midwife Vision, which offers education, professional support and resources to midwives at Amana Referral Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Her hands-on involvement includes funding equipment and making 2-3 trips to Tanzania each year where she volunteers as a midwife and educator in the hospital’s busy labour ward –which delivers up to 100 babies a day!

She is also currently studying a Higher Degree by Research at University of Sunshine Coast and onto PhD researching the Silent Voice of the midwife in Sub Sahara Africa by Narrative Inquiry Methodology.

It is this dedication to the service of others that has been recognised in the 2019 Honours List with Jan being awarded the Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for service to community health through neonatal organisations and to aviation.

Whether speaking about business success, flying or women’s health, Jan has a vast grab bag of motivational and inspirational tales to draw from. She takes audiences on a memorable journey, weaving humour and insight to connect on a deep and impactful level.

Jan loves sharing real-life lessons about the courage and discipline required to create a successful company, overcome life and work challenges, and the rewards that come from being the change you want to see in the world.