Director: Gary Lacey
Gary is Canberra based and works in the field of pharmaceutical research. He is both a private and commercial balloon pilot, operating mainly in the ACT. He has been seconded to numerous International Events to oversee debriefing procedures, and has been the Director of recent Australian National Championships. Gary leads his well qualified operation team to conduct the Event.

Deputy Director: Garry Lockyer
"The Canadian". Garry is a computer and IT expert. Having retired from his favourite sport of ice hockey, he now concentrates on his other passion of balloon flying. He is the Canadian representative on the CIA (Committeé Internationale d'Aérostation) and has been most active in the development of the International Sporting Code standards. Garry has officiated at events worldwide, including at various Australian events, including previous National Championships.

Chief Scorer: Steve Ireland
Steve is both a private and commercial balloon pilot. He is the Australian CIA (Committee International d Aerostation) representative and has officiated at numerous National and International Events, including World Championships. He flies balloons in Canberra including the famous Sky Whale.

Assistant Scorer: Rhonda Pritchard
Rhonda’s first contact with ballooning was in England in 1980. Her first balloon event attended in an official capacity was Mildura, SA in 1996. She has become more involved recently, assisting the Scorer at the 2014 and 2015 Canowindra Balloon Challenge, NSW, the Australian National’s in Northam in 2015 and the pre-world’s in Saga, Japan in 2015.

Safety Officer: John Wallington
John is a pilot of extraordinary achievements. He has been Australian Champion and holder of significant ballooning records. His skills were put to use in the first across Australia flight with Dick Smith. John has managed ballooning interests throughout Australia and overseas. He has been intimately involved in the annual Canberra Balloon Fiesta, and will be a key official at the World Championships in Saga Japan, 2017.

Meteorologist: Don Whitford
Don is an eminent Meteorologist with specific interest in sports aviation. He has been met advisor to varied air sports at the National level for 20 years, with a focus on ballooning. In real life Don often works with the Australian Military. He has recently become re-acquainted with Northam weather, during a period as meteorologist at Pearce Air Base.

Competition Opns Admin /Night Glow Co-ordinator: Ruth E Wilson
Since 1975 Ruth has been actively involved in all aspects of both international and national ballooning including World Championships. She holds a World First in Aviation, a night parachute jump from her balloon and was awarded the Australian Women’s Pilots Trophy for long distance gas ballooning while representing Australia in the prestigious Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race.

Jury President: Hiromori Soejima (Hiropon) Saga, Japan.
Vice President of the Japanese Balloon Federation, Event Director at Japanese National Championships, Honda Grand Prix Series & Mongolia International Balloon Festival. Deputy Director at World Hot Air Balloon Championships (Saga), Saga International Balloon Fiesta, amp; Tochigi International Balloon Championships. Hiropon has competed at the Japanese National Championship a few times, but says he realized that he’s not good as Yudai, Matt or Nicola!

Juror: Adrian Clements, Northam WA.
Past President of the Australian Ballooning Federation (ABF) amp; WA Balloon amp; Airship Club; Life Member of the ABF, amp; of the Northam Aero Club. Previous World Record Co-Pilot with Geoff Green, with a world distance flight in 1980 from Northam to Zanthus, on the Nullabor. Adrian is a partner in Grenade Ballooning, who brought the first balloon, Rainbow Lady, to reside in Northam.