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About Us
At Somerfield Consulting, we specialize in applying world-class Human Factors principles to drive leadership, teamwork, decision-making, risk management, and safety-focused performance across industries. With over four decades of first hand practical experience, we understand that achieving operational excellence requires more than just technical expertise—it demands the right processes, people, and culture.
Organizational Assessment & Strategic Training
We assess organizations to identify areas for improvement, develop tailored strategies, and provide training that empowers staff at all levels to make better decisions, enhance teamwork, and drive safer, more effective outcomes. Our approach is built on real-world aviation expertise, where split-second decisions and high-stakes environments demand precision, collaboration, and resilience.
Precision. Collaboration. Excellence.
Empowering Teams for Success
From frontline operators to senior executives, our training programs equip teams with the skills to enhance safety, performance, and efficiency—transforming the way organizations function. Whether in aviation, defence, healthcare, or corporate leadership, our proven methodologies ensure success in any high-pressure environment.
Our Story
Following a lifelong dream, I began my aviation career as a direct-entry pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force, where I became a Qualified Flying Instructor (Category B) on jet trainers. I later transitioned to Qantas, gaining experience in both short-haul and long-haul operations, ultimately commanding the 510-seat Airbus A380 — a far cry from my first solo flight in a Cessna 150 at age 17.
Training and mentoring have always been central to my career. While flying the A380, I created a pilot-to-pilot operational blog, ensuring new crew had access to shared insights, best practices, and a weekly Q&A to support their learning.
In 2017, I was honoured to join the Qantas Aviation Safety Team as a Human Factors Facilitator, helping enhance decision-making, risk management, and teamwork in high-stakes environments. I led annual recurrent training for both pilots and cabin crew, reinforcing aviation’s culture of safety and performance. However, like many in the industry, my career took an unexpected turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. My final flight as an A380 Captain was on the 22nd of March, 2020, from Sydney to Dallas, Texas marking an abrupt end to my time in the cockpit. With limited options, I reluctantly took voluntary retirement from Qantas in December 2020, with almost 270 Qantas pilot colleagues.
Determined to continue making an impact, I completed a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116) in early 2021 and founded Somerfield Consulting to bring aviation’s world-class Human Factors principles to other industries. Our first major engagement was with the Royal Australian Navy, where we applied proven safety, leadership, and decision-making frameworks to military Naval Bridge operations.
In 2022, Qantas Aviation Safety Training invited me back as a contractor to deliver Human Factors and Fatigue Management and Technical Induction training to all new-hire Qantas and Jet Connect pilots. My role also includes annual recurrent training for pilots and cabin crew and pilot transition programs, from Second Officer to First Officer and Command Preparation courses.
Today, Somerfield Consulting helps organizations across industries apply the same high-performance principles that drive success in aviation—ensuring teams, leaders, and decision-makers can operate effectively under pressure while achieving safer, smarter, and more reliable outcomes.
A Legacy of Leadership and Safety
Meet the Director
Wayne Somerfield
First Solo
Final Flight
Our Clients
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