Henry Gourdji
| Henry Gourdji MSC, CD | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| 💼 Occupation | Aviation safety executive, international compliance official |
| 🏢 Organization | Flight Safety Foundation |
| Known for | Leadership of ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme; Chair of WADA Compliance Review Committee |
Henry Gourdji MSC, CD is a Canadian aviation-safety executive, former senior official of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Chair of the independent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Compliance Review Committee (CRC).[1] He serves as Director of Safety Strategy and Policy at the Flight Safety Foundation.[2]
He is recognized for leading the development, expansion, and transparency of ICAO’s global program for auditing State aviation-safety oversight systems and for his role in global anti-doping compliance governance. He is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award.[3]
Early life and education
Gourdji holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics and advanced military strategic-studies qualifications.[4] He is a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer and multi-engine pilot.[5]
Career
International Civil Aviation Organization
Gourdji joined the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the late 1990s.[6] He was among the principal architects of ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), introduced to assess States’ compliance with international aviation safety Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).[7]
He led the programme’s evolution:
- from limited-scope technical audits
- to a comprehensive systems approach covering all aviation-safety domains
- to the Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA), enabling ongoing evaluation and increased global transparency through public audit results[8]
As Chief of Safety Oversight Audit and later Chief, Continuous Monitoring and Oversight, he supervised and coordinated global audit missions. Public records show him on USOAP mission documentation, including for China.[9] His LinkedIn profile states he coordinated “well over 80 UN missions” in this capacity.[5]
He later headed ICAO’s Office of Strategic Planning, Coordination and Partnerships, leading ICAO engagement with the United Nations and contributing to aviation's role in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.[10]
His leadership of USOAP and expansion of global aviation-safety transparency were cited in the award of the Meritorious Service Cross in 2019.[11]
Flight Safety Foundation
Gourdji serves as Director, Safety Strategy & Policy at the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), where he leads global aviation-safety strategy, regulatory engagement, and international partnerships.[12]
He received the Flight Safety Foundation President’s Citation in 2011 for contributions to international aviation safety.[13]
World Anti-Doping Agency
Gourdji has served on WADA’s independent Compliance Review Committee since its inception in 2015.[14] He became Vice-Chair by 2017,[15] served during major global compliance proceedings, and was appointed Interim Chair in December 2021 before becoming full Chair in 2022.[16]
As Chair, he oversees recommendations to the WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board on compliance of national anti-doping organizations, including sanctions, watchlist placement, and referrals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He has chaired CRC deliberations regarding high-profile cases including the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).[17]
Military service
Gourdji served 31 years in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve, retiring as Lieutenant-Colonel. He received the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD). He has represented Canada at ceremonial events, including a private audience with Queen Elizabeth II.[18]
Awards and honours
- Meritorious Service Cross (2019)[19]
- Flight Safety Foundation President’s Citation (2011)[20]
- Laura Taber Barbour International Air Safety Award (2021)[21]
- King Charles III Coronation Medal (2023)[22]
- Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
References
- ↑ "WADA announces outcomes of CRC meeting". 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "Flight Safety Foundation leadership".
- ↑ "Gourdji recognized with Air Safety Award".
- ↑ "LinkedIn profile".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Henry Gourdji LinkedIn profile". Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ↑ "McGill Aviation Oversight Research" (PDF).
- ↑ "AeroSafety World - USOAP CMA evolution" (PDF).
- ↑ "ICAO CMA High-Level Briefing".
- ↑ "CAAC audit document" (PDF).
- ↑ "UN SDG Partnership Exchange" (PDF).
- ↑ "Governor General honours Canadians".
- ↑ "Yocova aviation interview". 13 July 2023.
- ↑ "Flight Safety Foundation Awards".
- ↑ "WADA ExCo Minutes" (PDF).
- ↑ "U.S. Congressional Record on WADA".
- ↑ "New Chair for WADA CRC". 7 December 2021.
- ↑ "WADA Executive Committee unanimously endorses Russian non-compliance".
- ↑ "Alamy archive".
- ↑ "Governor General honours Canadians".
- ↑ "Flight Safety Foundation Awards".
- ↑ "Aviation Week — Barbour Award".
- ↑ "Coronation Medal recipients".
External links
- https://flightsafety.org
- https://www.wada-ama.org/en/compliance-review-committee
- https://public.yocova.com/news-insights/aviation-safety-management-systems/
This article "Henry Gourdji" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Henry Gourdji. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
