AACE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Technical Director
• Chartered Engineer With the Institute of Marine Engineering
• Head of Maritime Services
• Royal Navy Marine Engineer Officer

Darren is a former Royal Navy Marine Engineer Officer with a a 14 year career focused on seagoing operational engineering. He has served in a range of platforms including three aircraft carriers and two Type 45 destroyers. He also has a breadth of DE&S experience including working in both in-service project teams and, more recently, the Ships Acquisition and Strategic Class Authority for the Transition into Service phase of a ship's lifecycle. Darren joined AACE in 2022 as Head of Maritime Services to continue a 6 year career in maritime safety engineering where he has grown, led and managed teams of engineering professionals. His seagoing engineering background and safety management qualification and experience in programmes such as Type 45, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), the Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers and Dreadnought means he is an established maritime safety professional with experience of leading teams in a variety of environments. Darren is a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and is the Technical Director for AACE. He is accountable to the Managing Director for the management and leadership of the technical team and supporting her core values of excellence to customers and the maintenance of a strong team ethos.

Job Titles:

• Business Development Director
• Director

Eion Bailey joined AACE in September 2016, following a 34 year career in Rolls-Royce. He held senior positions in strategy and business development in international markets with responsibility for implementing strategic plans, developing key relationships and securing innovative new business. He was a board member of the ADS Export Focus Group and the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce. Eion is a Director on the AACE Group board where he leads all aspects of strategy and business development. This spans across the CRM portfolio from marketing, partnerships and winning new business in Defence and Industrial sectors. He has successfully secured business and developed relationships in these areas and has a unique experience and perspective having worked for a large corporate company, SME's and as a consultant.

Job Titles:

• HR Director
• Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel

Fiona joined AACE in 2009 following a career in HR, having worked in both the public and private sectors. She has held roles within the NHS, Public Health England and The Priory Group, which has given her a wide range of experience within HR and personnel management. Her emphasis on employee engagement, the promotion of a positive work life balance and wellbeing culture, are perfectly aligned with the family values that form the core of AACE. Fiona is Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and in her spare time is a Trustee and Volunteer at Malvern Hills Foodbank as well as a volunteer in her local hospice shop.

Job Titles:

• Chief Engineer
• Operations Manager

Ian Taylor joined AACE in 2007 following a 25 year career in the Royal Air Force specialising in aircraft airworthiness, integrity management and logistic support. He has substantial experience of large, training, maritime and rotary-wing aircraft, including multinational programmes, working closely with industry to enhance systems performance. Ian has used this extensively throughout the design and in-service phases to write policy for the management of maintenance and develop operational support arrangements for many different air platforms. Ian has been a Chartered Engineer since 1996 and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Job Titles:

• Business Support Manager

Janice Malschuk joined AACE in 2014 following a 17 year career in IT project management and 9 years running her own event management company. She has substantial experience in Business Management & Support, Finance, Security, Office Management, Event Management as well as IT systems & project management. Having worked in a variety of industries from FMCG to national charities and SMEs on many different large-scale projects Janice has a wealth of business experience.

Job Titles:

• Managing Director

Lynette studied Psychology and Politics at the University of Bath before moving on to postgraduate study of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at the University of Oxford, culminating in qualification as a Counsellor. During her studies, Lynette developed a particular interest in Business Psychology, combining an understanding of the science of human behaviour with experience of the workplace in order to attain effective and sustainable performance for both individuals and organisations. The application of this training has been most beneficial to her work with AACE and has led to an ongoing appreciation of institutional dynamics and the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. Lynette has experience of working in all areas of the business since joining AACE in 2012, leading to a depth of knowledge and understanding of how the company operates. She has held a position on the Senior Leadership Team since its inception in 2014 and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2016, where she has played a crucial role in determining the strategic direction of the company. As the daughter of AACE founder and owner Rick Hussey, she is highly motivated to promote the heritage of the company and to ensure it continues to represent the Hussey family and their values of delivering excellence to their customers whilst fostering a strong team ethos amongst their employees and associates.

Job Titles:

• Commerical Director
• Operations Manager Contracts

Matt Laverton joined AACE in 2009 following a 31 year career in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer branch of Army Aviation, specialising in aircraft engineering, technical support services and project management. He has substantial in-service and project team experience of rotary-wing platforms and ground mission support systems. More recently supporting the Chinook Project Team across various programmes and working closely with their industry partner to adhere to approved support solutions. Whilst retaining his engineering and support background he now fulfils the role of AACE Commercial Director, utilising his wealth of technical and project management experience in support of business growth and development. Matt is currently studying to attain IACCM Practitioner status.

Job Titles:

• Non - Executive Director
• Operations Director
• Principal
• Safety Consultant

Ron Ousby joined AACE in September 2015 after a 32-year Royal Air Force career as an Aerosystems engineering officer working in UK and overseas. As well as numerous front-line roles, he has provided Capability Management in Army HQ; been Directing Staff at the UK Defence Academy and undertaken four tours in safety, airworthiness and regulator roles at MOD Abbey Wood. On joining AACE, Ron was the Principal Safety Consultant seeking to further develop the complex system safety offering from AACE. As well as delivery roles, he has supported the development of the AACE Group business model and continued to provide assurance of safety, airworthiness and compliance deliverables. In 2017, Ron became the Operations Director for the AACE Group and in June 2020, he moved into a newly established role of Safety Director to focus on growing the AACE Group Safety and Environmental Services capability. He remains a member of the Senior Leadership Team, assuring all safety related outputs and is the Company Board Level Contact for Security. He is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Member of the Chartered Management Institute. Ron Ousby joined AACE as the Principal Safety Consultant in September 2015 after a 32-year Royal Air Force career as an Aerosystems engineering officer working in UK and overseas. He spent most of his early career working with fast jets and complex weapon systems and worked in Defence Intelligence, aircraft depth maintenance and strategic fleet management roles before his first tour at, what is now the, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) HQ at MOD Abbey Wood. He followed that with roles managing complex weapon integration and large aircraft operations before focusing on systems safety and airworthiness. This ranged from training delivery to type certification and an extended period as the MOD's airworthiness regulator within the Military Aviation Authority as it was established. He also produced policy and led the Army's first Capability Management team for UK Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search capability. On joining AACE, Ron was the Principal Safety Consultant seeking to further develop the complex system safety offering from AACE. He provided safety support to MOD's Merlin and Puma teams, and was the Chief Engineer for the Sentry Capability Sustainment Programme in its early stages. More widely, he has supported the development of the new AACE Group business model and continued to provide assurance of safety, airworthiness and compliance deliverables. From March 2015, Ron became the Operations Director for the AACE Group and is now responsible for delivering the outputs from AACE and Allyance to meet the customers' requirements, whilst supporting the development of new business and attracting new Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel to support the AACE group growth aspirations. He is a chartered engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Chartered Management Institute.