Professor nigel maclennan

Professor Mac has been coaching C level leaders for over 35 years. He loves to solve previously unsolved problems, develop improved solutions to leadership and management challenges, or ideally prevent problems before they arise. So far, he has written 22 books and published hundreds of articles in the field of leadership, performance coaching (the subject of his doctorate), and wellbeing. He has led the successful turnaround of several national scale organisations. Nigel was the Director of the then Institute of Management who championed the introduction of best-practice governance that led to the award of Chartered status to the now Chartered Institute of Management.

Nigel qualified a Chartered Psychologist and was awarded Fellowship of the BPS for multiple original contributions to the psychology of leadership coaching. Recently, he won a landmark legal case, which has, for the first time in UK history, given legal protections from retaliation for those trustees who are legally obliged to report charity wrongdoing to the authorities.

At v1-rotate.co.uk, our mission is to improve the decision-making process for those interested in aviation, and, those unaware that a career in aviation awaits them.  This requires collaboration at the highest levels of our institutions 

A bit about Paul will follow shortly....

Our team is made up of dedicated professionals and volunteers who are passionate about making a difference in our communities. We work tirelessly to ensure that our programs and services are meeting the needs of those we serve.

My journey through the aviation industry has been anything but linear—it has been a story of growth, adaptation, and a relentless desire to explore new horizons. From piloting aircraft to managing safety systems, to mentoring aspiring professionals, I’ve learned that each step, even the unexpected ones, builds a foundation for success and a deeper understanding of this dynamic field.  I began my career as a Flight Instructor, immersing myself in the technical and human aspects of aviation. Teaching students to navigate the skies not only honed my technical expertise but also sparked my passion for guiding others. This role taught me that being a great aviator isn’t just about skill—it’s about mindset, safety awareness, and an appreciation for the interconnected systems that keep aviation moving.
Driven by a curiosity for the bigger picture, I transitioned into safety management and human factors, where I worked to develop and implement Safety Management Systems (SMS), Fatigue Risk Management, and Flight Data Monitoring programs. At Flylogix and other organisations, I experienced the cutting edge of innovation, balancing emerging technologies with the unwavering demands of safety and regulatory compliance.  Another pivotal moment came when I transitioned into academia as a Lecturer in Aviation Operations. This role allowed me to bridge the gap between theory and practice, using my industry experience to prepare students for real-world challenges. Integrating research on human factors and safety strategies into my teaching deepened my belief in the power of education to shape the future of aviation.
Each pivot in my career—from the cockpit to the classroom and beyond—has given me a unique perspective on the aviation industry. These experiences have reinforced my belief in the importance of adaptability, resilience, and the willingness to embrace opportunities outside one’s comfort zone.
Today, I am passionate about sharing the lessons I’ve learned and giving back to the industry that has given me so much. Whether mentoring future pilots, working with industry professionals, or contributing to research, I strive to inspire others to navigate their own aviation journeys with confidence and curiosity. My hope is to help the NEXTGEN of aviators take flight, equipped with the knowledge and perspective to make informed decisions.

My aviation career over the past 20 years has taken me from Cabin Crew into the British Airport Authority airline billing and account management roles and part of the project team for the sale of the UK's largest Airports transition to new owners. Having trained also for my pilot's licence as a single mother with two teenage daughters and realising that I had to give up my dream of flying commercial due to an abrupt eyesight issue, I moved into the flight training academy industry which has seen me relocate abroad with two young daughters alone and the challenges of this including education and learning to speak Spanish for my kids who are now tri lingual. Within my career I have encouraged the next generation of pilots by holding seminars worldwide attending aviation events as a speaker and networking. I have worked as a Base Manager, Operations and then set up my own Satellite ATO during the Covid pandemic delivering ATPL exams at my centre in London. I have worked as cabin crew for British Airways on mixed fleet A320/321,A380, B777 , B787 and currently hold a valid attestation on these Aircraft. I am also involved in several individual projects from AOC set up, private jet charter and consultancy work.  My social media network and worldwide contacts have been pivotal in forging vital industry connections, online and through social media platforms, fostering an environment of integrity, openness and excellence by encouraging the younger generation into our industry and Upholding high standards in training. My experience has encouraged several individuals into the aviation industry worldwide by aspiring pilots and cabin crew, aligning with my mission to shape the future of aviation through unwavering dedication and a clear commitment to quality training, advice and motivational mentoring.

Niall qualified as a doctor from Trinity College, Dublin in 1993. He trained as a surgeon in Belfast and received his FRCSI in 1997. He was a trainee in cardio-thoracic surgery working as an SHO in the Royal Victoria Hospital before returning to Dublin where he worked as a registrar in the National Cardiac Surgery Unit.

He subsequently retrained as an airline pilot with Aer Lingus in 1999 and combined aviation with medicine by working as an Accident & Emergency doctor for six years before focusing fully on aviation. After operating as a co-pilot on both the European and Trans-Atlantic fleets, he qualified as a captain in 2010. He is currently operating the Airbus A320 European fleet and also on the A321neo Trans-Atlantic fleet.

In 2011, he formed Frameworkhealth Ltd, a company providing aviation-style safety training modified specifically for healthcare which draws on his thirty-five years of experience between both industries. This project aims to share aviation’s Safety Management System with healthcare in order to address the huge issue of Adverse Events, usually caused by systemic faults but often blamed on the last individual to have touched the ball. Niall aims to encourage healthcare to adopt a Just Culture, embed a systemic Human Factors approach and empower patients and their families to speak up as part of the crew.

He has provided courses for the new practice-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland in conjunction with NICPLD and has spoken at conferences in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Alderhey Trust in Liverpool, the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow, the GMC, the PDA, the BMI London Independent Hospital and the Homerton Hospital in London. Internationally, he has spoken at the World Football Academy Expert Meeting in Lisbon on Error Management’s application in soccer and at the European Solid Organ Transplantation conference in Copenhagen in September 2019. In 2016, Niall was a speaker at TEDx Stormont in Belfast. He was also appointed as an Expert Advisor to advise the Northern Ireland Executive’s new Improvement Institute which is being set up under the Bengoa Report on how aviation can help healthcare address the huge issue of human error and learn to manage it.

More recently, he has spoken virtually at conferences organized by the Royal College of Physicians, London and the Society of Surgical Simulation and in person for the Irish Association of Vascular Surgeons, at the annual Safety Training Day in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, the UK Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons in Belfast and the Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery annual conference in Cork.