DirtyPierre:
This is slightly off the subject of this thread, so I won't prolong the discussion on "aviation professional" any longer than today, but I think you may be under a misconception re Bernie Smith's background and experience.
I seem to recall that his background is avionics engineering and that he was the head of AWA's avionics division for a while, when they used to do the majority of avionics R&D and maintenance in Oz. He then went on to become CEO for the Victorian Gas Authority for a while before coming to ASA.
I might be wrong but I don't think BS was ever a "bean counter" and I don't think he was ever the CFO for ASA. In fact, I don't even think he was in ASA when Bill Pollard left. I think he applied for, and won, the job in his own right.
Cheers mate.