Meet the Team
DAMIEN HAYS - Chief Pilot & Director
Damien has been flying since 1990. Damien grew up in the Avon Valley, home to ballooning in Western Australia, and has been involved with the sport since an early age. Damien has flown commercially in the Hunter Valley & Camden in New South Wales, the Yarra Valley and at Hanging Rock in Victoria, Cairns in Queensland, the Meander Valley in Tasmania and of course home in the Avon, and holds endorsements to fly balloons up to 400,000 cubic foot in capacity, Australia’s largest class of balloon. He also holds Instructors’ ratings for both Commercial and Private training and has logged around 2000 hours flying balloons. No pilot in Australia has more experience flying balloons over the Avon Valley than Damien.
GREN PUTLAND - Senior Pilot
Gren has been flying balloons since 1977 and is one of the foundation members of the Western Australian Balloon & Airship Club. He is an Authorised Test Officer approved by Civil Aviation Safery Authority (Australia) as well as a Commercial Examiner and Instructor (Balloons). His achievements in hot air ballooning include representing Australia at two World Championships, placing 8th in 1983, an Australian altitude record set in 1980, and firsts such as flying from Rottnest Island to the Mainland as well as flying over the Stirling Ranges in the South of Western Australia. Gren established Windward Balloon Adventures in the early 1980’s and after selling the business to Damien in 1998 he still likes to maintain a close involvement. With over 30 years experience of flying hot air balloons in the Avon Valley he is a great asset to Windward.
GEOFF HOWE - Pilot
Geoff has been flying balloons since 1997. Geoff hails from the east coast, normally Canberra, but has decided to head West to do some flying for Windward during our peak periods. Geoff has flown balloons in places such as Canberra, Parramatta, Longford in Tasmania, Mildura, and Lithuania as well as the Avon Valley. He is one of the few balloons pilots to have flown his balloon from Wilpena Pound and across the rugged Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Geoff holds his Private Instructors rating and has assisted many new balloonists to achieve their private balloon pilots certificate.
LEON WACHOWSKI - Head of Ground Operations
Leon has been working for Windward for over 9 years and now is responsible for co-ordinating, supervising and training our team of ground support specialists. Leon is also a fledgling balloon pilot holding his student pilots certificate and having done a few hours of training towards attaining his private pilots certificate.
HEATHER MEIKLEM - Customer Services Manager
Heather joined us in 2004 and has become an integral part of our bookings office team. When she is not managing our busy bookings office she is bringing up two teenagers as well as assisting with various community organisations around town. Heather is dedicated to making sure our customers’ booking needs are met and their questions are answered, and her passion for her job is most evident to all of our customers who she speaks with. She is a great inspiration to all at Windward!
JENELLE MORGAN - Customer Service Officer
Jenelle joined us during 2008 after she decided she wasn’t required at home as much to raise her teenage daughter. Jenelle has been conscientiously involved in various community organisations in Northam for many years and is very proud of her involvement with the Avon Valley Arts Society and the annual Eisteddfod. Jenelle brings a rye sense of humour to our office and she’ll be more than happy to field any questions about ballooning that you have.