Ask Paul Hodgen about his airport career and he’ll be the first to admit that it almost never happened. “In 1978, I left uni in Northern Ireland, having completed a thesis on ground transportation at Dublin Airport and was actually offered a job in London as an airport planner with the British Airports Authority,” Hodgen says. “But I turned it down to work with British Airways.” “I then ended up working in airlines ...
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North Queensland Airports chief executive officer Norris Carter sees a real opportunity for airports to build their place in the community. He believes the travelling public appreciates the work of airports to provide the best possible first and last impression of their cities and towns, but want to know more about how airports are working in partnership with their communities. It’s a focus he sees the Australian Airports Association (AAA) playing a ...
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At an Australian Airports Association (AAA) division meeting in the Northern Territory town of Gove last year, the representatives of two regional airports raised some issues they were having with their airfield lighting. They were looking for advice on how to address the issue after being unable to solve the problem on their own. They started talking, and together were able to work out a solution for both of their airports. And ...
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As a consultant early in her career, Jane Rotsey had the chance to be airside the day Prime Minister Paul Keating officially opened Sydney Airport’s new parallel runway. It was a day that represented the beginnings of a long association with the airport over the course of her career. Today, Jane leads the key portfolio of safety, sustainability and environment at the nation’s busiest airport. She says those early days in the industry ...
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Those that have long worked in the aviation industry understand just how unique an airport community can be. Airport precincts can function like a city or town on their own, with a wide range of businesses operating in many capacities. People come and go in large numbers, creating a complex environment for the safety personnel charged with ensuring the safe passage of travellers, staff and visitors. It’s this dynamic, ever-changing environment that is ...
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Christina Hayes, Civil Engineer - Transport, GHD What are your typical daily work activities at GHD? My typical tasks involve pavement condition inspections and assessments, airport site selection studies, master planning, and pavement design and maintenance for major airports in Australia. How did you get your start in the airport industry? Although my engineering degree majored in both transport and structural engineering, I was keen to apply myself within the transportation sector due to ...
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Hobart Airport CEO Sarah Renner set her sights on a career in aviation very early on. But it was her dad’s advice that really ignited the spark to pursue a leadership role in the industry. She says it all started with a conversation about what she wanted to do when she grew up, while walking through the Olgas at the age of 12. “I said that I wanted to travel the world ...
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Alicia Burgmann, Head of Sustainability, Sydney Airport How did you get your start in the airport sector? I joined Sydney Airport as Head of Sustainability at the beginning of this year. I’m really excited to join the Sydney Airport team and the industry after a decade in the energy sector, working in sustainability, social responsibility and stakeholder engagement on energy projects across Papua New Guinea, Chile and Indonesia. I started my career in ...
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North Queensland Airports (NQA) health and safety advisor Janice van der Zwaan started her working life a long way from the airfield. She spent over 10 years as a zookeeper in New Zealand and Australia and acknowledges it was “a bit of a journey” from there to a life in aviation. But on closer inspection, Janice’s “zoo life” was a formative part of her later career as a health and safety expert. “I ...
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Despite growing up around a father who was a full-time electrician and a keen pilot, Sarah never dreamt she’d be carving out a successful career as an aviation electrician. After working at Canberra Airport for more than nine years, Sarah is loving the role and the challenges it brings. There are still many more men than females in this field of work and Sarah hopes for more diversity in the ...
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