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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Sydney Metro Airports CEO Lee de Winton was "luckily" posted into an air traffic control role early in her career with the Royal Navy. This fortuitous posting sparked a lifelong career in aviation that has taken her around the world - from defence posts in Baghdad, Sudan and Afghanistan to her current role as the chief executive officer of Sydney Metro Airports. "It's one of those things when you get the bug, ...

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From a medical scientist working in the fields of microbiology and viral serology, to the Systems and Standards Manager at Perth Airport, Jenny’s career has had an unusual path. Along the way, Jenny has advanced quickly to senior positions in aviation compliance, management relief, commercial roles and overall airport management at airports across the country. We spoke to Jenny about how her career has developed and the advice she would offer ...

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When an 18-year-old Brian Greeves joined the Royal Air Force in England there was not a single female on his officer cadet course. Thankfully things are very different now and throughout his career Brian has had the pleasure of working with some of the world’s most successful female pilots and leaders. As a strong advocate for diversity in the workplace and a champion of mentoring young aspiring leaders, Brian is pleased to ...

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Not only has Sharon Ross been the driving force behind the major redevelopment of Parkes Regional Airport but she has also shown outstanding commitment to the wider community. In 2015, Sharon’s achievements were recognised at the NSW Minister's Awards for Women in Local Government for her role as Manager Support Services at Parkes Shire Council. How did your career in airports begin? When I joined Parkes Regional Council in 1992 as a Secretary. ...

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