Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Highly skilled global transport and business development leader with strong strategy, finance, business transformation and restructuring background, leader in project and change management, excellent negotiation and influencing skills at all levels, strong written and verbal skills, rigorous analytical mind, self-starter. I have extensive experience developing strategic plans to improve and sustain commercial performance, having worked in a variety of roles for many airlines around the world, including in Australia, the Middle East and Europe. This includes rigorous market and competitor analysis to identify issues and opportunities and the implementation of new strategies to improve revenue and bottom line performance. I have in-depth experience dealing with suppliers, having led both the analysis and negotiations of many commercial deals, including the lease and purchase of aircraft, interline and codeshare agreements between airlines, and general sales agreements between airlines. I have direct experience managing large-scale strategic projects for a range of companies; from introducing transformative commercial and operational initiatives for a European airline, to creating new domestic airlines and logistical operations in Asia and the Pacific Islands, and creating and leading new departments and teams at airlines to enhance oversight, governance and improve commercial effectiveness. These required both strong leadership and relationship building skills to ensure cross functional or new teams remained engaged and aligned to ensure project deliverables were met.
Qatar Executive (QE) is the Corporate jet arm of Qatar Airways, consisting of a fleet of 27 aircraft including Gulfstream G650ER, Bombardier Global 5000, Airbus and Boeing corporate jets. QE operates as an independent airline under it's own AOC with a portfolio that includes aircraft charters, aircraft management, maintenance and fixed base operator (FBO) services. The VVIP jets operate globally with on demand charters and longer term block hour agreements. Adding Cargo to my portfolio of responsibilities from Sep 2023. As the #1 Cargo carrier in the world with 31 freighters and over 250 passenger aircraft, Qatar Airways Cargo continues to grow in every direction, requiring very stringent controls and processes to ensure the business is kept on track and continues to perform at the top level. Leading all finance functions for each unit and digging deeper to deliver sustainable improvements to each business through enhanced processes and performance metrics.
• Seconded from Etihad Airways to help develop and lead a restructuring/turn around program, encompassing the implementation of new commercial and operational systems and develop a change program across various departments to improve commercial performance at the airline. • Led a change program in the Strategy and Planning department to ensure necessary transformative initiatives were implemented effectively to deliver revenue increases of €100m per annum. • Established a new department to improve governance and best practice for aircraft decisions, conducted a group wide aircraft realignment program to support new directional strategy, cabin reconfigurations, and new aircraft introductions. • Transformation lead for the operations department tasked with identifying and implementing structural changes to ensure continuous stable and profitable operations.
• Drove the strategic aircraft requirements for the airline and portfolio partners to ensure the right aircraft were available to meet the airline’s strategic goals. • Development of a fleet strategy blueprint that matched the airline’s growth requirements over the next 20 year period, which was used as the basis for an order of 199 aircraft. Led the aircraft renewal plans for smaller partner airlines, including the sourcing, negotiation and finalising of aircraft contracts and entry into service of the aircraft. • Program manager for the A380/B787 programs, leading a cross functional team to deliver the award winning configuration product on time and within budget. Influenced Boeing to change their internal aircraft program mandate to ensure Etihad requirements were delivered. • Lead for various projects, such as optimising configuration of aircraft and weight management programs to reduce aircraft weight and improve commercial efficiencies across all aircraft types. Delivered cost savings of US$55m per annum.