Conference Speakers

Alicia has almost 20 years of airport experience at Cairns Airport having worked across commercial, aviation development and operations. As commercial lead, Alicia delivered many firsts for Cairns Airport including walk through duty free and covered car parking products. Alicia now leads all operational aspects at Cairns Airport including terminal operations, security and aerodrome operations including liaison with government and regulatory bodies. She also sits on a number of national committees with industry and government.

Amy has nearly 30 years’ experience in the aviation industry across both airline and airport operations.

Amy is passionate about enhancing customer experience and is a strong advocate for accessibility. With a focus on collaboration and engagement across diverse teams, Amy has successfully managed daily airport operations and led the delivery of a diverse range of projects and initiatives related to security, terminal operations, customer experience and quality assurance.

Amy holds a Masters in Aviation and Bachelor of Management (Marketing)

Dr Bojana Spasojevic is an interdisciplinary tourism and air transport management researcher and Lecturer in Aviation Management at Griffith University, Australia. Her research uses stakeholder engagement theory as a problem-solving framework. Apart from her research work in stakeholder engagement and air route development, Spasojevic’s research expertise includes passenger/tourist behaviour, travel confidence and air travel emission. Her recent work in the passenger experience area uses innovative technology with the aim of revolutionising passenger survey practices.

Cameron joined APAC in 2023. As Revenue and Distribution Manager Ground Transport he is responsible for the yielding strategies of Melbourne Airport’s 24,000 car parks. Cameron has 14 years experience in the Hotel Accommodation sector bringing a customer first focus to his role. Cameron has worked across multiple markets in Revenue Management roles within Luxury & Apartment Hotel brands. Prior to joining Melbourne Airport Cameron worked in the Healthcare sector where he led a team focused on digital healthcare delivery.

Carly is all about working through complex problems and developing implementable solutions. She is a natural problem solver, organiser and motivator and has been using these skills to onboard every airport in New Zealand who uses the OneReg platform.

With an MA in Public Policy and Management, she continuously looks to improve processes through innovative solutions and ensuring there is a strong evidence base makes her jump for joy!

Cindy Varnier is a Principal Consultant with 15 years’ experience spanning both operational management and consulting services. She is part of AECOM’s Sustainability & Resilience Practice and has been working with airports across Australia and Asia Pacific to build their resilience to the physical effects of climate change in response to global decarbonisation shifts. Cindy has conducted numerous climate change and broader resilience assessments for large infrastructure projects, connecting the findings of technical studies to enterprise-wide strategy, risk and planning.

Claire Donnellan is a respected industry expert with over 30 years of experience in aviation across regional and international airlines and airports. She is an MBA and IAP designated and certified human-led design thinker and a former inhouse operations manager and customer experience practitioner. Her experience ranges from developing customer strategies and conceptual operations to undertaking stakeholder engagement activities. She combines an empathetic understanding of customer and aviation operations, to help shape and/or peer review experience and operational concepts across all stages of project development lifecycles. Her focus is to support organisations as they implement and apply their customer-related commitments and practices to major projects, foster team alignment and build capability and corporate practices. This ranges from regional to major airports, national and global industry associations, commercially driven assets, and inclusivity-focused not-for-profits. Claire currently supports multiple businesses and associations in an advisory capacity as they set and realign corporate strategies.

Dan Parsons is part of Wisk’s South-East Queensland team working on network & infrastructure development. With over 15 years of experience as an aviation safety and airport operations professional, Dan has worked as an airport consultant, regulator and operations manager in Australia, New Zealand and Qatar. Dan has also worked in international standards and education role with a focus on airport management and development.

Jared has over 12 years’ of experience within the sector across regional, major and capital city airports along with two and half at the peak industry body, the Australian Airports Association. In his role as General Manager Operations & Service Delivery, Jared and his team are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of Gold Coast Airport across the airfield, terminal, security and emergency planning function along with ensuring a high level of service to all passengers, customers and stakeholders.

Nathan is the National Business Group Lead for Asset Performance with NTRO. Nathan is an Infrastructure Specialist with over 20 years’ experience as a Manager, Civil Engineer, and Designer. He has previously held positions as a Technical Director and the Manager several departments both as a client and service provider. He has also held the position of Airfield Facilities Manager and resident Civil Engineer at Melbourne Airport, where he was responsible for all airside civil assets.

Patrick Keogh is a Principal Consultant of AvLogix Solutions with over twenty years’ experience in the aviation industry. His particular focus is designing and implementing automation systems for baggage handling, cargo and parcel freight systems.

Patrick is a Chartered Professional Engineer in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation as well as a registered Project Director with the Australian Institute of Project Managers. Key projects include major baggage handling systems for Western Sydney, Sydney KSA, Melbourne, Adelaide and Gold Coast Airports.

Simon is CEO/MD of Eagle Aviation Consulting, with 40 years’ experience and expertise in Airport business transformation and optimisation, including first-ever New Zealand customer self-service kiosk product programme. Over the past 20 years, he has provided expert advice and analysis in the Middle East/Central Asia regions on airline and airport performance.

He has led aviation planning and airport performance projects in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Central Asia, and NZ/Pacific Islands for Civil Aviation, governments, airports, airlines, and investors.

Steven Harding is the Chief Executive Officer for the Shire of East Pilbara, which is Australia’s largest Local Government, and spans 372,571sq km. As CEO for three years has Civil Engineering qualifications, and MBA and Legal qualifications.

Steven has also presented numerous technical presentations in China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia on the subject of water, wastewater, methane capture and carbon. He has also served on State Government Advisory Committees and represented Australia on trade mission delegations.

Todd Chapman is the principal of Leading Edge Management Consulting and works with organisations who need support and expertise going through complex change and transformation. Todd leverages proven systems and personal skills honed in more than 25 years of working in senior roles within Australia’s most successful airlines.