OPS SWAP Forum 2024

Rachel Yangoyan was appointed CEO of QantasLink in November 2023.  She was previously Executive Manager Qantas Aircraft Programs, overseeing the entry into service of the airline’s new aircraft, including QantasLink’s Airbus A220.  Between 2019 and 2022 Rachel was the Executive Manager of Customer Experience and Operations, responsible for cabin crew and international airports.  Since joining the Group in 2003, she has also held senior positions in airports and loyalty, as well as serving in customer, revenue management and strategy roles for QantasLink between 2007 and 2012.  Rachel has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Ken has participated as an adviser to ICAO Visual Aids Working Group and Aerodrome Design and Operations Planning Group, assisting to achieve standards changes to facilitate A380 and Low Visibility Operations.

He is a member of Boeing and Airbus working groups and has participated in the MOS Part 139 Planning Group / GRF Working Group and 5G implementation group.

Ken has received a AAA award for Runway 34L Reduced Length High Intensity Approach and Lighting System as well as an award from the Australian and International Pilots Association for dedication to aviation safety.

Tom Ashover is the Wildlife Management & Planning Coordinator for Brisbane Airport Corporation. Tom has 18 years’ experience in the aviation industry with a passion for exploring and driving innovative sustainable solutions.

Caroline is an internationally renowned Project Director and thought leader with 25 years’ experience across an array of projects and industries worldwide. She’s a Director on the Board of the Society of Construction Law Australia where she too chairs the Thought Leadership Subcommittee.

Matt Bender has worked in airport operations and compliance roles for more than 18 years across Queensland Airports Limited’s (QAL) ports in Townsville and on the Gold Coast.

In his current role as Manager Airside Operations & Standards for Gold Coast Airport, Matt is responsible for overseeing GCA’s Aviation team, ensuring the successful delivery of multiple capital works, systems improvements and new terminal and apron operating environments. Most recently Matt also played a significant hosting role in the inaugural Pacific Airshow in Australia.

Nick Bloor is Founder & CEO of the IVM Group; Australia’s leading green technology group specialising in integrated vegetation management (IVM) for aviation. With over 35 years of experience, Nick has a particular passion for innovation and technology development to reduce risk & improve safety.

Gareth is a highly experienced senior aviation consultant and manager, with more than 12 years’ experience at major airports in the UK, including as Airside Operations and Safety Manager at Bristol International Airport. His experience in airport compliance, strategic planning and risk mitigation saw him move to Australia to undertake the role of Development Planner (Technical Lead, Aviation) for the Western Sydney Airport. He has also held senior aviation roles in operations, planning and design for global consultancies.

Alex is responsible for business development of digital solutions for apron operations focusing on efficiency, sustainability and safety. Alex joined ADB SAFEGATE in 2018 and has utilised his engineering background to provide innovative solutions to airports globally on how to effectively manage their apron operations.

Riley Mackay has worked in various airport operational roles at Gold Coast Airport (GCA) over the past 5 years, 3 years of which have been with Queensland Airports Limited (QAL). In Riley’s current role as GCA’s Airside Operations Supervisor he leads the Airside Operations team, responsible for ensuring safe, compliant and efficient airfield operations.

He also oversees the coordination and execution of airfield capital works projects, airfield pavement maintenance activities and the implementation GCA’s Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.

Alexandra Stone is a highly experienced wildlife hazard management consultant at Avisure. She has worked with national and international clients on wildlife hazard management including Gold Coast Airport, Cairns Airport, Sydney and Western Sydney Airport, Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport, Changi International Airport, Hawke’s Bay Airport and New Zealand Defence Force. She has extensive experience in conducting wildlife surveys, active hazard management, wildlife risk assessments, compliance audits, significant strike investigations, and developing wildlife hazard assessments and wildlife hazard management plans.

• Initial Aviation career started in the RAN. Navy helicopter pilot, then became a Qualified Flying Instructor working for the RAAF at the Advanced Flying Training School RAAF Pearce
• Joined Qantas as a Second Officer on B747-400 August 1989
• Promoted Captain B767 April 2001
• B767 Type Rated Instructor 2005. Subsequentially became a LOSA auditor.
• Joined QF Management 2011 as B767 Fleet Manager
• 2013 Appointed QF Mainline Head of Flying Operations
• 2015 QF Head of Fleet Operations
• Departed QF during pandemic December 2020 after 31 year career
• Worked for NSW Health Emergency Operations Centre during pandemic
• Joined RFDS SA/NT in 2023 as Executive General Manager Aviation

Chris Harvey has 24 years of aviation expertise and joined AIRDAT in 2016 setting up AIRDAT’s training base at London Luton Airport. As Training and Compliance Director he was responsible for all training and compliance operations, risk assessment, audits and consultancy projects before taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2023.

Glen Dodds is Head of Airside at Darwin International Airport and is responsible for the safety, operations and compliance of the airfield. Glen has an extensive aviation background working in Airtraffic control for both Defence and Airservices Australia.

Despite his youthful good looks, Stu is a 33-yr aviation industry veteran. After completing an Engineering apprenticeship at Qantas in the 90’s, Stu joined the RAAF in search of more excitement. A 15-yr career as a Flight Engineer saw him travel the world until injury forced a career change. He then moved into technology product development and management at Virgin Australia, leading all aspects of the in-flight and ground customer facing technology systems. Stu then co-founded AVEM Insight to improve the way that wildlife risk is managed and communicated across our diverse industry.

Rishi is currently CEO and President of Waisl, an IT Services and Digital Airport Company. Waisl has grown its revenue and customer-base multi-fold under his leadership and won a few prestigious awards in the Industry like Best Service Provider in Airports Technology 2023, Times Business Award 2023, Frost & Sullivan – Best Practices Technology Innovation Leadership 2023,    Forbes India Select 200 companies 2024 etc.

Prior to leading Waisl, Rishi has held global leadership roles with large, tier1 companies as well as start-ups (including running his own start-up)  in Silicon Valley, California, USA like Verizon, CommScope, Ruckus Wireless, Brocade, Ericsson, Tellabs, Caspian Networks, eWebWatch, Nokia, Stratus etc. He has hands-on leadership experience in managing P&L, Product Management, Strategy, Engineering, Business planning in various domains spanning Airports,  Telecom, Smart Cities, Enterprise, Hospitality and Education. Holds 7 US patents across various technologies spanning networking, cloud, mobility and several more pending across digital technologies. He is a regular speaker in technology, business forums.

Rishi’s academic accomplishments include being an alumnus of UC Berkeley, California, USA, where he earned his MBA, an MS in Computer Engineering from SCU, California, USA, and a BE in E&C Engineering from IIT Roorkee, India. When he is not leading 600-member-strong #TeamWAISL, Rishi can be found pursuing his hobbies – swimming, playing tennis/squash, reading and learning.

Gautam leads WAISL in South East Asia including Australia & New Zealand. With over 23 years of experience in technology system integration (SI) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services, Gautam has proven leadership in complex multi-vendor environments such as airports, metro trains, high-speed rail and smart cities.

Chris now works with organisations on matters of leadership, with a particular focus on staff engagement and manager – staff relations.

He has established peer support programs in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore.

A regular corporate speaker on the psychology, mental health, safety, and legal and aviation conference circuit in Australia and overseas, he presents on radio and has been a contributing writer for the Sunday Mail Newspaper.

In 2012, he was awarded the Master Air Pilot Certificate by Buckingham Palace for services to the aviation industry.

Luc Ramalinga is the Australian Aviation Sector Lead at TSA Management oversees the delivery of complex and innovative aviation projects across the country. Luc has 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, spanning management and design of critical infrastructure at airports.

Nathanael Thomas has been inspecting all types of aerodromes throughout Australia for more than 10 years. Prior to that he has installed lighting systems and completed linemarkings at many aerodromes around Australia. Nathanael also had a 10year tenure as an AAA Director representing small aerodromes.

Lisa is an Airport Engineer specialising in airside design, compliance, construction and strategic asset management. She is dedicated to pragmatic problem-solving, effective stakeholder engagement, executing meticulous planning and strategic thinking to foster seamless collaboration across various disciplines.