Gladstone Regional Council today (May 15) appointed former Queensland Treasurer, the Hon. Dr David Hamill AM as the inaugural Chairperson of Gladstone Airport Corporation.
 
Joining Dr Hamill on the board are five, non-executive directors: Owen Williams (Deputy Chair), Elizabeth Baker, Brad Bowes, John George and Tony Goodwin.

Making the announcement at today's meeting of the newly sworn-in Council, Mayor Gail Sellers congratulated Dr Hamill on his appointment.
 
"We are delighted to have attracted candidates of the calibre of Dr Hamill and his colleagues to help lead Gladstone's airport business into an exciting growth phase," Cr Sellers said.

"The challenges presented by this growth demanded that we had the best available candidates leading the business, but we were conscious that local representation was also retained.
 
"I believe that our robust recruitment process, in which we conducted a nationwide search for skilled directors using independent recruitment expertise, has delivered us that right mix of skills, experience and background."

Dr Hamill was very pleased to learn of his appointment and of the make-up of the balance of his board.
 
"I am personally honoured to have been offered the opportunity to Chair the inaugural board of Gladstone Airport Corporation and I look forward to working with my new colleagues and the airport staff on charting a course for the challenging business that is Gladstone Airport," Dr Hamill said.
 
"Gladstone Airport is a critical asset for the region, with so many people relying on it as a transport or freight hub and it is an incredible responsibility to be asked to lead the business on a path of continued capital development and record passenger growth."
 
The first task for the new board is to interview candidates for the position of CEO and this will happen in the next couple of weeks.

"None of the directors are under any illusion about the importance of Gladstone Airport being able to co-exist in a growing urban community and we will expect our new CEO to take that responsibility very seriously," Dr Hamill said.
 
Gladstone Airport Corporation commences operation as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gladstone Regional Council on July 1, 2012.

Gladstone Airport Corporation Board

David Hamill (Chairperson)

David Hamill has been a professional non-executive director since 2001, including roles as Director of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP and Chairman of Envirogen Pty Ltd. Prior to 2001, he was a Member of the Queensland Parliament for 18 years including serving as Queensland Treasurer as well as in the Education and Transport portfolios. His qualifications include Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts (Politics and Economics), Bachelor of Arts (Government) with Honours, and Company Directors Course of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Dr Hamill is a member of various professional associations including Fellow of the AICD and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport. He is actively involved in community welfare and youth and not-for-profit organisations including serving as Chairman of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

Owen Williams

Owen Williams is a senior professional and an experienced non-executive director with a career in business financing and risk management. He has aviation industry experience as an airport and aircraft financier and airport director. Mr Williams' career experience includes more than 30 years in project and structured financing, re-financing, investment management, investment banking, start-ups and growth projects for government and private sector clients as a senior executive. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics, Master of Taxation Law, Postgraduate Investment Banking Program and a Graduate Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Current and past board experience includes Hobart International Airport Pty limited, Tasmanian Ports Corporation Ltd and Yellow Brick Road Group.

Elizabeth Baker

Elizabeth Baker is an experienced commercial/corporate in-house lawyer with more than 20 years experience encompassing a broad array of practice areas in the Australian and international contexts. Her career experience extends to various in-house legal counsel roles in the pharmaceutical and banking industries as well as a legal officer in the Primary Industries Corporation. Since 2000, Ms Baker has been employed as the General Counsel for Queensland Alumina Limited in which she is responsible for the company's legal functions, regulatory compliance and corporate administration. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws and Graduate Certificate of Employment Relations. She holds a current practising certificate as a solicitor in Queensland and is Queensland Law Society accredited mediator, as well as a member of various professional associations.

Brad Bowes

Brad Bowes is a senior executive with 18 years experience in a variety of commercial, operational, and corporate roles in airport management and development, with particular expertise in advising on best practice systems and processes including governance, risk management and compliance, business resilience, safety management and administrative efficiency in highly regulated environments. Dr Bowes' career experience includes head of governance, risk compliance and legal services for the Brisbane Airport Corporation and its predecessor entity from 1997 to 2010.  He is the Head of Governance and Corporate Secretariat for Translink and his qualifications include a Master of Commercial Law, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Commerce and Management, Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) Fellow and past Queensland Chairman of Chartered Secretaries Australia.

John George

John George is an experienced businessman with a background in accountancy and finance and wide experience in managing and advising businesses in domestic and international markets. He has a broad range of financial experience as an account in the private sector, Assistant Director for the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, director in funds management and private equity companies, and as Chief Financial Officer in an ASX 200 company. Mr George currently advises a range of public and private sector clients on issues including strategy and business planning, business turnaround, growth and corporatisation strategies, and management buy outs. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Business and being accredited as a Certified Practising Accountant. Mr George's key areas of expertise include financial accounting, corporate finance, governance, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, corporate turnarounds, and capital raising (debt and equity).

Tony Goodwin

Tony Goodwin has an extensive legal career and has been a business owner in the Gladstone Region for more than 40 years. Mr Goodwin has career experience in legal practice in a wide range of areas including criminal, commercial and contract law and has undertaken wide-ranging negotiation and advisory work. He is skilled at problem solving, people management and creating solutions to identified issues. Mr Goodwin has extensive community involvement in the Gladstone Region in the areas of sports and parks, law associations, university, housing, Gladstone Harbour Festival and sailing. His qualifications include Bachelor of Laws and qualifications to practice in the Supreme Court of Queensland and High Court of Australia. He is a member of various local industry development and professional associations and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.