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The CEO of Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) has been appointed to the board of LifeFlight.
Amelia Evans (pictured), who heads the company that owns Gold Coast, Longreach, Mount Isa and Townsville Airports, will serve as a non-executive director at the aeromedical charity, with her appointment having taken effect as of 13 June.
Evans took up the role of QAL CEO in 2022, having served as CFO since 2016; prior to her joining QAL, she worked at Qantas in a number of commercial and finance roles.
In a press release, she said she had been “inspired” by LifeFlight’s role serving regional communities around Queensland.
“As someone who leads a business that is deeply embedded in these regional communities, including the Gold Coast, Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach, where we have airports, I know how vitally important LifeFlight is in providing lifesaving care for people who are long distances from major hospitals,” she said.
“That’s why I’m excited to join the LifeFlight board and dedicate the benefit of my experience to helping LifeFlight deliver critical care to more people.
“The organisation is well regarded across the aviation sector worldwide, which is no mean feat, and I’m hoping to help build on that reputation moving forward.”
LifeFlight chair Jim Elder has welcomed what he says are Evans’ 30 years of experience in aviation, telecommunications, tourism and higher education.
“To have someone of Amelia’s calibre join the board is gratifying and testament to LifeFlight’s growing reputation in aeromedicine,” he said.
“As we grow and attend to the needs of more patients every year, expert strategic advice, from people like Ms Evans is crucial.”
Gold Coast Airport earlier this year released its draft 2024 Master Plan under Evans’ direction.
The airport, which currently sees more than 6.2 million passengers a year, expects that number to increase by around 13 million by 2044. Its draft Master Plan, available online, envisions a hub for communities in the Gold Coast and northern NSW, with a particular focus on the next eight years.
“We want to be more than an airport, we’re committed to creating a mixed-use precinct that would further benefit the local community, with the addition of a retail village, health and wellness hub and a conference and tech centre,” said Evans in March.
Gold Coast Airport is the sixth-busiest in Australia and the largest of four airports owned by QAL. The airport in 2022 completed a $260 million expansion of its southern terminal, which doubled its footprint by 30,000 square metres.
