iscover
The former chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand has been appointed as Boeing’s president for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) Steve “Zed” Roberton, who left Lockheed Martin after just six weeks last January, will assume the position, also becoming the chairperson of Boeing Australia Holdings.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Succeeding Maria Fernandez who retired in October last year, Roberton’s new role involves overseeing strategic initiatives, partner collaborations and government liaising.
“Zed is a widely admired leader who is committed to advancing Australia’s national security and aviation priorities,” said Dr Brendan Nelson AO, president of Boeing Global.
“His decades of hands-on experience leading complex joint military operations demonstrate that he has the proven skills and values needed to guide our Oceania operations forward.”
For over three decades, Roberton served in the Royal Australian Air Force, with 26 years as a fighter pilot, as well as serving in combat units and exchange postings with the US Marine Corps.
His experience in the RAAF has seen him assume a range of commander and leadership roles, such as commander of the RAAD Air Combat Group, Air Commander Australia, and the Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group.
In 2014 he commanded the first iteration of Operation Okra Air Task Group across the Middle East, which earned him the Distinguished Service Cross.
“I’m in awe of our broad commercial and defence portfolio across Australia and New Zealand, and I look forward to collaborating with our employees, customers and partners as we work together to define the future of aerospace in the region,” Roberton said.
Retiring from the RAAF in late 2022, Roberton has been acting as an adviser and began consulting with Boeing Defence in June 2025.
He was appointed to lead Lockheed Martin’s Australia and New Zealand operations in December 2024 but resigned effective 16 January 2025 for “personal reasons”, with his predecessor Warren “Macca” McDonald returning to his old role.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
