Burcak Sezer is the Executive General Manager People and Communications at Newcastle Airport, where she leads the organisation's Marketing, Communications, Human Resources, Safety and Government Relations functions.
With more than 20 years' experience across Australia, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Burcak has held senior leadership roles spanning marketing, communications, innovation, advocacy and organisational transformation. Prior to joining Newcastle Airport, she held executive positions with global consumer goods company Kimberly-Clark, delivering commercial growth, digital transformation and purpose-led innovation across multiple international markets.
At Newcastle Airport, Burcak has played a key role in positioning the airport as a global gateway and catalyst for regional economic development, helping drive major initiatives across aviation growth, sustainability, stakeholder engagement and workforce development. She has also supported the airport's industry-leading sustainability agenda, including the delivery of Australia's first airport terminal to achieve a 5-Star Green Star 'As Built' certification and the achievement of net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Passionate about regional growth, skills development and community impact, Burcak serves as a Non-Executive Director of the Committee for the Hunter and is a member of the Newcastle Business School External Advisory Board. She is a strong advocate for collaboration between industry, education and government to create future workforce opportunities and support sustainable economic development. Burcak brings a unique perspective on how sustainability, leadership, people and place-based partnerships can drive long-term value for organisations, communities and regions.
Matt is the Chief Operations Officer. He is a highly competent executive manager with demonstrated ability to drive initiatives and deliver results in complex operational environments.
Prior to working at WSA, Matt was General Manager of Operations for Sydney Airport responsible for leading the end-to-end operations of the airport, from the kerbside, through the terminals and out to the end of the runways. Matt oversaw the teams responsible for asset allocation, aviation safety, security and resilience including emergency management, ground services (including baggage), terminal services, service contracts and resource planning.
Matt began his career at Qantas, becoming a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer. Over the next 10 years, he held a variety of engineering and maintenance leadership roles and in 1997 he was appointed Business Improvement Manager for the Heavy Maintenance team. During this time, he also had significant exposure to Qantas’ procurement practices.
Matt has held significant leadership roles as the National Quality Manager Cleanaway, General Manager MRO at Hawker Pacific Aerospace and Strategic Programs Manager for Sydney Water’s Mechanical and Electrical division.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Accounting) from the University of New England.
Angela Garvey is the Founder and Director of Navigating Aviation, a psychosocial safety and wellbeing consultancy dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 30 years of experience spanning aviation operations, safety management, and regulatory roles, and as a commercial pilot herself, Angela brings a rare blend of industry insight and clinical expertise to her work. She is a registered counsellor specialising in supporting the aviation sector, is completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science, and holds accreditation as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor.
Angela recently led a two-year federally funded initiative under the Department of Infrastructure's Women in Aviation Industry Initiative, producing Australia's first National Aviation Culture and Wellbeing Survey and delivering a national program across multiple operational bases. She has engaged with more than 35 industry bodies, including CASA and ATSB, and is a sought-after keynote speaker on psychosocial hazard legislation and Positive Duty obligations under the Sex Discrimination Act.
Angela's contributions to the sector have been recognised with Australian Aviation Awards for Female Leader of the Year and Overall Industry Excellence.
Simon Westaway is Chief Executive of the Australian Airports Association (AAA), a role he has held since November 2024.
With 25 years of senior executive experience across Australian aviation and tourism, he leads an organisation representing 340 airports - from major international hubs to vital regional gateways - and more than 150 corporate members.
He was a founding executive at Jetstar Airways and previously held senior roles at Impulse Airlines, a regional carrier later acquired by Qantas. Simon also served as Executive General Manager of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at Tourism Australia, and held leadership positions at major Australian companies including BHP, Orica, and Medibank Private.
Before joining the AAA, he led the government relations practice at Melbourne-based consultancy Royce for six years.
Andrew is an award-winning airport leader with a proven track record delivering commercial results for multiple airports across the globe. Andrew's innovative thinking and drive for results will ensure Newcastle Airport delivers on passenger numbers in FY2026 and well into the future. Andrew will also lead the complementary development of freight capability, a critically important component of the airport's strategy.
Anntonette Dailey is the Chief Executive of Aviation Aerospace Australia, an inclusive purpose-led organisation committed to the sustainability of the aviation, aerospace and space sectors in Australia. Anny is a fellow and chartered executive engineer and brings more than 20 years senior executive capability, well known in the national security, engineering, space and aviation sectors. She has ministerial appointments to the Defence Council of Victoria, and the Australian Research Council. She is also on the Board of the Space Industry Association of Australia. Anny is a life-long advocate of supporting the next generation of STEM leadership.
The Hon Catherine King MP is Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Representing Ballarat since 2001, she is the first woman to hold the seat. Before entering parliament, she was a social worker and later held senior roles in the Department of Health and Aged Care and at KPMG. Minister King holds degrees in social work, public policy, and law. She is a strong advocate for regional communities, infrastructure reform and sustainable transport.
Rob Sharp has over 25 years of senior executive experience in the aviation and transport sectors. In July 2024 he was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of Airservices Australia, and was confirmed in the role in January 2025.
Rob served for two years as Secretary for Transport for NSW leading 30,000 employees, delivering daily transport services and operations across the state including roads, rail and ferry operations. During his tenure, the organisation was delivering a $72b pipeline of infrastructure, with a focus on world-first technology and innovation, underpinned by an organisational transformation.
Rob headed Virgin Australia Airlines for two years, leading 8,000 employees, and was responsible for all aspects of the airline business. Key achievements included an insight-driven customer focus, strengthened international alliances, and operational excellence underpinned by digital strategies.
He was CEO of the Low Cost Carrier Tigerair for four years, rebranding the airline, delivering a turnaround strategy and repositioning the business.
Rob started his transport career with Qantas Airways, working across strategy, commercial and operational roles including responsibility for airline strategy and innovation, major transformational programs, technology developments, and global airport infrastructure and operations logistics.
He holds a Bachelor of Business, and has had an extensive involvement with academia, including as an adjunct professor at Curtin Business School, member of the John Grill Centre Advisory Committee at Sydney University and Governor of the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering at Sydney University.
Rob is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Chartered Accountant, a Companion of Engineers Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Stephen joined Airbus in 2022 as Chief Representative and Head of Country for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. He oversees all business divisions and is part of the Asia Pacific Leadership Team.
Previously, he was Global Head of Public Affairs at Temasek and held senior roles at Microsoft and Singapore Airlines. He began his career at QANTAS and later served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Chief Minister of the ACT.
A committed advocate for decarbonising aviation, he was appointed by New Zealand to the Sustainable Aviation Aotearoa Leadership Group and represents Airbus on Australia’s Jet Zero Council.
Todd Chapman is Principal of Leading Edge Management Consulting, the aviation consultancy he founded in 2021 after a thirty-year executive career across multiple airlines. Leading Edge provides management consulting services to airlines, airports, and aviation suppliers. Its work spans business strategy and execution, business transformation, operations management, safety and risk, leadership development and achieving commercial growth strategy. Clients include Virgin Australia, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Brisbane Airport, Sydney Airport, ISS Aviation Security, Star Aviation, Aviation Australia and Air Niugini. Todd holds an Executive MBA and Graduate Certificate in Change Management from AGSM and a Bachelor of Aviation Studies (Aviation Safety) from the University of Western Sydney. Todd's practice rests on a simple conviction: aviation is at heart a people business. Leading Edge works inside the operation, not above it — connecting at every level of an organisation to deliver genuine improvement that holds long after the engagement ends.
