Our Board

Under the Air Services Act 1995, our Board is responsible for deciding the objectives, strategies and policies followed by Airservices and ensuring that Airservices performs its functions in a proper, efficient and effective manner.

The functions of our Board are set out in section 21 of the Act. Our Board is the ‘accountable authority’ under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). The PGPA Act imposes governance obligations on our Board as an accountable authority.

The following information outlines the Board and Board committees’ memberships, the functions of Board committees, Board and Board committee meeting attendance for 2022-23, and other governance and accountability matters. Further information about our corporate governance is available on our website at www.airservicesaustralia.com/about-us/our-governance.

 

John Weber
LLB, MAICD
Non-executive Board member
Board Chair

John Weber has been a member of Airservices Board since April 2017 and was appointed as Board Chair on 3 June 2018. He is a non-executive Board member and his current term expires on 2 June 2024.

Mr Weber served as the Australian managing partner of DLA Piper, one of the world’s largest law firms, from 2014 to 2017. He was also a member of DLA Piper’s international executive. Prior to that, he was chief executive of Minter Ellison, a leading Australian law firm, for 6 years and a member of its executive management team for 11 years. He has worked extensively in the transport sector (rail and aviation), health, financial services and defence/security sectors for both industry and government.

Mr Weber is a board member of the Western Sydney Airport Corporation, a director of the Australian Maritime Systems Group, a director of the Dimeo Group and a director of the European Australia Business Council.

Mr Weber was previously also a director of the Council of the Asia Society, the ABCN Foundation and the Horizons Foundation.

 

Greg Hood, AO
Non-executive Board member
Deputy Chair, Chair of the Safety Committee

Greg Hood was appointed Deputy Chair of the Board on 8 September 2021. He is chair of the Board Safety Committee and a member of the Technology and Investment Committee and People, Culture and Remuneration Committee. His current term expires on 7 September 2024.

Mr Hood has more than 43 years experience in the transport industry, beginning his career as an air traffic control officer with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1980. Since then, Mr Hood has had extensive experience at senior executive and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) levels across a number of organisations, including Executive Manager Operations with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Executive General Manager Air Traffic Control with Airservices and more recently, Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

During his tenure at the ATSB, Mr Hood was also appointed as the Chair of the International Transportation Safety Association (ITSA), a global association of safety investigation agencies, is a former board member of Safeskies Australia and past president of the Canberra Philharmonic Society. Mr Hood has also served as a member of the business advisory council for World Vision.

Mr Hood also sits as a member of the Steering Committee for Australia’s Marine National Facility (MNF), assisting the CSIRO Board to fulfil its governance responsibilities by providing high level advice on the ongoing delivery of ocean research capabilities for the nation. He is also a director for the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame, a director of the Air Force Association, a judge for Canberra’s community arts Ovation Awards, a voluntary guide at the Australian War Memorial, a crisis supporter, mentor and supervisor at Lifeline, and President-elect at the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise.

In addition to holding qualifications as a glider and powered aircraft pilot, Mr Hood is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Freeman in the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, and a Life Member of the Qantas Founders Museum.

Mr Hood is an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his distinguished service to the national transportation and aviation industries and to the not-for-profit sector.

 

Anne Brown
BA CA GAICD
Non-executive Board member
Chair, Board Audit and Risk Committee

Anne Brown was appointed to the Board on 4 December 2019. She is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the People, Culture and Remuneration Committee. She is a non-executive Board member. Ms Brown’s term expired on 3 December 2022. She was re-appointed on 2 February 2023 and her current term expires on 2 February 2027.

Ms Brown has substantial knowledge and practical experience of Australian and international exchange traded financial markets and related infrastructure, risk management, governance and regulatory environments. She was previously the Chief Risk Officer of ASX Limited (ASX), following its merger with SFE Corporation Limited (SFE).

Ms Brown also represented ASX as an executive committee member and then Chair of CCP12, an influential global industry association involving all major international clearing houses. Prior to the ASX-SFE merger, she was a general manager with SFE and previously worked with KPMG in both Edinburgh and Sydney.

Ms Brown is a non-executive Director of AEMO Services Ltd and a member of the Markets Disciplinary Panel at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. She is also a former director of the Clean Energy Regulator and former Chair of the Australian Life Code Compliance Committee. Ms Brown holds a double major degree in accountancy and computer science from HeriotWatt University, Edinburgh. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

 

Dr Eileen Doyle
BMath (Hons), MMath, PhD, FTSE, FAICD, FAAAI
Non-executive Board member
Chair, Board Technology and
Investment Committee

Eileen Doyle was appointed to the Board on 21 April 2021. She is Chair of the Technology and Investment Committee (since 22 August 2022), a member of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Environment and Community Committee. She is a non-executive Board member and her current term expires on 20 April 2025.

Dr Doyle has had extensive experience at senior executive and CEO levels across a number of industries. She is an experienced non-executive director and is a current director of Santos Ltd, Next DC Ltd, Swoop Analytics, Hunter Angels Trust, O’Connell Street Associates, Kinetic Group Services Pty Ltd and DBI Infrastructure Ltd. Dr Doyle is a former Chairman of Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) and Deputy Chairman of the CSIRO. Dr Doyle was Australia’s first Fulbright Scholar in Business and had the opportunity to study and work in New York.

Dr Doyle is a Foundation Fellow of The Australian Association of Angel Investors, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

 

Dr Marlene Kanga, AO
BTech, Msc, PhD, HonFIEAust, HonFIChemE, FTSE, FAICD
Non-executive Board member
Chair, Board Environment and
Community Committee

Marlene Kanga was appointed to the Board on 4 September 2017. She is Chair of the Board Environment and Community Committee and a member of the Board Safety Committee. Her current term expires on 3 September 2024.

Dr Kanga has extensive experience in complex safety systems engineering in the oil and gas and energy industry. She is an experienced non-executive director and is on the Board of Endeavour Energy, Business Events Sydney, Standards Australia and Institution of Chemical Engineers Safety Centre. She is also a director of iOmniscient Pty Ltd, which has developed artificial intelligence-based video analytic technologies and of Rux Energy Holding Company Pty Ltd.

Dr Kanga is a past member of NSW Smart Sensing Network, the Boards of Innovation Science Australia, Sydney Water Corporation, Hearing Cooperative Research Centre and Engineers Australia, where she was Chair and National President in 2013. She is a past President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations.

Dr Kanga is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia, an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK), a Foundation Fellow of the International Science Council, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Kanga was the Engineers Australia 2018 Professional Engineer of the Year and has been listed among the Top 100 Women of Influence in Australia and the Top 100 Engineers in Australia. She is an Officer of the Order of Australia “for distinguished service to engineering, as a global leader and role model to women”.

 

David Marchant, AM
GAICD
Non-executive Board member
Chair, Board Technology and Investment
Committee (until 22 August 2022)

David Marchant was appointed to the Board on 21 July 2014. He was Chair of the Board Technology and Investment Committee (until 22 August 2022) and was a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. He was a non-executive Board member and his term expired on 20 July 2023.

Mr Marchant has extensive experience in the transport industry. He is the Chair of Queensland Rail and QR Ltd, as well as Chair of the Port Authority of NSW. He is a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd and Director and Chair of the Australasian Railways Association. Mr Marchant also served as a Director of the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board.

Mr Marchant has worked as Managing Director of Lend Lease Engineering and Managing Director of Lend Lease Infrastructure Services, and was a director of the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordination Company Pty Ltd.

Mr Marchant was appointed a member of the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2013 for significant service to the rail industry through national structural reform and infrastructure upgrades. He is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

 

Lawrence (Lawrie) Turner
GAICD
Non-executive Board member
Chair, Board People, Culture and
Remuneration Committee

Lawrie Turner was appointed to the Board on 3 March 2021. He is Chair of the People, Culture and Remuneration Committee (since 3 December 2022) and a member of the Technology and Investment Committee and Safety Committee. He is a non-executive Board member and his current term expires on 2 March 2024.

Mr Turner has held the position of Chief Information Officer in organisations within the airline, retail, telecom and rail industries. He has over 20 years experience in the aviation industry having worked at executive levels in Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia Airlines and internationally with Sabre Corporation of the USA.

Mr Turner developed the strategy and then led the integration of commercial IT systems supporting the merger of Qantas and Australian Airlines and represented Qantas in the formation of the Oneworld Alliance. As Vice President for Sabre’s Sirena-3 program in Russia, Mr Turner led the team which implemented the first multi-host airline reservations system in the country. At Virgin Australia, Mr Turner held the roles of Chief Information Officer, acting Chief Operating Officer and Group Executive Business Services.

Mr Turner has carried out strategic technologyrelated consulting assignments for organisations including the Department of Defence’s Chief Information Officer Group and Newcrest Mining. Mr Turner is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

 

Jason Harfield
EMBA DipAv(ATS) FAICD FRAeS MSP(Adv Practitioner)
Chief Executive Officer

Jason Harfield was appointed Chief Executive Officer on 9 March 2016.

With more than 30 years of experience in the aviation and air traffic management industry, Jason began this career with the Civil Aviation Authority as a flight data officer then as an air traffic controller.

His executive leadership roles have included leading safety and future services functions as well as leading and transforming air traffic management operations through the introduction of advanced airport capacity and air traffic flow management capabilities. Jason has also held senior operational management positions such as Australia’s Head Air Traffic Controller and the Australian Airspace Regulator.

Jason has an EMBA from Melbourne Business School (Mt Eliza) and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He is also a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Jason is also a private pilot.

Former board members

The term of the following Board member concluded during 2022-23

Sue Bussel, AM
BA (Sociology), FAHRI, GAICD
Non-executive Board member Chair, Board People, Culture and Remuneration Committee

Sue Bussell was appointed to the Board as a nonexecutive Board member on 4 December 2019 and left the Board on 3 December 2022 when her term expired. She was Chair of the Board People, Culture and Remuneration Committee and a member of the Environment and Community Committee.

Ms Bussell was a partner at KPMG from January 2017 to January 2020 where she led the Workplace Advisory practice. Prior to KPMG, Ms Bussell was a senior executive at Qantas Airways and held positions including HR, Commercial including the Executive Manager Industrial Relations, responsible for industrial relations for the Qantas Group. Prior to Qantas, she was a commissioner in the Victorian Industrial Relations Commission, a consultant with the Australian Industry Group and held a management position with Ansett Airlines.

Ms Bussell is an Honorary Associate at Sydney University Business School and was a member of the Work and Organisational Studies Advisory Board between 2011 to 2019. She was a Board Member of Odyssey House between 2006 to 2008, and the Macquarie University Faculty of Business and Economic Industry Advisory Board between 2009 to 2017. Ms Bussell was awarded a member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant service to industrial relations, as a supporter of women in business, and to the aviation sector. She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Board committees

The Safety Committee assists our Board to ensure that we meet our operational safety, and work, health and safety obligations. It also monitors organisational preparedness to counter security threats. The Committee has at least 3 non-executive Board members, plus the Board Chair and CEO as ex-officio committee members.

The Audit and Risk Committee assists the Board in maintaining objective and reliable financial and performance reporting, and effective systems for risk management and internal controls. It helps our Board ensure that we comply with all relevant legislative and regulatory obligations. The Committee has at least 3 members, all of whom must be independent non-executive Board members.

The People, Culture and Remuneration Committee assists our Board in overseeing strategy, policies and practices relating to the management of our people and culture. It also reviews the performance, remuneration and succession plans for our CEO and Executive team. The Committee has at least 3 non-executive Board members, plus the Board Chair and CEO as ex-officio committee members.

The Technology and Investment Committee assists the Board in overseeing our technology, systems engineering and information technology (IT) strategies and policies. It also oversees the strategic direction and policies of business systems, operational technology and IT security and monitors the development and delivery of the capital investment program. It has responsibility for overseeing the execution of the OneSKY Program. The Committee has at least 3 non-executive Board members, plus the Board Chair and CEO as ex-officio committee members.

The Environment and Community Committee assists the Board in overseeing our strategy to address the impact of operations on the environment and the community, environmental obligation compliance, community engagement, and the implementation of the recommendations of the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman. The Committee has at least 3 non-executive Board members, plus the Board Chair and CEO as ex-officio committee members.

Each Board Committee has been established with its charter, which is available on our website www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/Board-Charter.pdf

Board Committees membership consists only of Board members.

In 2022-23, Board members were remunerated in accordance with the relevant Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Part-time Public Office) Determination and did not receive additional remuneration for membership of any Board committee.

Meeting attendance

The number of meetings of the Board and Board Committees held during the period ended 30 June 2023, along with the corresponding attendance by each Board member, are shown in the tables below.

Table 1 – The Board

Board membersNo. of possible meetingsNo. of meetings attended
Mr John Weber (Board Chair) 99
Mr Greg Hood AO (Deputy Chair) 99
Ms Anne Brown187
Ms Sue Bussell AM299
Dr Eileen Doyle99
Dr Marlene Kanga AO 99
Mr David Marchant AM 99
Mr Lawrence Turner 99
Mr Jason Harfield99

Notes:

  1. The term of Anne Brown expired on 3 December 2022 and was re-appointed on 2 February 2023
  2. Sue Bussell left the Board effective 3 December 2022

 

Table 2 – Safety Committee

Committee membersNo. of possible meetingsNo. of meetings attended
Mr Greg Hood AO166
Dr Marlene Kanga AO 66
Mr Lawrence Turner 66
Mr John Weber 66
Mr Jason Harfield66

Notes:

  1. Greg Hood served as Committee Chair from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023

 

Table 3 – Audit and Risk Committee

Committee membersNo. of possible meetingsNo. of meetings attended
Ms Anne Brown1,233
Dr Eileen Doyle33
Mr David Marchant AM333

Notes:

  1. The term of Anne Brown expired on 3 December 2022 and was re-appointed on 2 February 2023
  2. Anne Brown served as Committee Chair from 1 July 2022 to 3 December 2022, then recommenced from 3 February 2023
  3. David Marchant served as Committee Chair from 4 December 2022 to 2 February 2023

 

Table 4 – People, Culture and Remuneration Committee

Committee membersNo. of possible meetingsNo. of meetings attended
Ms Sue Bussell AM1,211
Mr Greg Hood AO 33
Ms Anne Brown32
Mr John Weber33
Mr Jason Harfield33
Mr Lawrie Turner322

Notes:

  1. Sue Bussell left the Board effective 3 December 2022
  2. Sue Bussell served as Committee Chair from 1 July 2022 to 3 December 2022
  3. The membership of Lawrie Turner commenced from 4 December 2022 when he assumed the role of Committee Chair

 

Table 5 – Technology and Investment Committee

Committee membersNo. of possible meetingsNo. of meetings attended
Mr David Marchant AM1,255
Mr Greg Hood AO55
Mr Lawrence Turner 55
Dr Eileen Doyle355
Mr John Weber55
Mr Jason Harfield55

Notes:

  1. The membership of David Marchant ended on 22 August 2022
  2. David Marchant served as Committee Chair from 1 July 2022 to 22 August 2022
  3. Dr Eileen Doyle served as Committee Chair from 22 August 2022 to 30 June 2023

 

Table 6 – Environment and Community Committee

Committee membersNo. of possible meetingsNo. of meetings attended
Dr Marlene Kanga AO1 44
Dr Eileen Doyle44
Mr John Weber 44
Mr Jason Harfield44
Ms Sue Bussell AM210

Notes:

  1. Marlene Kanga served as Committee Chair from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023
  2. Sue Bussell left the Board effective 3 December 2022

 

Benefits and interests in contracts with Airservices Australia

Details of Directors’ benefits and interests in contracts with Airservices are set out in notes 4.3 and 4.4 of the financial statements.

Directors’ and Officers’ indemnities and insurance

In 2022-23, we held a Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance policy. It is a condition of this policy that the nature of the Directors’ and Officers’ indemnities and insurance, including the limits of liability and the premium payable, are not disclosed to third parties, except to the extent required by law or where the insurer consents in writing to such disclosure.