In Conversation: Championing Aviation

Explore images from our business lunch with Alana McKenna, CEO of Skytek, and Richard Barker, CEO of North Queensland Airports.

Alana and Richard shared the secret to their award success stories in the 2023 Aviation Australian Awards. A common theme emerged of the value of collaboration.

Both organisations highlighted diverse ways to address challanges such as that faced by the airport during covid when the board committed to retaining staff and instead using that downtime to invest in training while Skytek adopted an innovative approach to sourcing talent in a different way which unlocked new roles and greater and more rewarding productivity.

Growth in the aviation sector in Cairns shows no signs of abating – Cairns Airport’s international passenger numbers have rebounded to 93% of pre-COVID levels and domestic numbers have fully recovered. Despite expansion into a second hangar, Skytek is operating at full capacity, underscoring their vital role in the region’s connectivity. This discussion highlighted the sector’s resilience, growth potential and the collaborative efforts shaping its success.

Guest speakers: Alana McKenna, CEO of Skytek, Richard Barker, CEO of North Queensland Airports  | Moderator: Jacinta Reddan, CEO of Advance Cairns