Under the Air Services Act 1995, our Board is responsible for:
- deciding the objectives, strategies and policies followed by Airservices
- 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. The 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.
Following is information about the memberships of the Board and the Board committees, the Board and Board committee functions, meeting attendance for 2023–24, 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. Mr Weber was appointed as Board Chair on 3 June 2018. His current term expires on 2 June 2025.
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.
Mr Weber 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 currently the Chair of Paypa Plane and a director of the Australian Maritime Systems Group, the Horizons Foundation, the European Australian Business Council and the Dimeo group.
Mr Weber is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has extensive board experience across a diverse range of organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. This includes previously being a director of the Western Sydney Airport Corporation, the Council of the Asia Society and the ABCN 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. Mr Hood was Chair of the Board Safety Committee and a member of the Technology Committee and People, Culture and Remuneration Committee. His term expired on 7 September 2024.
Mr Hood has more than 41 years’ experience in the transport industry. Greg Hood began 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 CEO levels across a number of organisations. This extensive experience includes as 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, Greg Hood was also appointed as the Chair of the International Transportation Safety Association (ITSA). The ITSB is a global association of safety investigation agencies. He 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.
Greg is currently Acting Chair of the Steering Committee for Australia’s Marine National Facility (MNF). The MNF Steering Committee assists 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 also has been and is currently a Champion for the St Vincent de Paul CEO Sleep-out, raising funds for Australia’s homeless; a judge for Canberra’s community arts Ovation Awards, and a crisis supporter for Lifeline.
In addition to holding qualifications as a glider and powered aircraft pilot, Greg 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 first 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 and her current term expires on 2 February 2027.
Ms Brown has substantial knowledge and practical experience of Australian and international exchangetraded financial markets and related infrastructure, risk management, governance and regulatory environments. She was previously Chief Risk Officer with 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. Anne Brown was previously a member of the Finance and Risk Committee of Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College Ltd, a board member 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 Heriot-Watt 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. Dr Doyle is Chair of the Technology Committee, a member of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Sustainability Committee. Eileen Doyle’s current term expires on 20 April 2025.
Dr Doyle has had extensive experience at senior executive and CEO levels across a number of industries. Eileen Doyle is also an experienced non-executive director. Dr Doyle is currently on the Board of NextDC Ltd, DBI Infrastructure, Swoop Analytics, Hunter Angels Trust, O’Connell Street Associates and Kinetic Group Services Pty Ltd.
Dr Doyle is a former Chairman of PWCS, Deputy Chairman of the CSIRO and director of Santos Ltd. She was Australia’s first Fulbright Scholar in Business and had the opportunity to study and work in New York.
She 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 was Chair of the Board Sustainability Committee and a member of the Board Safety Committee. Her term expired on 3 September 2024.
Dr Kanga has extensive experience in complex safety systems engineering in the oil and gas and energy industries. Marlene Kanga is also an experienced non-executive director.
Dr Kanga is currently a director of Standards Australia, Endeavour Energy, the Institute of Chemical Engineers Safety Centre, Rux Energy Holdings Pty Ltd and iOmniscient Pty Ltd. iOmniscient Pty Ltd has developed artificial intelligence-based video analytic technologies.
Dr Kanga is a past director of Business Events Sydney, the NSW Smart Sensing Network, Innovation Science Australia, the Sydney Water Corporation and Engineers Australia. Marlene Kanga was Chair and National President of Engineers Australia in 2013. Dr Kanga is also a past President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations.
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 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’.
Nicolle Connelly
FRAeS, MEng, GAICD
Non-executive Board Member
Nicolle Connelly was appointed to the board on 1 August 2023 and her current term expires on 31 July 2026. Ms Connelly is a member of the Board Safety Committee and the Board People, Culture and Remuneration Committee.
Ms Connelly’s career spans over 35 years in the aviation sector. This career includes a variety of roles and responsibilities at Airservices, and in airlines and academia.
Currently Nicolle Connelly is Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Ms Connelly’s specialisation is Air Traffic Management and Transport Safety.
Ms Connelly was previously employed at Airservices for 27 years. During that time she held operational management and senior management roles, including service as a qualified operational air traffic controller.
Ms Connelly has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Teaching Excellence award from the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) and was the Female Educator of the Year at RMIT in 2022. She was the recipient of the Women in Aviation/Aerospace Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Aviation or Aerospace Sectors in 2020.
Ms Connelly is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) and a Fellow of the International Federation of National Teaching (IFNTF). She has a Master of Engineering Airworthiness from RMIT.
Melvin Hupfeld AO
DSC (BSc)
Non-executive Board member
Mel Hupfeld was appointed to the Board in August 2023. Mr Hupfeld’s current term expires in July 2027. He is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Safety Committee and the Technology Committee.
Mel Hupfeld serves on the Air Force Association Board, the Spitfire Association Advisory Council, the Swinburne Research Institute Advisory Board and is a member of the Public Service Advisory Board to provide strategic advice to government and industry clients.
Mr Hupfeld joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an Academy Cadet in January 1980 and graduated as a pilot with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1983.
During his RAAF career, he flew Mirage, Classic Hornet and Super Hornet fighter aircraft in several of the Air Force’s fighter squadrons and achieved over 3,500 flying hours. In 2001 Mel took command of No. 75-Squadron (75SQN) and led the Squadron in operations in the Middle East on Operations BASTILLE and FALCONER as part of Australia’s contribution to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003. He completed several staff appointments including in the capability-development and force-design areas and completed the Royal Air Force Advanced Command and Staff Course, graduating with a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College in London in 1998.
Mel commanded at every level within the RAAF and notably, on promotion to the rank of Air Marshal, was appointed as Chief of Joint Operations in May 2018 and subsequently Chief of Air Force in July 2019. He transitioned to the Air Force Reserve in July 2022. Since then, he has assisted the Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security as a member of the Expert Advisory Board to develop a National Cyber Security Strategy.
Lawrence (Lawrie) Turner
GAICD
Non-executive Board member
Chair, Board People, Culture and
Remuneration Committee
Lawrence Turner was appointed to the Board in 2021. The term of Lawrence Turner as a Board member expired on 2 March 2024. Lawrence Turner was subsequently reappointed as a Board member on 10 May 2024. He is Chair of the People, Culture and Remuneration Committee, a member of the Technology Committee and a member of the Safety Committee. Mr Turner’s current term expires in 2027.
Mr Turner has held the position of Chief Information Officer in airline, retail, telecom and rail industries. He has more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry having worked at executive levels in Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia Airlines and internationally with Sabre Corporation of the USA. Lawrie 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 that implemented the first multi-host airline reservations system in the country. At Virgin Australia, Lawrie held the roles of Chief Information Officer, acting Chief Operating Officer and Group Executive Business Services.
He has carried out strategic technology-related 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.
Peter Curran
MBA
Acting Chief Executive Officer (from 9 June 2024)
The Board appointed Peter Curran as Acting Chief Executive Officer on 9 June 2024 which meant that he became a member of the Board.
Peter Curran joined Airservices in May 2019 as the Executive General Manager Air Navigation Services. Prior to this, Peter Curran worked for 7 years at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) based in Geneva, Switzerland. He was responsible for progressing airline interests associated with the European Union (EU) Single Market initiative and Single European Sky (SES). Mr Curran’s role addressed institutional, regulatory and operational performance with a focus on the safety, environment, capacity and cost efficiency of air navigation services across 42 European States.
Peter Curran has over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry since starting as an air traffic controller in Sydney and Brisbane. He has held a range of leadership roles across corporate and regulatory affairs, strategy and planning, operational service delivery, major capital programs, change management and finance.
Peter Curran has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Queensland. Mr Curran has also completed the Graduate General Manager Program at the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Rob Sharp
BBus(Mgt), CA, GAICD, CompIEAust, EngExec, FRAeS
Interim Chief Executive Officer (from 29 July 2024)
The Board appointed Rob Sharp Interim Chief Executive Officer in July 2024, bringing over 25 years of senior executive experience in the aviation and transport sectors.
Rob Sharp holds a Bachelor of Business and has had an extensive involvement with academia. He is 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.
Rob Sharp most recently served for 2 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.
Rob Sharp headed Virgin Australia Airlines for 2 years, leading 8,000 employees, and was responsible for all aspects of the airline business. He was CEO of Tigerair for 4 years, rebranding the airline, delivering a turnaround strategy and repositioning the business.
Rob Sharp 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.
Rob Sharp also brings experience in Infrastructure including construction and mining, and high technology.