CEO Launceston Airport

Launceston Airport is the primary aviation gateway to Northern Tasmania, serving over 1.4 million passengers annually. Located 15 kilometres south of Launceston city centre in Western Junction, the airport is operated by Australia Pacific Airports (Launceston) Pty Ltd (APAL), a subsidiary of Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC), under a long-term lease from the Federal Government. APAC holds a 90% stake in the airport, with the remaining 10% owned by Launceston City Council.

The airport is undergoing a significant transformation, with a $100 million infrastructure investment over the next five years aimed at enhancing passenger experience, expanding terminal capacity, and supporting regional growth.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will provide strategic and operational leadership to Launceston Airport, ensuring the delivery of safe, efficient, and customer-focused airport operations. Reporting to the APAC CEO, the Launceston Airport CEO will be responsible for executing the airport’s strategic vision, driving commercial performance, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, including government bodies, airlines, and the local community

Key responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the airport’s strategic plan in alignment with APAC’s corporate objectives and the needs of Northern Tasmania.
• Lead the ongoing $100 million infrastructure upgrade program, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with passenger growth forecasts.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee day-to-day airport operations, ensuring compliance with all aviation safety, security, and environmental regulations.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and customer service excellence.

Financial Management

• Manage the airport’s financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Identify and pursue new revenue opportunities, including commercial partnerships and property development.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including airlines, government agencies, local businesses, and the community.
• Represent Launceston Airport in industry forums and public engagements, advocating for regional aviation interests.

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure robust governance practices are in place, with regular reporting to the Board of Directors.
• Maintain compliance with all legal, regulatory, and corporate requirements.

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven executive leadership experience within the aviation industry or a similarly complex,
• Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale infrastructure projects and capital works programs.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, financial management, and commercial negotiations.
• Track record of successful stakeholder engagement and community relations.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Resilient and adaptable leader, comfortable navigating change and uncertainty.
• Commitment to safety, sustainability, and customer service excellence.

About the Company:

Launceston Airport’s vision is to be the “Port of Choice” and tourism gateway to Tasmania and is an industry multi-award-winning major airport. With a proud history dating back to our first grass runway in 1929, the airport has grown and evolved, but our number one priority remains to deliver a safe and secure airport and a superior customer experience to every passenger who uses the airport. Our dedicated and passionate team members love our Airport and our community.

Launceston Airport, operated by Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC), is a company majority-owned by institutional superannuation and pension funds. We are proud to have a vibrant and friendly workplace culture. Our corporate offices are in the heart of the aviation activity, located within the terminal building.

Culture and Values:

At Launceston Airport, our “One Airport – One Team” philosophy underpins a culture of high performance, collaboration, and shared success — not only within our organisation, but across the broader network of customers and strategic partners we work with.

As a senior leader, you’ll be part of a values-led organisation that actively invests in leadership development, empowers innovation, and cultivates a cohesive team culture. Our environment supports purposeful leadership, where we expect and encourage our people to Be You, Think Big, Own It, and Work Together — values that guide how we lead ourselves, our teams, and our partnerships.

APAC is committed to weaving Diversity into our DNA. We believe that Diversity and Inclusion will help us realise our greatest potential as a company, and maximise the potential of all our team members. We strive to create a culture where our team members understand that each individual is unique and that embracing diversity makes us more flexible, productive, and creative.

APAC provides equal opportunity and advancement in employment regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, cultural background, caring responsibilities, disability or socio-economic background. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our workplace values of authenticity, passion, accountability & collaboration.