CEO, Queensland Airports Limited (QAL)
CEO, Queensland Airports Limited (QAL)
Amelia Evans is a chartered accountant with years of experience in Australia and overseas across the aviation, telco, fast moving consumer goods and property industries. In July 2022 Amelia was appointed Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) CEO. When the opportunity arose to interview Amelia we jumped at the chance to learn a little more about the woman behind this impressive resume. We talked about the career path that led Amelia to QAL, her love of travel, and what she loves to do in her downtime.
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
Gold Coast is home to me. I moved here as a teenager (but spending most holidays on the GC), it’s where I completed my university degree and landed my first career role at Ernst & Young. I did move overseas for 15 years; however, I moved back to the Gold Coast 8 years ago and have been living here since and loving it. I’ve always considered myself a local, I’ve seen a lot of change here (while some things are still just the way I’ve always remembered)!
What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
My large family, old and new friends, the relaxed vibe, weather and our growing selection of great local restaurants and cafes (secret foodie).
Tell us a little bit about yourself (both personally and professionally).
Personally – I’m a daughter, sister, aunty, wife and mum. My family are my purpose, and just about everything I do is with or for them. My husband is Canadian, and we have 1 son who is 9 and they are my world. I love having fun, and have always been very adventurous, whether it was wreck and shark diving, canyoning, or jumping out of planes, but these days I just stick to some form of sport and activity by walking/playing soccer/tennis/golf.
I love travel and food and will spend every waking minute planning a holiday and all the restaurants we should go to (drives my husband crazy). I love singing (sometimes badly), reading books (mostly on wellness, leadership and biographies), and I have become extremely reflective and curious over the past few years, so have been learning a lot about different types of philosophies, and holistic ways to improve the way we live (from Ayurvedic wellness which I loved while in India, or the Tao). Surrounding myself with people who appreciate new insights in this space has brought a renewed sense of purpose to who I am. Even my son and team groan when I burn a palo santo stick here or there.
Professionally, I started my career at Ernst & Young in Bundall, but when the opportunity to move to the Solomon Islands with EY came my way I jumped at the chance. I lived there for two years working as a financial controller, overseeing the export of copra (coconut) and travelling across many islands. It was a life-changing but wholesome experience that gave me new perspectives on life and people. From there, I moved to London and then New York where I worked in the Teleco industry, it was a super challenging period in my career as I took on many roles, some I’m sure were out of my depth at the time.
Just when I was due to come back to Australia to work, an opportunity came my way to move to the Caribbean as a COO overseeing IGA supermarkets, a marina and developing commercial/residential property. It was an unbelievable 5 years; I loved the job but it was the people who I loved and learned from the most. It’s also where I met my husband, Colin. Together, we moved back to Sydney, where I worked with Qantas for 7 years before landing the CFO role at Queensland Airports Limited here on the Gold Coast in 2016, and most recently taking on the role of CEO. A whirlwind career with an immense of amount of twists, turns and resilience building to get to where I am today.
What does a typical day look like?
The first thing I do is see if my son is awake (he generally is) and attempt a quick cuddle (I’m much more keen than he is), then try and make time for a ‘morning moment’ (meditation/Gi Gong), have a cup of green tea, then get my mind and body in gear to get on with the day. This generally means making sure my son has brekky, lunch and all things ready for school (husband is much better at this than me depending on my diary), drive along the beautiful Gold Coast Highway to the airport and hit the ground running. My diary is generally packed for the day so other than going from meeting to meeting, I try and make sure I walk around and have a chat to the team, have an acai bowl for lunch and by the time I finish up meetings, I am focused on getting home to have dinner with the family if I’m not travelling, at an event or in Brisbane. Downtime comes later in the evening.
What do you love most about your new position at QAL?
Having a great team – I am surrounded by a team who give a lot to QAL, and are all such good human beings to be around, even during the toughest times. I am proud of our business and our team, and have felt very humbled for the opportunity to take on this new role. It’s a huge responsibility to make sure everyone feels included, safe and do all the things we need to keep our passengers, community, industry colleagues and shareholders happy. The other thing I love (which is not a secret to most) is the fact that I do get to see aircraft every day. I have loved planes since I was a child and spent many hours stalking them around the world, particularly while travelling and working overseas.
For those who don’t know, tell us about the Gold Coast Airport redevelopment?
Our newly opened International Terminal was developed as a $260 million expansion project, doubling our terminal’s footprint. The redevelopment sits right next to the existing terminal and connects seamlessly via a system that has the ability to swing between domestic and international services, facilitating smooth passenger flow-through inside. The new facility is contemporary inside and out, bringing our customers a fresh, modern-day experience. It’s three levels, with level two being the departure lounge, offering spectacular views over the beautiful hinterland, as well as our new duty-free store, and Wollumbin Café and Bar for international passengers to enjoy while they wait for their flight.
What should customers expect at the new Gold Coast Airport?
An awesome team and ambassadors, fresh food and modern retail outlets (with more to come over the next year), beautifully designed architecture, exceptional scenery, and if you’re lucky a friendly tail wag from one our in-terminal therapy dogs.
Tell us… what are the future plans now for Gold Coast Airport? Any new flight routes?
The future is exciting, we are always looking to add new destinations and airlines to our Gold Coast Airport network, and there are plenty of exciting announcements to come. However, securing these agreements can take a long time and often require a lot of different stakeholders (government, airlines, tourism) to work together to make it happen. It’s an exciting time, with just under 10 years to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympics Games – now is the time to reposition the Gold Coast as a brand by finding new ways to tell our story, sharing new and inclusive experiences to ensure this opportunity is fully leveraged. The Gold Coast is a spectacular place to visit and an even better place to live, so as an airport we are focused on what we do best, removing the barriers of distance and connecting communities all over the world. It’s up to the whole community to share our stories and make it a great place to be, so watch this space and get travelling everyone!
What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café/Coffee spot: Tarte, Burleigh
Restaurant: Jimmy Wahs, Rick Shores and also Muso Ramen (can’t say no to ramen)
Bar or place for a drink: Rick Shores or Tropic (not very original I know)
Beach: Currumbin (brings back childhood memories and is a place I walked every single day with my son when he was first born)
How do you choose to spend your days off?
Watching my son play soccer (football), walking the dogs, seeing my penguin family (lots of them), having some downtime for a movie/yoga/tennis.
Who remembers the Gold Coast Airport of yesteryear? Yep, it was pocket-sized with just the most basic of basics. Fast forward to 2022 however, and it’s about as far from its humble beginnings as J.Lo is from the Bronx. Just wait till we tell you what’s in store for the September unveiling of the newly revamped and expanded airport which for flying out loud, will be a destination in itself!
We all know a holiday starts at the airport, and visitors would be forgiven for cancelling their itinerary and kicking around the new terminal for the duration of their stay. The Hassell-designed $500m redevelopment is a spectacular nod to the region and all it has to offer, and will impress even the most discerning traveller. There is much to unpack here, but we’re going to skip straight to our favourite part which involves, yes you guessed it – F.O.O.D.
Local providores and produce will take center stage, providing travellers with a curated selection of the thriving GC and Northern NSW food scene. Our epic local coffee, distillers, brewers, and fresh produce will be celebrated and not to sound up ourselves, but no-one does it better. By mid-next year, we’ll see 18 new food and bev and retail outlets, with cafes and eateries headed up by the man, the myth, the legend: the incredible Chef Matt Jefferson. Matt is of course the Executive Chef at Broadbeach’s iconic Social Eating House, and you just know that anything he puts his hand…or hat to (he has plenty of those #awardwinner), is going to be first class all the way.
Proudly putting the dining offerings at the airport as an extension of our city’s thriving food and cultural scene, there’ll be Mediterranean, fresh food, sushi and Asian cuisine, along with the first Schnitz outlet in an Aussie airport. Possibly the most exciting of all, however, is the introduction of flagship new cafe and bar, Wollumbin, named after the Yugambeh First Nation name for nearby Mount Warning. It will serve up a variety of contemporary Australian and international dishes, as well as local beverages and folks, does it look the part! The ultra-modern blonde wood-infused design is just, wow, and packs a punch with its multi-dimensional effect roofing. I mean it’s screaming #InstaMe.
While we’re talking looks, the entire Gold Coast Airport upgrade is aesthetically on point. Upon arrival, visitors will be greeted by a naturally lit hall with soaring 11-metre ceilings. A timber feature wall including the locally abundant spotted gum mimics the mountain range view, and the interior design reflects the picture-perfect setting. To the east are the coastal blues and mint greens of the Pacific Ocean, while to the west are the grey-greens and bronzes of the World Heritage hinterland.
Those leaving the GC will be tempted to do a runner away from the runway, as they gaze out to the spectacular vista of the Gold Coast and Northern NSW hinterland and the airside operations through double-height, floor-to-ceiling windows in the departure lounge.
We all know bigger is better when it comes to airports and the terminal expansion will double the capacity for both domestic and international flights. In line with this, travel infrastructure has been upgraded, with the addition of four glass aerobridges and new baggage claim areas, a bigger bang duty-free store, parents’ room, multifaith room and a totes boujee VIP room *dons sunglasses and pretends to be famous.
So if you needed that final push to book an upcoming vacay, this is surely it! The new Gold Coast Airport is so amazing that you’ll leave thinking “why I am leaving again?!”
Where: Eastern Avenue, Bilinga
When: Launching September 2022
Words by Bianca Trathen.
As restrictions are easing, the Gold Coast is (finally!) returning to its ‘normal’ day-to-day business… or as ‘normal’ as 2022 will allow. And with the tourism industry, in particular, hardest hit during recent times, we got to know long-standing Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre General Manager and Destination Gold Coast’s first female chair, Adrienne Readings. We found out her thoughts on the Gold Coast and what advice she had for women ahead of International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8 March 2022.
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I have been a proud local for 27 years.
Tell us a bit about you.
Born and raised in Brisbane, I have always spent my career in the people’s business. I have been in the hospitality business for 35 years and have loved every element of it. I have been totally blessed with a daughter and stepson, their wonderful respective partners and two of my own grandchildren and two that I consider mine as well!
What do you consider your greatest career achievement?
Apart from always juggling motherhood and a wonderful career, it was most definitely working with a team of professionals in the design, construction and finally operation of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
What does a typical day in the life of you look like?
A typical day ends with looking at the following days’ calendar. Most days start with meetings and end with meetings, but what I love most about working with our tourism industry and close-knit team at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is that no day is the same. Every day presents surprises and challenges and it’s about working with the team, industry and clients to find solutions.
How empowering has it been to hold the position you have for such a long period of time?
I don’t see it as empowering, I see it as satisfying or a privilege to have the trust of so many people I have worked with and to know they value my input. The satisfaction for me is being able to watch each and every one of them grow within their own careers and go onto some amazing roles and responsibilities. It is also satisfying to see how many clients still come to our Centre because we are able to deliver great memories and outcomes, and give them a sense of belonging. In my new role as Chair of Destination Gold Coast, it’s all about the people we represent and the team that delivers the outcome.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Always listen before you speak and consider others before yourself.
With restrictions beginning to ease, what are you most looking forward to for the Gold Coast?
For the first time in two years, the Gold Coast is open for business to domestic and international travellers. While we expect it to take some two to three years before we reach pre-COVID visitor levels, our 4,400 tourism businesses and the 35,000 locals the sector employs are getting back to doing what they do best – and that’s providing a memorable visitor experience. I see a runway of opportunity ahead for Gold Coast’s visitor economy and our foundation is strong with a pipeline of tourism investment for new infrastructure, attractions and personalised experiences that our domestic and international markets have never seen before.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Personally, International Women’s Day is about taking a moment to acknowledge the many talented women that make up our community, industry and workplaces – we are all on a journey of recovery through the businesses we own, the staff we employee, the wonderful experiences we offer visitors and the ideas for innovation and change.
What is your International Women’s Day message to Gold Coast women?
Be brave and bold and don’t wait for someone to tap you on the shoulder. Forge your own path, you are worth it.
What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café: Blackboard at Varsity
Coffee spot: Burleigh Beach
Restaurant: Kiyomi – The Star Gold Coast
Bar or pub for a drink: My house or any bar with a view of the beach
How do you choose to spend your weekends?
Exercise (walking and boxing), shopping, eating, seeing family and friends, and catching up on sleep! Sounds all very cliché but it’s a typical weekend.
If you weren’t aware, it’s World Tourism Day on Monday 27th September 2021. And whilst the Gold Coast would typically be packed with both international and domestic school holiday tourists this time of year, it is still our home, and we can all still very much serve as a tourist mecca for the local market in these current times. Ahead of the day, we spoke to Destination Gold Coast CEO, Patricia O’Callaghan about what a usual day-in-the-life for her is, and what exciting things the Gold Coast has in store for both tourists and locals!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I think most people would still class me as a newbie to the Gold Coast having relocated from Townsville with my family earlier this year to take the role of CEO at Destination Gold Coast. I had been working at Townsville Enterprise for the past nine years where I started as the General Manager for Tourism and Events and then was the CEO for the past five years. I knew the Gold Coast was hurting after bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and the role would be tough, but at the same time I found myself excited about the opportunities ahead. Six months on, I could not be prouder to call this city my home.
What does a typical day of being Destination Gold Coast’s CEO look like?
Every day is literally an adventure. In the morning I could be on our Broadwater with Paradise Jet Boating and then by morning tea I am at Burleigh Headland with Jellurgal Aboriginal and Cultural Centre learning about our 60,000 year-old ancient history and then that evening I am launching a new marketing campaign atop of Rydges Gold Coast Airport. I am very honoured to have such an amazing role and know at the moment our industry is really hurting, so we are all working really hard to not just support them but to ensure their message is being heard by Government.
Whilst I’ve loved getting to know my new hometown, there’s been some heartbreaking moments as well. It’s obviously been an extremely tough time for the local tourism industry. Our operators are struggling due to the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, having lost $3.2 billion of tourism revenue and 1 in 5 tourism jobs over the past 18 months. COVID has hurt the heart and soul of the Gold Coast, but it won’t hold us down and despite these ongoing hardships, we continue to push through and the future is still really bright.
What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
Where do I start! If I’m not hanging out with our industry during work, I’m making the most of every weekend to organise itineraries with the family. Whether it’s family fun, a date night or a staycation to experience the Gold Coast from all different angles, I love to spend every waking minute being a tourist in my new hometown. What surprised me most when I moved here is our surreal Australian landscapes being so close in proximity. The fact you can take a dip in the ocean at Surfers Paradise and hit the road for 45-minutes and immerse yourself in ancient rainforest is very cool.
With the Wonder Reef due to open early 2022, how do you think this new attraction will assist the Gold Coast Tourism industry?
The Wonder Reef will add a new layer of attraction to the city and we’re proud to support the City of Gold Coast’s vision which will see us home to Australia’s first floating dive site. This is another product that will support the visitor economy and help us cut through a very crowded market as people travel again.
What are you most looking forward to, for the Gold Coast, over the next year?
Opening up again! Whilst the next 10 years is shaping up to be a decade of opportunity for our region, the next 12 months will be integral in capitalising on this opportunity. The 2032 Olympics in Brisbane will bring global attention and visitors from all over the world to Queensland and we know there will be a significant benefit for the Gold Coast beyond the games themselves. As the world opens again, tourism will bounce back in a big way, and we know there are massive amounts of pent-up demand we can capitalise on. And as Australia reaches vaccination targets, borders open again and consumer confidence returns – all those postponed and cancelled holidays will finally come to fruition.
How do you suggest people celebrate World Tourism Day?
Back a tourism operator and invest in a local business that has been doing it tough. Gold Coasters have been phenomenal in supporting local tourism businesses and we still really need them whilst we wait for things to open again. Maybe buy an early Christmas present for someone, head to a theme park, jump on a paddleboard, or take that hot air balloon ride you have always been thinking about. It’s time to adventure! The Play Money Rewards campaign that the City of Gold Coast is investing into makes this easy, so jump onto destinationgoldcoast.com and grab a voucher today!
What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café: Baritalia – This is an all-day dining option with beautiful coffee and Italian food which is really authentic and yummy
Coffee spot: Anywhere along the Coolangatta foreshore – I love the viewpoint from Coolangatta Surf Club and The Coffee Club
Restaurant: A tie between Nineteen at The Star and The Tropic at the Burleigh Pavilion
Bar or pub for a drink: Southport Yacht Club (especially on a Sunday afternoon – live music is always fun and a great way to start the week)
Weekend tradition: Visiting the Fisherman’s Co-op on a Saturday to pick up our local seafood – you can’t beat the prawns, they are sensational
Hinterland: The Polish Place – spectacular cabins with wood fires and the Pork Hock in the restaurant is a must try!
How do you choose to spend your weekends?
In between my son’s sports and house hunting, my family and I love being outdoors and a passion of mine is chasing sunsets. We are either at the HOTA markets on a Sunday getting a Largo or having a Milkman’s cookie, creek swimming at Currumbin or Tallebudgera Creek and heading to a Surf Club for lunch, or finding a nice spot to watch the sunset (whilst eating of course).
