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.

Ah, Surfers Paradise. The jewel in the crown that is our fair city. The place visitors first picture in their minds and have done for the last several decades. While it is the most tourist-dense part of our Coast, what is it local’s love about it? Here we fill you in on the six best reasons locals love Surfers Paradise.

Belt out karaoke at Tune Up
The definition of karaoke, Tune Up is THE place to test out your vocal cords after you’ve had a few cocktails at bar instution The Avenue or a few schooners of ale from House of Brews. It’s an intimate environment that feels much like a house party where you can choose to mingle with everyone in the main bar or take up residence in your own little private room and sing your heart out. Count us in!
Where: Level 1, 23 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise (above Gold Coast Real Estate)

Have a Guinness at the D’Arcy Arms
Wet your whistle with a pint of Guinness at D’Arcy Arms where the historic first Guinness keg was brewed in Queensland (and arguably Australia), tapped onsite in 1988. This locals’ Irish pub fave offers a welcome change of pace if you want to take things slow, keep warm by the fireplace or if last night happened to get the better of you. There’s always great home-style food to be had, live music and a few friendly faces with some good craic.
Where: 2923 Gold Coast Highway, Surfers Paradise

Have a luxe afternoon at Surfers Pavilion
Aptly positioned with ceaseless waterfront views and boasting a substantial mooring site of 400sq metres, means if locals would like to arrive GC-style by boat or jet ski — so be it! Setting and glam aside though, the new arrival is perfect for enjoying our fantastic year-round weather with an outside frosé bar, and for those with a discerning palette, a dedicated oyster and Champagne station keeps the crowd more than occupied.
Where: 30-34 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise 

Hit 9 pins at Strike Bowling
Prepare to lose a few hours when you step into this space which is a literal smorgasbord of entertaining activities and feast for the senses. The highlight is the 10-lane glow in the dark bowling alley where competitive urges can be settled with groups big and small. But, it doesn’t stop there either. If you fancy further fun, then a 15-person karaoke room, cocktail bar, two escape rooms, and pool tables should do it.
Where: Circle on Cavill, Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise

Sip cocktails on The Island Rooftop Bar
Rooftop bars are one of the greatest things that ever happened to the Gold Coast. Period. Now, take this sentiment and couple it with this — the Gold Coast’s largest open-air rooftop bar — and voila, you have one of the best places to drink delectable cocktails, watch live music, and live your best life at the stream of ever-changing events (drag queen brunch anyone?). You are promised great times and vibes when you head to The Island.
Where: 3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise

Grab breaky at Cuppa on 41
If you find yourself in Surfers Paradise before the afternoon, then you need to head to Cuppa on 41 to energise yourself for the day — as well as for all the other inclusions on this list! The café is an excellent concept that allows local underprivileged youth to become experienced in hospitality, and coincidentally isn’t so hard on your pocket either! Our pick is the Bauernomelett, a German-style omelette straight out of heaven. You’ll leave with a satisfied belly and knowing you have contributed to a change in a Gold Coasters future.
Where: 41 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Indulge at Alfrescos Italian Restaurant
Creating picture-perfect pasta and pizza for the last 25 years, you might say what Alfrescos doesn’t know about Italian food and ambience isn’t worth knowing — and you’d be right! This charming family-owned and run restaurant has stood the test of time with locals and continually returning for great Italian classics and drinks to match. If you haven’t been in a little while, be sure to change that, the venue underwent a slight facelift late last year and is looking as enchanting as ever.
Where: 3/3018 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise

Boogie on down at Retro’s
When it comes to having a boogie along to cheeky tunes of yesteryear, you no longer have to hide in your bathroom in your towel to do so. All the locals know that Retro’s is the ultimate answer to having a fun night out and dancing the night away to the music you grew up with. With themed nights and drinks specials coming at you from all angles, you are destined to have a good time no matter what day of the week it is at this hotbed of a disco.
Where: 3 — 15 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Take in the view at Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club
After a swish refurbishment, this 100-year-old surf club is the faultless place to go for an ice-cold beer for a spot of people watching, seamless views across the Pacific Ocean and to chat to a local. The family-friendly atmosphere is full of locals after their early morning beach walk tucking into a big brekky (but they’re also open for lunch and dinner too!) — a great option straight off the sand and when you feel the need to escape the crowds with some uber-friendly Queensland hospitality.
where: Corner of Hanlan Street & The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

Bern Young is used to being the person doing the interview, but we’ve switched things up here and Inside Gold Coast is asking the questions! We’ve all heard her on our airwaves as an ABC Gold Coast radio presenter, now we delve a little deeper and find out what Bern loves about presenting, what a bout of long COVID taught her and where to get the best pastries on the Coast.

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
12 years (this time) – I moved here with my partner and two, then very young, children in January 2011 but I also lived on the Gold Coast in the late 1990’s when I was a TV reporter for Channel 9 and 7.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
To be walking distance to the beach is amazing. I still pinch myself that I get to live in Burleigh, a place I spent so many summer days as a child. I love the growing cultural sector – the HOTA precinct is one of my favourite places. I love that there’s something for anyone and everyone – if you love fishing/boating or working in movies or hiking in pristine national parks or learning higher skills or seeing world class music acts or watching top athletes in AFL, NRL, swimming, surfing, netball and so much more, you can do it here. I do think there’s phenomenal pressure on the city as it continues to grow and I often reflect on how that will inevitably change the things I love, some for the better, some admittedly for the worse.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I love to chat! I’m the person who talks to random strangers on a bus or in a queue. I really do love hearing peoples’ stories. I know lots of people say this but I have a terrible memory for names/faces and before I go to any event I scroll through my phone where I keep notes for different parts of my life eg soccer parents, arts events, politics, etc – I do a quick revision on my way and (mostly) get away with it. I am immensely grateful to have two healthy children and a loving partner and I take care to nurture my family because they are by far the most important thing in my life. And while I am a person with drive and passion, I equally seek to attain and recognise contentment.

What’s the best thing about working on the radio?
I basically get paid to chat to people, which as I mentioned, I love! I’ve always been a curious person, even when I was a child, my Mum will tell you that if I had a school project, she’d find me on the carpet surrounded by encyclopedias researching way more than any teacher expected. I really enjoy delving into information and issues but I was never going to be the kind of journalist who became a foreign correspondent or political reporter, even though I do love a good accountability interview. I really enjoy the breadth of a radio show – from weather and traffic to music or city issues to slice of life. One of my pet subjects is local history because in many ways, radio interviews are like oral history records and some of my most important interviews have been capturing lived experience from times that would otherwise be undocumented. 

What has been the biggest career opportunity and/or challenge so far for you?
I had two paths that presented themselves at the same moment – I’ve sometimes called it my Robert Frost moment in reference to his poem, The Road Not Taken. At the end of 2019 I was asked to host Weekend Nightlife on ABC Radio. I had been lobbying for several years to have the chance to present a national program from a regional city and it would have been the first time this show had come from outside of Sydney or Melbourne.  When I turned it down I couldn’t even tell them why because unbeknownst to most, I was about to put my hand up to run for Division 13 in the 2020 local government elections. That campaign is by far the biggest challenge I’ve ever undertaken and it taught me many things. Crucially I discovered that while I’m dogged, I don’t have the mongrel quality politics seems to demand.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

What’s on the cards for the rest of 2023?
2023 is going to be so much better than 2022! After contracting COVID in early January last year, I ended up with Long COVID and it was heartbreaking to miss so much of the life I love. I had no energy to take my kids to sport or visit friends or bake cakes or sew or exercise or visit friends or even hold a conversation sometimes. I barely scraped through my job, only managing to work four hours a day, four days a week. This year I want to burst out of my Burleigh bubble. It’s too easy to stick to the things you know and love so I want to see places I either haven’t seen or don’t see often enough. Whether that’s the northern reaches of the cane fields around Cabbage Tree Point, the western outlook from Tamborine or the swimming holes and waterfalls of the hinterland. 

What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café/coffee spot: Tarte at Burleigh Heads – everything is good but their baked goods are ridiculously delicious.
Restaurant: Rabbath’s Lebanese restaurant, also at Burleigh. There’s a pattern here isn’t there?! Patrick Rabbath is the ultimate host, matching drinks with the finest food. Highly recommended.
Bar or place for a drink: I’ve had some memorable nights at Stingray Bar at the QT. And then why not stay the night!
Beach: Oh wow, save the hardest question until last. We have so many amazing beaches – can I go Top 3? 3. Miami – It’s such an amazing expanse of sand with that open beach feel. 2. Burleigh Heads – The cove is wondrous. 1. Tallebudgera Creek – I’ve been swimming there since camping holidays when I was only 1 or 2 years old and my beautiful Mum calls it “God’s own creek”.

How do you choose to spend your days off? 
It’s funny having a weekend that’s Sunday/Monday because my second day off can easily become a day of family/life admin with appointments, etc so where possible I prioritise rest and relaxation for at least a few hours when the kids have gone to school and Fletch has gone to work. After being forced to rest for hours and days on end while suffering Long COVID, you might think I’d now run a mile (or walk!) to be active but instead I’ve come to value the importance of restorative rest. It’s impossible to explain to my “busy” friends but I wish they could learn the lesson without having to do it the hard way via illness.