Council confirms appointment of Queenstown Airport directors

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has appointed experienced business and governance professional Jacqueline Cheyne to the Board of Directors for Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC), and also reappointed existing director Simon Flood for a second term.

Mayor Glyn Lewers confirmed that Councillors agreed unanimously to adopt the QLDC Governance Subcommittee’s recommendations during a public excluded session of the Full Council meeting on Thursday 19 October.

Ms Cheyne was the subcommittee’s preferred candidate for the vacant directorship and it also recommended that existing Deputy Chair Simon Flood was reappointed for a further standard term of four years.

“With all details now finalised I’d like to formally congratulate Jackie and Simon on their appointment and reappointment respectively,” said Mayor Lewers.

“As well as her business acumen and current directorships, I’ve been particularly impressed by her expertise in understanding and managing climate risk. This aligns with our own climate action commitments and the district’s destination management plan that aims to achieve regenerative tourism and a carbon zero visitor economy by 2030.”

QAC Chair Adrienne Young-Cooper said: “I look forward to welcoming Jackie to the board. Her extensive governance experience and expertise in sustainability, climate risk and adaptation will be valuable as we progress the important planning and infrastructure projects we have ahead of us.”

Ms Cheyne, who lives in the Upper Clutha, said she was looking forward to working with her fellow board members on behalf of QAC’s shareholders: QLDC and Auckland International Airport Ltd.

“I’m delighted to be joining the board of Queenstown Airport Corporation. This is a critically important asset for the district and I look forward to working with my fellow board members in continually strengthening the airport’s role in facilitating resilience and sustainable visitor management, as well as providing a welcoming experience for our customers,” she said.

Ms Cheyne fills the vacancy created by the resignation from the QAC board of Anne Urlwin in February. All shortlisted candidates were interviewed by the subcommittee and then resolved to recommend Ms Cheyne for the position at its meeting on 7 September.

The person specification for this position is available for reference on request.

ENDS|KUA MUTU.

Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri:

About Queenstown Airport

Queenstown Airport is located in Frankton 8km (about a 10-minute drive) from Queenstown CBD. Four commercial airlines operate at the airport: Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia. The airport is the direct domestic and international entry point to the lower South Island, providing easy access to some of New Zealand's most iconic destinations such as Queenstown, Wānaka, Fiordland and Central Otago.

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) was incorporated in 1988 and is responsible for the management of Queenstown Airport on behalf of its shareholders governed by a Board of Directors. The company has two shareholders: Queenstown Lakes District Council (75.01%) and Auckland International Airport Limited (24.99%). QAC is a Council Controlled Trading Organisation (CCTO) as defined by the Local Government Act 2002 section 6(1).

For more information visit https://www.queenstownairport.co.nz/