Newcastle City Council has appointed Deputy Lord Mayor Callum Pull to the Boards of Newcastle Airport.
The Council also reappointed City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath to the Airport Boards, following his initial appointment in 2017.
In October last year City of Newcastle staff had recommended that Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge be appointed to the role of 'Nominee Director' of the Airport Boards, however he subsequently declared a significant conflict of interest in relation to matters involving the Airport, due to the employment of his son in a senior executive role at Qantas.
The Council subsequently resolved that a merit-based process be followed to determine who would represent the Council on the Boards of Newcastle Airport, which are 100 per cent owned by Newcastle City Council and Port Stephens Councils.
The Council also resolved that Councillors Dr Elizabeth Adamczyk and Jenny Barrie should be appointed to Airport-related companies known as Newcastle Airport Companies 1 and 2, which are the trustees for the Council's 50 per cent shareholding of the Airport.
Deputy Lord Mayor Pull said he was deeply honoured to have received Council's endorsement to join the Airport Board.
"The Airport is a key driver for economic growth - an important asset for not just Newcastle but the entire Hunter region," Cr Pull said.
"I will be joining the board during a time of enormous change, and in a big leap forward.
"The international terminal is on its way, and we are seeing manufacturing returning to the Hunter through the Airport's investment in the defence sector.
"The changes happening at Newcastle Airport are critical to our growing and changing regional economy.
"My focus will be on delivering more opportunities and better services for travellers, the business community and ensuring the best possible value for ratepayers.
"As part of this new role I will be advocating for important Government investment, to unlock these economic opportunities for our region."
Councillor Jenny Barrie said she was excited by the opportunity to join the Board of one of the four companies that act as trustees of the Airport (Newcastle Airport Company 2).
"I've been a councillor for close on four years. In many ways being a councillor is similar to being a company director. We provide support and direction to the CEO and Executive staff, we are asked to approve annual budgets worth hundreds of millions of dollars, we award contracts worth tens of millions of dollars, and we advocate to the state and federal governments to support Newcastle and the Hunter," Cr Barrie said.
"Newcastle Airport is one of our true regional assets. It bears the name of Newcastle but it's something that represents the region.
"I remember when it was little more than a tin shed flying to just a handful of destinations. Today it flies to 11 destinations and in just a few months it will open a new terminal capable of receiving international flights.
"We know that the average international tourist spends almost $200 per day when they visit Newcastle. This is money that will overwhelmingly end up in the pockets of local cafes, restaurants and hotels."
Councillor Dr Elizabeth Adamczyk said she appreciated the vote of confidence by the Council in appointing her to Newcastle Airport Company 1.
"As a proud Novocastrian I have watched the evolution of Newcastle Airport from a small regional facility to a global gateway, establishing a unique role as integral community infrastructure," Cr Adamczyk said.
"Securing international flights to Newcastle will enable accessibility to services, education, trade, and knowledge that will help to further support the social and economic potential of our region, and generate more than 700 new jobs for our community.
"I know the Airport is also currently advocating to our Federal Government for a Regional International Air Cargo Facility. By unlocking the region's economic potential and opening the region's manufacturing industries to the world, this will create a further 100 local jobs, and boost our regional economy by $6.5 billion annually."
"As one of only two airports in Australia to have attained Level 4 Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) from Airports Council International, Newcastle Airport has created a real point of difference with its environmental leadership, which speaks to its management.
"I'll continue to ensure our Airport remains at the forefront of environmental sustainability in its operations and future development."
City of Newcastle Executive Director City Infrastructure Clint Thomson said he was looking forward to the opportunity to join the Boards of the Airport trustee companies.
"With more than 25 years of engineering and infrastructure experience between Hunter Water Corporation and the Australian Defence Force, including a term as a Non-Executive Director on the Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT Board, I feel well prepared to assist the Airport to reach its potential," Mr Thomson said.
City of Newcastle Jeremy Bath said the next 10 years will arguably be a turning point in the Airport's size and contribution to the regional economy.
"When I was first appointed to the Board of Newcastle Airport in 2017, the Airport was valued at $103 million. Today it is worth more than $430 million," Mr Bath said.
"With the international terminal nearing completion and the development of its property arm well underway, the next valuation of the Airport will undoubtedly confirm an asset worth more than half a billion dollars.
"I am excited by the opportunity to work with Councillors Pull, Barrie and Adamczyk as well as Executive Director Thomson. I know they are up for the challenge of the added workload that comes with the appointment to the Airport Boards and related companies."
Former Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes who resigned from Newcastle City Council last month, indicated to the Council in October 2024 she would be resigning from her role as a Director of the Airport Boards. This resignation enables the appointment of new nominee director Cr Callum Pull.
