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Meet the many faces of our airport team

Did you know there are more than 250 people in the airport team, working in everything from logistics to legal, admin to aeronautics, safety to services, and more! Behind every face is a story – we’re sharing them one-by-one right here.


We're proud to rally behind every person on our team in their many endeavours, both professional and personal. From avid cyclists to technical wizzes, we're continually amazed by the achievements of our staff. People often ask us, "what kind of person works at the airport"? We think you'll agree that the answer simply has to be, "all kinds"!

Helen Shand

Business Solutions Lead

Meet Helen. She’s passionate about enhancing technology usage and providing our airport stakeholders with great user experiences. Learn more about her here.

Justin Watson

Chief Executive

Introducing our new Chief Executive… Justin. Born in Canada but now calls Ōtautahi Christchurch home, Justin shares with us some highlights of his career and his involvement with Lord of the Rings and China Southern Airlines here.

Craig Dunstan

Head of Customer & Commercial, Park to Plane

Craig heads up the Park to Plane team which strives to transform the mundane to the magical. From multiple underwater cage dives with sharks, to creating items on his lathe, he shares with us his experiences and what makes him tick here.

Mike Weir

Apron and Wildlife Manager

Meet Mike, our Apron and Wildlife Manager who splits his time between the airfield, the 10 acres where he breeds and trains dogs and the South Island high country. Find out more about the airfield’s special visitor, a New Zealand Falcon and other wildlife projects Mike works on here.

Kerry Gill

Graphic Designer

Christchurch Adventure Park, Richie McCaw, SOFIA and the Airport Fire Trucks… what do these have in common? They are all projects that Kerry, our Graphic Designer has worked on during her time here. Find out about these and other exciting projects she has worked on here.

Briar Nash

Partnership Manager - Trade Development & Aeronautical

Meet Briar, our Partnership Manager - Trade Development & Aeronautical. She speaks four languages (including some Swahili) and has lived in seven countries, learn more about her interesting experiences and adventures and how this has set her up perfectly for her role here.

Martin Crockford

Manager - BI Systems, Digital Solutions and Data Technology

Martin is part of our innovative Digital Solutions and Data Technology team. From digitising manual business processes, to recording two albums as a guitarist, to co-founding an environmental management and sustainability consultancy business in 1998, Martin shares some of his interesting experiences here.

Natasja Barnard

Terminal Facilities Manager - Asset Planning and Maintenance

Meet Natasja, our Terminal Facilities Manager who makes sure the ‘engine room’ of our airport keeps ticking. Ever heard of Nosy Sakatia? Find out why it’s her favourite travel destination (and where it is!) here.

Catherine Drayton

Christchurch Airport Board Chair

Meet Catherine, Chair of our Christchurch Airport Board and professional director. She shares with us what attracts her to being a director and her love of travel and adventure. Learn more about this incredible woman and her experiences here.

Rhys Boswell

GM Strategy and Sustainability

Rhys, GM of our Strategy and Sustainability team shares with us his favourite sustainability initiatives as well as what he's happiest doing when he's not working. Find out more about his experiences here

Nick Ashley

Airline Development Manager

Meet Nick, a member of our Aeronautical team. He joined us last year after living in Singapore and working for Singapore Airlines. As well as studying and working in aviation, Nick also flies planes in his spare time! Find out more about him here.

Sophie Baird

Integrated Operations Centre Controller

Sophie is part of our IOC team who are dubbed the ‘eyes and ears' of the airport. She shares with us her top five most interesting calls from the public and what gets her through night shift. To hear more about the interesting experiences of an IOC Controller, click here.

Shaun O'Neill

Airport Ambassador

Meet Shaun, one of our valued Airport Ambassadors who has been with the airport since the programme started! From going to Antarctica, to ticking sky diving off his bucket list (just last year!), learn more about Shaun’s ambassador role and incredible experiences here.

Dan O'Connor

Ground Transport Supervisor

Dan O’Connor, from our Ground Transport team, has been with the airport for 30 years and volunteered with Search and Rescue for nearly 20! To find out more about his many experiences over the years with both, click here.

Vai Papali'i

Quality Training and Process Co-ordinator

Meet Vai, a member of our Aviation Safety and Security team. He’s part of the airport dragon boating team, The Flying Dragons, but admits that Waka Ama has his heart. Learn about Waka Ama and Vai’s airport experiences here.

Hayley Rossiter

Firefighter

Hayley Rossiter, Firefighter on our Fire Service team, is currently organising the UFBA Firefighter Combat Challenge to be held at the airport on Saturday 14 March. Learn about the event and what makes this superwoman tick here

 

People of the airport - Felicity Blackmore

Felicity Blackmore

Compliance and Development Manager

This summer Felicity Blackmore from our Strategy and Sustainability team is embarking on Tour Aotearoa, a 3,000km ride from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Why the long ride? Find out here