Edward has more than 15 years of experience in public affairs and stakeholder engagement. He has worked in government, financial services and the transport sector and is passionate about public policy. He is a former rugby union referee and is currently a Director at the Blackwood Foundation, a private ancillary fund that invests in education and mental health programs.

Detective Acting Inspector Emily Nicholson is the Inspector Aviation at Melbourne Airport. In her role, Emily leads teams responsible for a broad range of Aviation security functions including prevention, disruption and response operations for the AFP. Emily works very closely with all Aviation partners to establish highly effective working relationships prioritising the safety of the travelling public through Melbourne Airport. Throughout Emily’s 25 years with the AFP, she has worked in a diverse range of roles including homicide, child abuse investigations, proceeds of crime investigations and online child exploitation. Emily enthusiastically looks to build partnerships to ensure that the AFP is in the best position to keeping Australia and Australians safe.

Nick Henderson is a seasoned hospitality executive with over 30 years of experience across the United Kingdom and Australia. He currently serves as the General Manager at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport, where he has been since the beginning of 2020. Nick has been with InterContinental Hotels Group for over 14 years, and prior to his current position, he was at Holiday Inn Cairns and Holiday Inn Townsville. Nick is dedicated to creating an empowering workplace environment that celebrates and motivates team members, and he values collaboration with external stakeholders, focusing on building strong relationships and finding shared benefits.

Jason Balkin is the General Manager of SkyBus, where he has played a pivotal role in driving a positive culture that has fuelled growth and increased profitability. Jason has extensive experience in B2B sales and during his time at the Melbourne Convention Bureau, Jason helped to secure over 40 international conferences that saw 45,000 delegates visit our city and contribute over $275 million to the Victorian economy. Jason’s commitment to continuous learning and professional growth is evident through his participation in prestigious programs such as the Melbourne Tourism Industry Leadership Program in 2020 and the Kinetic Lead the Way program in 2024.

Sevtap Elkersh is the General Manager at SkyPark Airport Parking. With over 16 years’ experience in the transport industry, Sevtap been able to implement strategic initiatives to improve operations, drive growth and meet customer expectations. Sevtap is a highly motivated individual with a passion for excellence, ensuring industry standards are never compromised. In 2023, as part of her role as General Manager, she completed a submission for the Victorian Tourism awards, demonstrating SkyPark’s dedication to customer excellence. SkyPark was recognised by being awarded silver in its category.

Lachlan Diamond is an accomplished Operations Manager with SSP Australia & New Zealand, with a focus on delivering exceptional hospitality experiences within Airport environments. With over 20 years of experience within the hospitality industry, Lachlan’s career has seen him excel in various sectors including quick service restaurants, cafes, hotels, and fine dining establishments. With a background as both a hospitality manager and a qualified chef Lachlan has gained a deep understanding of the operational aspects of the industry and a keen eye for quality and service.

Lia Penny serves as a Talent Acquisition Partner at Swissport, where she is instrumental in identifying and recruiting top talent. Her role focuses on cultivating a positive work culture, ensuring long-term employee retention, and enhancing the company's reputation. With over five years of experience in Talent Acquisition, Lia has gained expertise across various industries, leveraging diverse backgrounds and strategies to achieve recruitment success. As an aviation enthusiast, Lia is eager to contribute to meaningful discussions and drive positive change at Melbourne Airport.

Jamie Chatterton is a Project Manager at Stowe Australia Client Services. Jamie is an electrician by trade, having completed technical school in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Jamie has spent 23 years working for various electrical companies at Melbourne Airport and enjoys working in a fast-paced environment. He is passionate about educating the next brigade of electricians coming through.

Brendon Davis is the General Manager of URBNSURF Melbourne. Brendon is passionate about building the URBNSURF brand and culture by forming strong relationships and exploring opportunities for collaboration. He is a super keen surfer originally from Western Australia and in his free time he enjoys family, friends, music, and the outdoors.

Luke Vercoe is an Inspector with the Australian Border Force, currently posted to Melbourne Airport. Luke spent the first 8 years of his career with the ABF as an officer working at Melbourne Airport from 2008 through to 2016. After some time away from the airport in other roles for the ABF and Department of Home Affairs, Luke returned in April 2023 and now works as a lead for Facilities and Project Management for ABF Melbourne Airport. Luke acts as an interface with Melbourne Airport to the ABF on the various projects affecting international travel.

Rob Godino, General Manager – Lotte Melbourne Airport, is a highly motivated, results driven and hands on leader with 27 years’ experience at Melbourne Airport in Retail and Hospitality. Rob has experience managing operations across most Airports within Australia, which has afforded a deep understanding of airport infrastructure, store design and product evolution. Working with the Melbourne Airport team, Rob and his team have created immersive experiences built on excellent customer service and exceptional product offers. Rob's never-ending obsession is the quest to consistently reinvigorate and reinvent, to continue offering personalised experiences.

Tim Stanton-Smith is the Project Manager at Nilsen Vic Pty Ltd. Tim manages the high voltage maintenance and operation of the Melbourne Airport 22kV Electrical system. Tim lives local to the airport and enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family in his spare time.