Executive Leadership Team
Graeme Sumner Chief Executive Officer
Graeme joined Airways in October 2017 bringing 27 years’ experience from the energy, transport, telecommunications, mining services and medical technology industries. He is recognised for his commercial experience and extensive expertise in leadership, technology, and change management.
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Prior to taking up the Airways CEO position, Graeme led ASX listed organisations in services and manufacturing environments focussed on technology innovation and development. His roles included the Chairman of NCI Packaging - a major trans-Tasman provider of packaging solutions; Managing Director of Service Stream - based in Melbourne; and was the CEO of Transfield Services New Zealand, and Siemens New Zealand.
Katie Bhreatnach General Manager of Customer & Regulatory Partnerships / General Counsel
Katie Bhreatnach (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Whakaue) is the General Manager of Customer and Regulatory Partnerships. Katie is an experienced executive leader in ASX100, fortune 500 and public sector contexts, in the areas of customer and stakeholder relations, transformation and strategic programme management, law, insurance, regulation and governance.
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Katie oversees Airways customer, industry and regulatory relationships, as well as Airways strategic change programme management. In her business group are also the legal and regulatory, policy and standards and information design functional business units.
Katie is a member of the Institute of Directors and currently holds governance roles at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and St Mary’s College Ponsonby.
Sharon Cooke Chief Executive Officer, Airways International
Sharon joined Airways in September 2010 and is the CEO of Airways International Ltd, the commercial arm of Airways New Zealand.
In this role Sharon leads Airways’ portfolio of commercial businesses and services, incorporating Airways Training, the aeronautical information management business Aeropath, Airways Aviation Services, and the aeronautical billing provider Flightyield.
Sharon has extensive experience in aviation management and in the higher education and training sector. She is currently a board director of Aviation English Services Ltd, and an independent director for the International Aviation Academy Ltd.
Prior to joining Airways, Sharon worked the tertiary education sector with senior management and academic roles at the University of Canterbury and the Christchurch College of Education.
Sharon is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and is also a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Mark Daldorf Head of People and Capability
Mark joined Airways in May 2020 with over 30 years of management experience in leadership and organisational development, learning, recruitment and general human resource leadership. He has a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
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Prior to joining Airways Mark has had an extensive career in banking, consulting, aviation and retail and most recently was the Chief People Officer for the Inland Revenue Department. Prior to this he has held senior human resources positions with several international institutions including Standard Chartered Bank and Emirates Airline and has worked internationally in Australia, Dubai, Singapore and South Korea.
During his career, Mark has been a member of the Advisory Board at Bradford School of Management and the Global Business Consortium at the London Business School. He was also a founding member of the Advisory Board for the British University in Dubai.
Mark’s areas of specialty are talent development, change management, organisation design, learning, leadership development and talent acquisition.
Jamie Gray Head of Public Affairs
Jamie joined Airways in January 2021 as Head of Public Affairs. Based in Auckland, Jamie is responsible for Airways’ external and internal communications, media, government and stakeholder relations and brand management. The Public Affairs and Communications Group also drives our sustainability strategy and initiatives.
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Jamie brings to Airways a wealth of experience in the public sector with his previous role as the Chief of Staff for the New Zealand National Party and prior to this he held senior roles in National and Labour-led Governments advising senior Ministers on significant Transport, Economic Development, Energy and Resources and Infrastructure policy issues.
Jamie has a well-regarded leadership and management style. He is a strong communicator and has excellent relationship management skills honed through years of working with senior decision makers and stakeholders.
Kim Nichols Head of Safety and Assurance
Kim specialises in safety, governance, change and safety culture. Since joining Airways in 2010, Kim has integrated Airways' governance functions for safety (health and safety and operational safety), audit and risk management, security management and analysis and advisory. Kim has lead the creation of the integrated Airways Safety Management System, encompassing the CANSO standard of excellence, CAA Rule Part 100 and the Health and Safety Act 2015.
Becoming a Just Culture Champion in 2015, Kim’s focus is on embedding a safety culture that enables positive reporting, accountability and learning. Kim is also the Crisis Manager for Airways.
Kim is part of the Global Safety Network for CANSO, a participant in the NZ Business Leaders forum and a member of a number of risk and audit forums.
Prior to joining Airways, Kim held senior roles in companies such as British Gas Trading and Deloitte (UK). Kim has a commerce degree from Lincoln University and is a qualified auditor.
Ed Overy Chief Information Officer
Ed was appointed Chief Information Officer in November 2018 and has more than 20 years’ experience in information technology leadership roles.
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Prior to joining Airways, Ed was the Chief Information Officer at KiwiRail where he led a transformation of the state owned enterprise’s IT function. Prior to this, he led Air New Zealand’s Japan based sales, marketing and commercial teams and was a marine engineering officer in the Royal New Zealand Navy.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from the University of Auckland.
Katie Wilkinson Head of Air Traffic Services
Katie was appointed as Head of Air Traffic Services in December 2019. Prior to joining Airways, Katie was a member of Airservices Australia’s senior leadership team. Most recently she was the Delivery Manager for Australia’s Northern Operations enroute air traffic control facility. In this role, she had significant people leadership accountability for service delivery across the Brisbane flight information region.
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Katie is an accomplished and capable project and change manager, with extensive experience in effectively leading whole scale change and improvement programs in large aviation organisations.
She is a qualified aircraft maintenance engineer, spending seven years in the Royal Australian Navy.
James Young Chief Financial Officer
James joined Airways in July 2014, and is responsible for Airways’ financial management, procurement and property activities. James manages key relationships with Airways' Audit and Finance Committee and the New Zealand Treasury.
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Prior to joining Airways, James held leadership positions in the investment management industry while living and working in Tokyo, San Francisco and Hong Kong. Over this time, James gained experience in corporate planning, financial management, startup companies, strategic outsourcing and stakeholder management.
James' vision for Airways is to generate value for shareholders and customers by delivering quality services at a competitive price. He enjoys his involvement in driving varied and interesting projects across the Airways group, working with many talented Airways people.
James holds degrees in Accounting and Economics from Victoria University and is a qualified chartered accountant.