Port Hedland International Airport Group of Companies (PHIA) have announced the appointment of two senior executives who will oversee the transformation of Port Hedland International Airport under the management of AMP Capital and Infrastructure Capital Group.
Town of Port Hedland Mayor Kelly Howlett said that she welcomed both Cheryl Edwardes as Independent Chairman and Non-Executive Director of the PHIA Board and Mitchell Cameron as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of PHIA Operating Company.
“I am pleased to welcome both Mrs Edwardes and Mr Cameron to PHIA Group of Companies and have no doubt that their experience and skills will be instrumental in continuing to grow our airport into one of Australia’s leading regional airports and a significant transport hub for North Western Australia”, said Mayor Howlett.
“Since Town of Port Hedland Council resolved to enter the historic deal with AMP Capital and the Infrastructure Capital Group to lease the Port Hedland International Airport in August this year, work has been progressing to transition the airport to the new operators.
“The Town will continue to manage and operate Port Hedland International Airport in a business as usual manner and are working towards a settlement date early in the new year.”
Mrs Edwardes has had a distinguished career as a member of the Western Australian Parliament where she held ministerial positions including those of Attorney General, Minister for Labour Relations, and Minister for Environment. In addition to this extended period of public service, Mrs Edwardes has served as Special Counsel at Minter Ellison, and as Executive General Manager of External Affairs and Approvals at Hancock Prospecting.
Mrs Edwardes is currently the Chairman of Atlas Iron Ore Limited and of Vimy Resources Limited. She is also Chair of the Port Hedland Industries Council, a body established to develop an integrated approach to air quality and noise monitoring in Port Hedland.
Mrs Edwardes’ diverse skills and experience will be invaluable when the 50-year lease of Port Hedland International Airport commences in the coming months. “I am delighted to be joining the Board of Port Hedland International Airport Holdings. It will be an exciting period ahead of transformation and improvement of the airport under private sector operation,” Mrs Edwardes said.
PHIA Group of Companies is also pleased to advise the appointment of Mr Mitchell Cameron as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of PHIA Operating Company.
Mr Cameron has extensive experience in major project development and execution at both capital city and regional airports, including Sydney and Karratha airports. Most recently Mr Cameron led the transformation of the airport at Karratha which was unveiled to wide local and airport industry acclaim in September 2015. Mr Cameron will relocate to Port Hedland and commence his role in February 2016.
The investors in PHIA Group of Companies, which will lease Port Hedland International Airport from the Town of Port Hedland, are managed by AMP Capital and Infrastructure Capital Group. In a joint statement, AMP Capital Head of Australia & New Zealand Infrastructure Funds Michael Cummings and Infrastructure Capital Group Founding Director John Clarke said these senior appointments reflect the importance of Port Hedland International Airport, not only as a key piece of infrastructure for the Town of Port Hedland now but one that its new operator is set to transform into one of Australia’s leading regional airports.
For more information:
Alison Kenny, Senior Communications Officer
(08) 9158 9355
publicityofficer@porthedland.wa.gov.au