Brisbane Airport Talent Named Winner in Young Executive Award 2021

ACI Asia-Pacific has revealed the winner of the association’s signature Human Resources programme, the Young Executive Award 2021. Mr. David Oatley, Airport Planning Manager at Brisbane Airport Corporation, Australia was selected the winner of the annual competition. The panel of judges awarded two Honourable Mentions to Ms. Sagarika Madasu, Manager, Strategic Planning Group, GMR Hyderabad International Airport, India and Mr. Daecheol Kim, Manager, Smart Airport Group, Incheon International Airport Corporation, Korea.  

Now in its twelfth year, ACI Asia-Pacific received papers from across the region addressing the timely topic of ‘Passenger Facilitation under Pandemic’. The panel of judges determined that the paper developed by Mr. Oatley on “Passenger Facilitation under Pandemic and Its Legacy to Airport Planning” demonstrated extensive research, analysis and appropriate interventions with a comprehensive and keen understanding of the needs of Brisbane Airport’s stakeholders.   

“Identifying the next generation of talent in the aviation industry is an important task for the current generation of leaders in our sector. The pandemic has shown that a new set of skills, such as resilience, adaptability, and crisis management, will be essential in our business going forward. For the aviation industry to emerge in a stronger position, new thinking and approaches are needed from the young minds of the next generation,” said H.E. Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority and Second Vice President of the ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Board. "We are always keen to encourage and support the youth and this award is an opportunity to do so. On behalf of the panel of judges, we applaud this year’s winner and Honourable Mentions who showed great judgement and a keen understanding of challenging circumstances and presented considered solutions.” 

Mr. Oatley will receive a US$1,000 cash prize and a scholarship to the ACI World Global Training Airport Operations Diploma Programme. Brisbane Airport will receive an additional scholarship to any ACI Global Training Leadership and Management Professional Certificate course.  

“People are an airport’s most important asset and they must be nurtured and motivated to grow. Through the Young Executive Award and our global training programmes, our association contributes to the continuous development of the people who will run the airports of the future,” commented ACI Asia-Pacific Director General Stefano Baronci. 

The Young Executive Award, introduced in 2009, is an annual research paper competition which encourages young talents in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East region to contribute innovative solutions for current aviation industry issues. 

The papers of the winner and Honourable Mentions are posted on the ACI Asia-Pacific website to encourage the promulgation of innovative ideas and best practices among the Asia-Pacific and Middle East airport community.