Meet the many faces on 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"!

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.

Matthew Browne
Airport Services Coordinator
Matthew Browne, self-confessed ’AvGeek’ from our Airport Services team shares how he has turned his love of all things aviation into a career. To find out how he balances work and study (and why coffee is a must!), click here.

Hayley Rossiter
Fire Fighter
Hayley Rossiter, Fire Fighter 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.

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.