Newcastle City Council has announced the appointment of Deputy Lord Mayor, Callum Pull, to the Boards of Newcastle Airport.
The Council also reappointed City of Newcastle CEO, Jeremy Bath (pictured, right) to the Airport Boards, following his initial appointment in 2017.
In October last year, Council staff had recommended that Lord Mayor, Ross Kerridge, be appointed to the role of ‘Nominee Director’ of the Airport Boards. However, the Lord Mayor subsequently declared a significant conflict of interest in relation to matters involving the Airport, due to the employment of his son in a senior executive role at Qantas.
The Council resolved that a merit-based process be followed to determine who would represent the Council on the Boards of Newcastle Airport, which are 100% owned by Newcastle City Council and Port Stephens Councils.
The Council also resolved that Councillors Dr Elizabeth Adamczyk and Jenny Barrie should be appointed to Airport-related companies known as Newcastle Airport Companies 1 and 2, which are the trustees for the Council’s 50 per cent shareholding of the Airport.
Deputy Lord Mayor Pull (pictured, left) said he was deeply honoured to have received Council’s endorsement to join the Airport Board.
“The Airport is a key driver for economic growth – an important asset for not just Newcastle but the entire Hunter region,” Cr Pull said.
“I will be joining the board during a time of enormous change, and in a big leap forward.
“The international terminal is on its way, and we are seeing manufacturing returning to the Hunter through the Airport’s investment in the defence sector.
“The changes happening at Newcastle Airport are critical to our growing and changing regional economy.
“My focus will be on delivering more opportunities and better services for travellers, the business community and ensuring the best possible value for ratepayers.
“As part of this new role I will be advocating for important Government investment, to unlock these economic opportunities for our region.”
Council Executive Director City Infrastructure, Clint Thomson said he was looking forward to the opportunity to join the Boards of the Airport trustee companies.
“With more than 25 years of engineering and infrastructure experience between Hunter Water Corporation and the Australian Defence Force, including a term as a Non-Executive Director on the Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT Board, I feel well prepared to assist the Airport to reach its potential,” Mr Thomson said.
Mr Bath said the next 10 years will be a turning point in the Airport’s size and contribution to the regional economy.
“When I was first appointed to the Board of Newcastle Airport in 2017, the Airport was valued at $103 million. Today it is worth more than $430 million,” he said.
“With the international terminal nearing completion and the development of its property arm well underway, the next valuation of the Airport will undoubtedly confirm an asset worth more than half a billion dollars.
“I am excited by the opportunity to work with Councillors Pull, Barrie and Adamczyk as well as Executive Director Thomson. I know they are up for the challenge of the added workload that comes with the appointment to the Airport Boards and related companies.”
Former Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, who resigned from Newcastle City Council last month, indicated to the Council in October 2024 she would be resigning from her role as a Director of the Airport Boards. This resignation enables the appointment of new nominee director Cr Callum Pull.
