On a night like this: Qantas CEO hints at female successor during celebration speech

On a night like this: Qantas CEO hints at female successor during celebration speech

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has hinted once again his time at the top of the airline is coming to an end.

He’s also signaled that his replacement could and should be a woman.

Speaking to a crowd of around 1000 under the wing of an Airbus A380, Joyce said this move would follow the “amazing decision to appoint a gay Irish CEO” 15 years ago.

“Some airlines say you’ll never see a woman running an airline … One day, we’ll have a woman running Qantas,” Joyce said.

He spoke of the prominent women in the airline already. Chief executive of Qantas Loyalty, Olivia Wirth, Jetstar chief executive Stephanie Tully and Qantas Group chief financial officer, Vanessa Hudson.

He also spoke about the progress Australia has made in terms of diversity.

Joyce recalled having a man shove a lemon meringue pie in his face in protest of Joyce’s support of same sex marriage.

“I’m pretty proud of the role Qantas played with LBGTI diversity,” Joyce said.

“I’m still a bit nervous about standing on this stage – I’m worried someone will throw a pie in my face.”

The airline’s chairperson also spoke of diversity. Richard Goyder said the “only thing more important than Welcome to Country is our on-time performance”.

Joyce also spoke again of his desire to connect Australia and the United Kingdom with direct flights in the near future.

Guests including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General David Hurley, former prime minister Scott Morrison, and former foreign minister Julie Bishop were entertained by an a-list line up including Kylie Minogue.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

alan joyce jetstar olivia wirth qantas Richard Goyder Stephanie Tully Vanessa Hudson

Latest News

  • Conferences

Sydney confirms position as Australia’s No. 1 business events host

Sydney’s reinforced its position as the world’s preferred Australian host city, and top Australian city in the APAC region for international and local business events. Sydney secured 25th place in the worldwide ICCA city rankings and ranked 6th (ICCA) and 3rd (CVENT) in the Asia Pacific region. Tourism Australia also celebrated the ICCA 2023 rankings […]

  • Food & Beverage
  • Hotels

Luke Mangan launches Bistrot Bisou, his first Melbourne restaurant in over a decade

Melbourne-born, Sydney-based chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan will open his first Melbourne restaurant in more than a decade this winter with the launch of Bistrot Bisou, set within the art-focused, character-filled Hotel Indigo. Set on the corner of Flinders Lane and Spencer Street, the relaxed French bistro and bar will feature modern takes on classic […]

  • Luxury

COMO launches new family-sized farmhouse in the heart of Tuscany

COMO Hotels and Resorts has launched its new farmhouse apartments in the heart of Tuscany, just in time for Australians to escape our wet winter. And it’s also an ideal time for Aussies of Italian ancestry to explore their home country as 2024 has been declared the year of Roots and Heritage Tourism by the […]

  • Destinations
  • News

New Caledonia in lockdown and airport closed after violent riots rock Noumea

New Caledonia officials have announced a 6pm-6am curfew, a liquor ban and have closed the country’s main airport after overnight riots in which vehicles were torched and roads blocked in the wake of proposed constitutional reforms. Australian Government website Smartraveller has issued an alert informing visitors to exercise a high degree of caution in metropolitan […]