AMDA Foundation Limited has announced long-serving Chief Executive Ian Honnery will retire at the end of March, after leading the foundation and its predecessor organisations for nearly five decades since their inception.
“At the age of 75 it is time for me to hand over to a new generation of leadership, who will build on and advance the organisation’s achievements and success,” Mr. Honnery said.
AMDA Foundation Board Chair, Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie (Ret) AO, announced that the board has selected prominent aviation business leader and current Avalon Airport CEO, Justin Giddings, as Ian Honnery’s successor.
“The AMDA Foundation board believes Justin Giddings has the experience, vision and drive to pick up where Ian Honnery leaves off and to ensure the continued success of AMDA Foundation for the future,” Vice Admiral Ritchie said.
“The selection of Justin Giddings means AMDA will continue to be led by a Chief Executive who is an accomplished and constructive business leader, committed to AMDA’s altruistic mission and familiar with the complexities and challenges of the Australian International Airshow as AMDA’s signature event.”
Ian Honnery has warmly welcomed Justin Giddings as his successor. “Justin is well known for his success in developing Avalon Airport into Melbourne’s second international airport, but also for his dedication in building industry through regional economic development and vocational education,” he said.
Justin Giddings said he was “looking forward to leading the AMDA organisation and building on its achievements under the stewardship of Ian Honnery. I have always strongly supported AMDA Foundation’s mission of stimulating Australian industry promotion and engagement through industry focused events and in fostering public awareness of industry and of opportunities in careers and skills,” Mr. Giddings said.
“I have been fortunate to have worked alongside Ian for many years and have enormous admiration and respect for what he has achieved. He leads a wonderful organisation and I am humbled to continue his service to the industry.
“I was an aircraft maintenance engineer before moving in to airport management, securing airline services and industry operations through both national and international business development. Aviation, technology and industry are in my blood, and with experience from the hangar floor to the management office, I have a passion for promoting vocational skills and careers.”
Vice Admiral Ritchie paid tribute to Ian Honnery’s stewardship of AMDA Foundation since its inception.
“AMDA Foundation’s stature as an established, respected leader in promotion of Australian industry owes much to the vision, skill and sheer determination of the man who has led the organisation for some 46 years since its inception,” Admiral Ritchie said.
“Over nearly five decades Ian Honnery and his team have created an organisation which has made a material contribution to the development of Australian industry, in the interests of the nation. Ian’s retirement, delayed so he could steer AMDA through the tribulations of COVID and oversee AMDA’s contribution to the Royal Australian Air Force Centenary year, will be well deserved.”
“We will continue to progress the on-line AMDA Connects industry engagement initiatives we introduced following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and our export, innovation and workforce promotion programs. AMDA will also be conducting the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in May with support from Navy, the RotorTech Helicopter and Unmanned Flight Exposition in June and the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition in October with participation by Army. Then, in conjunction with Air Force we will be staging the largest ever Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition at Avalon, in early March 2023, with the theme ‘The Future Is Now – From The Sky To The Stars’. All of our events are expected to attract record international participation and will take Australia to the World, by bringing the World to Australia.” Admiral Ritchie said.
