Airservices has appointed Jason Harfield as its new chief executive, effective immediately.
The announcement on Wednesday afternoon makes permanent a role Harfield has held on an acting basis since former chief executive Margaret Staib left the organisation in August 2015.
Airservices said Harfield’s appointment came after an “extensive executive search conducted with the assistance of a leading international executive recruitment firm”.
“The board reviewed an extensive field of candidates and concluded that Mr Harfield offered the right blend of experience, skill and drive to lead the organisation,” Airservices chairman Sir Angus Houston said in a statement.
Prior to taking the role as acting chief executive, Harfield was Airservices general manager for future service delivery, with his primary responsibility the OneSky project, which aims to combine the separate civil and defence air traffic management systems into the one platform.
Other Airservices roles included being general manager for safety management and executive general manager for air traffic control group.
He also worked as a qualified operational air traffic controller, rising through the ranks to the title of Australia’s head air traffic controller.
In addition to the various roles at Airservices, Harfield is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a private pilot.
