Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has established a new departmental 'think tank' to seek out new property and commercial opportunities under the leadership of a former executive of Amsterdam Schiphol's AirportCity venture.
Gert-Jan de Graaff, general manager commercial at BAC, will lead the new Strategic Performance and Development department, which is tasked with shaping Brisbane Airport's future business model with an emphasis on developing commercial, property and retail opportunites.
During his tenure at BAC de Graaff has overseen the revamp of Brisbane Airport's retail offering as part of its international terminal redevelopment, while the development of the airport's real estate programme has seen the
De Graff, who has been with BAC since 2007, formally headed Amsterdam Schiphol's Arlanda Schiphol Development Company AB, which was tasked with managing commercial activities at Stockholm Arlanda Airport's terminals and SkyCity, while Schiphol, which is a minority shareholder in Brisbane has been helping the gateway develop its own airport city.
The move represents the biggest shakeup of Brisbane Airport's management team since privatisation in 1997 and marks an effort to make the company more profitable for its stakeholders.
BAC CEO and managing director Julieanne Alroe said the new structure was designed to position the company to meet challenges and opportunities across key areas such as planning, regulatory change, property development and the changing global airport business model.
"BAC has been a very successful Queensland company for the first 13 years of its existence, developing a highly-efficient and responsive airport for our many stakeholders, and ensuring a strong, long-term return on investment for our shareholders - most of whom are mums and dads investing through their superannuation," Alroe said.
"A key to this performance in the face of major industry upheaval has been attracting experienced and talented professionals to help shape the destiny one of Queensland's most important assets.
Renaye Peters has been appointed General Manager Property, focusing on the development of the Airport's property assets across the 2700 hectare site.
