Gonski flies into new airport role

ANZ chair David Gonski will join the board of Australia’s biggest airport operator in September.

Mr Gonski’s appointment at Sydney Airport comes at a critical time for the airport sector as the competition regulator pushes for more power to regulate the market, arguing operators are extracting monopoly rents.

The Productivity Commission will review the industry later this year but this month released an issues paper raising the prospect of re-regulating airports.

Mr Gonski also takes up the role as ANZ and its former group treasurer face criminal cartel charges and the finance sector prepares to absorb the findings from the banking royal commission.

The latest appointment for Mr Gonski adds to his sizeable corporate commitments.

Among other roles, he is Chancellor of the University of NSW, President of the Art Gallery of NSW Trust, a member of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission external advisory panel and on the board of the Lowy Institute for International Policy.

Sydney Airport chair Trevor Gerber said Mr Gonski has an outstanding track record as a businessman, director and philanthropist.

“We expect he will make a valuable contribution to our board,” he said.